As a result, they could only admire him from afar.

However, the moment Ashley stepped out of her room, the women’s hopes were instantly crushed.

Seeing the stunning pair standing together, they immediately assumed Ashley was Gage’s date for the evening.

A few bit their lips in disappointment, while others sighed in frustration before reluctantly retreating to their rooms.

One after another, doors closed along the hallway.

The soft sounds of resignation echoed behind them as Ashley and Gage remained completely oblivious to the drama they had just caused.

Not long afterward, the siblings made their way downstairs.

The moment they stepped out of the elevator and entered the hotel lobby, they noticed a luxury sedan already waiting outside the entrance.

Before they could approach, a familiar face stepped forward to greet them.

"Miss Ashley."

The man gave a respectful nod.

"Our master has sent us to escort you to the restaurant."

Ashley immediately recognized him as one of Mr. Lowe’s subordinates from the underground arena.

Her eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.

She had expected to make her own way to the restaurant or perhaps call for transportation herself. She hadn’t anticipated Mr. Lowe arranging an escort in advance.

The gesture was simple, but it once again demonstrated his meticulous attention to detail.

Beside her, Gage’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, the subordinate remained calm and professional as he stepped aside and gestured toward the waiting vehicle.

"Please."

It was clear that everything had already been arranged for them.

"Alright. Thank you."

Ashley offered a small smile before walking toward the waiting car. Beside her, Gage naturally supported her arm like a perfect gentleman, carefully matching his pace to hers.

Earlier, Ashley had already sent Roman and Drake home for the day.

Not only had she paid them for their services, but she had also given each brother an additional five thousand as a bonus.

At first, Roman and Drake had repeatedly refused to accept it. They knew their work that day didn’t justify such generous compensation, and accepting so much money made them uncomfortable.

However, Ashley had simply smiled and explained that the extra amount was a tip for a job well done.

The truth was that during one of their walks that afternoon, Roman had accidentally revealed some of Drake’s situation. Ashley learned that the reason Drake looked so exhausted and was desperately searching for work was because of his wife’s medical condition.

The revelation struck a chord with her.

Remembering her own mother’s difficult past, Ashley couldn’t help sympathizing with him.

Still, she knew there was a limit to how much help she could offer without making the brothers feel indebted or suspicious. Giving them too much money outright would only cause them to reject it.

So she chose an amount that was generous enough to help but not so excessive that they would refuse to accept it.

Afterward, she sent the brothers home to rest, reminding them that they would be meeting again tomorrow to continue inspecting the three prime properties she likes most.

Although neither Roman nor Drake said much at the time, their gratitude had been obvious.

As Ashley recalled their reactions, a faint smile appeared on her lips before she followed the subordinate toward the waiting vehicle.

Soon, Ashley and Gage were escorted to what they thought would be a restaurant on the outskirts of downtown. Instead, they found themselves arriving at an elegant mountain villa resort.

"You’ve arrived. Come in."

Mr. Lowe was the first to greet them personally, a gesture that made even Gage raise an eyebrow in surprise. The vast resort was unusually quiet and nearly deserted, with only a handful of Mr. Lowe’s bodyguards stationed around the property.

"Seems like I made it just in time."

Another voice suddenly came from behind them.

Ashley and Gage turned at once, while Mr. Lowe’s expression stiffened the moment he recognized the speaker.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Lowe asked, his voice dropping several degrees. The displeasure in his tone was unmistakable.

"Well, you’ve invited Miss Ashley to dinner, but have you forgotten that I was supposed to be here as well?" Gideon said as he leisurely strode toward them. "After all, we’re discussing a three-way business partnership tonight, aren’t we?"

He stopped only when he reached Ashley’s side, a smug grin spreading across his face as though he had just claimed a hard-earned prize. The satisfaction in his eyes was impossible to miss, and judging by the look on his face, crashing this dinner meeting was an achievement he was particularly proud of.

"Well, that’s news to me..." Ashley said slowly, her gaze shifting between Gideon and Mr. Lowe.

She had no idea what the two men had discussed behind closed doors, nor why they seemed to be hiding something from her. At the same time, their interaction was strange. They appeared to be at each other’s throats, yet neither seemed willing to truly cross the line.

What surprised her most was the fact that Gideon had shown up uninvited without Mr. Lowe’s knowledge. Judging by the stiffness in Mr. Lowe’s expression, this was clearly not part of the plan. Yet despite his displeasure, Mr. Lowe made no move to remove Gideon from the premises.

That alone spoke volumes.

Either Gideon was unbelievably audacious, or his background was powerful enough that even someone like Mr. Lowe had to think twice before provoking him.

"Alright. Since you’re already here, it would be unbecoming of me to send you away now," Mr. Lowe said through gritted teeth.

With a forced smile, he gestured for his assistant to lead the way.

Gage remained at Ashley’s side, supporting her as they followed behind. The moment Gideon raised a hand, seemingly intending to help Ashley as well, Gage shot him a cold glare.

The warning was immediate and unmistakable.

Gideon’s hand froze midair before he casually lowered it. He rubbed the tip of his nose and looked away, pretending not to notice Gage’s hostile stare. However, despite his reluctance, he wisely abandoned the idea and settled for walking beside Ashley instead.

The entire exchange did not escape Mr. Lowe’s notice.

Watching the usually audacious Gideon retreat under a single glare from Ashley’s brother, Mr. Lowe couldn’t help but chuckle softly. For the first time since Gideon’s unexpected arrival, his mood improved considerably.

"Master, your private dining pavilion has been prepared, and the chefs are waiting for your arrival," Mr. Lowe’s assistant reported respectfully.

Mr. Lowe gave a slight nod and continued forward.

A few moments later, they arrived at an elegant pavilion nestled beside a tranquil pond. Two chefs stood behind a spacious open kitchen, already hard at work preparing the evening’s meal. Directly in front of the kitchen was a long dining table crafted from polished wood, positioned so guests could watch the chefs at work while they dined.

The surrounding pond reflected the warm glow of carefully placed spotlights, causing the water to shimmer like liquid gold. Combined with the gentle mountain breeze and the soft sounds of nature, the entire setting exuded an air of luxury, elegance, and exclusivity.

"This place is beautiful..." Ashley said, unable to hide the hint of awe in her voice as she took in the elegant pavilion and the shimmering pond surrounding it.