CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: HANZI CHA BECOMES EUGENE VAUGHN’S SECRETARY

The next day, in the morning.

Victoria Sinclair was eating breakfast when the doorbell rang.

She put down her chopsticks and got up to answer the door.

Outside was Vivian Miller, dressed in a business-style black suit skirt, holding two bags of breakfast with her hands, wearing heavy makeup with a particularly radiant smile.

"Morning! Sis."

Seeing someone unwelcome so early in the morning, Victoria felt a stuffiness in her chest and responded indifferently, "Morning!"

"I came to pick up Eugene and take him to work, and I brought him breakfast too," Vivian said as she walked into the house, showing no intention of changing into slippers.

Victoria held back her annoyance and closed the door.

Vivian placed the breakfast on the table and saw another breakfast already there, consisting of two boiled eggs and two buns, her expression full of disdain.

"Sis, you don’t need to make breakfast for Eugene anymore; I can handle it," Vivian said as she took out a transparent breakfast box from the bag, laying it out with five different items, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, looking particularly elaborate.

Victoria said nothing, sat back down, and continued eating her egg, feeling suffocated inside.

"This was personally made by my housekeeper, nutritious, healthy, hygienic, and delicious," Vivian said as she arranged everything, looking at Victoria. "Sis, do you want me to bring you some too?"

"No need." Victoria placed the uneaten egg yolk into her bowl, picked up another egg, tapped it, and carefully began to peel it.

Vivian stared at Victoria, the smile on her face becoming increasingly stiff.

She couldn’t understand how Victoria, dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, with long black hair tied back, wearing no makeup, and without a single adornment on her, could exude such a strikingly ethereal beauty.

No puffiness in her face, no dark circles, skin smooth as porcelain without a hint of blemish or acne.

Her demeanor cool and quiet, like a fairy untouched by mortal desires.

Even as a woman, Vivian found herself entranced by her; living together every day, how could Eugene not fall for her?

Thinking of this made Vivian angry, her jealousy turning fierce, squeezing a smile as she sat across from Victoria, "Sis, for the convenience of my work, could you give me the password to your house door?"

Victoria’s fingers paused slightly as she peeled the egg.

Vivian explained, "Starting today, I’m Eugene’s personal secretary. In both life and work, I’ll handle everything meticulously and methodically, taking care of Eugene’s life and work."

Victoria put the egg down, picked up her water, took a sip to soothe her throat, and softly said, "Miss Miller, I don’t interfere with your work matters, but please don’t disturb my life."

"Sis, I’m only taking care of Eugene’s life; I won’t interfere with yours."

Victoria made no pretense, "Your appearance already affects my mood."

Vivian forced a helpless smile, "Sis, you couldn’t be jealous of me? Eugene and I have known each other for over twenty years. If there were something between us, there would’ve been, and now it would have nothing to do with you."

"That’s not an excuse for meddling in our private life."

Vivian dismissed it, "Eugene has agreed. If you don’t want to see me, next time I can come over after you leave for work."

Eugene agreed?

Victoria clenched her fists slightly, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, holding back her words, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.

Vivian continued, "I might be in and out of your house often to deliver documents or reports to Eugene, so it’s unavoidable to run into you. I hope, sis, you don’t mind."

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Victoria serenely said, "Why not move in directly yourself?"

Vivian, surprised, couldn’t hold back the smile breaking out on her face, "Really?"

"Yes, you can stay in my room," Victoria said leisurely as she tidied the table, "I’ll move to the laboratory."

Vivian seemed flustered, "Sis, you must be joking."

"I’m not joking; I’m serious." Victoria left her words hanging and carried her plate to the kitchen, tossing it along with the leftover eggs and buns into the sink.

She didn’t clean up, turning from the kitchen, grabbing her bag from the living room sofa, and heading out.

Once out the door and into the elevator, her eyes became misty.

A failed marriage and the demands of work and study had long left her overwhelmed.

Now with Vivian in the mix, she was utterly exhausted and unsure how long she could endure.

In the living room.

Vivian happily strolled out to the balcony, enjoying the sun with a content mind.

Before long, Eugene came out of the room and went into the kitchen to pour a glass of ice water.

His eyes landed on the sink.

Suddenly, he hurriedly stepped out of the living room, glanced around, and, seeing Vivian on the balcony, his expression darkened, and he asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

Vivian heard him and cheerfully walked inside, "President Vaughn, your little secretary has reported for duty."

His grip on the cup tightened, veins bulging on the back of his hand, his voice extremely cold, "I warned you last time; did you take my words lightly?"

"I’m your secretary now, with a different status," Vivian said as she approached him, hands clasped behind her, with a playful tone, "Besides, if your wife doesn’t mind, why do you?"

Eugene sneered coldly.

If Victoria didn’t mind, why would she skip breakfast and leave the dishes unwashed?

"Vivian, I’m really starting to not understand you; you lie so effortlessly," Eugene said as he walked to the table, shoving the breakfast she brought back into a bag, turning to throw it back at her, commanding harshly, "Get out."

Vivian hugged the breakfast bag, stomped her foot in anger, "I’m not leaving."

Face cold, Eugene grabbed her arm and dragged her out.

Vivian struggled and shouted, "Eugene, we grew up together as best friends, and I’m your junior; I’m practically like your sister, and now I’m your secretary. From every aspect, I’m your closest friend. How can you be so heartless to me? Just because Victoria gets upset, you won’t even let me into your home. You’re valuing romance over friendship, you have no heart, you..."

The door opened, and Eugene tossed her out, slamming it shut.

——

In the office.

Victoria Sinclair propped her chin, staring at the computer screen blankly, her eyes unfocused.

Angela Austin walked over to her side, glanced at the molecular schematic on the screen, and then at her blank face.

"Victoria, why are you daydreaming so early in the morning?" Angela asked.

Victoria snapped out of it, guiltily lowering her head, hurriedly tidying her desk, then sliding her mouse, staring at the screen.

Angela leaned on the desk with one hand, "You haven’t been yourself since yesterday."

"I’m fine," Victoria replied softly and gently.

Just then, her phone rang.

Victoria picked it up and stared at the screen, frozen.

Angela glanced at the caller ID: Eugene Vaughn, then took the liberty of swiping the screen and answered it for Victoria.

Startled, Victoria frowned at her, truly exasperated!

Angela smiled, raised her brow mischievously, and quickly walked away.

Victoria placed the phone to her ear, "What’s up?"

Eugene: "Come out for a moment, at the door."

Victoria: ...