Chapter 281
‘I knew you were talking about me. You might as well just mention my name directly,‘ Olivia thought bitterly. ‘What was all this talk about Yanny’s uncla’s kid thinking Yann’s dad runs the company?‘
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Even if Logan wasn’t running Darkshell International anymore, Yann was still his son. They couldn’t just forget about all the relatives from that side of the family.
“Lena-” Olivia said.
“Audrey,” Lena cut her off and continued, “don’t you think Uncle Logan willingly stepped down and let Yann manage the company because he got tired of dealing with all those boundary–crossing relatives from Olivia’s family?”
Olivia’s face turned black as coal. She practically ground her teeth as she said, “Don’t forget that my family also contributed to Uncle Logan’s success in building up the company.”
Lena acted like she hadn’t heard a word and kept chatting with Audrey, arm–in–arm. “Audrey, our teacher mentioned something about how a small favor creates gratitude but too many favors breed resentment. What does that mean?”
“It means when someone’s struggling and you give them a little help, they’ll be grateful. But if you help too much and then stop, they’ll end up resenting you instead.” Audrey played along with her explanation.
“Oh, I see how it works now.” Lena turned to look at Olivia. “So basically they become ungrateful? The help backfires, and you would’ve been better off leaving them to fend for themselves from the start.”
Olivia said nothing, gripping the cardboard box so hard her fingernails left deep marks in the surface.
When the elevator opened on the first floor, Lena slowly followed behind Olivia and even helpfully called over security. “She’s leaving the company. Make sure you check her box thoroughly.”
Olivia’s box contained barely anything, and security let her pass after a quick inspection. Her access card was confiscated, and once she walked out of Darkshell International’s front doors, getting back in wouldn’t be so easy.
At the entrance, Olivia couldn’t help but turn back for one last resentful look at Audrey.
“Mrs. Winifred.” The receptionists immediately stood up and greeted Audrey respectfully when they saw
“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Lena said proudly, linking arms with Audrey
“Mrs. Winifred is very beautiful,” one of them replied.
her approaching
“Audrey isn’t just beautiful and kind–hearted, she’s also-” Lena realized she didn’t actually know much about Audrey’s other qualities, but that didn’t stop her from laying it on thick. “She’s also intelligent and wise, incredibly talented, well–educated, emotionally and intellectually gifted, resilient, and graceful.”
“I’m really not all that,” Audrey interrupted. If she hadn’t stopped her, Lena would have gone through every complimentary phrase she could think of.
Standing by the entrance, Olivia let out a disdainful short. ‘What a brown–noser,‘ she thought. ‘No matter how much sucking up they do, Yann will never give them the important projects to handle.
‘That man is ice–cold–he doesn’t even give his father’s relatives or his grandmother’s family any special treatment, and he’s never opened any back doors for his aunt’s relatives either.‘
“We won’t keep you from your work,” Lena said, linking arms with Audrey as they headed toward the exit. As they passed the security desk, she added. casually, “This is your CEO’s wife, Mrs. Winifred.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Winifred,” the security guard replied politely.
09:57 Sun, 15 JunGO
Chapter 281
Audrey couldn’t help but think that Lena’s instinct for showing off might be a Winifred family trait. She was just like Yann.
Audrey and Lena watched Olivia’s car pull away before heading into the coffee shop.
Lena and Audrey hit it off immediately, chatting about everything from skincare and makeup to food and cooking. After covering plenty of ground, Lena finally steered the conversation toward what she really wanted to know. “So how did you meet Yann?” she asked.
“It was kind of an accident,” Audrey replied, ordering two pastries and sliding one toward Lena.
Lena picked up her fork and took a bite, then leaned in and lowered her voice. “Have you heard any of the rumors about my cousin?“,
“He has rumors?” Audrey leaned forward too.
Their heads were practically touching now, and Lena’s eyes widened slightly. She’d finally figured out why Audrey looked so familiar. Reaching out, she gently touched the corner of Audrey’s eye. “You have a mole right here,” she said.
Audrey nodded.
“Then have you ever heard of Yalvin?” Lena asked.
Audrey froze.
“Ow!” Lena’s head got a gentle but firm tap, and the cream from her fork smeared across her cheek. She looked up with an exaggerated pout. “Yann! You can’t just hit me in front of Audrey like that.”
Yann walked over and sat down next to Audrey. “Have you decided where you
want to eat?”
“I’m coming too,” Lena said, grabbing a tissue to wipe her face. “I still have so much I want to talk to Audrey about.”
“You’re not needed,” Yann replied bluntly.
Lena’s eyes reddened as she pressed her lips together, looking completely pitiful like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.
Audrey squeezed Yann’s hand. “How about a buffet? I haven’t had one in ages.”
“Let’s do barbecue. I know this amazing place,” Lena said, pulling out her phone to show Audrey the location on the map.
Audrey looked at Yann questioningly. He nodded reluctantly. “Fine, but you’re leaving right after we eat.”
“My brother can pick me up,” Lena said, practically bouncing with excitement as she ran to the front desk to pay the bill.
“I should pay for this,” Audrey said, starting to get up, but Yann caught her arm. “Let her handle it.”
“Since this is our first time meeting, I should be the one paying. After all, I’m older than she is.” Audrey pulled free from Yann’s grip, but by the time she reached the counter, Lena had already settled the bill.
