Chapter 26

"Six-dollar bubble tea? Is this even drinkable?" A colleague covered her mouth dramatically. "I wouldn't risk my health like this."

"Pathetic," another woman sneered. "How dare someone bring street vendor trash to the office? Sophia, is this your boyfriend's taste?"

"Birds of a feather, I suppose. She always wears those cheap online store clothes anyway."

"If my boyfriend sent me garbage like this, I'd dump him on the spot!"

Sophia clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"Miss Lowell..." The delivery guy stood awkwardly. "What should I—"

"Oh, the tea's here!" Isabella Valentine emerged from the office with a saccharine smile. "Mr. Clementson works fast."

Sophia narrowed her eyes.

Isabella approached the delivery guy, feigning surprise. "So many cups! How thoughtful of Daniel to consider the whole office."

She turned to him with a gentle tone. "Just leave them in the break room."

"You... you're Isabella Valentine?" The delivery guy gaped.

Isabella pressed a finger to her lips and winked. "Keep it a secret, okay?"

After he left, she linked arms with Sophia. "Daniel treats you so well. I just mentioned your stomachache, and he ordered tea right away."

Sophia yanked her arm free.

"But this tea..." Isabella picked up a cup and wrinkled her nose. "The packaging looks so cheap. Some obscure brand?"

"Don't joke, Miss Valentine," someone chimed in. "This bargain-bin swill isn't even sold in supermarkets—only roadside stalls."

"Exactly. Who knows what toxic ingredients they used for six dollars a cup."

Isabella looked puzzled. "Daniel seems wealthy. Why would he—"

She suddenly covered her mouth, as if realizing her mistake. "Maybe the shop delivered the wrong order? You should ask him."

"Isabella." Sophia's voice was ice. "First, Daniel Clementson is not my boyfriend."

The office fell silent.

"Second, you have no right to make decisions for me." Each word was deliberate. "Third, this act of yours? Pathetic."

Isabella paled, her eyes instantly welling up. "I just... wanted to help..."

"Help?" Sophia scoffed. "You knew exactly what would happen if this tea arrived."

She strode to the break room, grabbed the bag of drinks, and hurled it into the trash.

The plastic cups clattered against the bin, the sound piercing the dead silence.