The email had come from Phillip Barnes, the master perfumer whose name carried weight throughout the industry.

Rachael had barely slept after retrieving the equity transfer document the night before, and her thoughts kept circling back.

In Oniolens, the Shaw family was the richest. Her parents and brothers had already assured her that they would make up for the years apart, yet blood ties alone could not erase the distance created by never having lived under the same roof.

Rachael refused to go back as someone who relied on their charity, and she especially refused to endure the silent judgment from her new circle should she go back.

Within the perfume world, Phillip was considered untouchable. She was well aware that a mysterious corporation had recently poured more than one hundred billion into a partnership with him. Together, they had established a sealed research base. And now they were recruiting elite talent to launch a three-month program. Anyone who successfully created the designated fragrance would gain priority rights to collaborate on later projects.

That opportunity was exactly what she wanted.

Only by securing that priority collaboration could she return to the Shaw family with something to stand on.

Yet when Phillip had shown interest in her talent before, her mind had been fixed on marrying Xander. Because of that, she had turned down Phillip's invitations to train further with his team more than once.

She had assumed that she had already used up her chances with him. But reality surprised her.

When she opened the email, she learned that Phillip was currently in Amledo, a country separated from hers by a nine-hour time difference.

As Rachael read his words, his recognition of her dedication to her career stirred a mix of guilt and warmth in her chest.

Near the end of the message, Phillip explained that he was tied up with an ongoing project and would not be able to return to the country for now. However, he included a phone number and asked her to contact that person directly.

After sending a careful reply filled with gratitude, Rachael dialed the number he had provided.

No one picked up.

The line cut off immediately, which made it clear the other person had no time to talk.

Moments after the call ended, a new message appeared on her phone.

It was an address along with a specific meeting time.

From the way it was phrased, it was obvious they already knew Phillip had instructed her to make contact.

Rachael checked the clock and felt her pulse quicken when she realized she had less than thirty minutes to get there.

Digging through her wardrobe in a rush, she eventually pulled out a decent outfit she used to rely on often.

Out of courtesy, she kept her makeup light and understated before driving straight to the location.

By the time she arrived at the exquisite teahouse and went straight to a corner booth, she was only a minute away from being late.

"Sorry—the traffic was a nightmare."

She offered a small nod as she steadied her breathing, but then abruptly met a pair of cold eyes filled with quiet mockery.

Sharp features and refined lines gave the man an undeniably handsome appearance, yet his distant elegance carried a clear warning to keep away.

Rachael was shocked.

Kellan Mitchell?

From university days to the business world, he had always been Xander's most relentless rival.

Why was he here?

Resting against the teapot, Kellan's long fingers looked refined and careful as he lifted it.

With practiced ease, he poured a cup and gestured toward the empty seat.

"Go ahead and sit."

Nothing about his expression suggested surprise, as though he had expected her from the start.

Despite the questions swirling in her mind, Rachael forced herself to move and took the seat across from him.

"Mr. Mitchell, do you happen to know Mr. Barnes?"

His gaze gave nothing away, as if his thoughts were carefully locked behind a calm exterior.

A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips. "He contacted me. He mentioned you wanted to resume your training with him. Back then, you rejected every invitation he sent because you were set on marrying Xander. So what changed? Have you lost interest in him now?"

The way he spoke sounded almost offhand, yet the mockery beneath it was impossible to miss.

Rachael did not know Kellan personally. All she understood was that he came from one of Oniolens' most powerful families, yet he had abandoned inherited wealth and built Crescent Group from nothing here in Mophia.

Within three short years, his company had almost pushed Spencer Group to the edge of collapse.

Given that history, his sharp attitude likely came from the long standing feud between Crescent Group and Spencer Group.

Her brows drew together as she responded with restraint, "Mr. Mitchell, we barely crossed paths in the past. I have already decided to end things with Xander. From this point on, whatever conflicts you have with him do not involve me."

As he slowly turned the cup in his hand, his movement stopped without warning upon hearing her words. His eyes snapped up, dark and intent.

"You are getting a divorce from Xander?"

She noticed the quick glint of satisfaction in his eyes, and even though it was a simple question, it quietly got under her skin.

So much for the rumors about him being cold and indifferent. Not only did he enjoy gossip, he seemed entertained by other people's misfortune.

She kept her voice steady. "That matter has nothing to do with you, and it is not the reason we are meeting today. Mr. Barnes told me to contact you. As for what he intends to arrange, I do not know. Will you kindly enlighten me?"

Rachael had never heard of any prior connection between Phillip and Kellan, which only deepened her confusion.

She wondered if Crescent Group planned to use Phillip's influence as a weapon against Spencer Group's perfume line.

Then she reminded herself that she was already in the middle of ending things with Xander. That was enough reason to stay out of it and she refused to become a pawn in someone else's power game.

Tension gathered in her hands as she weighed what to do next.

