Published at 23rd of November 2022 9:58 am

Chapter 21

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

The child's atmosphere was more like that of his appearance.

Emma squinted her eyes.

'Of course, I know their previous relationship so that I may be thinking this way for no reason.'

What are you thinking?

Emma tried to shake off her thoughts.

First of all, isn't she here today to offer Evelyn an investment offer?

Then Evelyn crept up.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I have to greet a guest. Can you hold on a second?"

"Yes, I will."

Emma nodded her head.

Turning swiftly, Evelyn began to serve the incoming guests like a flood.

Emma sneaked a question to Bianca.

"How old are you this year, Bianca?

"I am seven years old."

At the child's answer, Emma had a strange thought.

Seven years old.

It overlaps with the time Evelyn went missing.

But the Duke said she wasn't his child...

'Did you run away from another man?'

But no one else, that responsible Evelyn?

And the two of them loved each other passionately.

Emma's brows are deeply wrinkled.

Then, Evelyn, carrying a tray, strode toward Emma.

"Come on, coffee. Cookies are on the house."

Bianca's share was a glass of milk, but Bianca was only looking eagerly at cookies.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

"The cookies belong to your friend; Bibi shouldn't covet them."

"Yes."

Bianca quickly became sullen.

Emma burst into laughter and pushed Bianca a cookie plate.

"I'm fine so that Bianca can eat the cookies."

"Thank you!"

Feeling better, Bianca began to tell the story.

Through the story, Emma could get a rough idea of how the two mothers and daughters have lived so far.

It was not long after she came to the system, and before that, she lived in the western city of Annette.

She's in Polina kindergarten now.

"If it's Polina Kindergarten, tuition would be considerable."....'

That's why Evelyn works so hard.

"Sorry, I've been waiting so long, haven't I?"

Just in time, almost all the customers of the coffee house left.

Stealing the water off her hands with her apron, Evelyn approached the two.

"No, can you sit down for a second? I need to talk to you."

"What do you want to talk about?"

Evelyn sat down, looking puzzled.

Emma, who straightened her back, opened her mouth.

"You said that before, didn't you? I don't want to work in a store."

"It used to be."

At the solemn voice, Evelyn nodded in a daze.

"That's why...... the business story you were talking about."

"The business I was in?"

"So, did you say the brandization of coffee houses?"

"Oh, that one?"

Embarrassed, Evelyn blinked.

'It's just a pipe dream that I've been delusional all by myself, but why is that coming up now?'

"I think that's a pretty possible story."

Emma, who says so, had a face Evelyn had never seen before.

It was a straight upper-class face, calculating and judging the profitability of the product.

"I'll invest, so why don't you grow the business in earnest?"

"...... you're investing?"

"Yeah, it's exactly the investment from the top of Sutherland."

At an unexpected remark, Evelyn just went blank.

"Of course, I'm not going to let you do it alone."

"Then......."

"I'm saying that they're not going to spare any support."

Hearing the word "support from the top" was more realistic.

Evelyn found herself preoccupied with Emma's words.

"We'll get advice from professional managers, and we'll provide capital and workforce. But."

Emma ended the conversation with a confident smile.

"You'll be at the heart of this business, Eve."

Evelyn swallowed dry saliva.

It couldn't have been more perfect in terms of conditions.

A large coffee house brand can receive the same service and the same taste of coffee throughout the Empire.

I can't believe I can plan and design such a coffee house myself.

"Well, but. It's such a dream story......."

Evelyn opened her mouth carefully.

The opportunity that I had only imagined so far approached me so quickly, I was afraid.

Emma then asked the question playfully.

"So you're gonna say no?"

It was a deep-seated question.

Unable to say no, Evelyn gently pulled her lips.

To be honest, I was greedy.

Above all, if that business succeeds.......

'When I stand in front of Islay, I think I can be a little more confident.'

A single mother runs a small coffee house from a fallen noble family who is worse than a commoner.

She became a businesswoman who took the money from the top of Sutherland and ran a big coffee house brand.

Of the two, isn't it clear where to stand more confidently in front of Islay?

Meanwhile, Evelyn smiled bitterly.

Well, it's a shame you left Lay.'

Even after leaving Islay, I still have lingering feelings for him.

But I didn't want to hide away from him forever.

When I meet Islay again, I don't want to suffer from an inferiority complex.

I wanted to face him confidently somehow.

After talking for a long time, Emma rose from her seat, saying she should go back to the top.

"It was nice to meet Bianca, too."

With affection, she pats Bianca on the head.

Bianca looked down at her head.

"Goodbye."

"Thank you very much for today's offer, Emma."

Evelyn quickly added a word.

Emma gave a big smile.

"No, Eve. We suggested it because we thought there was enough possibility."

Us?

Evelyn looked a little puzzled for a moment.

Doesn't it sound like there's someone else besides Emma who's in favor of investing in Evelyn?

But Evelyn let go of such wonder.

Well, I guess it's someone up there.

"Then Eve, I'm not forcing you, so don't feel pressured. Think about it carefully. All right?

Emma, who had spoken to, turned around.

Emma left the coffee house behind, Evelyn watched for a long time.

–

That evening, locking the back door of the coffee house, Evelyn agonized.

