A sudden thud rattled my chest, and my eyes flew up instinctively.

At once, the bodyguards before me parted, their heads dipping in quiet deference.

Through the opening strode a tall, commanding man, his steps unhurried yet tinged with dominance.

A perfectly cut black shirt traced the hard lines of his frame, broad shoulders narrowing to a lean waist.

His features were sharply defined, and within that almost perfect visage, a pair of eyes glinted with lethal intensity—when they narrowed, they became abyssal voids capable of stealing breath with a single glance.

Recognition struck me instantly.

The man was Daniel Edwards, the CEO of the Edwards Group, a billionaire whose decisions could upend markets overnight.

Rumor had it he was unmarried but had a daughter.

What I had never anticipated was that this fragile little girl would be his child. And he'd allowed his girlfriend to treat his own flesh and blood with such cruelty.

That realization ignited something fierce in my chest, my hands curling into fists before I could stop myself.

The moment Daniel noticed the figure on the bed, concern flashed across his face. "Emily!"

He then spun toward me in a fury, his voice sharp enough to cut. "What the hell did you do to my daughter? Are you looking for trouble? Who gave you the nerve to kidnap her?"

Unfazed, I lifted my chin and returned his glare with a frost-edged smile. "You've got the audacity to accuse me? Don't you dare call yourself her father—you're not worth the word! You let your girlfriend mistreat your own child!"

I quickly called the police and explained the situation briefly. Then, I turned to Daniel. "When the police get here, I'll tell them everything. But right now, there's no chance I'm leaving the child with someone like you!"

The instant Daniel shifted toward the bed, my arm shot out to shove him. "Stay away from her!"

A hiss of shocked breaths rippled through the room. The bodyguards stiffened, then surged forward, forming a solid wall in front of Daniel in one instinctive motion.

Daniel's assistant said, "No one speaks to Mr. Edwards like that. You despicable woman, suspected of kidnapping the kid, and you still have the nerve to be so disrespectful?"

A dry laugh slipped out of me. "So? What are you going to do about it?"

Ice settled over Daniel's features. He lifted a hand without looking at me. "Get her out of here!"

The bodyguards lunged forward together, rough hands clamping down on my shoulders with force.

Outmatched, I stood no chance against them.

Right as they started to haul me toward the door, a thin, fragile voice drifted from the hospital bed.

"Daddy... please don't hurt her!"

Emily Edwards stirred awake, blinking as she struggled to sit up.

Daniel's expression changed, and he quickly signaled the bodyguards to release me.

I rushed to Emily's side, bending close with a worried frown. "Emily, are you feeling any better?"

Emily nodded gently, small fingers curling around mine as if afraid I might disappear. "Yeah. Thank you."

A soft smile touched my lips. "You don't have to thank me. How are you feeling now?"

Emily replied, "I don't know why... but when you're here, I feel a lot better."

As the words left her mouth, she tipped her small head against my side, clinging to me with unquestioning trust.

Warmth swelled in my chest before I could stop it, a quiet, unfamiliar joy spreading through my body.

Only then did I register the sharp intake of breath around us—the bodyguards staring as if they'd just witnessed something impossible.

Their stunned expressions struck me as odd, but I had no time to dwell on it.

At that moment, the police arrived.

Without hesitation, I laid out everything that had happened from start to finish. Then, right in front of everyone, I accused Daniel of failing as a guardian, insisting that leaving Emily in his care would only put her in further danger.

After reviewing the surveillance footage and confirming I hadn't abducted the child, one of the officers turned to Daniel and asked evenly, "Is it true that your girlfriend has been mistreating your daughter?"

Daniel's expression hardened at once, shadows pooling in his eyes as his presence turned oppressive. Lowering his voice, he replied in a cold tone, "I'll take care of this myself. I won't allow anyone to harm my daughter!"

A moment later, the edge in his demeanor eased. He bent down, carefully lifting Emily from the hospital bed. "Emily, let's go home."

