Chapter 50

Even though the outside of the Elegant Mountain Estate looked ancient, the inside was a whole different vibe. This massive, modern mansion had everything—swimming pool, garden, mini-golf course, you name it. It screamed luxury.

Sawyer strolled through the east courtyard, and the household staff greeted him with big smiles, "Mr. Rivera, you're back! Mr. Kennedy is in the study."

Before stepping into the study, Sawyer gave a gentle knock, and Nathan's calm voice came from inside, "Come in."

Sawyer opened the door and saw Nathan behind an old-school desk, deep into a book.

A steaming cup of tea sat on the desk, filling the room with a cozy mix of tea and book smells, making Nathan seem more chill and classy.

"Nathan, I'm back," Sawyer said, bowing a bit.

Nathan looked up, his eyes landing on Sawyer's outfit, and his brow furrowed.

Seeing Nathan's displeasure, Sawyer quickly explained, "This isn't a skirt; it's a skort. It looks like a skirt but is actually shorts, suitable for both men and women!"

"Do the three things I asked," Nathan said, not showing any emotion.

Sawyer replied, "Sure, what are they?"

"First, dye your hair back to its original color," Nathan said.

Sawyer protested, "Nathan, it's trendy for artists to dye their hair now. This color is already very low-key."

"Dye it back to its original color!" Nathan repeated, leaving no room for argument.

"Alright, I'll dye it back," Sawyer agreed reluctantly.

Nathan continued, "Second, no wearing skirts."

Sawyer explained, "This is a skort."

"That's not allowed!" Nathan insisted.

"Alright, I won't wear it. I'll listen to you," Sawyer sighed.

"Third, no heavy makeup!" Nathan instructed.

Sawyer insisted, "I'm not wearing heavy makeup, just a bit of eyeshadow!"

"No!" Nathan emphasized.

"Alright, no makeup. I'll do as you say," Sawyer replied, a bit down.

"And a fourth thing," Nathan added.

Sawyer interrupted, "Didn't you say three things? Why is there a fourth?"

"Fourth, continue your studies while acting," Nathan continued.

Sawyer couldn't help but sigh; this was the hardest part for him.

For Sawyer, gaming was the best, and studying was the worst.

Sawyer tried to persuade Nathan, "Nathan, I can't compare to you. You can get into top universities easily, but I can't even get into a mediocre school like Aurora University. Forcing me to study is useless. I can't get into those prestigious schools! Besides, with our family background, do I really need a degree?"

Nathan's eyes narrowed, and his expression grew colder. "If you don't study, you'll go back abroad to continue honing your skills."

Sawyer quickly begged for mercy; he didn't want to go abroad again.

In the country, Sawyer was a superstar, but abroad, he was just an ordinary guy named Tony.

Nathan didn't allow Sawyer to reveal his whereabouts abroad, expose his identity, or attend any gatherings.

That life was too stifling, and Sawyer had had enough of it. He didn't want to go abroad again.

"Alright, I'll study. I'll do everything you say!" Sawyer promised.

Nathan's gaze softened slightly.

"Rest tomorrow, and the day after, go to the set to report to William," Nathan added.

"What kind of show is this? You want me to play the lead? Haven't you always opposed me doing TV dramas?" Sawyer was confused.

"They couldn't find a suitable male lead," Nathan said.

"What do you mean by unsuitable? Are all the male actors in the country not good enough?" Sawyer asked.

Nathan remained silent.

After watching Caroline's performance, Nathan was convinced that "Thunder 2" would be a huge hit. It would be the most successful investment for Stellar Entertainment Group under Kennedy Corp.

Nathan wanted to make this show a classic, sweeping the annual drama awards, not just for profit.

But although Caroline's acting was excellent, her lack of fame affected the show's attention.

In today's era, even a good show would go unnoticed without enough attention.

Roxanne, although a topic of discussion, had her role reduced after script adjustments, and her mediocre acting would likely become a focal point of criticism compared to Caroline's superb performance.

