"How do you know that?"


    "I heard it from someone," the female employee said proudly. "And it''s a reliable source. Serena isn''t Mr. Hastings'' biological sister; she''s just the stepsister brought in by his stepmother."


    "Well... That''s not exactly a weed fact around here." Another employee waved dismissively.


    "Think about it. Mr. Hastings'' engagement ceremony was ruined, and it was all because of Serena. But why would she sabotage his engagement ceremony in the first ce?"


    The mention of the engagement ceremony made me frown slightly, filling my mind with doubts.


    None of these people had attended the event, so how did they know so much about it?


    "You don''t know the half of it," the first woman continued, lowering her voice. I instinctively leaned in to listen. "Serena got involved with the Schneider family''s illegitimate son. She and that guy teamed up and caused a scene at the engagement ceremony, which led to the whole thing getting called off."


    This was explosive news for my colleagues and for me as well.


    Anything involving Lucas was something the Schneider family worked hard to suppress, and I was certain Alex wasn''t the type to gossip about his own affairs.


    Yet these people spoke with such conviction. Their ims weren''t baseless, so they must have gotten their information somewhere.


    But where? That was the question I couldn''t figure out.


    "Oh, please. Just look at her," another employee scoffed. "She may have a pretty face, but who knows what''s really going on in her head?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?" The first woman spread her hands with an exaggerated expression of disgust as if I had personally ruined her engagement. "People like her make me sick. And her mother, who managed to marry into the Hastings family? She''s probably a homewrecker who schemed her way in."


    I cleared my throat as I walked in slowly.


    The lively chatter in the pantry instantly died down.


    Recalling the tactics Alex had taught me that morning, I deliberately put on an irritated expression and let my gaze sweep across the room. Anyone who met my eyes quickly looked away, too nervous to hold my stare.


    "Patricia, what were you saying just now?" I folded my arms and took slow, deliberate steps toward the woman who had been speaking. "Who exactly are you calling a homewrecker?"


    Patricia Sinir nced around and realized none of her colleagues were willing


    to back her up. She waspletely on her own.


    "My family affairs are also Mr. Hastings'' family affairs," I said, smiling without warmth. "And you have the nerve to discuss our boss'' private matters so openly?"


    The surrounding colleagues, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, fell silent.


    "Besides, how exactly does any of this concern you?" I raised an eyebrow at Patricia, keeping my tone cold and condescending-just as Alex had advised. "Mind you own business."


    "You—" Her face turned red with anger, but she knew she was in the wrong. This situation could escte if she dared to argue, and she wasn''t willing to take that risk.


    Sure enough, after shooting me a frustrated re, she mmed her cup down and turned to leave the pantry.


    "Wait." I grabbed her by the arm. "Spreading rumors has legal consequences. Do you think you can just walk away so easily? I don''t think so."


    Sensing the tension between us, the other employees quickly averted their eyes and slipped out of the pantry.


    "You..." Patricia was clearly furious. "I wasn''t the one who started this rumor."