After getting the news she had most wanted tonight, Irene finally relaxed. She sipped her champagne in comfort, lazily surveying the elegantly dressed crowd.
Britney had to fly to another city for work the next day, so she had already left, leaving Irene alone to pass the time. Just as Irene was thinking of leaving too, a familiar figure who absolutely shouldn't have been there caught her eye.
Near the head table, a man she had met just last week—the veterinarian who had gently vaccinated her little dog, Lucky—stood chatting with several Fox Searchlight Pictures executives. He was wearing a well-tailored dark suit.
He was no longer the veterinarian in a white coat, with the gentle scent of disinfectant about him. Now, he carried himself with ease, looking every bit like he belonged at the event.
Irene almost thought she was seeing things. She blinked instinctively and looked again. No mistake—it was Loren Lee.
What was he doing here?
The question had barely crossed her mind when she saw something even more astonishing. Fox Searchlight Pictures' current CEO, the famously iron-fisted Beard Fergus, a man near the top of Hollywood's power rankings, was approaching Loren with an Asian woman at his side. They were clearly husband and wife, and each held a glass of wine. They casually patted Loren on the shoulder, then shared a smile with him, their closeness making it obvious they were family.
An unbelievable thought struck Irene.
Wait, an Asian woman... Loren Lee...
Could Dr. Loren actually be the son of Fox Searchlight Pictures' CEO?!
Irene's fingers paused around her wineglass. She thought of Loren's handsome features, blending the best of East and West, and his warm, courteous manner that still kept a certain distance. All of it suddenly made more sense.
Her thoughts wandered further,