Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Soaking in a Hot Spring with Mason Lawson, Imagination Running Wild

Eve Vaughn was mortified but replied stubbornly, "Well, I remember you also said you don’t need a daughter, Uncle Mason. So... you don’t actually have an illegitimate daughter, do you? Otherwise, why wouldn’t you need one? Besides, illegitimate children are probably common among the wealthy, right?"

Mason Lawson chided her lightly, "Eve Vaughn, be serious! If you keep spouting nonsense, you’ll be sorry!"

Eve Vaughn quickly shut her mouth, her amber, cat-like eyes secretly glancing at the man beside her.

Later, Mason Lawson took her to a very expensive and elegant private kitchen restaurant.

While they were eating, Mason Lawson suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Eric Kendall opened a hot spring resort in the south of the city. Let’s go to the hot springs this weekend."

Eve Vaughn’s imagination suddenly started running wild. Her and Mason Lawson... at the hot springs...

’Would he...?’

As she was lost in thought, Mason Lawson asked faintly, "Why are you blushing?"

Eve Vaughn was startled. She tried to hide her embarrassment and said, "Am... am I blushing? I don’t think so. It’s probably just... a little hot in here."

Mason Lawson didn’t seem to think anything of it. He just reminded her, "Remember to keep your weekend free. I hear his resort is pretty nice. We can go relax for a bit."

Eve Vaughn asked, "So, who else is going besides us?"

Mason Lawson thought for a moment. "Jonah Spencer and Eric Kendall should both be there. If Hamilton Hale doesn’t have surgery, he’ll probably come too. Why are you asking so many questions? Are they going to take your spot or something?"

"That’s not it."

Eve Vaughn said weakly, "Can I go with Mia Kendall? Otherwise, it’ll just be me, one girl, with you four guys. It would be really awkward."

Mason Lawson said, exasperated, "It’s not like I’m making you get in the same pool as them. What’s there to be awkward about? They have private ones for couples."

’If I’m in a skimpy swimsuit, soaking in a hot spring with Mason Lawson... how is that any different from taking a bath with him in the same tub?’

At that thought, she became more resolute. "I still want to go with Mia. Besides, after what happened at The Aegis Club, Eric and Mia’s relationship got so bad. We could use this trip as a chance for them to bury the hatchet. That way, life might be a little easier for Mia in the Kendall family."

Mason Lawson’s lips curved into a smile, as if amused by her naivete.

’How could a single vacation possibly resolve the issues between Eric, Mia, and even Mrs. Kendall?’

But since Eve Vaughn was insistent on bringing her best friend, Mason Lawson agreed.

’It just means there’ll be a third wheel hanging around them all the time.’

’How annoying!’

...

「Friday arrived in the blink of an eye.」

Mia Kendall was incredibly excited after Eve Vaughn invited her to the hot springs.

But as soon as she heard that the Crimson Spring Resort was opened by Eric Kendall, her face fell. "I’m not going!"

The shadow of what happened last time still loomed over her.

Ever since she escaped from Eric Kendall’s bed, she’d been having nightmares for days on end, all of them a chaotic mess.

And as for Eric Kendall, she didn’t know if he felt the same way, but he hadn’t been home since that day. He was probably staying with one of his little flings.

Eve Vaughn looked quizzically at the dazed Mia Kendall. "What are you thinking about? You’re completely spaced out."

Mia Kendall quickly shook her head and stammered, "N-nothing. It’s just... a resort opened by Eric Kendall? No matter how high-end it is, how great can it be? He’s such a low-class person!"

Eve Vaughn took out her phone, pulled up a webpage, and said, "I looked it up online. The chefs at this resort are all top chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. Look at this food they make. Oh, and you can get spa treatments there, too..."

After Eve Vaughn showed her, Mia Kendall was immediately swayed.

’It does look pretty nice.’

The main thing was, Mia Kendall was a foodie, and seeing all that gourmet food made her a little tempted.

And so, after some back and forth, she finally agreed.

After school on Friday, Mia Kendall and Eve Vaughn arranged to go shopping for swimsuits together.

Neither of them knew how to swim—they were complete landlubbers—and they rarely went to hot springs. So who knew where their old swimsuits for hot springs had ended up?

At the mall, both Eve Vaughn and Mia Kendall chose relatively conservative swimsuits.

After they finished shopping, the two went to a nearby bubble tea shop to rest, each ordering a drink.

Just then, Eve Vaughn’s phone rang. It was Mason Lawson.

"Are you guys done shopping? Do you need me to pick you up?"

The man’s low, gentle voice inevitably made Eve Vaughn’s face flush and her heart race.

Her own tone softened unconsciously. "No, that’s okay, Uncle Mason. Mia and I are going for hot pot in a bit. I’ll get a cab home after we’re done."

"Alright. Send me the license plate number then. Be safe, okay?"

Mason Lawson hung up only after giving his instructions.

As Eve Vaughn put her phone away, a smile played on her lips.

Mia Kendall couldn’t help but laugh. "You two are pretty convincing at this fake boyfriend-girlfriend thing. You’re just like a real couple, calling to check in on each other."

Eve Vaughn bit her lip as if she had made up her mind. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"A secret?" Mia Kendall pointed at her. "Eve Vaughn, you have secrets from me? Spill it! Now!"

Her reaction left Eve Vaughn not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Be serious, I’m telling you something really important! It’s... I like Mason Lawson."

"You like Mason Lawson?" Mia Kendall didn’t seem to process it at all, staring at her with a blank expression. "So?"

Eve Vaughn blushed, but a smile couldn’t help but escape her lips. "And... I think he likes me too. He’s the one who was helping me behind the scenes before, how I got out of that mess so quickly."

Mia Kendall was stunned into silence for a long moment. Then, she looked at Eve Vaughn seriously and said, "If you’re being coerced, just blink. Eve Vaughn, he’s blackmailing you, isn’t he?"

Eve Vaughn explained, "He hasn’t done anything to threaten me. He’s genuinely been very good to me."

Mia Kendall retorted, "What does ’very good’ even mean? Julian Lawson was ’very good’ to you before, too. And how did that turn out? You can’t see a man’s true colors when he likes you and nothing has gone wrong. He sweet-talked you a little, and you just fell for it?"

"He didn’t sweet-talk me."

Eve Vaughn looked at her intently. "Being with him is something I’ve thought through very carefully. Mia, you’re my best friend. That’s why I’m telling you."

Mia Kendall grabbed her by the shoulders, her voice filled with exasperated disappointment. "Evie, snap out of it! That’s Mason Lawson we’re talking about! You’re with him, so what has he promised you? Is he going to marry you?"

Eve Vaughn was instantly crestfallen. Not daring to think too deeply about it, she said, "We just got together, so we have to take things slow! Besides, I’m only a junior in college. I’m not in a rush to get married."