Chapter 75 His Arrival
Ophelia was no fool. She knew when to hold her tongue and avoid trouble.
Pick a fight with Niamh?
That would be akin to signing her own death warrant.
One should take those online quotes about standing up to power with a pinch of salt.
"Sybil, thanks." Ophelia felt a wave of gratitude. For a stranger like Sybil to take the risk of offending the heiress of Parks Corporation and hold her back, that was no small feat.
Most people wouldn't dare.
While waiting in line earlier, Ophelia struck up a casual conversation with Sybil, learning that Sybil was a fresh graduate who had also seen the job advert and come for an interview.
"It was nothing," Sybil chuckled. "You got it?"
"Just got the call, I start next Monday," replied Ophelia. "How about you?"
"I didn't get it," Sybil said with ease. "But there are plenty of companies in this building. I'll look around for something else. It'd be great to work in the same place as someone I know. Gives me a bit more confidence, a bit less loneliness."
"Hope you find a job soon," Ophelia glanced at the time. "If you don't mind, want to grab some lunch together?"
Sybil laughed. "Count me in."
Ophelia appreciated Sybil's straightforwardness. It was refreshing.
In Sybil, Ophelia saw shades of Seraphina. Her bond with Seraphina wasn't completely severed. Over twenty years of friendship, growing up together—such connections are hard to discard.
Ophelia and Sybil found a nearby fast food joint and hit it off right away, thoroughly enjoying the conversation.
When the subject turned to Niamh, Sybil remarked, "Niamh has quite a bad reputation: arrogant, bossy, known for her dreadful temper, and she's caused plenty of trouble. She once got charged with driving drunk and hitting someone. It was always Ms. Parks cleaning up her messes. Having a wealthy mother sure makes life easier. That's the only good thing about Niamh."
"Well, now I'm even gladder I played it cool earlier," Ophelia said. "I hope Niamh didn't remember me from before. I'm going to work at Parks Corporation. If that princess gives me trouble, I’d be toast."
"She probably won't remember you," assured Sybil. "Niamh seldom visits the company. You should be safe."
Ophelia was puzzled. "Sybil, how do you know so much about Niamh?"
Stammering slightly, Sybil said, "I only heard about it, you know. A close friend of mine works at Parks Corporation, and they're always gossiping. I learned a few things – Niamh didn't return to the Parks family until she was fifteen. Before that, she lived with her foster parents in the countryside, barely scraping by in school, constantly getting into fights, dating early, and skipping classes."
Sybil knew such specific details that Ophelia didn't buy the "just heard" part – it was almost as if she had witnessed it herself.
There must be some past connection between Sybil and Niamh.
"I'm actually quite envious," Ophelia admitted. "She found her biological parents. I don't even know what mine look like."
Sybil inquired, "Ophelia, are you an orphan?"
"Yes."
As Ophelia and Sybil chatted over their meal, they failed to notice that across the street from the restaurant, Finnegan had parked his car.
Finnegan, who had just left Parks Corporation, rolled down his car window and spotted Ophelia sitting next to the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Mr. Abbott, there's Ophelia eating inside," Atticus pointed out. "Shall I go invite her over?"
Without showing any emotion, Finnegan rolled up the window and ordered curtly, “Just drive.”
Atticus couldn't figure it out – wasn't Mr. Abbott fond of Ophelia? Why did he seem displeased?
Atticus started the car and pulled away.
After finishing their meal, Ophelia and Sybil parted ways at the restaurant entrance.
Ophelia took the subway home. She had made an appointment online to view apartments.
She knew she couldn't stay at Magnus's place indefinitely – it wasn't always convenient.
Ophelia was decisive and efficient, securing a rental in just half a day. She paid the upfront cost which included a security deposit equivalent to six months' rent, leaving her with just fifty dollars in her wallet.
Once she had moved all her belongings into her new place, it wasn’t until Magnus returned that evening that he discovered Ophelia had moved out.
New house, new job, Ophelia was filled with hope for the future.
In the months that followed, she stayed busy and fulfilled at Parks Corporation, handling any office politics with ease. As A City transitioned from summer to winter, Finnegan faded from her world, as if he never existed at all. The kiss they shared that night, their passion—it all seemed like a dream. Just when she thought their paths would never cross again, she stepped out of her office building one evening and instantly spotted a familiar figure under the streetlight. It was him. Finnegan was there.
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