Chapter 16

Chloe snuck into what used to be Nicole's walk-in closet, where Nicole's faint, cool fragrance still lingered. Chloe found a bottle of Nicole's usual perfume. It was an unusually distinct fragrance—crsip cedarwood and bergamot at the top, a subtle hint of rose and white musk in the middle, and a base of oud and amber. It exuded a cool, soft elegance. She remembered that Maverick liked this scent. When Nicole wore it, he would lean close to her neck and breathe it in, his eyes filled with undeniable fascination. That evening, after dressing up, Chloe deliberately sprayed the perfume on her wrists and behind her ears. She walked to the study door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open. Maverick was sitting at his desk, staring blankly at the computer screen. His brows were knit gloomily. When the familiar cool fragrance drifted through the air, he froze. For a split second, his eyes flickered in a daze, as if time had rewound, and he saw that aloof figure once again. He lifted his