Novel Full Chapter 157: She Thought He Was Rich... Until Tonight
Chapter 157: She Thought He Was Rich... Until Tonight
About twenty minutes later...
Lucas’s car slowly pulled up outside Mia’s university dormitory. He picked up his phone, sent her a simple message~
"I’m here."
Less than a minute later, the glass doors slid open. Several students walked out chatting and laughing before Lucas finally saw her.
For a brief moment...
His eyes stopped moving.
Mia slowly walked down the steps wearing a fitted light-colored dress that hugged her slender figure perfectly. The evening breeze gently lifted a few strands of her long hair while the warm sunset made her fair skin seem almost radiant.
The dress wasn’t revealing.
Yet somehow...
It made her even more attractive.
Elegant.
Fresh.
Unbelievably beautiful.
The closer she walked...
The more Lucas found himself staring.
"..."
"...Wow."
He couldn’t help looking her up and down.
The dress fit her almost perfectly.
Every step she took seemed graceful.
When Mia finally stopped in front of him, she noticed the way he was looking at her.
A faint blush quietly appeared on her cheeks.
"What?"
"Do I look weird?"
Lucas smiled honestly.
"No."
"You look stunning."
Mia lowered her head slightly, unable to hide the smile forming on her lips.
"...You really know how to flatter girls."
Lucas simply shrugged.
"I’m just telling the truth."
Without another word...
He walked around and politely opened the passenger-side door for her.
"My lady."
Mia giggled.
"So gentlemanly today?"
Lucas laughed.
"I have to."
"You spent so much time getting ready."
Mia smiled before carefully sitting inside.
Only after making sure she was comfortable did Lucas gently close the door and return to the driver’s seat.
Soon...
The car quietly disappeared into the evening traffic.
...
Over an hour later...
A magnificent building gradually appeared ahead.
Bellagio Grand.
Its towering architecture stood proudly beneath the evening sky, illuminated by countless golden lights that made the entire hotel resemble a royal palace.
Luxury cars continuously entered and exited through the grand entrance.
Valets in elegant uniforms welcomed every guest with perfect etiquette.
Everything about the place radiated wealth.
Standing quietly near the entrance...
Was a mature woman dressed in a perfectly tailored black-and-white professional uniform.
Her posture was elegant.
Her temperament was calm and refined.
Her skin was fair and flawless.
The fitted uniform outlined her graceful figure beautifully, while the row of buttons across her chest looked as though they were under tremendous pressure from her generous curves.
Combined with her gentle face and mature charm...
She gave people the impression of a successful, capable woman who remained approachable.
She was...
Connie Blue.
The general manager of Bellagio Grand.
Ever since receiving Lucas’s call earlier that day...
She had personally waited outside the hotel.
From shortly after five o’clock until now...
Every luxury vehicle entering the hotel had caught her attention.
Unfortunately...
Every guest who arrived turned out to be familiar VIP members.
The mysterious new chairman...
Still hadn’t appeared.
Inside the car...
Mia stared through the windshield as Bellagio Grand grew closer and closer.
Her beautiful eyes slowly widened.
"...Wait."
She looked toward Lucas.
"Are..."
"...Are we really having dinner here tonight?"
Lucas smiled.
"Of course."
Mia couldn’t help taking another look at the luxurious hotel.
Then she softly laughed.
"I actually worked here before."
Lucas glanced at her.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"For a short while."
"I only worked a few shifts before deciding to focus on university."
Bellagio Grand hired dancers like Mia on a rotating schedule.
One day on.
One day off.
She had only performed there a handful of times before leaving.
Still...
She remembered the place very clearly.
Every guest who entered Bellagio Grand was either incredibly wealthy or highly influential.
Ordinary people couldn’t even make a reservation.
Not to mention...
The cost of dining inside was astonishing.
"A normal dinner here..."
"...starts at around ten thousand dollars."
Lucas only smiled.
"So?"
Mia shook her head helplessly.
"You really spend money without blinking."
Then she pointed toward the elegant woman standing outside.
"See her?"
"That’s Connie."
"She’s the manager."
"She was the one who interviewed me when I first applied."
Lucas followed her finger.
His gaze landed on Connie.
"So..."
"That’s her."
He quietly nodded to himself.
She was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
The car slowly rolled to a stop in front of Bellagio Grand. Lucas got out first, walked around, and opened the passenger door for Mia like before.
As she stepped out...
He naturally reached for her hand.
Mia hesitated for barely a second before placing her soft hand into his, allowing him to lead her toward the grand entrance.
Meanwhile...
Connie, who had been patiently waiting for hours...
Finally noticed them.
"Connie."
Lucas smiled as he raised a hand toward the elegant woman waiting outside the entrance.
The moment his eyes landed on her...
A familiar blue panel quietly appeared before him.
[Qualified Target Detected]
[Name: Connie Blue]
[Appearance Score: 9.5]
[Current Emotional Status: Unmarried]
Lucas raised an eyebrow slightly.
"...A 9.5?"
Even he had to admit...
The system’s judgment wasn’t wrong.
Connie possessed the mature charm of a successful career woman.
She wasn’t the youthful beauty Mia or Debbie had.
Instead...
She radiated elegance.
Confidence.