Instead of responding to him, Emily tightened her grip on my hand, small fingers trembling with reluctance. Her eyes searched my face as she asked, "Will you go home with me?"

Something inside me softened instantly. Meeting her gaze, I lowered my voice and reassured her, "Don't worry. I'll visit you whenever I can."

Only then did Emily release my hand and nod, docile but serious. "You have to keep your word."

She was cradled in Daniel's arms, yet her gaze clung to me as they left.

Just as they were about to vanish down the corridor, a sudden thought struck me—Emily's asthma was severe, and she couldn't afford intense emotional swings.

Acting on instinct, I hurried after them.

Turning past a pillar, I saw a man in a tailored black suit lean closer toward Daniel, his posture deferential as he whispered, "Mr. Edwards, after Miss Harris died following the birth of Miss Edwards, the child grew up without a mother's care. She became withdrawn, rarely engaging with anyone. Even when you're with her... she almost never speaks. Yet today, she's clinging to that unfamiliar woman with unusual affection. It feels odd. From what I can tell, that woman may have ulterior motives."

At those words, Daniel went still for a moment, the air around him turning cold.

"Dig up everything about her!" he ordered.

Distance blurred the bodyguard's words, so I didn't know what he had said. But I didn't need to hear more to know the target of Daniel's order was me.

That clipped command slid straight down my spine and left a lingering shiver.

Just as the rumors claimed, Daniel was paranoid, cautious, and obsessed with control.

What unsettled me the most wasn't his suspicion, but his power. In Atokton, a man like him could uncover anything if he wanted.

Secrets simply didn't survive under his scrutiny.

If he were to find out my true identity from some tiny clue, that would be disastrous.

For a brief moment, unease coiled in my chest. Then, I forced it down.

Keeping my distance from him was the only sensible choice. Otherwise, it would invite nothing but disaster.

***

An hour later, inside Rose Manor, Joshua Adams, Daniel's assistant, placed a thick, meticulously prepared file into Daniel's hands.

Daniel's eyes skimmed the file before stopping abruptly at the name—Alexandra Harris.

In an instant, his expression hardened, pupils contracting as his eyes turned icy.

How could it be her?

Joshua, standing nearby, felt a chill creep up his spine at Daniel's icy demeanor.

"Mr. Edwards," he said carefully, lowering his voice. "I was startled by that name as well. Still, people with the same name are hardly rare. And this woman looks nothing like Miss Harris ever did."

Back then, Alexandra had been the undisputed beauty of Atokton, her elegance and charm leaving countless men hopelessly smitten.

Daniel, in particular, had fallen so deeply for her that he'd remained devoted for years, refusing to even glance at other women.

Yet the Alexandra at the hospital today bore no resemblance to the woman Daniel had once loved—plain, forgettable, worlds apart from that dazzling figure.

"And there's more," Joshua continued, his tone turning thoughtful. "This woman has lived overseas for years. Her perfumes only started gaining recognition within the past two years, and now, she's preparing to return to the country and build her career here. Frankly, something about her feels off. The records show she had no background in perfumery at all, yet she suddenly began creating fragrances and somehow managed to gain Miss Edwards's trust. All of it combined makes her deeply suspicious."

Years of dealing with women angling their way into his life had dulled Daniel's patience for schemes of any kind. He had seen many similar tricks.

A thin, derisive smile tugged at his lips as he flicked the file into the trash without another glance.

***

Once I left the hospital, I got behind the wheel but didn't head to meet Karson.

When his call came through, I told him something unexpected had come up and that my plans had changed.

In truth, I'd never planned to see him today in the first place.

I drove straight to the airport to pick up my friend, Jenifer Moore, who had just flown back to the country.

Since it had been ages since we'd last met, I took her to Nova Club for drinks, eager to unwind and catch up.

Just as we stepped out of the elevator, though, a muffled sob drifted down the corridor, low and restrained.

