Chapter <b>357 </b>


    Vi asked probingly, “Were my ears ying tricks on me, Mnie?”


    Mnie turned to look at Vi, an impatient look on her face as she said, “You don’t <b>have </b>to concern yourself with my matters.”


    <b>“</b><b>I </b>was just worried you were in trouble. After all, I hope that everyone can enjoy themselves at my birthday party.”


    “Ms. Shaw,” Yvonne called out with a smile on her face. “You don’t have to keep reminding us it’s your birthday today. We’re more than capable of remembering that since you’re the main character for the day. We get it already.”


    Vi had been acting like she owned the ce, even emphasizing to Mnie multiple times she was in charge. To Yvonne, it seemed she was trying to shift the attention to something else so that she could cover her tracks.


    Vi froze, but Mnie suddenly realized that Vi was trying to subtly find out if the man with her had been Eugene.


    The light in her eyes dimmed slightly, and she was just about to begin speaking when she felt someone approaching her from the back.


    Immediately, tears appeared in Vi’s eyes as she nced over Mnie’s head. She asked in a soft and sweet voice, “What are you doing here, Eugene? Didn’t you say you had something else to take care of?”


    Mnie pursed her lips tightly as Eugene’s deep voice rang out above her. “Everything’s been taken care of.”


    She did not know if her senses were ying tricks on her or if it was a result of their intimacy in the room just now, but Mnie could feel her nostrils filling with the faint scent of cedar. That was Eugene’s signature scent.


    It was a cool, gloomy scent that wrapped its arms around her.


    Though she could not see him, she could still feel an inexplicable constricting feeling falling


    over her.


    Mnie did not turn back. She grabbed Yvonne’s hand so that they could leave. However, Vi got in their way.


    Mnie had no choice but to say quietly, “Excuse me.”


    Her voice had always been of a lower timbre, and she sounded even more stern now because she had purposely lowered it even more.


    Vi’s heart skipped a beat when she met her stern gaze. She instinctively stepped aside.


    She only jerked out of her reverie after Mnie grabbed Yvonne’s hand and walked away. When she turned to look at Eugene, she realized he had lowered his gaze. He had a thoughtful expression on his face.


    “What are you thinking about, Eugene?” Vi asked hesitantly.


    Eugene looked up and said tly, “Nothing much.”


    It had not been <b>a </b>pleasant birthday party. Yvonne beganining to Mnie about Vi’s actions the minute they <b>got </b>into the car.


    Mnie listened, and as they left the brightly lit venue, she could feel herself calming down again. She asked Yvonne, “Should I take


    “Should I take you home?”


    “Yes. I’ll have to go home and provide a run–down on the evening’s events.‘


    Yvonne’s home was about a half–hour ride away. Mnie received an unexpected phone call while they were about halfway there.


    It was an employee from Litman Manor. “Is this Ms. Mnie Smith’s number? You left purse at the manor. May I know when you’d like toe pick it up?”


    Mnie was stunned. “My purse?”


    your


    “We found it on a couch in the lounge. The ID inside shows that this purse belongs to you. Mnie had been to Litman Manor several times, and LeapCo had also once hosted a forum there. All they needed to do to get in touch with Mnie was to cross–check their records. Mnie ran through the evening’s events in her mind. She must have dropped her purse while getting changed just now and had not realized it because Eugene had dropped by all of a sudden.


    She promised she would return to pick it up. Yvonne asked, “Is something wrong?”


    “I left my purse at Litman Manor. I’ll go pick it upter.“.


    Mnie had taken the time into consideration too. There was a high chance she would end up bumping into Eugene and the others if she returned now, which was why she decided to go ahead and drop Yvonne off at home first.


    The purse was left in the reception area. Mnie went ahead to verify her ID with the


    receptionist and left after ensuring nothing was missing from her purse.


    It was already 11 o’clock, and she had not bumped into anybody on her way here.