Chapter 246: American Dream?

In 2006, Italy was not peaceful either, even though Italy defeated France to win the World Cup.

However, the "Calciopoli" scandal, which broke out in Serie A before the World Cup, made Serie A a laughingstock and a topic of conversation in the world of football.

Juventus was alleged to have assigned referees favorable to their team, manipulating match outcomes. Later, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Lazio, and Reggina were also accused of match-fixing.

The "Calciopoli" scandal in Serie A was still being heard and judged in the Rome Sports Tribunal. Prestigious Juventus was relegated and would have to compete in Serie B this season.

Milan, the second-largest city in Italy after Rome, was not only steeped in history and economically advanced but also one of Europe's fashion and financial centers.

When Charles Capet arrived in Milan to meet up with Anne Hathaway, they toured the city.

They strolled through the Milan Cathedral in the city center. Charles, with no faith in Catholicism, could only appreciate the church's grandeur.

"When I was little, my dream was to become a nun. But when I found out my brother was gay, I gave up that idea," Anne Hathaway, raised in a Catholic community, was a Catholic.

"How did you decide to become an actress? Your family's better off than most." Compared to Charles, who grew up in East LA, Anne Hathaway's family environment was much better.

"In high school, my mom took me to see the play Les Miserables. I thought to myself that I wanted to be on stage one day," Anne Hathaway explained with a smile. After all, her mother was a stage actress.

"Alright, let's head back. If we have time later, we can visit ancient Rome or bathe in the Renaissance essence of Florence."

Charles had been accompanying Anne Hathaway in Milan and its surroundings for three to four days, and it was already mid-September.

"Are you heading back to the States too?" Anne Hathaway asked, a bit surprised, since Charles had been in Asia before.

Charles nodded. "It's about time. I've been away from LA for months, starting with the Cannes Film Festival in May."

Anne Hathaway nodded. That evening, they flew to Los Angeles on Charles' Gulfstream G550.

When Charles Capet reappeared in Los Angeles after being away for over four months, he noticed a slight change in the atmosphere of Hollywood.

In Burbank, at the Capet Pictures headquarters, Charles sat in the company's large conference room.

"This summer, our releases The Da Vinci Code, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Departed were all successful.

On TV, Prison Break Season 2, Mad Men Season 1, and the sitcom The Big Bang Theory Season 1 also aired, with quite good ratings, setting a solid foundation for us!"

From the establishment of Capet Pictures, producing their first movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2001 to independently distributing the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code which grossed over $760 million this year, five years had passed.

Charles Capet had transformed from a troublesome kid in East LA to a hotshot in Hollywood's new wave of movie moguls.

From having nothing to now being a young billionaire worth over $2 billion, Charles Capet undeniably represented the American Dream, rising from the lowest starting point to the fastest growth.

International business magazines like BusinessWeek, Fortune, and Forbes aside, news magazines such as Newsweek, Time Magazine, and U.S. News & World Report all featured 24-year-old Charles Capet on their covers.

That evening, Charles specifically went to his mother Evelyn's mansion in Bel-Air for dinner, as they hadn't seen each other in months.

"Was it hard working in Asia?" At the dinner table, Evelyn put down her knife and fork, asking.

Charles shook his head. "Not hard at all. East Asia is a crucial market, and it's the most densely populated region in the world. I'm just preparing early."

"This time you came back because Capet Pictures did exceptionally well. Not just Hollywood, even Wall Street and Silicon Valley are praising you too much," Evelyn frowned. After all, since Charles returned to LA, the media had been all over him.

"Don't worry, it's just a phase. Celebrities always attract attention in Hollywood; Wall Street's praise is just about profit margins since the sale price of YouTube surprised everyone," Charles commented. He wasn't really that young anymore, having lived over fifty years combined across two lifetimes.

Understanding his mother's concerns, Charles reassured her, "Are you worried these praising reports will get to my head? Worried that I'll become arrogant and pick up bad habits?"

Charles smiled, "Mom, I never went to college, but I read many books. My self-taught knowledge surpasses those who buy their way into universities."

Evelyn shrugged. "I've seen too many lost young people, especially in Hollywood; it's normal to get lost after becoming famous at a young age."

"I know. But even if I were to get lost, it would be after achieving my dreams. If we're talking about early fame, I should have lost myself two years ago!"

Charles didn't mind because, to him, life was just a game he strived to climb higher to make it more interesting.

"Well, it's the best if you can think that way," Evelyn admitted she couldn't fully understand his achievements. Despite his considerable success, he seemed unsatisfied.

Evelyn thought her son's excellence was incredibly surprising. Since Charles saw things more clearly than others, there was nothing more to say.

"Of course, I'm not a star constantly under the spotlight, confusing movies with reality. Hollywood's poor kids or stray girls become overnight sensations and the objects of adulation, which they can't handle quickly - with alcohol, marijuana, and a sudden influx of money and desires leading to rapid downfall."

Charles continued with a laugh, "No wonder continental Europeans call New World people parvenus. Those old Europeans see certain things quite clearly!"

Evelyn also laughed, finished wiping her mouth, and got up to instruct the maid to brew two cups of coffee.

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