Chapter 158
"Absolutely." Evelyn made her choice.
"Evelyn, perhaps we should think this through again." As Evelyn's superior, Victoria felt compelled to caution her. Yet, seeing Evelyn's unwavering confidence—so much so that she was willing to stake her own reputation—Victoria couldn't outright refuse.
"If you believe this isn't the right move, I can purchase it under my name with my own funds." Though Evelyn didn't have much on hand, she knew exactly who to borrow from.
"Very well." Victoria sighed, conceding. She turned to Elliot, her tone firm. "Make sure you provide only the highest quality. No substitutes or inferior products—understood?"
"Rest assured, even if we wanted to, we couldn't. There simply aren't any low-grade alternatives for this." The item was too rare. Producing subpar versions would require breeding entirely new specimens first.
"That's what I like to hear."
After signing the contract and paying the deposit, the two women left the nursery.
At the entrance, a car nearly identical to theirs—save for the color—was parked nearby. As Evelyn and Victoria climbed into their Summit Trailhawk, they spotted Vanessa stepping out of the other vehicle, her arm looped possessively through Lucien's.
"Evelyn, get in and shut the door. The witch is here," Victoria muttered, already seated. Evelyn stifled a laugh—she hadn’t realized Victoria had such a sharp sense of humor.
Of course, Vanessa noticed them. The moment she saw Evelyn sliding into the luxury SUV, her glare turned venomous, as if she could pierce through steel. But their driver pulled away swiftly, leaving the parking lot before any confrontation could erupt.
Victoria glanced back, amused. Vanessa was still staring after them, her expression twisted with bitterness.
"Evelyn," Victoria mused, "did you steal her boyfriend, or did she steal yours? The way she looks at you, one would think you ruined her life."
"I’m neither that bored nor that cruel," Evelyn replied dryly.
Victoria chuckled. "Fair enough. But that hatred isn’t normal. Every time she sees you, it’s like you’re her worst enemy. What’s her problem?"
It was hard to decipher Vanessa’s exact grudge. Evelyn shook her head, equally puzzled. Truthfully, she might never have noticed Vanessa’s hostility if she hadn’t uncovered Dominic’s affair with her.
Though they were never close, many assumed Evelyn and Vanessa were friends—simply because Evelyn kept to herself, with only Vanessa and Dominic by her side during university.
Dominic had justified Vanessa’s constant presence by claiming DR Holdings needed her expertise in public relations and research. He even brought her to corporate events, insisting it was for the company’s growth. Evelyn hadn’t objected. She’d never wronged Vanessa—so where did this resentment come from?