Page 41 of Dr. Billionaire
Hearing those words from Mark filled her with a profound sense of happiness. It wasn’t just about the fans or the convention; it was about being celebrated for something she had built from the ground up, and having Mark here, showing her off, made it all the more meaningful.
“Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing his hand before turning to the next fan in line.
Her heart nearly stopped when she saw who it was.
Standing there, looking slightly uncertain yet overwhelmingly happy, was her mom. Jenna blinked, thinking it was a trick of the low light, but there was no mistaking her mom’s familiar features.
“Mom?” Jenna’s voice was barely more than a whisper, shock evident in her tone.
Her mom smiled, the tentative expression transforming into something radiant. “Hi, Jenna. I got your text and thought… Well, I thought I’d surprise you.”
Jenna’s mind raced. She hadn’t spoken to her mom in over two years, and their last conversation hadn’t ended well. The sudden appearance left her grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. But seeing the genuine happiness in her mom’s eyes settled something deep within her.
“Oh my gosh, Mom,” Jenna finally managed, stepping around the table and enveloping her mom in a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here.” The hug was slightly awkward at first, but it soon became tighter, more genuine.
Her mom pulled back slightly, her eyes moist. “I’m so proud of you, Jenna. This—you’ve created something amazing.” She gestured around the decorated hall, her admiration apparent.
Jenna felt a lump form in her throat. “Thank you. That means a lot.” She turned briefly, her eyes scanning the room for Mark, who had already wandered off again and was chatting with Scott.
Catching sight of Jenna’s beckoning wave, Mark excused himself and made his way over. Arriving next to Jenna, he looked between the two women, sensing the significance of the moment.
“Mom, this is Mark,” Jenna introduced. “Mark, this is my mom.”
Mark extended his hand warmly. “It’s so wonderful to meet you. Jenna’s told me a lot about you.”
Her mom shook his hand, her expression a mixture of curiosity and subtle awe. “It’s nice to meet you too, Mark.” She winked at Jenna, which Jenna took as her approval of her choice.
Mark did look even more alluring than usual tonight in his suit.
“I can see why everyone here loves you so much. You’ve built something really special,” her mom continued.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m really glad you came,” Jenna said, her voice thick with emotion.
Her mom smiled, a hand reaching out to squeeze Jenna’s. “Me too, Jenna.”
“Hey, Mrs. Harper, long time no see!” Chloe said, coming up to them and gathering Jenna’s mom in a hug. Chloe had never been shy about that sort of thing.
“Oh, hi Chloe, it’s wonderful seeing you again.” Her mom smiled warmly. “Well I’ll leave you girls to it.”
“You’re leaving already?” Jenna asked, trying to hide her disappointment but sure she was failing.
“Oh no, honey. Your lovely planner got me a last-minute seat at a table. I’ll be here for a while.”
“Okay, good,” Jenna said, smiling as she watched her mom walk toward her seat.
Chloe grabbed Jenna’s arm and pulled her aside. “Did you see Scott is here?” she hissed.
“I did see that. I wasn’t sure he’d be able to make it, but it was sweet of him to come,” Jenna answered neutrally.
Chloe blushed, looking in the direction of Scott who was swirling his glass of wine, chatting with a group of fans. Jenna grinned to herself. She had no idea what was going on there, but something about Scott seemed to fluster Chloe.
She heard a loud clinking sound and turned to see Mark standing in the middle of the group, raising his glass to get everyone’s attention.
What was he up to?
The chatter slowly died down, and the crowd’s focus shifted toward him. Mark had always had a way of commanding a room with his calm, confident presence.
“Good evening, everyone,” he began, his voice carrying warmth and sincerity. “First of all, I want to thank every single one of you for being here tonight to celebrate something very special. This convention, this gathering, is a testament to the power of community, the joy of friendship, and the magic of shared passions.”