Investment at the top of Sutherland.

With the opportunity given to Evelyn, it couldn't have been better.

However, it wasn't easy to readily accept the proposal.

Having just washed the dishes, Evelyn looked at Bianca, who was sitting around the table.

"What if we keep leaving Bibi alone?"

At that moment, a long sigh leaked from Evelyn's lips.

Even now, I'm barely looking after Bianca while looking after a coffee house. If I enter the business in earnest, I won't even be able to open my eyes.

Then, there will be much less time to spend with Bibi than now.

But Emma said she'd give me a decent salary, so I could find someone to take care of Bianca, but.......

At that time, Bianca lifted her head.

When the eyes of the mother and daughter met, Evelyn smiled reflexively.

"Wait a minute, Bibi. I'll be done organizing soon....."

"It's all right, Mom, I'd like to ask you something more than that.

"What is it?"

Evelyn tilted her head.

"What Mrs. Sutherland said earlier."

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"What's an investment?"

Evelyn paused to harden herself.

How can I explain this to Bianca?

After a moment of agony, she said.

"There's something she's been thinking about, and she's offering to help me do it."

"Is that an investment?"

"Um......."

Not exactly, but the concept is similar anyway, so wouldn't it be okay?

Evelyn nodded moderately.

In her response, Bianca's amber eyes sparkled like stars.

"Mrs. Sutherland, you were a very good person!"

"Yes, she's a very good person."

Evelyn smiled awkwardly.

It's already been seven years since I've been friends with Emma.

And in the meantime, Evelyn has not been in touch with anyone she knew in the system.

I was worried that it might be related to Islay.

'In fact, it's been a long time so you couldn't have forgotten me completely.......'

Emma would have been in a similar situation, just as Evelyn, who was run over by life, did not care about Emma.

But it's not enough to treat Evelyn in the same manner as before, giving her such a great opportunity.

"......."

Evelyn somehow felt very sorry for Emma.

Then Bianca asked Evelyn with her eyes sparkling.

"So, are you going to accept it?"

"Well, I'm still thinking about it."

"How come?"

Bianca's face was utterly incomprehensible.

Evelyn replied cautiously.

"If I do that, I might get busier."

At that word, Bianca became silent in an instant.

She was a much busier mother here than back in Annette.

If she gets busier here, it means less time to spend with her.

"......."

Looking at Bianca, who looked as if she had swept away all the anguish of the world, Evelyn smiled bitterly.

"We haven't decided yet, so don't worry too much, Bibi......."

"What do you think?"

Then Bianca popped the question.

"Does she want to do that?"

Bianca's voice was solemn.

So I couldn't answer quickly.

I didn't want to lie to my only daughter, 'I don't want to'.

But if you answer 'I want to'.......

Bibi must be upset.

Evelyn's expression was a little blurry.

Then Bianca said to Evelyn with a sullen look on her face.

"To be honest, I hate spending less time with my mom."

Of course, it is.

Evelyn sighed and nodded.

Bianca was still old enough to need her mother's touch.

I'm sure it'll be disappointing to see more work here, even though I'm still not paying attention to Bianca.

But Bianca's words are not over yet.

"But......."

But?

At the child's out of the blue, Evelyn tilted her head.

Before I knew it, Bianca had a determined face.

"I hate it more when my mom can't do what she wants."

"...... Bibi."

Then Bianca held Evelyn's hand still.

At that warm temperature in the palm of her hand, Evelyn was speechless.

"You want to do it, don't you?"

The child asked seriously.

Trying to suppress the emotion, Evelyn smiled softly.

"That's true, but Bibi is the most precious thing to you."

"I like you the most, too."

Bianca's voice, saying so, harbored an unchildlike determination.

Bianca gently gave strength to her hand.

"So I want you to do what you like."

Evelyn bit her lips.

Various emotions were mixed up in a mess.

Thank you for the child.

Sad to see a seven-year-old child being so considerate of his mother.

And herself, who created the situation so that Bianca could only grow up to be an adult.

Bianca grew up so fast; it was all because of her.

There was no excuse for it.

"......."

Evelyn, who bit her lips to the point of bleeding, bent over and looked at Bianca.

Carefully stretching out her arms, she pulled Bianca into her arms.

The child's warm and soft body came into her arms.

"Thank you, Bibi."

Holding the child in her arms, Evelyn whispered like a sigh.

Rely on and follow Evelyn completely....a precious family of only one.

I can't bear to answer 'I'll give up my job and be with you' for such a family.

......I hated him so much.

–

It's been a few days like that.

In the meantime, Evelyn has been mulling over Emma's proposal.

The mind was even.

I'm sorry I'm working hard on Bianca, but I don't want to give up the hard way.

I know it's not an easy decision to make, but.......'

While Evelyn was in such agony, she was greeted with an unexpected guest.

"Do you still live like this?"

With a voice full of disgust and contempt, Evelyn, who was busy serving guests, looked back in surprise.

She was an elegant old lady, dressed up in a dress with her neck up tightly and her hair.

The lady was also a familiar face for Evelyn.

But I never expected to see that lady here.

"......the Duke of Neidhart's Grandmother?" (grandmother)

Evelyn called her opponent blankly.

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