A flicker of curiosity made me glance toward the sound, and my steps faltered when I recognized the tall, cold figure standing there.

Daniel occupied the center of the hallway, an oppressive chill rolling off him, impatience evident in his eyes.

Behind him was a heavily made-up woman in revealing clothes, crying softly as she trailed him, her delicate sobs carefully arranged to make her look pitiful.

"Danny, why did you withdraw your investment?" the woman sobbed, clutching his arm as if she might collapse without it. "Is this really because Emily went missing under my care for a few hours today? Are you going to punish me over that?"

Her voice quivered as she continued, "I only stepped away to use the restroom. I told the bodyguards to watch her; I honestly don't know how she slipped away. If you're angry, then be angry at me, but please don't drag my family or our company into this."

"What exactly are we looking at?" Jenifer whispered impatiently at my side.

I gestured for her to be quiet and replied in a low voice, "Hold on, let's enjoy the drama for a bit."

So, that woman was Daniel's girlfriend.

The same woman who had dared to torment sweet, timid Emily. The thought of that made my blood boil, my palms itching with the urge to storm over and slap the woman.

Daniel's eyes had gone sharp, his stare stripped of warmth and brimming with barely restrained fury.

Without sparing her so much as a glance, he said coldly, "Leave."

He then wrenched his arm free and walked off without hesitation, his long strides tinged with finality.

"Danny!" the woman cried out, rushing after him, only to be stopped cold when a bodyguard stepped in her path.

Fixing her with a frigid stare, the bodyguard stated evenly, "Miss Jones, stop harassing Mr. Edwards. Or it won't end well for you."

His voice dropped another degree as he continued, "You know how shattered Mr. Edwards was after Miss Edwards' biological mother died. That child is everything to him—more precious than his own life. But your recklessness nearly put her in danger. The fact that Mr. Edwards chose not to pursue this further is already an act of mercy."

The woman clenched her teeth, biting hard at her lip, reluctance and grievance burning in her eyes. "But I'm his fiancée!" she said hoarsely. "Even though I made a mistake, couldn't he forgive me just this once? Why does my entire family have to pay for it?"

Without the slightest shift in expression, the bodyguard answered, "The engagement was set up by Mr. Laurence Edwards, and Mr. Daniel Edwards has never once recognized it. If you have a problem, take it up with his father."

Left with no choice, the woman could only turn around and leave.

Jenifer clicked her tongue beside me, rubbing her chin with amused disbelief. "I honestly didn't expect Daniel to be this hopelessly devoted to a woman."

Watching Daniel follow through exactly as promised, I felt a quiet weight finally lifted from my chest.

At least from this moment on, no one would dare mistreat Emily again.

Jenifer and I soon slipped into the private room, settling in with our drinks as easy conversation flowed between us.

After a while, curiosity got the better of me, and I asked casually, "So why did you return to the country all of a sudden?"

With a playful wink, Jenifer leaned closer. "Because of Mr. Lewis. He was worried you'd be handling everything by yourself here, so he sent me back to help you," she said, her smile turning teasing. "He's ridiculously considerate toward you."

That was hard to argue with, and I simply dipped my head in quiet agreement.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Jenifer rummaged through her bag. "Oh—right. Mr. Lewis also asked me to bring the new perfume you recently developed, Lunar Blossom. He thought it might give your business a boost."

Her movements paused, irritation flashing across her face. "Damn it. I must've left it in the car. Wait here; I'll go grab it."

I opened my mouth to tell her there was no rush, but she was already hurrying out the door, her heels soon clicking away down the hall.

With a quiet sigh, I shook my head, poured myself a couple more drinks, and eventually wandered off to the restroom once the alcohol began to buzz through me.

By the time I came back, a soft, drunken haze had blurred my vision, smearing the edges of the room into something indistinct.

The lights inside had been switched off somehow, plunging the space into shadow, with only a thin wash of moonlight slipping in through the window.

Narrowing my eyes, I made out a lone figure seated on the sofa and staggered over.

