A week had passed since Vince Knight's scandal involving the Warner Bros. CEO hit the headlines. The controversy had snowballed—Kevin, the CEO, was now under heavy media scrutiny. It got so messy that Kevin ultimately decided to step down from his position.
Normally, a leadership change at Warner Bros. might not stir much public interest, but because of the high-profile court case between the studio and Vince Knight, this news was everywhere.
During this time, Vince was exhausting all his resources—calling in favors, leveraging connections within the Knight family, and even using his wealth to bribe witnesses. Anyone he suspected might testify against him was offered money to stay quiet. But the evidence against him was mounting, and some people were beginning to talk.
One of them came forward on a popular YouTube channel: Philip Darren, also known as Philly D.
Philly D had built a reputation over the years as one of YouTube's most trusted news commentators, known for his breakdowns of trending topics and scandals.
In his usual setup—talking to the camera in his home studio—Philly D began the video with his signature analysis style. But halfway through, he introduced an unexpected guest: a woman who chose to remain anonymous.
She blurred her face and altered her voice, but her words were clear and serious. "I worked as a secretary to the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association during the 68th Golden Globes," she began. "And I can say this without hesitation—Mr. Vince Knight used his influence to rig that award show."
Philip Darren blinked, caught off guard. "Rigged? That's a huge claim. Can you walk us through what happened? What exactly did he manipulate?"
She nodded slowly. "Vince called my boss directly. I was in the room—I overheard everything. He didn't want his own son, Lucas, to win anything that year. And he made sure of it."
Philip leaned forward, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Hold on. Are you saying Vince Knight deliberately sabotaged his own son's chance at winning?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "You forget a lot of things working in that industry. But that moment, that call? It's burned into my memory. I've never let it go."
The video was uploaded that evening. On the first day, it only managed to gather about 109,000 views. Many commenters were skeptical:
"Feels like scripted drama. Could just be a clout-chasing YouTuber and a fake guest."
"Conveniently anonymous, huh? Come back when there's receipts."
"This is YouTube, not court. Anyone can say anything."
However, others believed her. Especially diehard Lucas fans who vividly remembered the 68th Golden Globes. Many had long felt Lucas had been snubbed that year—despite being widely predicted to win.
By the second day, the clip went viral. Traditional media picked it up, and soon major journalists were writing articles:
"Did Vince Knight Really Rig the Golden Globes Against His Own Son?"
"Anonymous Testimony Resurfaces Golden Globe Controversy Involving Lucas Knight."
The story wasn't going away anytime soon.
---
Vince sat in his home office, eyes glued to the TV screen. As the segment ended, his grip tightened on the remote.
"Damn it… damn it all!" he growled. "How the hell did that get out!?"
Fury coursed through him as he reached for his phone and barked into it, "Find that woman. I don't care what it takes—money, favors, whatever. Just shut her up."
But unbeknownst to Vince, the anonymous woman had anticipated retaliation. She'd already contacted several major outlets—Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and even 60 Minutes—offering exclusive access in exchange for protection and exposure.
A day later, Vince's blood ran cold as he watched her being interviewed on CBS News, her face blurred, her voice altered—but her story was the same. Within hours, other networks followed. And worse—rumors swirled that Warner Bros. was now working with the court to bring her in as an official witness.
Vince slammed his fist against the table. "No… no, this can't be happening!"
Meanwhile, at a production studio in Los Angeles, Jennifer saw the latest coverage flash across her phone screen during a meeting. Her eyes narrowed. "Unbelievable…" she muttered. "What kind of father does that to his own son?"
On social media, celebrities were already reacting.
@taylorswift13: "Heartbroken for @LucasXKnight. Family is supposed to support you—not sabotage you."
In a luxury suite atop one of New York's tallest skyscrapers, Lucas sat with Paul, catching up over drinks when his phone buzzed.
He looked at the caller ID, then smiled faintly. "Excuse me," he said to Paul. "It's Kobe."
Stepping onto the balcony, Lucas answered, "Yo, man."
Kobe's voice came through, steady and concerned. "Hey, I saw the news. You holding up alright?"
Lucas leaned against the railing, gaze distant. "Yeah. Honestly, I'm fine. I expected it from him… It's just the world's catching up now."
Kobe sighed. "Still. That kind of betrayal—most people wouldn't take it this calmly."
Lucas chuckled softly. "I stopped expecting a father a long time ago."
Kobe was quiet for a moment, then said, "Well, you've got people who actually got your back. Don't let his shadow dim that light."
