The following morning at the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel.


    The grand dining room on the first floor was already bustling with voices andughter.


    But these were not the friends Yuna had invited for Manley’s birthday, but the staff gathered to wee Teresa’s parents.


    By then, Maurice’s car had pulled up beneath the open-air staircase of the Rosemary Beaumont Hotel. Marguerite hadn’t initially nned to bring Maurice along, but Teresa was insistent, so she had no choice.


    Teresa’s thoughts were simple. She was going to live with her biological parents, so any extra time spent with Maurice was a bonus. Moreover, the invitation read, “For Teresa and your parents.” It would be weird to bring only her mother.


    As soon as the car stopped, Marguerite, holding her daughter and apanied by Maurice, was awestruck by the scene.


    This was… a grand spectacle. There was a red carpet, flowers, and a signing board…


    Anyone would think it was a Hollywood celebrity event.


    Teresa was dazzled by the new and exciting surroundings, and she wouldn’t stop looking around.


    “This is so grand, even my birthdays aren’t this big!” The little girl eximed, wide-eyed with wonder..


    The staff turned their attention to this attractive family trio.


    Such a cute little girl!


    They couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with Teresa, “Little one, you must not know this. This family is trying to arrange a marriage with the daughter of the guests. This grand event is to wee their future inws!”


    Teresa stood on her tiptoes and looked up at Marguerite, “Mummy, what is marriage? What are inws?”


    Marguerite, exuding a hot mom vibe, lifted Teresa into her arms, “It means your friend is going to be engaged to a girl ssmate.”


    Teresa looked confused. Who was getting engaged?


    If it was Hayes, he would have told her. So, it must be Manley? But who would want to be engaged to the scruffy Manley?


    The trio didn’t linger, and in the face of all the attention, they headed straight for the red carpet..


    “On my mark! Music, cue–


    As Marguerite stepped onto the red carpet, the orchestra on both sides of the staircase started ying, followed by the violin, and finally the piano.


    The music was melodious, continuous.


    Marguerite suddenly regretted dressing too inly, in a white dress reaching her ankles, a beige coat, and no high heels.


    She always dressed forfort, thinking this was just a simple birthday party, who knew it would be such a grand event!


    At such an asion, she should have worn a formal dress. But it didn’t matter, this grand event was to wee someone else, they were just there to add to the atmosphere.


    After walking down the red carpet, they signed their names on the signing board in the hall.


    Teresa’s handwriting was squiggly, yet it exuded an innocent and childish charm.


    Marguerite was surprised to see that their family was the only signature on therge board.


    On such an important asion, they were the first family to arrive.


    The usher stretched out her hand with a smile, bent slightly at the waist, “This way, please.”


    The private room was at the end of the corridor. Just as they rounded the corner, a clumsy waiter identally spilled a ss of water, wetting half of Marguerite’s sleeve. The usher was like a cat on hot bricks, scolding sharply, “What’s the matter? Can’t you watch where you’re going? This is a VIP guest!”


    Well, she wanted to say that she was hardly a VIP! The waitstaff here were too easily flustered.


    “I’m sorry, ma’am! I’m really sorry! I…I didn’t mean to!”


    Maurice frowned, took Marguerite’s arm, and looked at the wet sleeve, “Are you okay?”


    The sudden intimacy made Marguerite ufortable. She pursed her lips, shook her head, and silently pulled her hand away, turning to the waiter, “Is there a dryer in the


    restroom?”


    “Yes, ma’am! I’ll take you there right away!”


    “It’s okay, I can go myself.” Marguerite looked at Maurice, “The guests haven’t arrived yet. You take Teresa in and wait for me.”


    Feeling Marguerite’s distance, Maurice’s eyes darkened, and he nodded slightly.


    Marguerite headed to the restroom, but as soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Yuna, who was dressed in full attire anding out of the stall.