Chapter 5

A crisp, cool fragrance filled Zachary's senses, instantly easing the irritation gnawing at him. The gloom in his eyes faded, and he exclaimed, "Regina, did you create a new scent?" Seeing his reaction, Regina nodded lightly, a trace of pride gleaming in her eyes. "You're a genius!" Zachary said without hesitation. Then, he reached out, clasped her wrist, and leaned in to smell it again. "This is incredible. Let's make it our signature scent for next season!" But Regina shook her head, smiled, and pulled her hand back. "That won't do. There's only one bottle." She looked up at Zachary, her eyes brimming with affection as she added, "I created this especially for you. It belongs to you alone. If you want something for the release, I can make an entirely new fragrance." As soon as she finished speaking, he bent down and wrapped her in his arms. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he muttered, "Thank you, darling." Zachary continued, "By the way, the owner of URI Corporation just got back, and they're hosting a gala. My family received an invitation as well. Come with me. Your talent and your perfumes deserve to be seen by all." Regina paused for a moment before delight and excitement washed over her. "Really? I can go with you?" she asked softly. Zachary nodded. "Of course. The gala is tomorrow night. It would mean everything to us if we could secure a partnership with URI Corporation. I believe that you can help me make it happen." Regina bit her lip, feigning concern as she asked, "But… if Genevieve finds out, won't she be upset?" At the mention of Genevieve, Zachary's expression darkened instantly. The memory of the humiliation he had suffered at the hospital earlier that day surged back, leaving him with nowhere to vent his anger. "Don't talk about that unsophisticated woman!" Zachary scoffed, his voice edged with disgust. "How could she ever compare to you? It's settled. I'm taking you to the gala tomorrow." With his answer confirmed, Regina stepped closer, rose onto her toes, and leaned toward his ear. Then, her voice softened into something seductive. "Zach, I sprayed some on my neck too. Smell it again. Doesn't it smell even better?" The cool fragrance mingled with the warmth of her body made his nerves tingle. Before Regina could react, Zachary's hand clamped around her waist. He lifted her effortlessly and pressed her down against the wide mahogany desk. "Alright, you naughty little thing." … The moment Genevieve pushed open the studio door, a dense mix of fragrances rushed toward her. Hannah was directing several employees as they inventoried the losses. When she saw Genevieve, she hurried over. "Gen, you're finally here. Everything's a mess. But it's strange. Aside from the premium raw materials and the cabinet where you keep your semi-finished formulas, nothing else is missing." Genevieve's gaze passed over Hannah and swept the room, noting the mess and how carefully someone had gone through it. She clicked her tongue. It was obvious that whoever did this had her in their sights. "Any suspects?" she asked calmly. Hannah thought for a moment, then answered, "There were no signs of forced entry, so it had to be an inside job. Five employees resigned this week, but they've been with us since the beginning. I don't even want to think about it." Genevieve lowered her gaze, her expression still as composed as ever. "I understand." "Oh, right. URI Corporation reached out. They're interested in working with us," Hannah added, her gaze fixed on Genevieve. "They said they'd send someone tomorrow to take us to their gala to talk things through. Gen, are you going?" But as soon as the question left her lips, Hannah already knew the answer. For almost a year, Genevieve had stayed out of the public eye for Zachary's sake, afraid of causing him trouble. This time would probably be no different. "I'm going. Why wouldn't I?" Genevieve met Hannah's gaze, and the corner of her lips curled into a smirk. "I like the sound of a partnership with URI Corporation." Hannah froze. For a moment, she couldn't believe her ears. "You're not afraid of Zachary anymore?" she asked instinctively. Genevieve let out a scoff and sidestepped the question. "Get Jonathan back here immediately. I want him to handle the divorce." "Who's getting divorced?" Hannah blurted. A beat later, she finally understood. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "You're divorcing him?" When Genevieve looked at her blankly, Hannah finally recovered from her shock. She grabbed Genevieve's arm, and her voice shot up. "Oh my gosh! Genevieve! Are you finally getting a divorce?" "How badly have you been hoping for this?" Genevieve asked, raising her brow. "I've been wishing for it day and night!" Hannah launched into a rant. "Zachary looks good on the outside, but he's rotten to the core! How was he ever worthy of you? Did he ever really understand you? Did he have any idea how much you gave up for him? He's completely oblivious!" "You're right." Genevieve nodded in agreement. "So, get Jonathan back here immediately. "I've put up with the Lambert family for a whole year—enduring emotional distress, losing my youth, and working myself to the bone. Asking for half the assets isn't too much, is it?" Hannah nodded vehemently, her expression more serious than ever. "Not at all! How could it be? In fact, you're being far too generous!" With that, she pulled out her phone and gritted her teeth as she dialed a number. "Just wait. I'm calling that brat Jonathan right now. I'll make him drop every case he's handling and come back to fight this for you. We're stripping the Lamberts down to the bone!" … It was late at night, yet Genevieve was still in the studio. A strange yet perfectly balanced scent hung in the air. In her hands, the finest ingredients seemed to come alive, colliding and blending within the narrow test tubes. Nearby, Hannah sprawled on the couch, yawning as tears welled at the corners of her eyes. "Gen, is this really the gift you're giving the owner of URI Corporation for your first meeting? This scent… It feels aggressive. Are you sure he won't want to throw hands the moment he smells it?" In fact, it was the most overpowering scent she had ever smelled. Genevieve added the final drop of essential oil into the beaker. "A first meeting calls for a grand gesture. That's my way of showing sincerity." The fragrance was called Regalia. … At exactly 9:00 am the next day, someone knocked on the studio door. Hannah, sporting dark circles under her eyes, went to answer it. A man in a well-tailored suit stood outside. "I'm Liam Palmer, assistant to the CEO of URI Corporation," he introduced himself. "I'm here on my boss' behalf to escort you to the gala." Hannah stepped aside to let him in. All the while, she studied him discreetly. Genevieve, on the other hand, was already prepared. She slid an elegant black velvet box toward Liam. It was the result of an entire sleepless night. "This is a small token to commemorate the start of our partnership. I'd appreciate it if you passed it along, Mr. Palmer." Liam's gaze lingered on the box for a moment. Then, he smiled, retrieved something from his briefcase, and slid it across the table. It was a USB drive. "What a coincidence," he said pleasantly. "My boss prepared a gift for you as well. He said you'd definitely be interested." Hannah's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this to turn into a battle of equals. With a straight face, Genevieve accepted the USB drive and immediately inserted it into the nearby laptop. She then opened the folder. The screen lit up, and a video began to play.