"h.e.l.lo, Evangeline."Evangeline"s brows slightly twitched when she heard that pretentious gentle, demure voice. Still, she curved her lips in her usual practiced n.o.ble lady smile while Eric retracted his hand from Evangeline"s head.
"h.e.l.lo, Angel."
Before Evangeline could guess what the girl was doing here in the cafeteria, Angel dinted her cheek against Evangeline"s as a greeting and beamed.
"Evangeline, it"s such a long time. Why haven"t you visited us at home? My auntie and uncle misses you so."
Lies.
"I"m quite busy in avoiding plastic people as I can"t stand the cancerous chemicals." Evangeline retorted as her lips curved in mocking smirk.
But Angel, as usual, wasn"t affected as she still maintained her photo perfect smile.
"Anyway, it"s my birthday next week, and uncle Robert prepared a birthday celebration for me. Isn"t your father the greatest? I sure envy you." Angel continued to laugh, her voice was like a lullaby. But for Evangeline, it was like the cries of a vengeful ghost.
Evangeline knew the game she was playing. Angel always appeared to be the angel that she was. Good, kind, and humble, the perfect lady.
No wonder she excelled in acting.
She"s such a good actress.
To Angel, she wanted for Evangeline to feel jealous. To feel miserable that the father that had abandoned her was now throwing millions of dollars for her birthday party. The mansion that was built in Imperial, in a prime estate, was now her house.
All the attention and things that were given to Evangeline, inch by inch, she would take it all.
But sadly, she still couldn"t elicit a response from the irritating woman other than Evangeline"s usual mocking smile. Like whatever she did, no matter how much wealth and fame she have, she still felt like Evangeline was on top of her.
She hated that feeling the most.
"Yes, Mr. Krisnov has the reputation of being... charitable. After all, it was not a first that he was spending so much money towards his wh.o.r.es."
Angel"s face turned slightly red, yet her smile remained at ease.
"Anyway, here"s an invitation card. I hope you can attend." Then Angel flashed Eric a warm smile that could cause any men to have a mental breakdown.
"I"ll be seeing you there, Eric."
Angel bid Evangeline and Eric farewell and sashayed out of the cafeteria together with her other highly profiled gossiping friends.
"....."
"....."
Evangeline looked at the invitation in her hand. She wanted to throw the disgusting thing in the trash, but when she heard Eric"s name from Angel"s mouth, all thoughts dispersed in an instant.
She glanced suspiciously at the man beside her.
"What does she mean by that?"
Eric shrugged his shoulders and replied merely. "The restaurant I"m working with will cater her birthday party. I"m one of the waiters that will attend to the guests."
Then Eric pushed the trolley and other cleaning materials towards the kitchen, then came back a moment after.
"Let"s go. Will be late for cla.s.s."
Evangeline just nodded, yet her mind was in hyperdrive, thinking that it was not a coincidence that Angel would specifically ask a restaurant that Eric was working from, out of the enormous selection of other Michelin awarded restaurants. Though the restaurant that Eric was working for was really famous for its delicious, luxurious cuisines, there were also other restaurants.
She must have done her research.
Every year, Angel would invite Evangeline to her birthday, but every time Evangeline didn"t attend. But now that Angel had something against her....
Angel must have known that she had taken a liking towards Eric. Else, why chose a specific restaurant that the guy was working for?
Evangeline smirked, then she looked at the man beside her. "Aren"t you going to ask what"s my relationship with her?"
Eric slightly shook his head. "It"s fine if you don"t want to tell me."
Evangeline smiled and started to explain. "Cherry Lin, Mr. Krisnov"s new wife is Angel"s aunt, making her my cousin I suppose. She is currently living together with them while she studied here."
"Mm..." Eric nodded as a response while he took a peek at the woman.
When he saw that Evangeline didn"t appear to care about it, he too didn"t bother too much of her family affairs.
Just that... he thought it was quite sad that a father had turned a stranger towards his daughter, and vice versa.
----?----
Angel smiled at her companions and excused herself to retouch in the female"s powder room. When she was at the powder room, she looked at herself in the mirror and couldn"t help but reached out to touch her reflection.
Evangeline... soon.... All that belongs to you will be mine...
The story why Angel was so fixated to Evangeline happened way back when they were still in their primary school. The time when Mr. Krisnov met Cherry Lin, Angel"s aunt. At first, Angel greatly admired Evangeline. She had the perfect face, perfect upbringing, perfect life, having the riches that one could only envy.
But soon, in their high school years, Evangeline was always the talk of the town. Ever the popular one. Always had the things she wanted at the snap of her fingers.
Evangeline had everything that she didn"t have. A family while she grew up with none. Expensive clothes and luxurious items while she had to settled for her Aunt"s hand me downs. Money that she couldn"t waste as her Aunt had to climb to married men"s bed to survive and fed her.
Her admiration turned to envy, then turned to jealousy, and then turned to hatred.
When Evangeline"s mother died, and her status elevated when Robert Krisnov married her Aunt Cherry Lin, she was so happy.
Finally, all that made Evangeline who she was would be hers too.
Angel got what she wanted.
Robert Krisnov was treating her like a daughter more than his real one. She was living in a house that was more like a palace in one of Burberry"s private prime estate. She had more money in her account that could last her a lifetime. She had a bright future ahead as the rising sweetheart in one of the country"s giant entertainment industry, Sparkle entertainment. All the things that she thought she couldn"t have were now served to her in diamond coated platters.
Still... it wasn"t enough.
It"s not enough until I completely trampled that woman!
Her hatred and desire to see Evangeline groveled in the dirt for scarps that she threw was becoming her obsession. An accomplishment that she so greatly desired and would do anything to achieve.
And for that to happen.
The last remaining lifeline of hers must fall in my hands.
Evangeline"s forty percent share in FROZEN, she must obtain it at all cost!