Without warning, Kellan let out a low, humorless laugh.

"Three years ago, you turned Phillip down again and again. What makes you believe that coming back now means he should just welcome you with open arms and even clear the path for you? That kind of confidence is impressive. Or is this meeting just another way to smooth things over for Xander?"

Listening to him, Rachael felt convinced that something was definitely wrong with this man.

"Mr. Mitchell, if you distrust my intentions, then there is no reason to continue. I will speak to Mr. Barnes myself once he returns. This meeting is over."

With that, she pushed her chair back and moved to leave.

He stood at the same time, and the difference in their height was impossible to ignore. At nearly 6.3 feet tall, his presence pressed in on her with unfamiliar intensity.

Instinct made her step aside, but her knee struck the edge of the table, sending her stumbling forward into his chest.

Her palm brushed against the heat beneath his suit, and her cropped jacket left her waist exposed as his hand caught her, the warmth startling and unwelcome.

Every nerve in her body reacted as she shoved him away with force.

Fabric tore sharply the next second—the button on her sleeve snagged on the pocket of his suit jacket, ripping the seam open and revealing the smooth silk lining underneath.

An uneasy silence filled the room.

His hand hovered in the air, frozen.

Rachael blushed, and as she started to speak, a piercing voice from a woman nearby sliced through the moment.

"Rachael, is that really you? What on earth are you doing here? And why are you here with a man... Wait, isn't that Mr. Mitchell?"

Rachael lifted her head and froze when she saw Jayde Spencer, Xander's mother, standing nearby with Milly at her side.

Milly was hooked tightly around Jayde's arm, her face full of exaggerated surprise. The two of them stood so close they looked exactly like a devoted mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Which, unfortunately, they truly were—at least on paper.

Jayde's expression hardened as she strode forward, her tone dripping with reproach. "So this is how you behave in public? Clinging to other men while Xander is out there working day and night? Do you have any shame at all? You've embarrassed our entire family!"

Milly let her gaze slowly rake over Rachael, a faintly mocking smile tugging at her lips as she deliberately raised her voice. "Rachael, I really don't want to misunderstand you. You're not still upset about yesterday and trying to get revenge on Xander, are you? He spent more than an hour video calling me last night. God, he really should've spent that time to comfort you. I'll totally remind him when we have lunch later. Please don't let emotions push you into doing something you'll regret."

Her tone sounded gentle, but every word was a carefully wrapped display of how close she was to Xander, even subtly hinting that Rachael was deliberately getting involved with Kellan just to get back at Xander.

Rachael instinctively glanced at Kellan beside her, only to find him standing there with his arms crossed, calmly watching the scene unfold, clearly having no intention of explaining anything on her behalf.

Of course, he and Xander were sworn rivals, and given such a perfect chance to provoke him, there was no reason for Kellan to step in and clarify matters.

Rachael could only let out a humorless laugh. She straightened her back, deliberately stepping away from the man, and then turned to Milly with a calm, knowing smile.

"What a dramatic imagination you have! I came out to buy Xander the tea he likes and happened to run into Mr. Mitchell. This is a public place, and nothing improper happened. And honestly, I'm surprise Xander still had the energy to chat with you last night after all. I, on the other hand, was exhausted and literally passed out the moment I lay down. His endurance really is admirable."

Her words were no less intimate or pointed than Milly's.

The moment Rachael finished speaking, Milly's expression stiffened, her smile barely holding together.

"You... you were together last night? Then why didn't I see you during the video call?"

Rachael tilted her head slightly. "Miss Clark, are you always this invested in other people's personal affairs?"

"You—" Milly nearly lost control, her temper flaring as she struggled not to explode on the spot.

Jayde clearly hadn't expected Rachael to respond so boldly either. After a brief pause, she sneered coldly. "Do you think Milly would ever behave so crudely? You're obsessed with meaningless nonsense. Milly, as the Clark family's precious daughter, is someone truly worthy of standing beside Xander. Unlike you—nothing more than a useless housewife. Married for all these years and still childless. Tell me, what value do you bring at all?"

Her eyes flicked suspiciously toward Kellan. "Meeting another guy behind Xander's back, no less! Have you finished this quarter's perfume formula yet? If production gets delayed, just wait and see how Xander deals with you."

Rachael responded without missing a beat, "Oh? If I'm so useless, shouldn't this responsibility go to Miss Clark instead, the one who's supposedly qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xander? Why keep pushing it onto me? Or could it be that the much-praised daughter of the Clark family isn't actually as capable as everyone claims?"

Jayde and Milly both turned red with fury.

Rachael, however, had already spun around and walked off with her head held high, completely disregarding the three of them.

Jayde stared after her in disbelief, pointing at Rachael's retreating back as she fumed. "Milly, has that woman lost her mind? How dare she speak to me in that tone?"

Before Milly could even open her mouth to answer, a lazy male voice drifted over from behind them. "Well, that was quite the show."

