The ballroom was dazzling with lights and filled with the buzz of conversation. Influential figures from various circles had gathered, and the clinking of glasses added to the air of opulence.
Dennis scanned the crowd and finally spotted Raymond. He walked over with Claire and greeted him.
Raymond's eyes showed a flicker of surprise and admiration when he saw Dennis.
"Raymond, this is my girlfriend, Claire," Dennis introduced happily.
Claire quickly smiled and greeted Raymond, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Thomas."
Raymond nodded, "Hey, Claire. Welcome."
At that moment, Melinda approached. She glanced at Claire's dress and was visibly impressed.
She smiled and greeted Claire, striking up a conversation. Although Claire was a bit nervous, she gradually relaxed with Dennis by her side and began chatting warmly with those around her. She knew this party was just the beginning for her and Dennis.
Claire linked arms with Melinda and walked towards the sofa area where Kathy was already seated. Kathy's eyes lit up when she saw Claire. "Claire, you look stunning! And your boyfriend is so handsome!"
Claire smiled shyly and glanced at Dennis, who held her hand and said gently, "They're complimenting you. Why are you shy?"
"Exactly, no need to be shy. We're all family now," Melinda teased with a smile. She checked her watch, "It's about time. Let's head over."
"We're also planning to host a similar event abroad, on a large scale, with many renowned international pharmaceutical companies attending. If you're interested, I can arrange for you to join," Melinda continued.
"Really? Melinda, can I go too?" Kaia asked eagerly, hoping to make connections with influential families abroad.
"You can talk to Vincent," Melinda replied kindly.
Kaia beamed with joy and thanked her repeatedly, her eyes lingering on Dennis, already setting her sights on him.
"Claire, just stay with me," Dennis whispered, holding her hand, his warmth calming her nerves.
Rhett stood not far away, his gaze fixed on Claire. His friend noticed and teased, "What's up, Mr. Thomas? Interested in that beauty? But the guy with her looks tough."
"So what? I always get what I want," Rhett said confidently, adjusting his suit and heading towards Claire with a drink in hand.
"Claire, I didn't expect to see you here," he said with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake.
Claire hesitated, glancing at his hand and then at Dennis.
Dennis pulled her closer, holding her hand, "She's my girlfriend. She's not comfortable shaking hands with strangers."
Rhett's smile faltered but quickly recovered, "My apologies. I just thought it was fate meeting Claire here..."
He raised his glass to toast with Claire, but Dennis declined, "She doesn't drink, and I don't like her being alone with other men."
Rhett's smile froze completely. He glanced at Dennis and then at Claire, a dark look flashing in his eyes.
He knew he wouldn't get his chance today, but he was confident he would eventually win Claire over.
With that thought, he turned and left. Dennis watched him go, frowning, then led Claire to a quiet corner. "Claire, stay away from him."
"Why?" Claire asked, puzzled.
"He's not a good person," Dennis said curtly, not wanting to elaborate but determined to keep Claire away from people like Rhett.
Claire nodded obediently, staying close to Dennis without further questions.
After a while, Dennis felt a bit stifled and took Claire to a private room to rest. The room had fruits, snacks, and drinks.
Dennis picked a large cherry and fed it to Claire, "Is it sweet?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah, really sweet," Claire replied, her lips curving into a beautiful smile. She picked a cherry and fed it to Dennis, "You have one too."
After a while, Dennis suddenly leaned in and kissed Claire's lips, "Claire, you're so sweet," he murmured, his voice husky and full of emotion.
Claire's eyes widened, her heart racing and cheeks flushing. She closed her eyes, letting Dennis kiss her.
After a moment, she felt a tear drop on her face. She opened her eyes to see a tear rolling down Dennis's cheek.
"What's wrong?" she asked, panicked, thinking she had done something to upset him.
"Nothing, I'm just so happy," Dennis said with a smile, hugging her tightly.
"Claire, I love you."
Claire hugged him back, "I love you too," she whispered, though a wave of sadness washed over her.
She loved Dennis, but there were too many obstacles between them. Qiana would never approve of their relationship.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but cry.
At that moment, Claire wanted to forget all her worries and fully enjoy the present.
However, some concerns were hard to shake off.
Despite her efforts to push away unpleasant thoughts, they kept creeping back, weighing her down.
Dennis seemed to sense her unease. He gently held her hand and asked softly, "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
Claire shook her head, not daring to tell Dennis about Qiana's visit.
She feared that this happiness would shatter in an instant.
A surge of impulse made Claire want to do something crazy tonight.
She wanted to let go completely, to make decisions she wouldn't regret later.
She knew she might lose Dennis because of it, but she also knew that if she missed this chance, she might regret it forever.
So, she decided to follow her heart and do what she had always wanted but never dared to do.
She returned to Kathy and the others, grabbed a glass of red wine, and downed it in one go.
The alcohol burned in her veins, making her feel more exhilarated.
She wanted to use the alcohol to boost her courage, to let herself go even more.
Not far away, Melinda was socializing with a group of people.
She wore an elegant dress, her smile poised, every move exuding grace and composure.
Raymond stood nearby, his eyes often drifting to her, filled with admiration and affection.
He knew how much effort Melinda had put into the company, always striving to integrate into this circle and secure more benefits for the company.
Their eyes met across the room, and they understood the deep meaning in each other's gaze.
Their silent display of affection caught the attention of those around them.
Dennis saw Claire drinking and frowned.
He walked over, took the glass from her hand, and said with a hint of reproach, "Stop drinking. You're drunk."