Chapter 83
“And besides, after all these years together, you know as well as I do–Soren only responds to kindness, not confrontation. If you talk to him patiently, he’d never be this cold to you. Sooner or later, he’ll start sending you money for living expenses again.”
As soon as Helena’s words faded, Evangeline heard the chime of a text message.
“Be here in half an hour, or the soup will get cold.”
With that, the call ended.
Evangeline glanced down at her phone, seeing the fresh deposit of a thousand dollars. She let out a helpless, wry smile.
Helena never lacked money, and she certainly wasn’t stingy about spending it.
A single steak dinner out, and she’d tip the server more than two grand.
It wasn’t that Helena was unwilling to give her more. She just didn’t want Evangeline to get used to it.
In the past, Evangeline might have refused the money out of pride. But now, seeing it as Helena’s way of paying her for running errands, she felt no guilt at all.
She took the money without hesitation.
She asked Glenn for an hour off from work and hailed a cab to the old house.
After picking up the thermal container filled with soup, she made her way to Fawkes Enterprises.
The receptionist recognized her immediately, and seeing the thermal container in her hand, she joked, “Mrs. Fawkes, here to spoil Mr. Fawkes again? But it’s been a while since your last visit.”
Evangeline managed a small, polite smile, saying nothing.
The receptionist didn’t seem to expect a response anyway. “You know the drill–go wait in the usual spot,” she said, before returning to greet other visitors.
Evangeline took a seat on one of the temporary lounge chairs in the lobby.
She waited for over ten minutes–well past the end of the workday–but the receptionist still didn’t call her up.
She was used to this.
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But today, she didn’t have time to play the waiting game. She decided she’d just ask the receptionist to deliver the soup and then leave.
She was about to stand up when she caught sight of the elevator doors opening nearby.
Out stepped Poppy, followed by a woman wearing a Fawkes Enterprises badge–his secretary. The secretary bowed slightly, her manner nothing short of respectful.
Poppy carried an empty glass container, looking quite pleased with herself.
Nearby, a few employees who were taking a break lowered their voices in gossip as they watched Poppy.
“That Miss Yates is incredible. I heard she just brought Mr. Fawkes lunch a few times, and he bought her an entire subsidiary as a gift.“.
“That’s not even the half of it. Mr. Fawkes made an exception for her–she doesn’t need an appointment or to wait to see him.”
“You haven’t heard the best part. I once saw Miss Yates staying overnight in Mr. Fawkes’s office…”
From their whispers, Evangeline pieced together the story.
She was hidden from view behind a decorative wall near the lounge chairs, out of sight.
Poppy must not have seen her either; she sailed right past and exited the front. doors with her head held high.
Just then, the receptionist approached. “Mr. Fawkes is finished with work. You can go up now.”
He’s finished working?
Or maybe he finally has a moment to brush her off.
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Evangeline smiled faintly and handed over the thermal container. “I have something else to take care of, so I’ll head out now. Would you mind giving this to him for me?”
Without waiting for the receptionist’s surprised reply, Evangeline walked outside, ready to call a cab.
She’d barely stepped out when she spotted Poppy standing nearby–brown
Chapter 83
sunglasses perched on her nose, exuding smug satisfaction.
Evangeline’s pace slowed.
After a brief hesitation, she walked straight toward Poppy.
She could tell Poppy had seen her in the lobby earlier; clearly, she was waiting here on purpose.
There was no escaping this. Evangeline didn’t intend to try.
“What do you want?” she asked, stopping in front of her.
