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.

In the very next second, Lilah snapped completely, her composure shattering as she shrieked, "What kind of nonsense are you spewing, you ugly freak? I was the one who brought the perfume here. Who else could've made it if not me?"

Whipping her head to the side, she looked at her two assistants, Delores Craig and Emberly Ford. "You two were there when I made the perfume. Tell them. This is my work, isn't it?"

Delores reacted instantly, nodding. "Of course it is! We watched you make it with our own eyes! What kind of shameless person will try to snatch someone else's work and claim it as their own?"

With a smug huff, Lilah folded her arms across her chest, chin tipped high as she faced Brenton. "Mr. Davies, just look at this farce. I can't believe she'd dare steal the results of my hard work right in front of me!"

After a pause, she added sharply, "Have security kick her out. I don't want to see her ever again!"

Her voice then dropped into a cold, calculated threat. "Otherwise, I'll take this public. I have hundreds of thousands of followers online now—one post is all it takes. If this turns into a scandal, your company won't come out unscathed."

Meanwhile, I kept my expression steady and casually reached for my phone, thumbs moving with unhurried precision as I sent a message to Jenifer, who was waiting downstairs in the lobby.

"I have a witness as well. Please give me a moment," I said.

A sharp sneer twisted Lilah's lips, her eyes dripping with scorn. "You have a witness?" she said, letting out a mocking laugh. "You think you can just drag some random person here and call them a witness?"

She angled her body toward Brenton, her expression tinged with disdain. "Honestly, this woman is clearly here to cause trouble, Mr. Davies. There's no need to waste time on her—let's sign the project contract first. I can't stay here for long. I have a meal scheduled with my fiancé, Karson Jones."

She deliberately emphasized Karson's name.

The moment she finished speaking, the room door flew open, footsteps sharp and urgent echoed as Jenifer strode in, her voice cutting through the tension. "Alexandra!"

Still basking in her certainty, Lilah turned with a curl of contempt on her lips. "Oh? Let's see what kind of joke you've dragged in here..."

Her smugness disappeared the instant she recognized Jenifer, her features locking stiffly as if someone had flipped a switch.

Keeping my tone even, I said, "That's my friend—Jenifer Moore. Last night, at Nova Club, you took the perfume I created from her. I am sure you still remember that."

With a small nod, Jenifer met Lilah's gaze and said, "Miss Lilah Harris, what a coincidence. We meet again."

The shock flickering across Lilah's face vanished almost instantly, hardening into razor-sharp fury. She said, voice rising, "So this is it—you two planned this together, didn't you? You are just trying to set me up."

Without missing a beat, Delores rushed to her defense, nodding emphatically. "That's right! Miss Lilah Harris can have anything she wants. She'd never lower herself to taking things from others!"

Emberly also spoke, her lips curling in contempt. "Exactly. You two are shameless. Apologize to Miss Lilah Harris right now!"

I had expected this response already; someone like Lilah would never admit the matter easily.

Fortunately, I had come prepared.

"So, you're determined to deny it until the evidence is right in front of you," I said lightly, a soft laugh escaping me. "Fine—then take a look at this."

I linked my phone to the room's projector, and surveillance footage flickered onto the massive screen.

The recording had been pulled from Nova Club after I had reached out to them the previous night.

In the footage, Jenifer could be seen, her voice firm as she said, "I'm sorry, but the perfume was created by my friend. It's not for sale."

Despite Jenifer's words, Lilah stretched out a manicured hand and snatched the bottle, her lips curling as she announced, "Then pass along a message—this perfume belongs to me now. It's your friend's honor that I even like it. If she dares to cause trouble over this, the Harris and Jones families will not let her off!"

When the footage finished playing, I lifted a brow and calmly studied the embarrassment flickering across Lilah's face. "Miss Lilah Harris, you certainly know how to talk big. Now, tell me how you are going to explain this."