“Mr. Hemingway, since I arrived in Green Spring, you’ve booked a VIP suite for me and invited me to a high-end restaurant. Just tell me straight if there’s something on your mind,” Leo knew there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
“Mr. Bloomer, you’ve misunderstood. I simply wanted to have a meal with you and get to know each other,” Lee Hemingway replied.
“If you don’t speak plainly, skip the meal. That’ll do,” Leo said, about to end the call.
Hastily, Lee Hemingway said, “Mr. Bloomer, to be honest, I met you at Old Mr. Browne’s birthday celebration. Today, as the host of Green Spring, I should treat you to a meal.”
“Is that all, Mr. Hemingway?” Leo sensed there was more from Lee Hemingway’s tone.
Lee Hemingway smiled, “Mr. Bloomer, it seems nothing can escape your notice. Miss Browne specifically instructed me to take good care of you since you hold the Five-Claw Golden Dragon Supreme Card.”
“How does Renee know I’m in Green Spring?”
“I informed Miss Browne. Please forgive me, Mr. Bloomer.”
“Is the Imperial Mountain Hotel part of Azure Cloud Group’s properties?”
“Sort of. Without Miss Browne’s support at Azure Financial, I couldn’t have achieved this scale. Additionally, I am also the owner of Lemon Grass Restaurant.”
After a moment of contemplation, Leo said, “In that case, can I book the entire restaurant when I go to Lemon Grass for a meal?”
“That’s absolutely fine,” Lee Hemingway replied.
“Alright, I’ll be at Lemon Grass later.”
Ending the call, a faint smirk appeared on Leo’s lips. The reason he wanted to book the entire Lemon Grass restaurant was to preemptively deal with any trouble that Joyce and her boyfriend might cause.
As Leo returned to Sophia’s side, Gordon approached him, adopting an elder’s posture, “Leo, you’re not young anymore. A man without a job and career won’t do. You’ve met Donald Vogt, your aunt’s boyfriend. Learn from him when you have time. Although I don’t expect much from you, as a son-in-law of the Gunter family, you can’t embarrass us.”
“Even though you’re a son-in-law by marriage, don’t think about being lazy. Right now, my granddaughter pities you, so I’m keeping you around. But as a man standing on his own, you can’t depend on a woman for a lifetime. Understand?”
Gordon’s words sounded like advice but were filled with sarcasm and criticism.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that this old man was Sophia’s grandfather, Leo might have kicked him right then and there.
In the four years of being married into the Henley family, Leo had heard all kinds of unpleasant remarks and had learned to endure.
Leo could put up with it, but Sophia found it difficult. She hurriedly tried to defend Leo, “Grandpa, Leo isn’t like what you said…”
Before Sophia could finish, Leo gently pulled her hand and interrupted, “Sophia, no need to explain anything. Let’s go.”
Leo knew that people like Gordon had already formed a fixed impression of him, and explaining wouldn’t change a thing. It might even provoke more ridicule. Therefore, there was simply no need to explain.
As they got into the car, Sophia was puzzled, “Leo, you’re not the person Grandpa described at all. Why didn’t you explain?”
Leo started the car, smiling calmly, “You should know their temperament by now. Explanation won’t help, and it might even attract more mockery. So, there’s no need to explain.”
Sophia pondered, and having a deep understanding of the eccentric relatives of the Gunter family, as Leo described, she knew that the situation he mentioned might indeed occur.
At that moment, Jessica and Martin opened the back doors of the car and got in.
In Jessica’s view, since the relatives had already seen that their family had two Audi A8s, the goal was achieved, and there was no need to drive two cars to dinner.
However, thinking about Joyce’s words earlier, Jessica couldn’t help but feel upset. “Just because she’s hooked up with a rich guy, this Joyce is becoming more and more disrespectful to me. I’m her elder sister!”
According to the theory that everything can be linked to Leo, Jessica began to scold Leo again. “Leo, I shouldn’t have brought you. If you had a bit of decency, our family wouldn’t have to endure the relatives’ disdain.”
This made Sophia quite unhappy. “Mom, why do you always blame Leo for everything? Clearly, it’s those relatives from the Gunter family deliberately mocking us.”
“Mom, don’t get angry. There’s an opportunity in front of you right now, and you can turn the tables.” Leo suddenly spoke.
Leo had long been accustomed to Jessica always blaming everything on him.
Fundamentally, Leo, Sophia, Jessica, and Martin, the four of them were a family. Regardless, when facing external matters, unity was needed.
Leo’s words made the sensitive Jessica’s heart stir, and she quickly asked, “Leo, what opportunity?”
Leo smiled and said, “Joyce just said that her boyfriend, Donald Vogt, invited the Gunter family to have dinner at Lemon Grass. If we book the entire Lemon Grass and take control of this family banquet, then naturally, we’ll gain face.”
Jessica nodded, but soon she realized that Leo’s plan was simply not feasible.
“Leo, although your idea is not bad, please face reality. Lemon Grass is the best and most high-end restaurant in Green Spring. Dreaming of booking the entire place is just wishful thinking!” Jessica couldn’t help but coldly criticize.
“Mom, everything is possible. What if I manage to book the entire Lemon Grass restaurant? What would you say then?” Leo suddenly said.
Jessica crossed her arms and disdainfully said, “Give it a break. What’s the point of boasting in front of me? I know you inside out!”
“Well, you’ll see in a while how much I weigh.” Leo stepped on the gas, and after a turn, he headed straight to Lemon Grass restaurant.
Throughout the journey, Jessica was thinking about how to establish her upscale image in front of the numerous relatives during the family banquet. As for Leo’s words just now, Jessica considered them mere bragging, not taking them seriously.
As for Martin, as long as Jessica was present, he almost had no presence. He couldn’t be bothered to speak and lazily leaned back in his seat pretending to nap.
When Leo and the others arrived at Lemon Grass, most of the Gunter family members had also arrived.
After the Gunter family gathered in the parking lot, led by Joyce and Donald Vogt, they headed together towards the entrance of Lemon Grass restaurant.
Seeing Joyce, who was walking in front of the old man and enjoying all the attention, Jessica felt a bit depressed.
This time, when returning to her family, Jessica originally intended to show off in front of her relatives on this side. But unexpectedly, Joyce, who had a billionaire boyfriend, stole the spotlight.
This time in Green Spring, Jessica originally planned to inform all the Gunters that she, Jessica, had moved into the Cloud Dream Mountain villa area, becoming one of the wealthiest among the rich in Langstel city.