And a calm temperament that naturally made people want to trust her.
The moment Connie heard someone call her name...
She immediately recognized Lucas.
Without wasting another second, she hurried down the marble steps.
Her high heels clicked crisply against the polished floor.
A respectful smile appeared on her face.
"Chairman Lucas."
"Welcome to Bellagio Grand."
"I’ve already prepared the private room for you."
"This way, please."
As she spoke...
She secretly observed Lucas.
Seeing him in person was another matter entirely.
He was...
Much younger than she imagined.
And far more handsome.
For a moment...
Connie almost wondered if someone had been playing a prank on her over the phone.
Who would’ve thought...
The new owner of Bellagio Grand would be a university-aged young man?
More importantly...
He wasn’t just young.
He carried himself with an effortless confidence that made people unconsciously take him seriously.
Connie couldn’t help thinking...
Working under such a young, wealthy, and capable chairman didn’t sound like a bad thing at all.
Of course...
That depended on whether Lucas planned to keep her.
The thought made her slightly nervous again.
Then...
Her gaze shifted toward the beautiful girl standing beside Lucas.
She froze.
"...Mia?"
Recognition immediately flashed across her face.
Wasn’t this the dancer she had personally interviewed?
Connie’s eyes brightened slightly.
At least...
She knew someone beside the chairman.
Perhaps...
That wasn’t a bad sign.
She smiled warmly.
"Mia."
"So you already knew Chairman Lucas?"
"Why didn’t you tell me?"
Even while speaking...
Connie carefully watched Lucas from the corner of her eye.
She didn’t dare say anything inappropriate.
The last thing she wanted was to leave a bad first impression on her new boss.
Meanwhile...
Mia looked completely confused.
"...Chairman?"
She slowly turned toward Lucas.
Then looked back at Connie.
"...Chairman of what?"
Her expression was genuinely puzzled.
She had always known Lucas was wealthy.
But...
Chairman?
Lucas scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...Ahem."
"Mia."
"I forgot to mention something."
He smiled helplessly.
"I’m..."
"...the owner of Bellagio Grand."
Mia nodded absentmindedly.
"Oh..."
"So you’re the owner..."
She suddenly froze.
The words she had just heard finally registered.
"...Wait."
"What?"
Her beautiful eyes slowly widened.
"Bellagio Grand?"
"You’re telling me..."
"...this entire hotel belongs to you?"
Lucas smiled sheepishly.
"...Pretty much."
For several long seconds...
Mia simply stared at him.
Unable to say a single word.
Her mind had gone completely blank.
She had always known Bellagio Grand wasn’t just another luxury hotel.
It was practically a landmark of Silvermont.
People said even booking a table required membership.
The owner was rumored to be one of the city’s most mysterious businessmen.
Yet...
That mysterious billionaire...
Was standing right beside her.
Holding her hand.
She had originally thought the luxury villa Lucas lived in was already unbelievably extravagant.
Now...
She realized she had only seen the tip of the iceberg.
"...You’re..."
"...way richer than I imagined."
Lucas laughed softly.
"I guess."
Connie quietly sighed to herself.
What incredible luck.
Finding out the man you liked was secretly the owner of Bellagio Grand...
That sounded like something straight out of a romance novel.
She almost envied Mia.
Taking advantage of the moment...
The moment Lucas stepped inside Bellagio Grand...
He finally understood why it was considered the finest hotel in Silvermont.
The lobby alone was breathtaking. Massive golden chandeliers hung from ceilings several stories high while polished marble floors reflected every light like a giant mirror. Ancient architecture blended seamlessly with modern luxury, creating an atmosphere that felt both extravagant and dignified without becoming excessive.
The hotel had seven floors.
Yet each floor was exceptionally tall, making the entire building nearly one hundred meters in height.
As soon as Lucas entered...
Rows of graceful dancers wearing flowing broad-sleeved immortal robes bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Chairman."
The synchronized greeting echoed throughout the magnificent lobby.
Lucas blinked.
"...This..."
"...actually feels like walking into an imperial palace."
Each dancer possessed outstanding beauty.
Their elegant movements made the entire place feel almost unreal.
Even Mia looked around in amazement.
Following Connie...
The three of them soon arrived at the chairman’s exclusive private suite on the top floor.
The moment Connie pushed open the carved wooden doors...
A breathtaking night view unfolded before them.
Bellagio Mountain stretched endlessly beneath the moonlight.
Clouds drifted slowly around the mountainside.
The city lights shimmered below like countless stars.
For a brief moment...
It truly felt like standing above the world.
After Lucas and Mia took their seats...
The doors quietly opened once more.
Several beautifully dressed dancers gracefully entered the room carrying trays of exquisite dishes.
One delicacy after another was carefully placed onto the enormous dining table.
Many of the ingredients were so rare that even Lucas couldn’t recognize them.
Once every dish had been served...
The dancers stepped back.
Elegant music slowly filled the room.
Without another word...
They began performing a graceful traditional dance.
Lucas leaned back in his chair.
Watching the performance.
Enjoying the luxurious feast.
For the first time...
He finally understood why Bellagio Grand was called the paradise of Silvermont’s elite.
The experience...
Was unlike anything he had ever seen before.