After the wrap party wrapped up, Lucas and Jennifer boarded his private jet, their team following close behind. The jet's elegant interior welcomed them with its familiar comfort as they settled into their usual spots.
Jennifer turned to Lucas, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "This concert of yours is going to be quite interesting. You mentioned Modern Family's production team will be there?" She leaned forward slightly, genuinely intrigued. "I can't wait to see how that works out. Never seen a TV series actually film during a massive concert before."
Lucas's eyes lit up with anticipation, a warm smile crossing his features. "I'm really looking forward to it too. Plus, it'll be great seeing my costars again. It's been too long since we've all been together properly."
"You know what amazes me?" Jennifer shook her head fondly. "The fact that you still want to be part of that show." She gestured expressively with one hand. "You're this huge star now. Most people would've left Dylan behind ages ago. Especially with how busy you are with all your acting projects, philanthropy work, and business ventures."
She had a point. Lucas had been juggling multiple responsibilities lately, making only brief appearances on Modern Family through video calls and quick cameos. Yet somehow, he remained committed to the role.
"Dylan means a lot to me - he was my first real character," Lucas explained, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Besides, the show's ending soon. I want to see it through to the finale, give the fans the ending they deserve."
Jennifer leaned against his shoulder, a warm smile playing on her lips. "That dedication of yours... it's one of the many things I love about you."
They retreated to the jet's private cabin, leaving their teams in the main compartment. The space was designed for comfort and privacy - a luxury that their hectic public lives made them appreciate all the more.
---
Back in Los Angeles, they settled into their version of normal life - as normal as two A-list celebrities could manage. Even casual dinner dates or grocery runs drew attention from fans and photographers, though most kept a respectful distance.
Their visit to Jennifer's family in Kentucky was meant to be private. Lucas spent time with the Lawrences, enjoying simple moments - backyard barbecues, family game nights, casual conversations on the porch. These were the moments they treasured most.
But even in Kentucky, a few determined paparazzi managed to snap photos. The images leaked online: Lucas laughing with Jennifer's brothers, helping her dad with yard work, looking completely at home with her family.
Social media erupted:
"Look how natural Lucas is with Jennifer's family! That's what real love looks like 🥰"
"Meanwhile the Knights are probably seething seeing their son happy without them. Karma's something else 👀"
"Wonder how Myla feels seeing Lucas being the perfect son-in-law to another family?"
"Vince Knight really messed up. Lost his son and now has to watch him build a life with a better family."
"The Knights choose money and status over their own son, and look who's more successful now. Lucas found his real family 💯"
The Knight family faced constant harassment from Lucas's supporters, their social media accounts bombarded with criticism and harsh comments.
The situation peaked on March 2, 2017, during the Knight family reunion. Lucas's absence was glaring, and Myla couldn't contain her frustration. She took to Twitter:
"Interesting how my stepson preaches about family values with the Lawrences but can't even attend his own family reunion. Actions speak louder than words."
Her tweet backfired spectacularly. While her children - Katherine, Chloe, Harold, and Jake - defended her in the comments, the public response was overwhelming negative:
"Maybe he'd come if you hadn't kicked him out as a teenager 🤷♀️"
"The audacity to talk about family values after what you did"
"Lady really thinks she's the victim here"
During the family dinner, watching their mother obsessively checking the harsh responses, Chloe finally spoke up. "Mom, please, just delete Twitter. This isn't healthy."
Myla's eyes flashed with defiance. "Are you guys kidding? If I delete my account, I'm just proving Lucas right and admitting defeat. No way."
Vince watched helplessly from the head of the table, torn between supporting his wife and acknowledging the damage their social media presence was causing.
***
While his stepmother battled social media storms, Lucas spent peaceful days with Jennifer and the Lawrence family. They then visited the Cavendish estate, where William welcomed them warmly. In his study, he shared a precious collection of classic Hollywood films that had belonged to Lucas's mother.
"She loved these," William said softly, running his fingers along the vintage cases. "Used to watch them over and over."
After several days experiencing the Cavendish family's lifestyle, Jennifer couldn't help but be impressed by their wealth. "Your grandfather's family is incredible," she mentioned to Lucas.
"I'm actually richer than the whole Cavendish family combined," Lucas replied casually.
Jennifer laughed, nudging his shoulder. "I know you're wealthy, but let's not exaggerate. The Cavendish fortune is legendary."