So, Nathan needed a big-name male lead who could not only act well with Caroline but also draw in a crowd.

With all the right pieces in place, the show could become a classic—both popular and high-quality.

That was when Nathan thought of Sawyer.

Even though Nathan had always been against Sawyer getting into showbiz, Sawyer had a natural talent for acting since he was a kid.

At just five years old, Sawyer snagged the Best Supporting Actor award for his killer performance in a movie, becoming the youngest winner ever.

From then on, Sawyer's career skyrocketed. He could play any role, even cross-dressing as a female character. His good looks and raw talent made him an instant hit.

But all that fame got to Sawyer's head a bit.

So, Nathan put a stop to all of Sawyer's gigs at home and sent him abroad to cool off.

Nathan knew that too much success too fast could lead to a downfall. He arranged for Sawyer to go abroad, take on low-paying theater roles, endure some hardships, and settle in a new environment.

However, celebrities couldn't stay out of the spotlight for too long; this was an era where people were easily forgotten. Even the most popular and famous stars would fade away if they disappeared for an extended period. Therefore, given this opportunity, Nathan decided to bring Sawyer back into the limelight domestically.

It was a win-win for both the show and Sawyer.

If Sawyer was dead set on being a star, Nathan didn't want him to be just a flash in the pan. He wanted him to be the best male lead with timeless roles.

Even though Sawyer didn't get Nathan's good intentions, he had no choice but to go along with it.

From childhood to now, Nathan was the person Sawyer respected the most.

Seeing Nathan stay silent, Sawyer didn't dare ask more questions. "I'll act, and I'll do it well, so I don't embarrass you, Nathan."

"To the public, our relationship stays a secret," Nathan instructed.

"I get it. I rely on my talent, not family connections," Sawyer responded.

Sawyer hurried out of Elegant Mountain Estate, only to find Caroline fast asleep in the car.

What surprised Sawyer even more was that even with the engine running, Caroline stayed in her dream.

Was she that exhausted, or did she just have an amazing ability to sleep?

Looking at her sweet sleeping face, Sawyer didn't want to wake her. Since she was so tired, he decided to find a comfy place for her to rest.

Not far away was a six-star hotel called Cabins Hotel. Sawyer drove closer, planning to gently carry Caroline out and settle her in for a good sleep, thinking they could play games together after she woke up.

Out of nowhere, Caroline suddenly opened her eyes and, seeing Sawyer's actions, threw a punch in panic.

Caught off guard, Sawyer took the punch right on his handsome face.

"What are you trying to do? Don't mess with me; I know Taekwondo!" Caroline warned.

"Are you nuts? You fell asleep in the car. I saw how tired you were and wanted to find a place for you to rest. Why'd you hit me?" Sawyer complained.

"You clearly have ulterior motives!" Caroline snapped.

"Ulterior motives? You're dreaming! Even if you had ulterior motives towards me, I might not be interested! Get out," Sawyer retorted.

Caroline rubbed her eyes, sleepily got out of the car. "Why are we at a hotel?"

"I saw how tired you were and thought of getting a room for you to sleep well. Once you're refreshed, we can keep having fun!" Sawyer explained.

"I don't want to go to a hotel. If we run into your fans, I'll be mobbed. Besides, it's not cool for a guy and a girl to be alone in a room late at night. I need to go home," Caroline turned to leave.

"Wait!" Sawyer stopped her. "You think you can just leave after hitting me?"

"What do you want?" Caroline asked.

Sawyer said, "Stay and hang out with me for a bit before you go. You said you'd treat me to food and drinks."

Caroline checked the time. "Alright, I'll stay for a bit."

Meanwhile, back at Elegant Mountain Estate, Charles walked into the east wing. "Mr. Kennedy, as you asked, I followed Mr. Rivera and found that he went to Cabins Hotel."

"He went to the hotel alone?" Nathan asked.

"No, there was a lady with him," Charles replied.

"A lady?" Nathan frowned.