Chapter 56
"Don't you usually like to have something sweet after meals?"
Benjamin carried Evelyn out of the restaurant, walking straight toward the parking lot.
Along the way, she could feel eyes on them, subtle but present.
Both of them were good-looking, plus the refined air they'd developed from growing up privileged made them stand out in any crowd.
Not to mention what had just happened—it was perfectly normal for people to notice them.
She didn't mind at all. Instead, she let out a soft laugh, clearly pleased.
"Your sister was crying so pitifully. Aren't you going to check on her?"
"I'm afraid if I do, you'll end up crying even more pitifully."
"I won't cry."
Evelyn grabbed his large hand, their fingers interlaced. Her expression was playful and lively.
Sophia watched this scene through the window, her fingers nearly digging into her palms.
Why should she have to sacrifice herself for the family's interests while Evelyn effortlessly had the best of everything around her?
She looked at the message on her phone, a venomous expression in her eyes.
After Thea finished reporting on Belle & Chic's recent situation, she asked quietly.
"Ms. Thomas, are you close with the new employee?"
Evelyn thought for a second before remembering what had happened a couple of days ago.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
When she had Freya come to Belle & Chic that day, she partly wanted to take Freya down a peg and make her see the difference between them.
On the other hand, she wanted to keep Freya under her nose so she could keep tabs on what Freya was up to.
But there had been so much going on lately that she'd almost forgotten about Freya.
"What did Freya do?"
Thea was sharp—she wouldn't bring up office gossip about a coworker during work hours for no reason.
Evelyn looked up, signaling her to continue.
Thea glanced toward the door, then took out her phone, opened it, and handed it over.
One look, and Evelyn laughed in disbelief.
It was normal for girls to have traces of their crushes on their social media.
Benjamin had never shown his face on Freya's social media account, but every single post Freya made was related to him.
From him texting to check on her work, to ordering takeout for her at mealtimes, thoughtfully sending gifts, transferring money... every single thing looked like he cared deeply about her.
Thea couldn't read Evelyn's thoughts but still tried to comfort her.
"Your love life has been pretty rough, with troublemakers everywhere. Maybe you should go to church and pray?"
Evelyn opened her mouth to refuse, but thinking of her rebirth, she fell silent.
In the past, she never believed in ghosts or gods, thinking that was just an excuse for the weak.
Now she felt that many things weren't so simple. If there wasn't some divine guidance in the mysterious workings of fate, how could she possibly have gotten a second chance?
Maybe she really should go to church and pray?
As she considered this, the corners of her lips curved into a smile. "Can everyone at the company see her social media posts?"
"Yes." Thea pursed her lips.
Lately, people at the company had been saying that because Evelyn was always chasing after Matthew, Benjamin was going to give up on her.
And Freya always put on this innocent act, giving everyone sweet smiles, making quite a few people think she was more suitable for Benjamin.
Thinking of how people gossiped privately, Thea looked at Evelyn with some sympathy.
"Save your sympathy. These cheap tricks of hers can only work behind the scenes."
Evelyn glanced at Thea with amusement and chuckled. "We've been too busy lately—we haven't had any team building. Arrange something. Please make arrangements for a team dinner tonight."
Meeting Thea's puzzled look, her smile deepened.
"Don't forget to invite Freya. Interns can join team building too."
Belle & Chic is full of young women, and when they heard that Evelyn was treating everyone to dinner at an upscale restaurant tonight, they were all overjoyed.
When they got off work, they even touched up their makeup.
Walking down the street, they were quite a sight.
But the most eye-catching among them was Freya in her white dress.
An innocent first-love face paired with an elegant long dress.
Especially with her naive appearance, among a group of sharp, capable professionals, she looked exactly like a pure, spotless white lotus flower.
"She's not even that pretty. Why are so many people asking for her contact info?"
Thea looked through the car window at someone approaching Freya to chat her up and couldn't help but complain.
She seemed to feel she shouldn't say that and added another line.
"Ms. Thomas, that's only because you're not there. If you were, those people would only ask you for your Messenger."
"No, they wouldn't."
Meeting Thea's surprised look, she smiled without explaining.
Everything she wore, even someone clueless could tell she had money.
People without money in their pockets—how would they dare approach her, asking for her contact info?
Freya was different. With that innocent face, she gave off the feeling of being easy to fool.
This kind of cheap attention was completely unnecessary for someone of Evelyn's status.
"Let's go to Miso & More. Have fun eating tonight, don't think about unhappy things."
If she was going to play, she'd play big.
Miso & More.
"Ms. Thomas."
Freya held a glass of sake, her face slightly flushed, and walked up to Evelyn. "Thank you for taking care of me. I'd like to toast you."
Evelyn leaned back on the sofa, nodding with a smile. "Alright."
She reached out to pick up her glass, but Freya, in front of her, suddenly lurched forward, falling toward Evelyn.
In the panic, Freya switched the direction of her glass and spilled the sake to the side.
But the sake in Evelyn's hand spilled completely onto Freya's head, not a drop missed.
Surprise flashed in her eyes, then quickly turned to alarm as she scrambled to get up.
"Ms. Thomas, I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Her first concern was for Evelyn's condition, but her voice carried an obvious sob, her eyes already red.
Her right hand immediately went to rub her knee, and her movement getting up was unsteady, as if she might fall at any moment.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes.
Everyone had seen what just happened...
"Ms. Thomas, Freya's just a girl. Whatever she did wrong, please don't hold it against her."
Ruby Hill spoke up with a smile.
Ruby seemed to say nothing, yet every word implied that Evelyn had deliberately made Freya fall and embarrassed her.
After all, everyone had seen the content on Freya's Facebook.
For proud Evelyn to vent her anger was normal.
"How could that be?"
Freya's eyes were red, her voice choked with tears, yet she still spoke up for Evelyn.
"Ms. Thomas would never hold it against me. She saved me from those thugs and gave me such a good job."
Her pitiful, grateful appearance, paired with Evelyn's casual attitude.
Everyone felt that Freya had been badly bullied by Evelyn.
But facing Evelyn's status as the young lady of the Thomas family, who dared to say anything?
Just as the previously lively atmosphere became somewhat stiff, the private room door opened, and Sophia walked in.
"Evelyn, team building?"
She walked in with a smile. Her gaze swept over Freya, and she looked at Freya with clear disgust.
"You really let her into your company?"
"Haven't you learned your lesson from last time when she was harassed by that man?"
"How dare you still hang around Evelyn?"