Chapter 569
“Good evening, everyone! Welcome to the grand opening of Moonlit Apothecary,” Lauren announced gracefully from the stage.
Lauren’s beauty was legendary in Jayrodale, and all eyes were instantly drawn to her radiant presence.
She smiled warmly and continued, “I’ll keep it brief – thank you for coming, and I hope you’ll continue to support Moonlit Apothecary. Now, let’s get the feast started!”
With that, cheers erupted from the crowd as the celebration reached its peak. Over a hundred large banquet tables were packed with guests enjoying the spread of delicious food and drinks. Laughter and conversation filled the air as people dove into the feast.
Andrew glanced at the lively scene, unsure how to respond.
Francesca, her dimpled smile glowing, approached and teased, “So, Andrew, how did we do? Lauren and I pulled off this banquet pretty well, right?”
“You did a great job,” Andrew replied, grinning. “Thanks for saving me from spending a fortune.”
Francesca puffed her chest proudly. “Exactly! Think about it – just the guys from West End and South City who have cause to celebrate number over a thousand. If we had taken them to a fancy hotel for dinner, you’d be out hundreds of thousands.”
Lauren soon joined them, holding the hem of her dress as she walked over and looped her arm through Andrew’s.
“Fran’s right,” she said playfully. “Even though you’re not hurting for money, Andrew, Fran and I will be your future financial advisors. We’ll make sure you don’t waste a dime.”
Francesca blushed and waved her hand. “Oh, please! You’re the one marrying him, not me.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Really? Then why do I feel like you’ve been the most involved today? You came up with the whole banquet idea and worked harder than me!”
Francesca’s face reddened further as she stammered, “That’s because the Rhodes family is loaded, so you don’t worry about these things. But the Aickers aren’t that rich. We’ve learned to be more frugal.”
Lauren grinned mischievously and turned to Andrew. “Hear that, Dr. Lloyd? Fran’s got great money sense. Maybe you should marry her as your second wife so she can manage your finances.”
Andrew chuckled nervously, knowing better than to engage in that conversation.
Francesca, however, glared at Lauren in embarrassment. “Lauren, stop it! People are listening!”
Lauren giggled. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave. Let’s grab some food.”
Francesca clapped her hands in excitement. “Great idea! This is my first time attending a banquet like this. It’s actually a lot of fun!”
Just then, a sleek motorcade arrived, drawing everyone’s attention. The convoy of over ten black luxury cars, including Mercedes and Audis, moved in smoothly and commanded the crowd’s curiosity.
As the car doors opened, a group of men in martial arts uniforms swiftly exited, forming an orderly line. Each wore a headband with the words “Madblade Martial Academy” boldly displayed.
The bustling atmosphere quieted momentarily as people turned to observe the newcomers. The Madblade Martial Academy was infamous for its arrogance in Jayrodale. Even prestigious events, such as Kane’s funeral and Harvey’s rise to power, had not been important enough for them to attend.
From the VIP table, Tiana took a slow sip of tea and smirked. “Well, well… looks like someone’s here to stir up some trouble. Marvin, I think we’re in for a good show.”