Chapter 17

Spotlights flickered in the hall, and everyone held their breath.

"Louis? How could it be Louis?" Roy exclaimed in disbelief.

"It really seems to be Louis."

Alice was so shocked that she nearly lost her balance, her voice full of disbelief and her heart pounding wildly.

The man in front of her, exuding a powerful aura, was completely different from the timid Louis she remembered.

Roy, standing beside her, was also dumbfounded and sneered softly, "Impossible! He's just a live-in son-in-law! How dare he pretend to be some big shot here?"

Roy had thought tonight's main character would be some bigwig from a wealthy family, but it turned out to be the Louis he had always looked down upon.

Alice barely managed to calm herself and couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Could it just be someone who looks like him? Is this really Louis?"

Roy snorted coldly, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes, "He, with his clownish demeanor, would definitely be laughed at."

However, while the two were still in doubt, Louis had already walked up to Anna. Faced with Louis's appearance, Anna felt her breath catch, almost forgetting where she was.

She stared wide-eyed, her heart pounding like a drum, and involuntarily whispered, "Why... why are you here?"

Louis smiled slightly, his eyes filled with affection and tenderness. He gently handed the bouquet to Anna, "Anna, all of this is for you."

Anna stared at him blankly, as if she didn't recognize the Louis in front of her.

Louis's gaze was tender and affectionate, and she was almost overwhelmed by the moment.

However, reason told her this couldn't be real.

She frowned and whispered, "Louis, what are you doing? Did you arrange all this?"

Anna was stunned, her hand holding the bouquet trembling slightly.

She couldn't believe this was her usually low-key and submissive husband, Louis.

Under the guests' gaze, countless waiters came forward with trays, presenting carefully prepared gifts one after another.

Among them were diamonds, gemstones, gold, and various other expensive treasures.

Anna looked at these glittering gifts, feeling a strong sense of unease and panic.

"Louis, are you crazy? These gifts are too valuable. If they get damaged, we can't afford to pay for them! Stop this now, let's leave before everyone realizes what's happening." Anna hissed.

Louis felt a pang in his heart but gently held Anna's hand. "Anna, don't worry. All of this is real. I arranged it all for you."

Anna struggled, a trace of doubt and fear flashing in her eyes, "Louis, what are you doing? You don't need to use this method to please me. You're not really the chairman here, are you?"

Louis didn't explain; he just looked at her affectionately.

"Anna, I know you don't believe me, but just remember, I am your husband, and from now on, I will make you proud."

Anna felt her heart being gripped tightly, causing a faint pain.

At this moment, the surrounding guests continued to offer their blessings to Anna, pushing her into the spotlight with almost no escape.

Her gaze wandered, looking at Alice and Roy with a complex expression, just in time to see Alice staring at Louis and Anna in disbelief, her lips slightly parted.

Jealousy and shock almost overflowed from Alice's eyes. She whispered to Roy, "Could it be that we've been wrong all along? This Louis... is actually the chairman of Sunset Bay International Hotel!"

Roy looked grim, clenching his fists, and he snorted angrily, "Impossible! He's just a useless live-in son-in-law. How could he be the chairman here? This must be a lie. He doesn't have that kind of capability."

Although Alice didn't say it out loud, the jealousy in her heart burned even stronger. Her gaze at Louis was filled with complex emotions, with a hint of regret.

Recalling how she had advised Anna to divorce him in the car earlier, she now felt a bit foolish.

At this moment, the lights in the banquet hall focused on the center stage again, and a lavishly decorated gift box was slowly opened, revealing a dazzling diamond ring inside.

Louis smiled as he stepped forward, picked up the ring, and once again walked to Anna. Under the gaze of everyone, he knelt on one knee, his voice deep and affectionate, "Anna, I know I haven't done enough, but from today on, I will spend my life loving you."

Anna looked at the diamond ring in front of her, her heart filled with mixed emotions, both unease and a hint of warmth. She had thought she had long lost hope in Louis, but at this moment, the small remaining hope in her heart was gently ignited.

However, standing beside them, Roy and Alice were in turmoil.

Roy's pride was almost shattered, his face dark with fury.

Alice sighed softly, with a hint of regret, "Could it be that we really misjudged him? He's actually not the Louis we thought he was."

Roy gritted his teeth, glaring at Louis, and said coldly, "No matter what he does, he's still just a live-in son-in-law. I don't believe he has the ability to arrange all this."

The guests continued to congratulate Louis and Anna, but Anna's heart was filled with complex emotions.

"Louis, I know you mean well, but we really shouldn't stay here. These gifts, this venue, you must be pretending to be the chairman before he shows up, right? I appreciate your effort, but... you shouldn't use this method." Her voice was low, as if afraid the surrounding guests would hear, "These people seem to be flattering us, but once the truth comes out, we'll have nothing left and might even face bigger troubles."

Louis was shocked, his eyes wide, not expecting her to understand it this way.

He moved his lips, wanting to explain, but seeing Anna's urging expression, he felt helpless.

It turned out, in her eyes, all of this was just a pretense.

Anna saw his silence and couldn't help but sigh softly, "I know you've always wanted to give it your all, and I don't look down on you, but... this method, this illusion, just isn't worth it."

Louis was slightly stunned, Anna's words piercing his heart like a needle.

He wanted to tell her that everything here was real, that she was the mistress of this place.

However, seeing the unease in Anna's eyes, he ultimately suppressed his impulse.

He understood that even if he told the truth, Anna probably wouldn't believe him and would think he was making up lies.

Under Anna's insistence, the party ended hastily, and the guests left, leaving the atmosphere momentarily silent.