“I’ll send you some face masks later,” Audrey smiled.
Lena’s eyes widened. “Really? But those masks are pre–sold out until the end of the month!”
Audrey assured her not to worry. While others couldn’t get them, she definitely could.
The three of them drove to the restaurant with Lena sitting alone in the back seat, glued to her phone the entire ride. When they got out of the car, she triumphantly waved her phone at Audrey. “Everett and Miles are coming too. They say dinner’s on them.”
Yann felt completely exasperated. ‘One third wheel is bright enough, but three of them? This meal is definitely ruined,‘ he thought.
Lena had reserved a private booth ahead of time. When the three of them went to get their food, Everett and Miles had already arrived.
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Chapter 281
Audrey couldn’t help but think that Lena’s instinct for showing off might be a Winifred family trait. She was just like Yann.
Audrey and Lena watched Olivia’s car pull away before heading into the coffee shop.
Lena and Audrey hit it off immediately, chatting about everything from skincare and makeup to food and cooking. After covering plenty of ground, Lena finally steered the conversation toward what she really wanted to know. “So how did you meet Yann?” she asked.
“It was kind of an accident,” Audrey replied, ordering two pastries and sliding one toward Lena.
Lena picked up her fork and took a bite, then leaned in and lowered her voice. “Have you heard any of the rumors about my cousin?”
“He has rumors?” Audrey leaned forward too.
Their heads were practically touching now, and Lena’s eyes widened slightly. She’d finally figured out why Audrey looked so familiar. Reaching out, she gently touched the corner of Audrey’s eye. “You have a mole right here,” she said.
Audrey nodded.
“Then have you ever heard of Yalvin?” Lena asked.
Audrey froze.
“Ow!” Lena’s head got a gentle but firm tap, and the cream from her fork smeared across her cheek. She looked up with an exaggerated pout. “Yann! You can’t just hit me in front of Audrey like that.”
Yann walked over and sat down next to Audrey. “Have you decided where you want to eat?”
“I’m coming too,” Lena said, grabbing a tissue to wipe her face. “I still have so much I want to talk to Audrey about.”
“You’re not needed,” Yann replied bluntly.
Lena’s eyes reddened as she pressed her lips together, looking completely pitiful like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.
Audrey squeezed Yann’s hand. “How about a buffet? I haven’t had one in ages.”
“Let’s do barbecue. I know this amazing place,” Lena said, pulling out her phone to show Audrey the location on the map.
Audrey looked at Yann questioningly. He nodded reluctantly. “Fine, but you’re leaving right after we eat.”
“My brother can pick me up,” Lena said, practically bouncing with excitement as she ran to the front desk to pay the bill.
“I should pay for this,” Audrey said, starting to get up, but Yann caught her arm. “Let her handle it.”
“Since this is our first time meeting, I should be the one paying. After all, I’m older than she is.” Audrey pulled free from Yann’s grip, but by the time she reached the counter, Lena had already settled the bill.
“I’ll send you some face masks later,” Audrey smiled.
Lena’s eyes widened. “Really? But those masks are pre–sold out until the end of the month!”
Audrey assured her not to worry. While others couldn’t get them, she definitely could.
The three of them drove to the restaurant with Lena sitting alone in the back seat, glued to her phone the entire ride. When they got out of the car, she triumphantly waved her phone at Audrey. “Everett and Miles are coming too. They say dinner’s on them.”
Yann felt completely exasperated. ‘One third wheel is bright enough, but three of them? This meal is definitely ruined, he thought,
Lena had reserved a private booth ahead of time. When the three of them went to get their food, Everett and Miles had already arrived.
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09:58 Sun, 15 Jun
Chapter 281
“You must be Audrey.” Everett greeted her.
“Audrey,” Miles said simply.
“Just a little something for you,” Everett added, holding out a gift. Both of them had prepared gifts for Audrey.
Audrey was genuinely surprised, knowing about the power struggle between Margot and Yahn over company management. She’d assumed Margot’s two sons would be hostile toward Yann, but instead they were both friendly and had even prepared welcome gifts for her.
“Go ahead and accept them. It’s what they should do,” Yann said, placing the shrimp he’d peeled for her on the table.
“Well, then I won’t be polite about it.” Audrey set the gift boxes on an empty chair beside her.
Soon enough, Lena moved the gifts aside so she could sit next to Audrey, claiming she wanted to take care of her.
The men’s conversation naturally gravitated toward business matters while Lena pulled Audrey into whispered gossip.
“I used to ship ‘Yalvin‘ for a while, and when Yann announced his engagement.” Lena paused, carefully watching Audrey’s expression. “Audrey, what do you think about that kind of thing?”
Audrey picked up some sizzling pork belly and placed it on Lena’s plate, whispering back, “I respect it. Good for them.”
“But what if-”
“Yann isn’t gay”
Lena choked on the grilled meat she’d just put in her mouth, nearly spitting it out as her face turned bright red.
Audrey quickly poured her some water and handed it over. Under the curious stares of the three men, she leaned close to Lena’s ear and said, “I’ve actually seen that forum. If it wasn’t about Yann, it would be pretty entertaining to follow.”
Lena held the water in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out and eyes wide as saucers. She glanced nervously between Yann and Audrey, her expression clearly asking whether the person in question knew about this.
Audrey gave her a mischievous smile that seemed to say, ‘What do you think?‘