"Back so soon?" I slurred under my breath.

No answer came, and a flicker of confusion crept into my mind.

Why didn't Jenifer say anything back?

I lifted my hand and gave the person's shoulder a casual pat, only to feel an unnatural stiffness beneath my palm.

Frowning, I murmured lazily, "Why are you so tense? Relax a little, will you..."

The moment the words left my mouth, my dulled instincts finally stirred, sounding a quiet alarm in my head.

The feel of it... It wasn't like a woman's body at all.

Through the fog of alcohol, I touched the person again, testing the unfamiliar firmness with hesitant disbelief.

Huh?

Something was definitely off.

Beneath my palm was a flat, broad abdomen, tightly defined, packed with muscles.

This person was... a man.

Just as the realization slammed into me, a low, husky male voice cut through the silence, tight with restraint.

"Have you touched enough?"

The sound of that voice cut through my haze, snapping my mind back to clarity.

I quickly stood up, only to have my wrist locked in a crushing grip that sent a jolt up my arm.

Harsh light flooded the room as the overhead lamps flicked on, forcing me to squint against the sudden glare.

Once my vision steadied, Daniel's face came sharply into focus—cold, sculpted, and unforgiving, his eyes trained on me with the predatory patience of a hunter sizing up prey.

I struggled violently, trying to wrench myself free. "Let go of me! What on earth do you think you're doing?"

A thin, mocking smile tugged at Daniel's mouth as he spoke, his tone edged with ice. "Alexandra, you're impressively bold. Slipping in here, putting your hands on me, and now, you're pretending as if nothing happened?"

Shock rippled through me, and I finally looked around, only then realizing this wasn't the room Jenifer and I had reserved.

I had walked into the wrong room earlier.

Heat crept up my neck as I rubbed the back of my head, forcing an awkward laugh. "I-I drank too much. I must've mixed up the rooms. I'm really sorry."

Daniel's lips tugged into a thin, derisive smile. "The moment your scheme fell apart, you decided to blame the drinks for everything?"

The words jolted me, and with the buzz of alcohol still clouding my judgment, I shot back without restraint, even though the man standing in front of me was powerful, "You don't honestly think I'd ever be into you, do you? Don't flatter yourself. Narcissists like you are a complete turn-off. Even if every other man on the planet disappeared, I still wouldn't be with you."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop the moment my words landed, Daniel's expression hardening into something glacial. "Are you trying to provoke me?" he demanded, his voice low.

A dangerous edge crept into his voice as his eyes narrowed. "Say that again."

I didn't back down. Lifting my chin, I met his stare head-on. "You're a narcissist, and I don't like you at all!"

Just as I finished, I tried to wrench my wrist free, but his fingers closed with sudden strength, dragging me sharply toward him.

Thrown off by the force, I felt my footing slip, and I crashed straight into his chest.

Out of pure reflex, my free hand shot up and hooked around his neck, clinging to him to keep from falling.

We were far too close, the posture intimate.

Barely a breath separated our mouths, and the air between us blurred as our breathing tangled.

For reasons I couldn't explain, the scent clinging to Daniel felt familiar, as though I had smelled it long ago. But I had only met him for the first time this morning.

Right then, the ringtone vibrating from Daniel's pocket shattered the moment.

A flicker of clarity crossed his face as he reached for the device with one hand, easing himself out of the moment.

The instant he saw Emily's name glowing on the screen, the frost in his gaze thawed, replaced by a softness.

Standing close to him, I couldn't miss the small, tender voice drifting through the speaker. "Daddy, I want to see the lady from earlier today."

Those few words alone were enough to make my heart soften.

Casting a brief look in my direction, Daniel spoke into the phone with quiet indulgence. "You barely know her, and you already like her so much?"

"I don't know why," Emily murmured. "But I keep thinking about how she smelled and how she talked, and I can't fall asleep. I miss her already."

