“Do you need the car? I drove your car, so how will you go?” Leo asked.
“I have two cars,” Nicola replied, tossing him the keys.
Leo caught the keys and gave a thumbs up.
“Aren’t you going to stay a bit longer?” Perhaps because the empty room lacked a man’s presence, Nicola felt a bit reluctant for Leo to leave.
“No, my grandmother told me that when a boy is out, he must learn to protect himself.”
“Get lost!” Nicola threw a pillow at him playfully.
Leo left in his Porsche, heading to Sophia’s company. She had called him earlier to pick her up, saying there was a dinner tonight with Cousin Lily’s husband, Max, hosting.
The reason for the dinner was simple-Max had been promoted to a high position in his department, and his wife, Lily, was now the sales director of a subsidiary under the Azure Cloud Group.
With such good news, they couldn’t let it pass without a celebratory dinner.
Max also invited Jessica and Martin, but Jessica was playing mahjong with her sisters, and Martin had plans with his antique enthusiast friends, so Sophia and Leo represented them to attend the dinner.
Leo was initially reluctant to go because such gatherings would inevitably make him the target of mockery.
However, Sophia insisted. Leo had to be there to drive for her, and Jessica’s sister, Sophia’s aunt, would be present. They hadn’t seen each other in years.
Helplessly, without having divorced, Leo still had to listen to the words of his nominal wife, so he had to drive to pick her up.
Leo drove to the Golden Leaf Shopping Plaza. When he got out of the Porsche, Sophia seemed surprised.
“Where’s the Mercedes?” Sophia asked.
“It got parked on the side of the road, and someone with a grudge against the wealthy smashed the windshield. It’s already at the service center,” Leo made up an excuse.
“So, whose car is this?” Sophia was suspicious.
“It’s the company car of Wilde Jewelry Company,” Leo answered.
“You really work at Wilde Jewelry Company?”
“No doubt about it. I accepted the invitation from the old man I met on Antique Street. I am now the Chief Gemstone Consultant at Wilde Jewelry Company.”
After getting in the car, Sophia’s tone suddenly became dangerous, “Leo, isn’t this a woman’s car?”
Leo’s heart skipped a beat; he had indeed been careless. The Porsche had a faint scent of perfume and various feminine accessories and ornaments.
Thinking quickly, Leo cleared his throat, “Uh… This is the executive vehicle for Wilde Jewelry Company, and the company’s executives are mostly women, so…”
Sophia’s gaze was intense as she stared at Leo, “Leo, although we aren’t a couple for real, legally, you are still my husband. If I find out you’re messing around, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“With such a beautiful wife, how could I look at other women?”
“Drive!” Sophia replied.
All women are tigresses, especially beautiful ones. They are tigresses of battle. Sensing that Sophia might lose her temper, Leo hurriedly started the car.
At 7:30, they arrived at the restaurant. After parking the car, they followed the usher to the second floor, entering a luxurious private room.
The room was extravagant, with five large round tables that could seat dozens of people each. It was evident that this dinner was hosted with a high standard, and Max spared no expense to show off.
As they arrived late, three tables were already filled with people chatting merrily, and the food had yet to be fully served.
Sophia recognized some of the guests and introduced Leo to them one by one.
However, as they saw Leo by Sophia’s side, their expressions immediately turned cold, as if just looking at Leo would hurt their eyes.
Although Lillian and her husband knew Leo was acquainted with Harry Toby, the wealthy magnate of Langstel, their disdain for Leo ran deep in their bones. The appearance of a wealthy magnate couldn’t change their attitude toward him fundamentally.
Therefore, their attitude toward Sophia and Leo remained lukewarm, and they asked them to sit at the table near the door.
Sophia looked around the private room but couldn’t find her aunt. After making a call, she found out that her aunt had a last-minute issue and couldn’t make it to the dinner.
This made Sophia a bit disappointed.
“Leo, my aunt can’t make it. Let’s go,” sensing that the atmosphere wasn’t very friendly, Sophia suggested leaving.
Leo pulled her back to her seat, “Don’t rush, we’ve already given the gifts, we should eat and drink what we can.”
After digesting the spiritual power in the turtle medicine, Leo found himself a little hungry again.
Sophia was left speechless.
After everyone had arrived, Max’s mother stood up and proudly announced, “Today is a double celebration. My son, Max, has been transferred to the State Tax Bureau as an assistant researcher, and my daughter-in-law, Lily, has been promoted to sales director of a subsidiary under the Azure Cloud Group. To celebrate this good news, we’ve arranged this banquet to thank everyone for their care and support for Max and Lily.”
Max’s father also stood up and said loudly, “Tonight, everyone must enjoy the feast. Let me propose a toast!”
After Max’s father finished, he downed his drink.
Max also timely stood up, raising his glass, “To all the elders, relatives, and friends, thank you for coming to tonight’s banquet. I toast to all of you!”
Max finished his drink in one gulp.
Someone chimed in, “, you’re going to have a bright future. Don’t forget us poor relatives.”
“And Lily, at such a young age, she’s already the sales director of a real estate subsidiary under Azure Cloud Group. Her future is limitless.”
Amid the praise from friends and relatives, Max felt like he had reached the pinnacle of life.
“Uncles, aunts, and all of you, you’re overpraising me. No matter how well I fare in the future, we will always be family!” Max declared.
“Nicely said!” someone applauded.
Seeing her son-in-law’s success, Lillian’s face was full of pride, but she occasionally glanced at Leo, who was eating silently. There’s no hurt without comparison, and similarly, there’s no sense of superiority without comparison.
Max and Lily toasted several tables of guests before approaching Leo and Sophia’s table.
“Sophia, after so many years, your husband is still like this. Don’t you think he’s a burden?” Lily spoke somewhat impolitely, influenced by the alcohol.
Adding on, Max said, “Trash is always trash, even if you raise it for a hundred years, it won’t turn into gold.”