On the way back to Bell Estate, Louis's heart was filled with loneliness.

He knew how Anna viewed him at this moment. She still saw him as that insignificant live-in husband, and no matter how hard he tried, it seemed he couldn't change the image she had of him.

Maybe he was really wrong. Everything he did for her was too ostentatious, making her trust him even less.

"Louis, why are you back so late today? And you two came back together?" Back home, Lucy was sitting on the couch in the living room. Seeing Anna and Louis return together, her eyes were full of confusion.

"We ran into each other on the way back." Anna forced herself to lie, feeling full of guilt inside.

Lucy couldn't help but glance at Louis, her tone carrying a hint of confusion, "You came back from Sunset Bay International Hotel and just happened to run into each other?"

"Quite like that." Anna quickly said, not wanting Lucy to ask more questions, as she wasn't ready to let Lucy know that Louis had pretended to be someone else tonight.

However, Lucy was not so easily dismissed. Her expression gradually turned disappointed, and she asked in a low voice, "So, how were the people you met at Sunset Bay International Hotel today? Any opportunities? I remember you said you wanted to find some quality men."

Anna was stunned, feeling a surge of displeasure, knowing that Lucy still hadn't let go of those unrealistic expectations. She shook her head, her tone somewhat helpless, "No, nothing at all."

Lucy arched an eyebrow, a look of dissatisfaction at this answer.

She had originally thought Anna could gain something from that occasion, but she got nothing.

She angrily slapped the table, stood up, and walked towards the kitchen, saying as she went, "With your excellent conditions, how could you miss such an opportunity? If you had no chance, why didn't you seize it earlier? Instead, you wasted time."

Her emotions gradually got out of control, and she turned around excitedly, pointing at Louis, "Look at you, you're such a useless person, causing Anna to miss her opportunities."

Louis frowned slightly. He knew Lucy always had a prejudice against him, but he didn't expect her to vent her anger directly on him.

He felt a bit sad, but he also understood that Lucy didn't realize she was hurting him.

Anna immediately stood up, blocking Louis, "Mom, stop it. He's done enough for me. You shouldn't talk to him like that."

Lucy was stunned for a moment, a look of slight surprise. "You're still defending him? Look at what he's done. He hasn't accomplished anything, and now you have to stand up for him. I really don't know what to say."

Hearing this, Anna clenched her fists, feeling a bit agitated.

She understood Lucy's worries and dissatisfaction, but she also knew Louis's good intentions, even though he had made many mistakes.

However, Lucy clearly didn't intend to continue the conversation. She stormed off to her bedroom, leaving behind a sentence, "I really don't understand you."

Then she closed the door, leaving a silent atmosphere.

Anna sighed deeply and turned to Louis. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't do anything for you today. You know my mom's temper."

Louis smiled slightly and shook his head, "It's okay. I'm used to it."

His gaze at her was filled with helplessness, but more so with deep tolerance.

The next day, Anna got up early to go to work at the hospital.

Louis personally saw her to the door. Without many words, they just shared a silent look.

When Anna drove to the hospital entrance, she suddenly heard the nurses around her whispering, some even pointing fingers.

Rumors were spreading that Anna, as a doctor, was taking bribes from patients' families before treatment.

Anna's heart sank as she felt an inexplicable pressure washing over her.

As she walked into the hospital, a group of patients' families blocked her office, angrily questioning, "Why are you taking bribes from patients? We heard it from your mother herself!"

Anna's heart trembled, her face turning pale, and she said in a flustered tone, "How is that possible? You must have heard wrong."

"We heard about your mother driving a luxury car. That's proof, or else your family couldn't afford that car," one of the patients' families said angrily.

Anna gritted her teeth, knowing Lucy had said things she shouldn't have. She bit her lip and said in a low voice, "I don't know where you heard these rumors, but they are completely false. I have never taken bribes from patients, nor have I done anything unethical!"

However, the patients' families were still relentless, some even demanding a clear explanation from the hospital.

At this moment, a familiar voice came from the crowd, "Anna, your mother said it herself at the beauty salon. I have a recording."

Anna's gaze locked onto the woman, an employee from the beauty salon who had dealings with Lucy, named Mia Tate.

Mia stared at Anna with a look full of accusation and disdain, "Your mother said it herself, Anna. Are you still trying to deny it?"

Ralph Cook stood at the office door, his face dark. His gaze swept over the patients' families gathered outside Anna's office, and his tone stern, "Anna, do you know the hospital's reputation is now in shambles because of you?"

Ralph was the head of the hospital's internal investigation department, and he must have heard some rumors.

Anna stood there, her heart filled with mixed emotions, but she took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm, "Mr. Cook, I've never taken any tips from patients' families. This is all a misunderstanding. Please look into it again."

Ralph raised an eyebrow, his gaze showing a hint of impatience, "A misunderstanding? Anna, it's not just the patients' families complaining about you. Even your mother admitted you took bribes. How do you explain that?"

"My mother really said that?" Anna's pupils contracted, her tone full of shock, "That's impossible! She must be talking nonsense! I have never taken any bribes."

"Are you still trying to get away with it?" Ralph sneered, turning to the crowd and waving, "Mia, come over here."

A slightly plump woman stepped forward, a smug smile on her lips.

She opened her bag, took out a recording pen, and pressed the play button.

The voice from the recording was clear, unmistakably Lucy's voice: "Yes, my daughter Anna has been making a lot of extra money lately. Patients' families are willing to give her tips because of her excellent medical skills. Honestly, if it weren't for her, how could I afford a luxury car!"

Listening to the words in the recording, Anna felt like she had been struck by a lightning bolt.