Daniel's voice lowered, patient and steady. "You'll feel better in a day or two. I'll ask the butler to tell you a story tonight."

"No, I don't want anyone else—I want her. Daddy, can you take me to see her?" Emily replied, her stubbornness evident.

A trace of authority edged into Daniel's voice as he said, "Emily."

Unease twisted through me; I was afraid his sternness would scare Emily.

Almost immediately, muffled sobs drifted through the receiver. "Fine... then I won't talk to you anymore!"

For a split second, concern crossed Daniel's face. After a brief pause, he softened his voice. "You'll see her tomorrow morning, I promise. For now, you need to go to sleep, alright?"

Emily stopped crying, her tone turning cheerful. "Don't forget your promise, okay? I'll go to bed now. Goodnight, Daddy."

Once the call ended, the warmth drained from Daniel's eyes, replaced by a cold, measuring stare as he looked straight at me.

"Come with me tomorrow to see my daughter," he said flatly. "Name your price."

Exasperation prickled under my skin, and a dry, mocking laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "Mr. Edwards," I said in a cold voice, tilting my head. "Just because you ask me to do that, you think I'll obey? Why would I do that?"

In all honesty, Emily had already worked her way into my heart. Every time I thought about her, it stirred memories of my own child, memories I usually kept tightly sealed.

We had only met once, yet she missed me so much that she couldn't sleep at night. Simply hearing that made my heart melt; there was no way I could refuse her.

Still, Daniel's domineering attitude left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I wanted no further entanglement with him—especially not with his obvious determination to dig into my background.

Daniel's expression turned glacial at my words. "I'm running out of patience. Even if you want to raise your price, you shouldn't push it."

Only dry amusement lingered in the laugh I gave. Without another word, I straightened, turned on my heel, and walked away without once looking back.

By the time I returned to the dining room, Jenifer was already there, waiting for me.

The moment she spotted me, she frowned in concern and asked, "Alexandra, where did you disappear to? You were gone for ages."

Unwilling to confess that I'd stumbled into the wrong room and run into Daniel, I waved my hand dismissively. "I just went to the restroom."

"Is that so..." Jenifer's brows knitted together, worry tightening her expression. "I've got bad news. When I went to get the perfume, it was taken away by someone else."

My heart skipped. "Taken away? By whom?"

Jenifer's voice rose with indignation. "That person was unbelievably arrogant! She said she's the fiancée of the Jones Group's CEO. I think her name is... Lilah Harris! Do you know her?"

Slowly, I let my lips curve upward, a faint chill flickering through my eyes.

Lilah...

How could I possibly not know her?

Still venting, Jenifer continued, guilt and anger tangled in her tone, "This is on me for being careless. Your perfume was way too good—I only meant to try a little. Then, Lilah caught a whiff of it and insisted on buying it. When I refused, she outright snatched it!"

After a beat, she said anxiously, "I looked her up afterward. She is already one of the most celebrated perfumers in the country. Alexandra, you've only just come back to the country. Breaking into the industry here won't be easy if you offend her..."

A soft, amused laugh slipped from my throat.

If Lilah actually had the nerve to come after me, that would only make things easier for me.

I wanted to see how much longer she could remain arrogant.

Reaching out, I gave Jenifer's arm a reassuring squeeze. "No need to worry. Since she dared to snatch our perfume, I'll make her pay for it. As for the perfume, I can make another one anytime. It's not worth losing sleep over."

Glancing at the clock, I added with quiet composure, "It's late. Let's go home."

Jenifer gave a small nod, lowering her voice. "Let's keep this from Mr. Lewis for now. Otherwise, he'll definitely scold me for losing the perfume."

I offered an easy smile. "Alright."

Probably because of the alcohol, I slept better than expected, sinking into a rare, uninterrupted rest.

Morning light found Jenifer and me already on the road, Jenifer driving as the Apex Group's headquarters rose into view.

On the surface, I'd been invited to officially join the company and expand my perfume business domestically.

