A few days later, Julian's secretary, Charlotte, called me: "Madam, Mr. Mercer has a stomach ache and he wants to see you now."
"I'm at the beauty salon, I'm busy now."
Charlotte paused, taken aback by my refusal: "He's really in a lot of pain..."
"If he's feeling unwell, take him to a doctor. What do you need me for?"
I could faintly hear Julian's voice on the other end as Charlotte attempted to placate me: "Mr. Mercer said that your porridge always alleviates his stomach pain."
I hung up without hesitation.
What did he take Evelyn for?
A cook or a doctor?
Before I could finish at the salon, the manager informed me someone was waiting downstairs.
"Who is it?"
"He said his name is 'Charlotte', your husband's secretary. He seems quite urgent."
"What's the rush? Let him wait."
After finishing my massage and applying light makeup, I leisurely descended the stairs to find Charlotte looking awkward.
As Julian's man, Charlotte excelled in reading people.
Julian was dismissive towards Evelyn, and Charlotte demeaned her accordingly.
When Evelyn wish to deliver something to her,he often made it difficult.
Once, while Julian was wooing someone in his office, Charlotte told Evelyn outside:
"Madam, one must learn understand the situation. Mr. Mercer is hungry, but he does not want your food. If you barge in, it won't help anyone and will only deepen his disdain for you."
As saying that, he took over Evelyn’s carefully prepared lunchbox and threw into the trash.
"If everything is fine now, madam, you can leave now."
It was pouring rain that day.
On her way back, Evelyn was distraught and ended up in a car accident.
That's how she lost her first child.
The once high-and-mighty secretary Charlotte was now in disarray.
Her clothes were stained with leftover food and drink, and even her hair was greasy.
"Well, Charlotte, what happened to you?" I descended gracefully, holding the gilded handrail. Upon seeing me, Charlotte's eyes lit up: "I've come to take madam to the office."
"Did you take him to see a doctor?"
"Mr. Mercer refused to go..." He glanced at me, "He's been in a bad mood recently." "What, so bad that he threw food on you? Aren't you his most trusted confidant?"
Charlotte pressed her lips together: "Madam, you've spoiled Mr. Mercer. The takeout we ordered didn't meet his standards. We tried every restaurant nearby, and he complained about the taste of each. It's already 2 PM, and Mr. Mercer hasn’t eaten anything."
"Which restaurant did you order from?" Confused, he handed me his phone when I reached out for it. I reordered the same takeout without changing a thing.
When I arrived at the office, the takeout had just been delivered.
I carried it upstairs.
As I entered, a project binder flew towards me: "What is this rubbish?!"
I observed the stormy atmosphere in the office: "Should I come back after you finish your meeting?" Julian saw me, instinctively loosened his tie, and turned away, calming down to watch the screen.
A jittery subordinate gratefully glanced at me: "I'll leave Mr. Mercer and madam alone."
"Get out," Julian said calmly.
I placed the takeout on the table and threw myself onto the sofa, idly playing with my phone.
Julian immediately sensed something was off: "Did you buy this from outside?"
"I was at the beauty salon."
"I don't like these." Julian said coldly. "The outside food is unsanitary, and it hurts me if I ate this."
"Then call someone." I looked around, "You have everything here, a bedroom, a private kitchen, plenty of people willing to cook for you."
Julian, sensing the tension, quickly walked over and snatched my phone: "Are you still angry? Because of Merlin, you won't even cook for me now?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
Just because of Merlin?
"You never liked it before, and now I don't want to make it anymore. I don't want to demean myself anymore. Are you going to eat it or not? If not, I'll take it away."
Julian glared at me fiercely, then returned to the table and started eating in silence.
Frowning, he struggled to swallow.
He deliberately showed me his discomfort.
But I just watched coldly.
When I was taking out the trash, Charlotte saw me and reacted as if He'd seen a ghost: "I'll do it... I'll do it..."
It was the same meal.
If I give it to Julian, he would eat it.
This was a situation he had never anticipated.
I said nonchalantly, "From now on, order him takeout for lunch every day."
"This..."
"You can say it was ordered by me."
Charlotte's look at me changed to one of reverence: "Although Mr. Mercer had many affairs over the years, I can tell he only has you in his heart."
I couldn't help but laugh: "Don’t say such flattering things. They’re not funny, just distasteful."
Even now.
Julian was only concerned about whether Evelyn was cooking for him.
He never considered if her wrist hurts now or if she could handle the pots with her wounded wrist.
That’s not really having me in your heart.
Evelyn held him in too high regard.
He was used to not seeing her, yet accustomed to her being everywhere.