Jayde and Milly turned around to see Kellan standing there with a teasing smirk, looking like someone who had just enjoyed a free piece of entertainment.

Their expressions immediately darkened even further.

Yet neither of them had time to react. Kellan had already turned away, striding off just as casually as Rachael had, leaving the two women behind, seething and stamping their feet in rage.

Milly gritted her teeth in anger. "Mrs. Spencer, I'm sure they're having an affair. We can't touch Kellan for now, but just wait. Once the Spencer Group secures its partnership with the Shaw family, we'll make sure Xander handles both of them properly!"

Hearing this, Jayde was reminded of how crucial the cooperation between the Spencer Group and the Shaw family was, and her expression gradually softened.

"That's right. Let them have their moment while it lasts," she said coldly. "Milly, you're the most reliable one. Once Rachael has no more value, I'll make Xander divorce her immediately. Without the Spencer family backing her, her adoptive parents would never forgive her."

Meanwhile, Rachael realized she had left in too much of a hurry and forgotten her purse. She turned back to retrieve it and, just as she rounded the corner, overheard every word they said.

She didn't look shaken in the slightest—only a faint, mocking smile curved her lips.

The Shaw family would never give them that opportunity.

She avoided them and returned to the booth, picked up her purse, and quietly slipped out through the back exit.

Unexpectedly, the moment she reached the parking lot, a hand suddenly grabbed her. She let out a startled breath as she was yanked into a firm embrace.

Rachael lifted her eyes and saw that it was Kellan once again, standing right in front of her.

Rachael's patience wore thin, and she was about to snap at Kellan, when his deep, soothing voice cut through her brewing anger, laced with both mischief and a disarming innocence. "Miss Brown, you just tore my jacket and never paid me back, and after all the trouble I went through to help you, you're just going to walk away?"

Rachael faltered, her eyes dropping to the ruined pocket of his suit jacket. The shirt beneath was unbuttoned at the top, hinting at his lean, athletic frame. Heat crept up her cheeks.

Of course she was to blame, and her own reaction left her flustered.

Xander had always warned her about Kellan's ruthless ways.

She'd painted him as nothing but trouble in her mind.

With the two of them standing that close for the first time, she couldn't really blame herself for being jumpy.

Trying to steady herself, she took a shaky deep breath and said, "Fine. I'm sorry. How much do I owe you for this jacket? I'll pay for it."

He watched her, noticing how the soft makeup set off her skin, glowing and fresh like springtime. When she blinked, her long lashes fluttered and drew his gaze.

He swallowed hard, gaze lingering. Then, slowly and deliberately, he slid the jacket from his shoulders and handed it over, his movements relaxed and oddly captivating.

Rachael found herself flustered, and instinctively stepped back, her eyes bright with embarrassment.

"I've already apologized, Mr. Mitchell."

He offered her the jacket, lips curling into a sly smile. "I'm not after your money. What I want is a proper replacement for this."

Rachael nearly rolled her eyes at him.

Her fingers brushed the collar—no tag, and the fabric and cut screamed custom.

Where was she supposed to find an exact match for something like this?

"So you won't replace it?" he asked, tilting his head. "Guess I'll just have to bring this up with Mr. Spencer, then."

He immediately reached for his phone, pretending to dial a number without hesitation.

Panic flared in Rachael, and she caught his wrist. "Don't do that!"

His eyes flickered down to her hand wrapped around his arm, surprise giving way to a glimmer of amusement.

She realized what she was doing and let go, snatching up the suit jacket instead. "Fine. I'll get you another just like it."

A slow smile spread across his face as he crossed his arms and leaned back, clearly entertained. "I'll hold off on calling Mr. Spencer—at least until you deliver. But just so you know, I'm not easy to please. Don't think you can get away with something off the rack."

Biting back a retort, Rachael kept her cool and turned to walk away.

This time, he didn't follow. Instead, he slipped behind the wheel of a sleek Maybach and drove off, leaving her standing alone.

As Rachael turned and walked towards her own car, she caught sight of Xander a short distance away. He was talking fast, body language anxious, trying to placate someone in front of him.

And before him, Milly stood with her arms folded, her glare cold and unyielding.

"So she said it right to my face, and you're still denying it?" Milly's voice rang out.

The scene clicked instantly in Rachael's mind, and a cold smirk tugged at her lips.

Anger simmered inside her, and she strode up without a pause.

"Honey, didn't I warn you last night that my perfume would stick around? But you didn't listen—now Miss Clark can smell it. Next time, please shower after we're done."

Whatever progress Xander had made with Milly vanished instantly at Rachael's words.

Rachael, unfazed by the stormy look on his face, turned to Milly and added in her sweetest tone, "Sorry, we'll be more careful next time. I know you're both busy with work, so I'll leave you to it. Take care."

Without another glance, she climbed into her car and sped away, leaving chaos in her wake.