In reality, that barely skimmed the truth—this was simply the opening move of my revenge.

Once inside the office, I sat across from Brenton Davies, the project manager of the Apex Group, going over onboarding procedures and future project plans.

Just then, a sharp, disdainful female voice echoed from the doorway. "Someone who has only been in the industry for about three years thinks she can join the Apex Group so easily? And she's handed a flagship project like Heartstring Moments right away? She must have slept with some big shot to get that!"

That voice... I recognized it all too well.

It had haunted me for countless nights.

Lilah was here.

At that moment, the office door was shoved open.

Confidence oozed off Lilah as she sauntered in, wrapped in an impeccable designer outfit, her makeup flawless, with two assistants hovering behind her.

Fixing her eyes on the room, she demanded, "Mr. Davies, where's the newcomer you hired?"

With a faint lift of her chin, she continued, "I want to see her."

Rising unhurriedly, I met her stare head-on and offered a polite smile. "Hello. I'm Alexandra Harris. I hope we'll be working well together from now on."

"Alexandra Harris?"

The moment my name landed, Lilah's composure cracked. Color drained from her face as she took a step back instinctively.

Her voice tightened as she blurted, "What did you just say your name was?"

Her assistant dragged her gaze over me with blatant contempt before curling her lips into a sneer. "Lilah, just look at her. That face alone proves she can't be your missing sister. She just has the same name as her."

Relief washed over Lilah at once. She straightened and regarded me with open disdain. "You nearly gave me a heart attack," she scoffed. "It's just disturbing to have someone this straight-up hideous share the same last name as mine."

Amusement curved my lips, my tone staying calm. "Since when did a surname become your personal property? And is tearing down other people's looks just your way to hide your own insecurity, Miss Harris?"

Lilah's face twisted in rage instantly as she snapped, "You disgusting freak—how dare you speak to me like that? Do you even know who I am?"

Unfazed, I met her glare without blinking. "I know exactly what I'm seeing now—a clown embarrassing herself in public."

Lilah's teeth ground together at my words, her stare sharp enough to cut. "Alexandra Harris, right? Fine. We'll see how long you'll last in Atokton. If you survive here, I'll eat my hat!"

Pivoting sharply, she fixed Brenton with a cutting stare and said, "Your judgment has really gone downhill. You'd grab some nobody off the street and hand her Heartstring Moments? If you let her touch that project, you'll drag the entire company straight into the ground. You'd better reconsider!"

Calm as ever, Brenton didn't rise to the provocation. He adjusted his posture and answered, "I stand by my decision. There's no need for you to concern yourself with this."

With a practiced flick of her wrist, Lilah reached into her designer bag and produced a crystal-clear perfume bottle, the glass catching the light.

"Before you decide anything," she said, lips curving with smug certainty. "You might want to smell this."

After a brief hesitation, Brenton accepted the bottle and released a careful mist into the air.

At once, a cool yet intricate fragrance unfurled through the office, crisp layers blooming one after another.

Surprise flashed across Brenton's face, then melted into unmistakable appreciation, and before he realized it, he leaned closer, breathing it in again, unable to hide his fascination.

His voice shook slightly as he looked at Lilah. "Did you make this?"

"That's right," Lilah replied smoothly, lifting her chin with a proud expression.

Eyes shining with excitement, Brenton leaned forward. "This is extraordinary. I completely underestimated your talent in perfumery before. If you could join the project, it would surely succeed!"

At his enthusiasm, satisfaction bloomed across Lilah's face, the corners of her lips arching higher.

Without saying a word, I stepped in, took the bottle, and let the scent settle against my senses before speaking calmly. "Thank you for the generous compliment, Mr. Davies. I'm honored you think so highly of the Lunar Blossom perfume I created."

Brenton's smile froze in an instant. "W-what did you say? You're saying... this was made by you?"

Meanwhile, Lilah's confident composure cracked, panic flashing briefly through her eyes.