To be honest, Charlie was not keen on going. If it weren’t for ine meddling between him and ire, he would have turned down ire’s invitation without a second thought.


    The truth was, he felt quite uneasy about Loreen at the moment.


    Ever since Loreen discovered that he was not only her rescuer but also her ideal partner after saving her a second time, she had been persistently confessing her feelings to him.


    Now, with her inviting his wife to the hot springs and insisting he join them, he suspected that ire might just be a cover for Loreen’s real motives to see him.


    Attending would undoubtedly create a very awkward and ufortable situation for him.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Still, he found himself increasingly irritated by ine’s incessant chatter and nagging.


    ‘You don’t want me to go? Well, I’ll go anyway! Take that!’


    ine was taken aback by Charlie’s defiance. Though she huffed and puffed in anger, she couldn’t say a word in front of ire.


    With Charlie agreeing to join, ire chimed in, “Loreen has reserved rooms at Champs Elys Spa Resort out in the suburbs. It’s said to be part of the Shangri-La Hotel chain, and I checked the reviews—they’re quite positive. She’ll pick us up from here tomorrow.”


    Charlie nodded. “Alright, I’ll just follow your lead.”<fn02d1> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fn02d1>


    “Don’t forget to pack your swimming trunks; you’ll need them for the hot springs,” ire reminded him.


    Charlieughed. “Then you’d better pack a swimsuit too, right, dear?”


    “Absolutely!” she replied, clearly enthusiastic.


    ine quickly interrupted, “ire! You can’t wear a bikini! Choose a swimsuit that’s not too revealing! I won’t let that scoundrel Charlie take advantage of you!”


    Then, an idea struck her. “Oh! I have a facekini in your size! Want me to get it for you?”


    A facekini is a type of swimsuit that middle-aged women often wear at the beach. It’s not only a full-body suit but also features a mask that covers the entire face, leaving only holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. The sight of someone in a facekini is akin to a swimsuit-d version of a masked bandit!


    Wearing a facekini would leave one’s features hidden behind a grotesque mask, transforming any beautiful face into a faceless, expressionless “monster.”


    ire stomped her foot in anger at her mother’s suggestion. “Mom, are you trying to be cruel? I’m in my twenties! Why would you want me to wear that hideous facekini? Should I just soak in the hot springs wearing a trench coat and sweatpants instead?”


    ine responded with a serious tone, “I don’t want you to be taken advantage of! Just look at Charlie; he’s sly and perverted like a fox. You have to be careful!”


    Charlie was fuming.


    ‘Damn it! I should have let Jason and his father Justin deal with you that day! Why did I even bother saving you? It was just a waste of my energy and time!’


    ire shared in her frustration with her mother. She quickly finished her dinner and retreated to her room with Charlie.


    As they packed, ire selected a swimsuit that was casual andfortable, striking a bnce that wasn’t too revealing or overly sexy.


    Charlie kept it simple; all he needed was a pair of boxer shorts.


    ***


    The following morning, after they had finished packing, Loreen called to inform them that she was waiting downstairs.