The Greatest Showman - Chapter 812: Devil's Trap

In the last two months, London's high society found a new topic that everyone was buzzing about.

It all began with a rumor: Arthur Hall, the eldest son of the Hall family, was allegedly involved in a fight at the tennis club with John Hamilton, the second son of the Hamilton family, over a woman. The woman in question was Keeley Hazell, who was reportedly dating Andre Hamilton, the youngest son of the Hamilton family.

This scandalous gossip quickly captivated the public, drawing far more attention than the news of the youngest Hall son's return to acting, which became irrelevant almost overnight.

The story evolved when new information surfaced: it wasn't a woman at all, but a man. The rumor was that Andre Hamilton had abandoned Keeley Hazell for a new lover, leaving Keeley desperate to cling to the idea of rekindling her relationship with him. In turn, she allegedly pursued John, though he showed no interest, which led to a confrontation between John and Arthur, as both men were said to have fallen for the same mystery man.

The identity of this elusive man remained unknown, sparking endless speculation among the social elite. However, no one was able to uncover the truth.

Gossip reached its peak at Christmas.

The Hall family hosted a lavish Christmas party, marking their return to high society after the release of Fast and Furious 5. While Renly chose to withdraw from the limelight and continue filming quietly in the countryside, George and Elizabeth seemed ready to re-enter the social scene. They invited 300 guests to a party themed around the idyllic lives of 18th-century nobles, with everything from costumes to table settings mimicking the period's style. The ball, meal, and atmosphere were all meticulously planned, drawing praise from all in attendance.

However, the focus of the night shifted unexpectedly when Arthur arrived with a male friend in tow.

While it's not uncommon for men to bring friends to parties in aristocratic circles—especially at 18th-century-themed gatherings, where opposite-sex interactions were more tightly regulated—given the recent rumors, the presence of Arthur's friend raised eyebrows. At the party, Arthur's companions, Matthew Dunlop and Eaton Dormer, were originally conversing with Andre Hamilton, but when Arthur and his friend appeared, Andre quietly excused himself. From then on, Andre avoided the two men, while Matthew and Eaton seemed to enjoy themselves in the company of Arthur and his friend.

The rumors about Arthur's sexuality exploded in the aftermath of the party.

What was most remarkable, however, was Arthur's complete lack of response. Known for his extensive network of information, he pretended to be unaware of the gossip surrounding him. Even John Hamilton, whose name had been at the center of the rumors, disappeared from the conversation after a few days without further updates.

By the time Arthur finally acknowledged the situation, it was too late. His parents, George and Elizabeth, were furious and refused to listen to his explanation. Desperate to escape, Arthur fled to Sicily to enjoy the Mediterranean winter sun. But deep down, he knew it was all part of a trap—a trap set by none other than Renly!

Arthur suspected that the entire affair had been orchestrated by Renly. It wasn't just John, Andre, Matthew, or Eaton involved; even Edith seemed complicit. With Arthur's vast network, how could he not have heard of this before? And yet, he had allowed his rumored friend to attend the Christmas party.

Arthur couldn't help but feel betrayed, but he also stood there on his balcony, helpless, watching the spectacle unfold. How had he become the subject of such rumors about his sexuality?

Meanwhile, Edith was en route to Kandahar. The bus she was riding on bounced and jostled over the rough terrain, with the relentless sun beating through the dust outside. She felt as though her bones were about to shatter.

As the official photographer for the United Nations, Edith had completed her term but was still carrying out assignments. When there was a shortage of staff, she often stepped in to help. Today was one of those days.

Her phone buzzed. It was a call from Arthur. She couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. She glanced at the screen, sighed, and then ignored the call. "Sorry, you're on your own this time," she muttered to herself, refusing to admit that she was secretly enjoying the situation. She quickly turned her attention to her camera, snapping photos of the emaciated children outside the bus window, capturing their confused expressions.

Arthur, on the other hand, looked at his phone with frustration. Why wouldn't Edith pick up? He sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. It was clear she was enjoying this more than she let on.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, Renly had just finished breakfast when Nathan noticed a card attached to a bouquet of flowers. Initially thinking it was from the hotel's breakfast service, Nathan was surprised to find it wasn't. "Do you know who sent this?" he asked Renly.

Renly shrugged with a grin. "Maybe a strange, anonymous admirer."

Nathan, still curious, asked Roy, "Do you know who it is?"

Roy jokingly suggested, "Maybe Tony Kaye?" Nathan, however, took it seriously, and they continued speculating.

As Renly walked toward the press conference, the elevator doors opened, and a throng of reporters and fans surrounded him. The flashing lights and camera shutters filled the air with noise. Several fans boldly approached him with posters and books, gifts of support for Renly's upcoming work.

Renly was genuinely touched, smiling and thanking the fans. "Please pass my thanks on to everyone," he said. The fans, standing behind him, cheered, shouting their encouragement, "Renly, we look forward to your performance!"

Renly couldn't help but laugh, grateful for such dedicated fans.