Lucas nodded. "Appreciate it, brother."
He hung up, tucking his phone away as the skyline stretched out in front of him—calm, clear, and distant.
Lucas's eyes darkened slightly as he looked out the window, thoughts swirling. 'If the original Lucas were still alive to witness this… his father betraying him over and over—what would he feel?' His mind drifted back to that strange, forgotten moment inside the Mind Workshop, years ago, when he met the original Lucas—just a trace of a consciousness, long gone now.
'You're not here anymore,' he thought silently. 'But I still pity you sometimes. That man… your father… he's finally facing his karma. I hope you wouldn't be angry at me for letting it happen.'
He exhaled softly, shook the thought away, and returned to the table where Paul was waiting.
Paul had changed. The sharp edges of youth had faded from his face, his once-full hairline had begun to retreat, and the lean frame he once carried now bore the early signs of a comfortable belly. Lucas glanced at him, a flicker of amused nostalgia crossing his eyes. 'Looks like he's long given up on chasing the spotlight… I might've rubbed off on him more than I thought. From actor to businessman, huh?' He sat down beside him, and Paul gave a knowing nod.
Paul smiled and raised a brow. "You good? What did Kobe say?"
Lucas smiled faintly. "Just checking in. Said some kind words about the whole mess with my dad."
Paul's face softened. "Yeah… about that. I'm really sorry, man."
Lucas waved it off with a flick of his hand. "Don't be. I've come to terms with it."
Changing the subject, Lucas leaned back. "Anyway, I remember you mentioned YouTube Rewind. Let's talk about that."
Paul's expression lit up. "Right, right! So, as you know, we've both got big stakes in YouTube now, and they're planning something special for this year's Rewind. They want to mix in more A-list talent and celebrities… and I pitched them the idea of you being the centerpiece."
Lucas listened silently, expression unreadable.
Paul caught the look and added quickly, "I know it's not your usual kind of project, but YouTube's really hyped. They want to feature one of your songs. You'd be the main highlight for 2017—"
"I don't think so," Lucas said, cutting him off gently but firmly.
Paul blinked. "What? You mean… you're not interested?"
"I'm not saying no," Lucas replied calmly. "I'll be part of it. But I don't want to be the main focus."
Paul frowned in confusion. "Why not? You're one of the most influential figures on the platform right now. You literally broke records with No Surprises. You deserve to be the focus."
Lucas looked him dead in the eyes. "That's the problem. YouTube Rewind was never supposed to be about celebrities. It's about the creators, the people who built the platform from the ground up. I won't take the spotlight from them."
Paul went quiet, surprised.
Lucas added, voice sincere, "If I do this, I want to share the screen with the real heartbeat of YouTube—creators, musicians, streamers, the ones who grind for their audience every day. Not just someone who stepped in from Hollywood."
Paul nodded slowly, a smile creeping in. "You know what? That's actually… a really good take."
Lucas shrugged. "It's the truth."
Paul raised his glass. "Then we make sure you're in—but you lift others up with you."
Lucas clinked his glass back with a grin. "Exactly."
---
Lucas's refusal to be the highlight of YouTube Rewind 2017 caught the YouTube team off guard. The planners behind the annual project had their reasons—Lucas had just released No Surprises, a massive hit, and his public presence was stronger than ever. To them, making him the centerpiece of Rewind seemed like the obvious choice.
"We get what he's saying," one producer admitted in a meeting. "He wants the spotlight on the creators… but come on. He's Lucas Knight. The world is watching him."
Despite their hesitation, they reached out to his manager, Neil Lamb, with a formal offer—$10 million for Lucas to lead the project. But Lucas's response was as firm as it was unexpected:
"If you want me in the Rewind, don't make me the highlight. That should go to the YouTubers who built this platform. If you still insist on putting celebrities—especially me—front and center, then I'm out. I'm happy to appear for a small part, and I'll take the lowest payment you offer."
The message stunned the team.
"He's turning down ten million dollars," someone whispered in disbelief. "And all he asks is to not be the star?"
When word reached YouTube's CEO, Susan Wojcicki, even she was intrigued.
"I understand his reasoning," she said during a conference call. "But it's rare to see someone at his level actually mean it. Most people talk about supporting creators. He's living it."
She leaned back in her chair and added quietly, more to herself than anyone else, "Is Lucas really this humble… or is he just the first one brave enough to step aside?"
After a moment of silence, she gave the greenlight.
"Alright. Give the creators the spotlight. Let Lucas be a part of it—on his terms."