At noon the following day,

Charlie and Claire made their way to the Maple Hotel by car.

While the Maple Hotel wasn’t the priciest option in Aurous Hill, it was definitely one of the most exclusive and luxurious, showcasing Douglas’s genuine intent to make their experience special.

He had indeed splurged on this occasion, having reserved the premium dining suite, which was elegantly decorated and could comfortably accommodate up to twenty guests, with a minimum spending requirement of seven to eight thousand dollars.

When Charlie and Claire arrived at the suite, they found that many guests were already present—besides Douglas and Loreen, a few college friends were also in attendance.

Loreen had been going through a tough time lately.

Having moved to Aurous Hill from Eastcliff with the goal of meeting the chairman of Emgrand Group, she had yet to even catch a glimpse of him after all her time working at the company.

Although she initially had the chance to stay in the office as the administrative director, her transfer to the sales department meant she spent less time at the office, which severely limited her opportunities to meet the chairman.

Now, she was faced with a new dilemma. Ever since being rescued by a mysterious man days prior, she had become infatuated with him. In fact, she felt as though she had fallen in love at first sight. As a result, her desire to meet the chairman had diminished, and now she was more eager to find her savior.

Little did she know that the chairman of Emgrand Group and her enigmatic rescuer were one and the same—Charlie.

Upon entering the suite, Douglas quickly got to his feet to greet them. “Hey, buddy! Claire! Welcome! Come, take a seat!”

Douglas treated the couple with utmost respect, filled with admiration for his friend.

Loreen appeared somewhat worn out and troubled, holding onto many secrets. When she spotted Claire, an impulse to confide in her arose.

She rushed over, grasping Claire’s wrists and said weakly, “Claire, come sit with me. I need to share something.”

Claire responded with a warm smile, “What’s going on? You look completely drained. What happened?”

Loreen sighed deeply. “It’s all because of that mysterious savior! Honestly, I think I’ve fallen for him! I see him everywhere… Every time I close my eyes, he’s there. He’s even in my dreams, but I just can’t find him! What should I do?”

“Well… I really don’t know either…” Claire replied, feeling helpless. Ever since Loreen had been saved by that unknown man, she had been determined to find him and marry him, but locating someone in a crowd was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Charlie felt a cold sweat trickle down his forehead as he listened to their conversation. Could it be true that Loreen had fallen for him? That seemed absurd! He realized he could never reveal to her that he was her savior, as that would lead to chaos!

After indulging in a few drinks and a sumptuous meal, Douglas stood up to energize the atmosphere. “Everyone, thank you for being here today! I’d like to propose a toast to all of you! Cheers!”

With that, he downed his drink in one go.

A few close friends joined in, shouting, “Cheers!”

Charlie smiled gently and took a sip from his wine glass.

“Douglas, I heard you’re quite the big boss now—with your fancy new restaurant and two million in cash. I bet you’re in touch with someone from the underworld, right? You’ve got to take care of us from now on!”

A flirtatious woman, adorned in glamorous attire and heavy makeup, smiled charmingly.