Chapter 341

The workplace could be considered a microcosm of society.

Yet Sophia didn't even glance at Olivia, merely responding calmly to Sophia Carter, "It's fine."

Ethan had been taken, and Sophia didn’t know if he would survive the day.

When you have nothing left to lose, fear disappears.

She didn’t care anymore.

Sophia Carter: "..."

Charlotte Kensington shrieked, "You! Stand up when I'm talking to you!"

Her voice was so sharp and loud that everyone in the vicinity turned to stare. Some were mid-bite, others stirring their meals, but all eyes were now fixed on Sophia.

Among them was Elizabeth Dawson, the senior architect assigned to mentor Sophia for the week.

"Tch. What a nuisance. First day in the company and already causing trouble—and with the boss’s relatives, no less. I thought she’d be some prodigy, but look at her. A complete waste of time," Elizabeth muttered to her companion.

"Wait, she’s your new trainee?" the companion asked.

Elizabeth scoffed. "Disgraceful. Look at how she dresses—outdated, prudish, like she crawled out of some backwater town. I don’t know what the director and HR were thinking, hiring someone with zero fashion sense for the design department.

Even if I trained her for ten years, she’d never amount to anything.

A total waste.

But no matter. With the scene Miss Olivia is making, I doubt she’ll last the day."

As Elizabeth finished speaking, Olivia’s voice rose several decibels. "You shameless homewrecker! Are you deaf? Stand up!"

Sophia continued eating, methodically chewing each bite, utterly unruffled.

Sophia Carter: "..." If Olivia weren’t here, she’d have called her cousin immediately.

Olivia’s rage escalated. "Answer me, you little tramp!"

Sophia set down her chopsticks and lifted her gaze, her voice steady. "Do I know you? Did I steal your man? Or did I steal from you? You keep calling me names—if you call me a tramp one more time, I’ll sue you for slander. Now, please leave. You’re making me sick."

"You—!" Olivia’s hand twitched, barely restraining the urge to slap her. Remembering they were in public, she hissed, "My brother-in-law introduced you!"

"I don’t know if your brother-in-law is a man or a ghost," Sophia retorted.

"You know Liam Sterling!" Olivia snapped.

"Then tell Liam Sterling to stop groveling after me. Even if he confesses his love ten thousand times, I wouldn’t spare him a glance," Sophia said with icy disdain.

Olivia: "You—!"

Rage surged through her, and Olivia could no longer hold back—she lunged to grab Sophia’s hair.

"What’s going on here?" A smooth, amused voice cut through the tension.

Olivia’s hand froze mid-air. She turned to see a tall figure approaching.

A man in a tailored suit, over six feet tall, with piercing eyes that seemed to flirt with every woman in the room.

"Mr. Julian, what brings you to the cafeteria today?" Olivia instantly transformed, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Julian Montgomery acted as if Olivia didn’t exist.

He stopped beside Sophia, smiling. "Sophia, how are you settling in?"

Sophia blinked. The man looked to be in his early twenties, nothing like Liam, yet something about him was familiar.

Like who?

She couldn’t place it.

"You... I don’t know you," she said bluntly.

The entire cafeteria gasped.

Julian Montgomery.

The company’s second-largest shareholder.

Though the firm wasn’t massive—just a few hundred employees, annual revenue barely hitting a couple billion—the families behind its partners were formidable.

For instance, Alexander Kensington hailed from Harborview City’s elite.

And Julian? His family ruled the political circles of Kingsbury.

His father might not hold the highest office, but his uncle, Julian Montgomery, was a legend.

Not to mention, Julian and Ethan Blackwood were sworn brothers.

Though Julian’s roots weren’t in Harborview, no one dared cross him here.

Even Liam Sterling tread carefully around him.

The real reason Julian had co-founded this company?

To hunt for beauties.

In his words, northern women were too weathered by wind and sand, their skin rough, their frames sturdy.

Southern women, though—delicate, refined.

So while the company existed on paper, Julian’s true purpose was to play.

Every unmarried woman in the office dreamed of catching his eye.

Yet despite his flirtatious nature, he never crossed lines with employees.

Even Olivia, who clung to him like a sister, had never managed a private dinner.

And now, this untouchable playboy was smiling at Sophia.

The cafeteria burned with envy.

Olivia’s face twisted like a clown’s.

Sophia remained calm. "How do you know my name?"

Sophia Carter beside her whispered, "Sophia, this is the boss—"

Sophia had heard.

She just didn’t want anything to do with the wealthy elite.

Julian chuckled. "I review every new hire’s resume. Of course I know your name."

Murmurs erupted around them.

Female employees exchanged disbelieving glances.

Why has he never spoken to me in three years?

Why doesn’t he even know my name?

How is she this lucky?

No—she’s a homewrecker!

Olivia just called her a mistress!

And now Mr. Julian is looking at her like that?