A look of dread flashed through Jasper Rockwell's eyes. He leaned his head a bit further into the car window. "Evan, let me ask you something."
"What is it?" The man's voice was deep and resonant.
"You don't have a girlfriend, do you?"
"No," came the succinct reply.
"HAHAHAHA! I knew it! I'm saved! Come on, get out of the car. We haven't seen each other in years. We've got to have a good drink later!" Jasper Rockwell immediately pushed his motorcycle to the side and personally opened the car door for Evan Fairchild.
The moment Evan Fairchild stepped out of the car, Jasper Rockwell slung an arm over his shoulders.
"Perfect. The two of us, radiating the glorious scent of bachelorhood. With you single alongside me, I'm not afraid anymore! Did you know? Shawn Fisher went and got secretly married! Now I'm my mom's primary target. Marriage isn't something you can just force, is it?"
"Arm."
Jasper Rockwell paused, awkwardly retracting his arm. "Same as always, ever since we were kids. Such a stuffy old man! Evan Fairchild, you're only ten months older than me! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were ten years older! Would it kill you to say more than one word at a time?"
Evan Fairchild started walking ahead.
Jasper Rockwell turned and walked over to his motorcycle, fixing his helmet hair in the mirror.
"Yep, I'm definitely the more handsome one!"
Evan Fairchild was dressed in an expensive, custom-tailored suit. Though the jacket was unbuttoned, his shirt was fastened to the very top button. 'Always so meticulous and stuffy!'
Jasper, on the other hand, wore casual jeans and a white T-shirt. His hair was styled in a trendy tinfoil perm. With his fair complexion, standing next to Evan Fairchild, he looked like he was from a different generation.
"Evan, wait up! You didn't come to Rockwellburg just to see my grandparents, did you? Is something else going on? Are you back for good this time? Uncle Fairchild isn't well; it's about time you came home to take over the family business!"
...
「The Rockwellburg Sports Center, located in East Rockwellburg.」
A charity gala was being held here today—the fifteenth annual event hosted by The Flora Fund, a star-studded affair featuring a fundraising auction.
This year's event was bigger than ever, with over a hundred celebrities invited. The guest list included everyone from A-list superstars to currently trending young starlets.
The media had been swarming the venue since early morning.
Celebrity arrivals were scheduled for 7:00 PM, with a one-hour red carpet to give the stars ample time for their grand entrances.
The organizers had booked out a hotel near the sports center for the celebrities to use for makeup and relaxation.
Melody Monroe arrived at the hotel, picked up her key card at the front desk, and followed a staff member's directions toward the elevators.
Talia Mercer and Winter Kane hadn't arrived yet; they were stuck in traffic, so she decided to go up to the room and wait for them.
She hadn't seen Rose Shaw since arriving, figuring she must be incredibly busy today.
Just as she walked away from the desk, a new group arrived. Raymond Ford walked in, surrounded by his entourage.
"Raymond, the room is ready," his assistant said as they walked. "Rose specifically arranged a presidential suite for you. I hear this hotel only has three of them."
Melody Monroe was still standing in front of the elevators, waiting.
The moment Raymond Ford saw Melody Monroe, he stopped in his tracks.
"Melody?"
Hearing someone call her name, Melody Monroe turned around, but she didn't recognize the person at first.
"Melody, it really is you! You've recovered? Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so glad you're okay! I've been tied up on set the last few days, so I had no idea you were discharged from the hospital." Raymond Ford walked over and hugged her.