Chapter 57
The story of how Freya was harassed while working as a waitress, how Evelyn stepped in to help her, and how Evelyn allowed her to work at Belle & Chic had already spread everywhere.
But now Sophia's words...
Alice Baker, who had a fiery temper, was the first to lose her cool.
"Ms. Thomas, what does Ms. Brown mean by that?"
Someone tugged at her sleeve, but she ignored it.
"Don't you know how pitiful Freya is?"
"All her relatives are gone. She only has Mr. White, who treats her like a brother."
"But she's afraid you'll misunderstand, so she won't accept Mr. White's financial help. She works several jobs every day just to afford school."
"Why are you still treating her like this?"
"Doesn't your conscience hurt, treating an orphan girl this way?"
Whether Evelyn's conscience hurt or not was unclear, but were the people at Belle & Chic really this kind-hearted?
Evelyn had seen office politics before, but this was the first time she'd seen her staff this worked up.
This Freya was really something.
Evelyn curved her lips, seeming completely oblivious to their implications.
"She is quite pitiful, which is why I've never stopped Benjamin from being good to her, and I even arranged a job for her."
As she spoke, Evelyn's smile deepened, though her eyes held hidden currents as she looked at Freya.
"Haven't I been good enough to you?"
Freya seemed frightened by Evelyn. She shuddered violently, her face turning pale.
But Freya immediately went along with Evelyn's words: "Ms. Thomas has been very good to me. I'll be grateful for the rest of my life."
Freya's state was like reciting from a script, more like gratitude forced out of her.
Alice frowned deeply: "Freya..."
"Alice," Freya suddenly interrupted her, "Ms. Thomas has really been very good to me, and this job is really important to me."
With those words, everyone looked at her with sympathy, while their gazes toward Evelyn became meaningful.
Freya was indeed formidable.
With just a few simple sentences, she had steered the atmosphere in the direction she wanted.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes. No wonder those worldly-wise young masters around Benjamin all spoke up for her.
Freya's ability to manipulate people was truly extraordinary.
"Since it's important, you should treasure it. Our company does fashion design—being sloppy won't do."
She picked up her coat and some tissues and handed them over: "Go clean up. Don't let this little accident ruin today's good mood."
"Yes, Ms. Thomas." Freya took the items and headed out.
Her hurried, fleeing steps somehow gave everyone the feeling that she'd been wronged but couldn't speak up.
Alice was pressed back into her seat, and everyone started chatting and laughing again.
But everyone could feel the atmosphere had clearly changed. The glances that occasionally fell on Evelyn now carried a hint of disapproval.
Evelyn seemed completely unaware, instead turning her gaze to Sophia.
"With such a big mouth, aren't you afraid someone will cut out your tongue one day?"
Evelyn's voice carried a smile but sent chills down the spine.
Not only did Sophia's expression change, but the employees around Evelyn also felt a chill, thinking this was a warning to them.
But Evelyn only said that one sentence and ignored Sophia, pouring herself another cup of sake and drinking it slowly.
Just when everyone felt the air in the room had become unbearably strange, a girl's sharp cry came from outside.
"Let go of me, don't touch me!"
It was Freya!
Everyone in the room exchanged glances and got up to go out.
Thea didn't follow immediately. Instead, she glanced at Sophia, then looked at Evelyn: "Ms. Thomas."
"Go see what's happening. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
After she left, Evelyn slowly spoke: "Sophia, is it because the Brown family hasn't gone bankrupt yet that the lesson I gave you wasn't enough?"
Sophia, who had been smiling, suddenly froze.
She immediately sat down next to Evelyn, once again putting on the act of a good friend.
"Evelyn, how can you say that?"
"That Freya looks innocent, but she's actually calculating."
"Otherwise, how is it that every time she gets bullied, Benjamin happens to see it?"
A flash of viciousness crossed Sophia's eyes, then she put on a concerned expression.
"I don't know why you suddenly gave up on Matthew, but Benjamin is the kind of man who has countless women eyeing him."
"This Freya is one of them, and from what I know, Benjamin treats Freya quite differently."
"You kindly gave her a job, but she made your employees think she's being bullied. How awful!"
Evelyn had a spoiled temperament. When she was wronged, when had she ever stayed calm?
She would normally make a huge fuss, and anyone who understood her would become the most important person to her.
Just as Sophia was waiting for Evelyn to hug her and pour out her grievances like before, saying she was the person who understood her best...
A slap rang out in the room, shocking Sophia so much her eyes widened, and she completely forgot what she was going to say.
"You really don't learn your lesson. Haven't I hit you hard enough?"
Evelyn withdrew her hand, looking at the handprint on Sophia's face, and said deliberately: "The person who covets Benjamin the most is you, isn't it?"
Sophia hated Evelyn with a passion.
Having just been slapped, she could barely contain her rage, but thinking of today's arrangement, she suddenly laughed.
"Evelyn, you're the one who doesn't treasure Benjamin. What's wrong with me liking him?"
"He'll see clearly that someone like you doesn't deserve to be loved!"
"Soon, he'll cast you aside like trash, and when you're crying and begging him, he won't even look at you!"
Sophia's malicious expression made Evelyn's heart skip a beat.
Why did she feel that in this life, Sophia was even crazier than in her past life?
But she would never give Sophia a chance to betray her.
"Ms. Thomas!"
Hazel Carter suddenly ran in, her expression very ugly: "The person who took Freya is Jeremy!"
Jeremy Martinez.
Jeremy was the mayor's son. Using his father's position, he'd done countless terrible things to men and women alike.
Even Timothy had told Evelyn to stay away from him.
No woman who fell into Jeremy's hands ever got away unscathed.
Evelyn suddenly looked at Sophia, saw her smugness, and immediately understood what was going on. Her expression turned cold.
"Sophia, what you do is really disgusting."
Evelyn's eyes became sharp: "There are many ways to deal with people, but you always choose the most despicable methods."
She couldn't waste time talking. She got up and quickly headed out.
"What are you pretending? You know she has feelings for Benjamin, don't you? You let her work at your company—didn't you have ulterior motives?"
When views don't align, there's nothing to say.
As Evelyn walked out, she saw Alice coming toward her. Alice had injuries on her face, and she looked at Evelyn with hatred.
"You're truly evil, doing something like this to Freya!"
"I wondered why you spilled wine all over Freya, but then kindly gave her your clothes."
"Turns out you'd already arranged with Jeremy to have him grab the girl wearing the Burberry coat!"
Evelyn's explanation was still on her lips when she saw Benjamin standing silently in the distance, his face terrifyingly dark.