At this moment, Charlie entered the vi, following Loreen.


    Homes belonging to prominent families like the Eastcliffs are incredibly opulent. Upon stepping inside, the living room resembles a small banquet hall in size.


    The ce was bustling with people, as many esteemed figures from Eastcliff had gathered, engaged in lively conversations in groups.


    Mrs. Thomas, apanied by her husband, was chatting andughing with several old friends.


    Loreen quickly turned to Charlie and said, “My grandma is over there. Let me take you to meet her.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Charlie nodded and smiled, replying, “Please let your grandma know about the gift I brought for her.”


    As they approached the elderly couple, Loreen beamed and introduced them: “Grandpa and Grandma, this is my university ssmate, Charlie!”


    Mrs. Thomas smiled warmly and eximed, “Oh, so you’re Loreen’s college friend! Wee!”


    Then, she added curiously, “By the way, Loreen, didn’t you have a good friend in college named ire?”


    Charlie chimed in, “Hello, Grandma Thomas. I’m ire’s husband. ire wanted toe and celebrate your birthday in person, but she’s been tied up with family matters. She asked me to represent her, so please forgive her absence!”


    Mrs. Thomas smiled and said, “Oh, that little ire is already married!”<fncba2> This content belongs to find(?)ovel</fncba2>


    She then looked at Loreen seriously and said, “Loreen, look at your college friends—many of them are getting married. And here you are, still single. You should listen to your grandma. Stop going to Aurous Hill and find a boyfriend in Eastcliff. Get married soon so that Grandma can rest easy!”


    Loreen felt a swirl of emotions in her heart.


    She had deep feelings for Charlie, so much so that she had resolved to marry no one but him.


    However, the unfortunate reality was that Charlie was the husband of her best friend, and now even her family was aware of it. The chances of a future with Charlie seemed even more distant.


    Despite the Thomas family not being among the top elite in Eastcliff, they were still respectable. It would be unthinkable for them to allow their granddaughter to be with a married man.


    Even if Charlie were divorced, the stigma of being with someone who had been married would create awkwardness.


    These thoughts filled her with disappointment.


    At that moment, a discordant voice broke through the atmosphere: “Grandma! Grandpa!”


    Loreen turned to see her cousin Sam approaching, looking rather distressed.


    She instinctively inquired, “Cousin, I heard you had surgery not long ago. How’s your recovery going?”


    Sam, clearly agitated, snapped back, “Don’t bring up that operation! Just thinking about it makes me furious!”


    Mrs. Thomas looked concerned and said, “Loreen, you don’t know—the ordeal your cousin went through was quite severe!”


    Charlie didn’t turn around, but the voice sounded familiar to him.


    After a moment of contemtion, he recalled where he had heard it before.


    Wasn’t this the young man, Sam Kilgore, who had been forced to swallow a string of gemstone nes at Jasmine’s house?


    So, he was Loreen’s cousin?


    Furthermore, Sam referring to Loreen’s grandparents as “grandma” indicated he was the child of Loreen’s aunt.


    This connection was certainly intriguing.