As Regina Shaw spoke, she watched Mason Lawson’s expression closely.

She was terrified that he would suddenly turn on her and tell her parents what she’d said. If that happened, she could forget about her father ever lifting his financial sanctions on her for the rest of her life.

Regina Shaw watched him nervously, but his expression was as inscrutable as ever, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Mason Lawson simply lifted his chin, gesturing for her to continue. "Go on."

Regina Shaw swallowed hard and forced herself to continue, "Then, both our families will assume we’re dating. They’ll stop forcing us to go on blind dates with other people, and we’ll get a little breathing room, right? Later on, if you find someone you like, or I find someone I like, we’ll just tell our families that we’re not a good match. Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll have your back!"

Mason Lawson hadn’t expected Eve Vaughn’s roommate to be such an interesting person.

When she finished, she looked at Mason Lawson with eyes full of anticipation, almost pleading. "So, what do you think? Is it a deal?"

A smile finally broke across Mason Lawson’s face. He raised his wineglass and said, "To a happy collaboration!"

Regina Shaw finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was as thrilled as if the blind date had been a genuine success.

She quickly raised her own glass, her smile radiant. "To a happy collaboration!"

...

However, their every move was being watched by the group at the other table.

Even if Eve Vaughn wanted to ignore it, she couldn’t miss the joyful smile on Mason Lawson’s face.

Eric Kendall clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk... Isn’t this progressing a little too quickly? Looks like they’re really hitting it off!"

Under the table, Mia Kendall stomped on his foot. "Would it kill you to shut up for two seconds?"

Hamilton Hale glanced at Eve Vaughn’s expression, completely at a loss for how to do damage control for Mason Lawson.

Just then, Mason Lawson seemed to feel several pairs of eyes fixed on him.

He looked over and was surprised to see that Eve Vaughn was also here today.

After his deep gaze met hers for a brief moment, Eve Vaughn immediately turned away, pretending to be absorbed in the food in front of her.

But everything tasted like ash in her mouth.

Ignoring the strange looks from the others at the table, she fought back the bitterness and sorrow in her heart and said to Mia Kendall with a bright smile, "Oh, by the way, Mia, let’s go to the hot springs after dinner!"

After saying that, she even made a point of stretching languidly. "I’m going to enjoy myself. Life is just too good!"

Eric Kendall and Hamilton Hale exchanged a silent glance. They both understood the situation but had no idea what to say in such an awkward moment.

Mia Kendall knew Eve Vaughn was in a bad mood. She hesitated for a moment, then suggested, "How about we go back to the room and rest for a bit before going to the hot springs?"

What she meant was, Eve could go back and have a good cry first. She wouldn’t judge her for it.

But Eve Vaughn just shot her a look and said, "If you’re not going, I’ll go by myself."

With that, she stood up and started walking toward the hot springs.

She had barely touched the food in front of her.

...

As Eric Kendall’s guest, Eve Vaughn received VIP treatment. He had arranged for her to have one of the best hot spring rooms, with the finest environment and facilities.

Mainly, he wanted to try and soothe her wounded heart.

Eve Vaughn wondered why Mia Kendall hadn’t arrived yet.

She soaked alone in the pool, but while her body’s fatigue didn’t lessen, the weariness in her heart only grew heavier.

The image of Mason Lawson with Regina Shaw surfaced in her mind.

’So his smiles and gentleness aren’t just for me.’

Eve Vaughn gave a self-deprecating smile.

’After dinner, will they go to the hot springs together too?’

The thought tormented her, making her feel like she was being eaten up inside.

Just then, a sound came from behind the screen—footsteps.

Eve Vaughn assumed it was Mia Kendall.

Even when the person walked around the screen and stood before her, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Mason Lawson?

’How could it be Mason Lawson?’

He wore nothing but a pair of swim trunks, his perfect physique on full display. His powerful chest and eight-pack abs were clearly defined and hard as stone.

Eve Vaughn stared at him in disbelief, as if she had turned to stone. ’Is... is this a dream?’

Mason Lawson stood by the edge of the pool, gazing down at her. "What are you looking at? Stunned? You don’t recognize me?"

It wasn’t until the man’s long, solid legs stepped into the hot spring that Eve Vaughn finally snapped out of it.

"You... what are you doing here?"

Her eyes were filled with so much confusion that she forgot she was supposed to be surprised and happy.

The next second, Mason Lawson pulled her into his arms in the water. A hint of desire flickered in his dark, deep eyes as he said, "I didn’t get enough to eat at dinner, so I came to eat you instead. After all, you look good enough to eat."