Mia Kendall was practically fuming. She said resentfully, "My God, he hasn’t made you any promises, and you dare to be with him? I think he’s much more complicated than Julian Lawson. Julian is just a mama’s boy, but Mason Lawson... he’s a meticulous, cunning hunter!"

"Don’t talk about him like that." Eve Vaughn was a little unhappy now. She pouted and said, "You don’t even know him."

Mia Kendall put a hand to her forehead and sighed. "It’s over. You’ve barely started, and you’re already this possessive of him!"

Suddenly, she thought of something and asked nervously, "Then tell me, he... he didn’t... you know... with you, right?"

Eve Vaughn froze. ’It felt like they did, but they didn’t go all the way.’

Facing Mia Kendall’s scornful, interrogator-like stare, Eve Vaughn quickly shook her head and said, "No!"

Mia Kendall warned worriedly, "You have to be careful. You’re only a junior in college. It’ll be a huge mess if you end up pregnant!"

...

「The next morning at eight, they set off on time.」

Eve Vaughn had Mason Lawson drive to the Kendall residence first to pick up Mia Kendall.

Eric Kendall hadn’t been home recently; he was busy over at the newly opened Crimson Spring Resort.

When Mrs. Kendall saw her daughter about to go out first thing in the morning, carrying a large bag, she frowned and asked, "Where are you off to so early? Look at what Mrs. Walsh’s and Mrs. Lewis’s daughters do on the weekends. They’re either learning flower arrangement or studying social etiquette. Now, look at you! The moment you have free time, you’re out running wild, or else you’re fighting tooth and nail to be some low-class actress!"

Mia Kendall pouted, adopting a resigned air. "Mrs. Walsh’s and Mrs. Lewis’s daughters are proper young ladies from high-society families. What am I? They’re learning skills to be useful in an arranged marriage for their families. What’s the point of me learning all that?"

Mrs. Kendall scolded, "I never should have brought a burden like you into the Kendall family! You don’t make me proud at all. I can’t count on you for anything."

Mia Kendall was already used to her mother’s words. After all, she often heard even worse things from her.

"That’s right, I’m a burden! I’ll get out of your sight, then."

After speaking, Mia Kendall ignored her mother, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out the door.

Mrs. Kendall frowned slightly and walked to the window, watching as Mia Kendall got into a black Bugatti.

There were only a few luxury cars like that in all of Rivaster.

’Could it be that girl is dating someone?’

Mrs. Kendall muttered to herself.

’Still, this might be for the best. It’ll save me the trouble of arranging blind dates for her.’

’After all, Mia Kendall is her biological daughter. If she can marry into a wealthy family of a status comparable to the Kendall family, then she herself could finally hold her head high in this house.’

’Otherwise, wouldn’t she be completely oppressed by that wolf cub Eric Kendall every single day?’

Mrs. Kendall had long had enough. She was just waiting for the day the wolf cub would make an unforgivable mistake and be thrown out of the Kendall family by her husband!

...

「Crimson Spring Resort.」

After they got out of the car, they saw the resort before them. It was even more breathtaking than the online descriptions.

The resort was surrounded by lush mountains and clear waters, a beautiful environment. The furnishings and layout inside were antique and elegant, with all the wood being high-quality mahogany.

Eve Vaughn couldn’t help but exclaim, "It’s so beautiful! I can’t believe a resort this nice was opened by Eric Kendall."

Beside her, Mia Kendall snorted dismissively. "He must have just paid for it and had someone else design it. Otherwise, with an idiot like him? What could he possibly come up with?"

Just then, Eric Kendall walked out of the resort. The first person he saw was Mason Lawson.

"What are you doing standing at the entrance? Why don’t you go in?" Eric Kendall said with some regret, "Hamilton Hale has surgery today, so he can’t make it. And it seems Jonah had something come up at his law firm, so he can’t come either."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly noticed Mia Kendall behind Mason Lawson.

Instantly, Eric Kendall’s handsome face fell. He asked with disgust, "Why did you guys bring her?"

Eve Vaughn quickly grabbed Mia Kendall’s hand and said, "I invited Mia. When you invited us, you didn’t say we couldn’t bring anyone."

Eric Kendall looked at her speechlessly and said, "You and Mason can come in. Mia Kendall can’t!"

"And why can’t I?"

Although Mia Kendall hadn’t wanted to come at first, she loved to antagonize Eric Kendall.

She said, "I’m a customer, why can’t I come in? Unless you give me a reasonable explanation, I’ll call the consumer protection hotline and report you right now, believe it or not!"

Eric Kendall scoffed, "Go ahead and call. I’d like to see them try to shut down my resort!"

Mason Lawson seemed to have grown accustomed to the siblings’ endless bickering.

Wanting to get to the hot springs sooner, he had to play peacemaker. He pulled Eric Kendall aside and said in a low voice, "Just let it go. She’s your sister, after all. Be the bigger person!"

And so, after Mason Lawson’s persuasion, Eric Kendall reluctantly gave Mia Kendall an entrance ticket.

During the day, they planned to wander around the resort first, and then start soaking in the hot springs in the afternoon or evening.

With Mia Kendall around, Eve Vaughn was like a wild pony let off its reins, paying no mind to Mason Lawson.

The two girls, playful as ever, wandered through the resort as if on a treasure hunt.

After all, aside from the hot springs, the place also offered beauty treatments, manicures, card games, and karaoke—all sorts of luxurious entertainment were available.

The two of them first went to indulge in a full-body spa treatment.

Mia Kendall said with a sly smile, "Evie, do you think Mason Lawson hates my guts right now? He probably brought you here to soak in the hot springs with him and, you know, take advantage a little. But now, since we got to the resort, he hasn’t even been able to hold your hand."

Eve Vaughn’s cheeks flushed slightly. "He’s not that kind of person."

"Alright, alright. He’s not, I am. Happy now?"

After she spoke, Mia Kendall couldn’t resist adding, "You were never this protective when you were with Julian Lawson!"

Eve Vaughn’s expression changed slightly, and her voice suddenly dropped. "Why did you have to bring him up? As if my mood wasn’t ruined enough. He and Mason Lawson can’t even be compared."

Mia Kendall could see it now. In Eve Vaughn’s heart, Mason Lawson was a towering figure, over six-and-a-half feet tall.

But in the end, Mason Lawson and Julian Lawson were both Lawsons. Who knew if some family genes weren’t so strong that they were embedded in the very bones of every member of the Lawson family?