Lily Bennett led her son downstairs to the grand lobby. The hotel featured an outdoor buffet for families, with fresh seafood being the top choice for parents vacationing with their children. The beautiful Vung Tau beach stretched like a painting. The water was crystal clear, and the pleasant, cool climate made the experience comfortable. In the evening, guests could even stand by the shore and watch the sunset.
The hotel where Lily and her son were staying had been booked online. Since it was summer, there were naturally many tourists and families on vacation. Coincidentally, Maxwell Thornton, accompanied by his assistant Simon, was on a business trip to the same destination. Having just completed their online check-in, the hotel manager personally greeted them as they stepped out of their car, extending a warm welcome to the prominent businessman and his assistant.
Meanwhile, it was dinnertime at Choice Hotels, and Lily and her son were enjoying a cozy meal at the restaurant. Due to her seafood allergy, Lily opted for salad and light evening dishes, while her son, Liam, who fortunately hadn’t inherited her allergy, savored the seafood with delight. Every now and then, he’d look up at Lily and flash her a sweet smile. Lily ordered a plate of stir-fried beef with onions for her son, but Liam wasn’t keen on the dish and methodically picked out the onions, leaving them aside.
As it happened, the restaurant manager passed by and noticed the boy’s picky eating habits. She kindly sat down beside him and asked gently, "Little one, don’t you like the beef with onions?"
Before her son could respond, Lily politely shook her head and explained, "No, it’s not that. The dish is delicious, but this little one has never been used to eating onions. In any dish with onions, he picks them out before he’ll eat anything. I’ve tried different ways to get him to eat them, but he still won’t."
"I see," the manager smiled warmly at Liam. "Maybe that’s something he gets from his father? Speaking of which, where is your father? I haven’t seen him around."
Liam raised his head and answered innocently, "Daddy’s in heaven."
There was no sadness in his voice, but the words stirred a quiet sorrow in the hearts of those who heard them. The restaurant manager glanced sympathetically at Lily, realizing she had touched on a sensitive topic. Knowing now the hardship Lily had endured, the manager felt admiration for this young single mother. Raising a child alone couldn’t have been easy.
The restaurant manager, still kind-hearted, stood up and smiled at Lily and her son. "You’re still so young and raising a child alone, that must take a lot of strength. May I ask, how old are you?"
Lily smiled. "I’m twenty-six." In truth, she was only twenty-three.
"This little boy looks about six or seven, you had him quite young!" the manager remarked with friendly enthusiasm.
Faced with the woman’s warmth, Lily felt a bit uncomfortable, but out of politeness, she smiled and offered a small lie to brush the conversation aside.
"I thought that having a baby young would help me regain my figure faster, so I decided to have him early. But I didn’t expect his father to leave so soon…"
"Daddy was a very kind man, and Mommy is the best person in the world," Liam chimed in unexpectedly, still peeling shrimp.
The manager laughed gently. "What a sweet child. Have you thought about finding a boyfriend for yourself now?"
Lily hadn’t had a chance to respond before Liam answered on her behalf. "Lily is already looking for someone to date. Mommy said she’d find me a stepdad!"
"Lily? That’s a lovely name. My son is also looking for a girlfriend. He’ll be coming here shortly to pick me up. He’s in his thirties but hasn’t found anyone yet," the manager said, pulling her chair closer to Lily. "My husband passed away early too, just like yours, so I understand how hard it can be. How about I introduce you to my son?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a rich baritone voice called from behind them, "Mom, who are you talking to?"
The manager immediately stood up, waving her son over, and eagerly introduced him to Lily.
"Lucas, this is Lily, and this is her son. Isn’t he adorable?"
Lucas glanced at the boy, nodding and smiling. The child’s sharp, bright eyes radiated intelligence and charm. Tall and well-built, Lucas turned to look at Lily, the woman sitting quietly at a rustic wooden table, dressed in a soft nude-colored dress. Her long, slightly wavy hair was casually tied back. Her entire aura was serene, and a gentle smile played on her lips, creating an allure that made it impossible to look away.
Lily stood up and smiled, extending her hand to greet him. "Hello, I’m Lily Bennett."
It was clear that the manager’s intention was to set her up with her son. Lily greeted him politely, but deep down, she was already thinking of making her exit. However, Lucas smiled at her warmly and took her hand in his.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Lucas Greek. It’s a pleasure."
Feeling the subtle thrill in his handshake, Lily tightened her grip slightly, and Lucas quickly realized his behavior was a little forward. Embarrassed, he released her hand and smiled apologetically.
"I’m sorry…"
Lily rubbed her palm and smiled lightly. "It’s fine."
At that moment, Liam suddenly stood up, his big, expressive eyes shining as he tugged at Lily’s sleeve, whispering, "Lily, I’m full, and I’m sleepy."
What an understanding child! Lily bent down to take his small hand in hers and politely smiled at the manager and Lucas.
"I’m sorry, but my son is tired. We’ll have to leave now."
"No problem, it’s getting late," the manager added cheerfully. "Tomorrow, Lucas can take you and your son to the beach and the shopping mall. There are plenty of fun places for kids here. You’ll both enjoy it."
Lily couldn’t directly refuse the manager’s offer, but she really didn’t want to impose. She’d only just met them, and in her mind, she had already decided to check out early the next morning and find another hotel. So she simply nodded and smiled, not expecting Lucas to insist further.
"Lily, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that. You have a phone, don’t you? Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll call you in the morning?"
Lucas’s enthusiasm made Lily uncomfortable. Smiling awkwardly, she replied, "I’m sorry, but my phone’s out of battery…"
Just as she finished speaking, the manager pulled out a portable charger and cord from her bag, offering them to Lily. "Here, use this."
Looking at the manager’s generous smile and then at Lucas, Liam assessed the situation. This man seemed like a decent guy, but his mother clearly wasn’t interested. Still, how could they know if they were a good match without talking?
With that thought in mind, Liam tugged at Lily’s hand again and said honestly, "Lily, I’m not sleepy anymore. We can stay a little longer."
"Alright, we’ll stay a bit longer then." Lily forced a smile at her son’s sudden change of heart.