America: From a Fallen Child Star to the Head of the University of the West

"I heard he arrived in Philadelphia today?"

Philadelphia, Ridtonhouse Square.

This is one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest neighborhoods, with 19th-century townhouses lining the perimeter of the square, each worth millions of dollars.

Catherine Donovan’s private residence is located on the east side of the square.

She was now sitting on the leather sofa in the study, holding a glass of red wine, her face extremely gloomy.

"Yeah, and that bastard actually rejected me."

Sitting opposite her was a man who appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. He had meticulously combed silver hair and wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, exuding an air of authority that only those who had long held high positions possessed.

His name is Richard Brennan, a former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. He spent more than a decade in Washington, but was shaken out about four or five years ago due to the political turmoil in Pennsylvania.

After that, he originally planned to run for governor of Pennsylvania, but unfortunately, the old guard couldn't compete with the new generation, and his campaign did not receive support within the party. Thus, his great journey ended before it even began.

However, these past events are not important. At least he is still highly respected in Philadelphia today, and it is no exaggeration to call him a veteran.

Within the Democratic Party, he was a representative of the moderates and often disagreed with the progressives, to whom Catherine belonged. But when it came to dealing with a common enemy, their interests aligned.

“He didn’t reject you,” Richard said. “He just said he needed time to think about it.”

"What's the difference?" Catherine sneered. "He's clearly putting on airs. Who does he think he is? A disgraced child star, a con man wanted by the FBI, daring to act so high and mighty in front of me."

"He certainly has the right to put on airs." Richard put down his whiskey. "Catherine, don't underestimate this man. I've seen his speech in Vandenberg; those aren't things an ordinary person would say."

"You mean he has someone backing him?"

“It’s not necessarily someone,” Richard shook his head. “But he’s very smart, much smarter than we think. He knows the value of the cards he holds, so he won’t play them easily.”

"So what should we do?" Catherine asked. "Should we just wait for him to think it over?"

"Of course we can't wait." Richard stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the brightly lit square outside. "Politics is like chess, but you can't really wait for your opponent to finish his move before you make yours. You have to force him to make the move you want him to make."

"What ideas do you have?"

Richard turned around, a meaningful smile on his face.

What is Sean Penn's biggest weakness right now?

Catherine thought for a moment: "He has no money, no team, and no party support."

“No,” Richard refuted her statement. “His biggest weakness is those accusations. The FBI investigation, the victims’ civil lawsuits, and the media’s relentless pursuit. These things are like a Damocles’ sword hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment.”

"you mean……"

“What I mean is, we can make that sword fall faster.” Richard walked back to the sofa and sat down opposite Catherine. “I have some friends at the Department of Justice. If I make a few calls, the FBI’s investigation into the Avalon Foundation can be expedited.”

"At the same time, I can arrange for several victims to speak out in the media, recounting their tragic experiences. You know, public opinion is the best weapon. When the whole nation is once again condemning Sean Penn as a fraud, he will have no other choice."

Catherine frowned. "Are you trying to drive him to the brink?"

"Am I some kind of bad person?" Richard laughed.

He continued, "It's not a dead end; it's a path we've shown him. When he realizes he's surrounded by enemies, he'll understand that cooperating with us is his only way out. At that point, he won't put on airs with you anymore."

"But there are risks involved," Catherine said. "What if he gets really pushed to the limit and just releases the list?"

"He won't," Richard said confidently. "That list is his only shield. If he releases it all at once, he'll lose all his bargaining chips. He'll release it little by little, just a bit at a time, in exchange for what he wants."

"Moreover, how can he prove the accuracy of that list? A layman simply cannot use such a tool properly; only in the hands of professionals like us can its full value be realized."

Richard added, "We need to make him understand that we are not his enemies. We are his friends, people who want to help him. As long as he obeys, we will protect him."

"Carrots and sticks." Catherine nodded thoughtfully.

“Exactly,” Richard raised his glass. “Absolutely right, a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt, my most admired Republican!”

Catherine then asked, "What about Crane? If Sean really has something on Crane, when will we make our move?"

“No rush,” Richard said. “Let’s get Sean Penn under control first, then we can take it slow. Crane, that anti-abortionist, has been operating in the Senate for over twenty years; he’s deeply entrenched. We need the perfect timing to take him down.”

"Next year is an election year, and both parties are busy vying for the White House. If we can expose Crane's scandal at a crucial moment, it could not only ruin his political career but also severely damage the Republican Party's chances in Pennsylvania."

"Killing two birds with one stone," Catherine said excitedly.

"Killing three birds with one stone," Richard corrected. "If handled properly, you can use this opportunity to boost your reputation. What a great political image a young legislator who bravely exposes corruption has. Maybe you can even consider running for mayor in the next election."

Catherine didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

This has always been her goal.

The Philadelphia city councilor position was just the beginning; her ambitions extend far beyond that.

"Okay, we'll do it your way." Catherine made the decision. "You contact the people at the Department of Justice, and I'll handle the media arrangements."

"There's one more thing," Richard stood up. "Sean Penn didn't speak at the forum today, but he was observing. That shows he's a cautious person who won't easily reveal his hand."

"We need to have someone keep an eye on him and see what he does next. If he tries to contact other forces, we need to know immediately."

"I understand," Catherine nodded.

Richard walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at Catherine.

"Catherine, there's one more thing I need to remind you of."

"What?"

"Regardless, we shouldn't underestimate Sean Penn." Richard's expression turned serious again. "I've been in politics for almost forty years and have seen all sorts of people. But I've never seen anyone like him before."

"A person abandoned by the whole world dares to stand up and declare war on the entire system. Such a person is either a madman or a genius. Either way, they are not easy to deal with."

"I'll be careful," Catherine said.

Richard nodded, then pushed open the door and left, walking away triumphantly.

Catherine Donovan sat alone in her study, gazing at the night outside the window, lost in thought.