Lucas just smiled, keeping to himself that his Bitcoin holdings alone - even after substantial charitable donations through LK Foundation - had quietly grown to billions.
During a private moment in William's study, their conversation turned serious.
"The operation's progressing well," William reported. "Diddy's arrest is trending on Vine. Several others are under investigation."
Lucas nodded grimly. "But we've painted targets on our backs."
"The family's political wing is particularly unhappy," William admitted, pouring himself a drink. "They say we're antagonizing too many powerful people. But some battles are worth fighting, regardless of the cost."
The stakes were clear - they weren't just taking on individual predators anymore, but an entire system of power and corruption.
Even the Cavendish family's considerable influence provided only limited protection against such dangerous opponents.
William sighed, swirling his drink. "How's the concert preparation going? Heard there were some delays?"
"Yes," Lucas nodded with a heavy sigh. "Things are getting pretty dangerous. We need to be extra careful."
"Smart move," William said, his expression serious. "With all these people gunning for you, they might see the concert as an opportunity. Large crowd, multiple entry points - it's a security nightmare."
Lucas hesitated before speaking. "Actually, that's partly why I came here. I need to ask for the family's help with additional security."
William paused mid-sip, eyebrows rising. "Well, this is unexpected. The great Lucas Knight actually asking for help?" A slight smile crossed his face. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"Not much choice," Lucas shrugged. "It's not just about me anymore. There'll be thousands of people at that concert, and I can't risk their safety. The family has connections to the best security firms in the business - people who know how to handle these kinds of threats."
William's aged eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. "Consider it done. I'll contact our best security teams myself. Your concert will be safer than Fort Knox."
Lucas expressed his gratitude, and they spent more time discussing personal matters. Despite his old age, William looked remarkably youthful and energetic - a testament to what the best medical care money could buy.
***
On March 10, Lucas arrived at the rehearsal venue with Jennifer by his side. Taylor was running through sound checks when she spotted them.
"Jennifer!" Taylor's face lit up with surprise as she rushed over for a hug. "I didn't expect to see you here! Thought you'd be busy with post-production."
"Lucas is letting me crash your rehearsals," Jennifer grinned. "Plus, he's promised to dedicate a song to me during the concert."
The three of them caught up briefly before getting down to business. Jennifer settled into a front-row seat as Lucas and Taylor took their positions on stage. Their voices blended perfectly as they ran through "Just Give Me a Reason," the powerful duet flowing naturally between them.
Their chemistry as performers was undeniable - each knowing exactly when to lead and when to support the other's vocals.
Jennifer watched, captivated by their harmonies. The raw emotion in their performance made it clear why the song had become such a hit.
Days passed, and the concert announcement for Staples Center appeared online.
The venue's 20,000-seat capacity would provide the perfect setting for Lucas's performance. Within hours, the announcement video accumulated millions of views.
Fans worldwide flooded the comments:
"Meanwhile us Europeans can only watch through fancams 💔"
"Flying from Singapore just for this. Worth every penny!"
"LA fans are so lucky istg"
James Parker had been waiting for this moment. A long-time Lucas fan with a business degree, he'd studied similar concert trends and knew exactly what to expect. Taking a massive risk, he invested his savings - $50,000 - securing 200 tickets across prime sections and thirty rooms at the JW Marriott.
His strategy proved perfect when tickets sold out in three hours. He listed his tickets at triple the original price, and hotel rooms that cost him $300 per night now went for $900. Desperate fans quickly snatched up his offerings.
The gamble paid off brilliantly. After selling most of his inventory, James cleared $46,000 in profit. He kept four front-row tickets for his family, satisfied that his faith in Lucas's drawing power had been justified.
***
With the concert just days away, the security team from Lucas's and Cavendish's connections took over the venue.
Their initial sweep revealed several concerning threats - suspicious individuals trying to get backstage passes, unusual activity around the venue's perimeter, and a few people clearly intending to cause trouble that could damage Lucas's reputation.
Some media outlets received anonymous threatening messages about the concert. Though they kept these private after security's request, word still spread through certain circles, causing worry among those close to Lucas.
The security team doubled their efforts, determined to prevent any incidents.
Yet the fans who'd secured tickets and booked hotels remained completely unfazed by these rumors.
Their social media posts focused entirely on excitement for the show - what songs they hoped to hear, what to wear, where to line up. Any potential security concerns seemed trivial compared to the chance of seeing Lucas perform live.