“Yes, that’s right. We’re just tagging along for our own benefit,” Hayley chimed in jovially.
“Me too!” Sam raised his wineglass.
“Dr. Felch, Sam, Hayley, thank you for everything that you’ve done for Charlotte. I won’t forget your sacrifices!” Louis uttered, speaking as Charlotte’s fiancé. “Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
They clinked glasses and downed their drinks in one go.
“Though today’s a happy occasion, you shouldn’t drink too much,” Dr. Felch exhorted.
“Got it!” Charlotte nodded and turned to return to her seat.
“Charlotte, Louis, wait a minute.” Right then, Sherlyn came over with her wineglass. “I didn’t join in the toast earlier. This time, let’s toast to Dr. Felch together!”
“Dr. Felch, my mom wants to…” Louis interpreted her words to the doctor swiftly.
“Oh, you’re too courteous, Lady Sherlyn.” Dr. Felch raised his glass with a grin. “I’ve been staying here for a long time, so I should be the one toasting you. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Once again, Louis acted as their interpreter.
“We’re friends, so scrap that.” Sherlyn tittered. “Come, let’s drink together. We can enjoy the magic show after downing this drink!”
As she spoke, her maid refilled Louis’ and Charlotte’s glasses.
Charlotte’s head was spinning by then. However, she could not refuse to toast Dr. Felch, so she went along and clinked glasses with everyone before finishing the drink in one gulp.
She grew tipsier after this drink and even saw two Dr. Felches before her.
“Charlotte, are you all right?” Louis held her arm worriedly.
“She must’ve drunk too much. Bring her back to your table to grab a bite,” Sherlyn urged him out of concern. “Don’t let her drink any more wine so that she can enjoy the magic show.”
“Got it, Mom.”
Louis helped Charlotte back to her seat.
Lupine never let Charlotte out of her sight, following closely behind the latter. Before this, she thought Sherlyn was finding an excuse to make Charlotte drunk to create an opportunity for her son. Looks like I was wrong. She doesn’t seem to have such an intention.
The kids had so much fun as the magic show got more exciting.
After returning to her seat, Charlotte sipped on water and sobered up slightly.
Louis, however, continued drinking his wine. Slightly intoxicated, he could not stop himself from looking at Charlotte longingly.
Other than that, everything else was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Lupine wondered if she was overreacting, but she dared not let her guard down.
Right then, Dr. Felch excused himself from the show. Sherlyn got up to see him off.
Charlotte and Louis hastened to join her.
Dr. Felch chuckled and waved to dismiss them. “I’m too old to stay up late. Have fun! Don’t mind me. I shall head back alone and have some rest.”
“We can’t do that! You’re an important guest of ours.” After hearing Louis’ interpretation, Sherlyn ordered, “Louis, Charlotte, send Dr. Felch back to his room.”
“Sure.”
Louis held Dr. Felch’s arm while Charlotte followed behind them. Nice. I was hoping to go back to my room to rest anyway.
Before Lupine and two other female bodyguards could catch up with her, a maid suddenly shrieked, “Oh, Ms. Elisa! Be careful!”
Lupine looked over her shoulder instinctively to see the magician inviting Ellie on stage. The little girl was standing before the stage to watch the performance at that moment.
The Lindbergs’ bodyguards tried to stop her, but she was too ecstatic and climbed onto the stage, ignoring their words.
Lupine had to deal with her, so she informed the other two bodyguards, “Stay with Ms. Lindberg.”
“Yes.” They promptly caught up to Charlotte.
After sending Dr. Felch back to his room, Charlotte and Louis reminded Hayley and Sam to take care of him before retracing their path back to the garden.
Charlotte felt exhausted and genuinely wished to take a rest.
Louis was not feeling well either as he seemed a bit irritable and feverish.
