"Young lady, what's your name?" Mr. Chatterly asked.
"Maeve Reese."
"Maeve, thank you for saving my life." Mr. Chatterly clasped Maeve's hands tightly and bowed. The onlookers stared in disbelief.
Maeve held Charles's hands tightly. He looked frail, and she feared he might fall.
"Sir, you don't have to do this. I only did what I should. It's nothing special," she said. During her university days, Maeve volunteered at a nursing home, encountering similar situations, giving her the courage to help. She knew that delaying action could have irreversible consequences.
Charles found her selflessness remarkable. So many people were present, yet none dared to help; they stood far away. These people, usually respectful of Charles, seemed to disregard him in this critical moment. Only Maeve stepped forward.
His admiration for her grew. He produced a gold-plated business card and handed it to her. "Maeve, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me."
Maeve tried to refuse, but Charles insisted, saying she shouldn't refuse an elderly person. An ambulance soon arrived, and Charles was assisted to the hospital for a checkup.
The other guests' attitudes toward Maeve shifted. Whispers circulated: "If I'd known Mr. Chatterly was just choking, I would have helped. The Chatterly family rarely gives out gold business cards, right?" "I heard that card grants access to anything, even family shares!" "Where does this lady come from? She was brave and resourceful." "She's clearly not ordinary; that gown is a limited-edition piece."
Maeve remained unaware of the gossip, but Byron overheard.
"Mr. McDaniel, Ms. Reese was incredibly brave," Archer remarked. "Without her, Mr. Chatterly's survival would be uncertain."
Everyone realized Charles's condition had been critical, seemingly a sudden illness. Fear of offending the Chatterly family had paralyzed the others. But Maeve had no such concerns; even if she did, she would have acted without hesitation.
Byron observed Maeve's earlier composure, stopping the assistant. He felt a strange emotion; she was like a thorny rose, soft yet firm, possessing a self-protective strength unlike her usual gentle demeanor. His interest piqued.
Karen, witnessing the praise Maeve received, seethed with resentment. Her carefully laid trap—to expose Maeve's supposed affair—had failed. She sneered, "She just patted Mr. Chatterly's back! What's there to be proud of?"
Unaware of Karen's machinations, Maeve received a message from Alex, summoning her to another part of the hall. He introduced her to Ms. Linds Watson, a director at Trend Style Magazine, a top fashion publication with international prestige.
Surprised, Maeve greeted Ms. Watson humbly. Linds praised Maeve's recent exhibition design, highlighting its unique blend of classical elegance and vintage style, particularly noting the exceptional crewelwork.
Linds' insightful appreciation contrasted with the typical reaction to beautiful clothes. Maeve blushed at the compliment and modestly replied. Linds then offered Maeve an exclusive interview, a dream for most designers. Maeve readily accepted.
After Linds left, Maeve's excitement waned slightly upon seeing Alex's smile. She questioned him, but he confirmed that Watson had approached him directly. He knew of Maeve's talent and anticipated an invitation from a fashion magazine but was still surprised by Trend Style's initiative.
Later, Maeve returned home to find Bonnie, recently discharged from the hospital, complaining about her home compared to the hospital. Maeve suspected Bonnie was attached to someone at the hospital, possibly Ray, a handsome and charming gentleman. Bonnie revealed her reluctance to leave the hospital for her weekly checkups.
The conversation shifted to the banquet; Bonnie learned Maeve had been renting a house near Alex, which Bonnie knew belonged to Alex. She realized Alex's actions and intended secrecy. Maeve was stunned to learn that Alex's apartment was so generously offered.