Laughter filled the room as Aurora climbed off the bed, ncing at the feathers scattered across the bed and floor.


    "Ashy, you started this war, so the room is yours to clean," she said, a yful grin on her face.


    "You can''t do this to me, little fox."


    "We need to start studying, so during that time, the room is all yours to handle." Aurora patted him on the shoulder. Asher''s face twisted into a pained expression. What had he done to deserve this?


    Denis Vukic''s lips curved into a faint smile, as delicate and elegant as a lotus in bloom.


    From that day on, Asher beganing and going freely from Denis Vukic''s apartment. Denis no longer dined out because Aurora cooked different dishes for them daily. Although her cooking wasn''t on par with Michelin-starred restaurants, it had an irreceable charm. Every time, Julian would re furiously in their video calls. He hadn''t had many chances to taste meals personally cooked by Little Bunny, yet these two were enjoying her food so freely.


    At mealtimes, Asher would purposely call Julian on video, forcing him to watch as he ate. Over time, the old tensions between Denis Vukic and Julian began to dissolve.


    As winter deepened, Aurora''s talent for perfumery became unmistakable. With Denis Vukic as her mentor, she quickly mastered the properties of various fragrances and how best tobine them.


    Of course, her progress was also due to her diligence. When Asher and Denis went to work, Aurora spent her time memorizing the characteristics, scents, and best pairings of different ingredients.


    Perfumery was like painting-everybination, every measurement required the experience of the perfumer. Aurora diligently earned her perfumer''s certification.


    Mrs. Vukic, fond of Aurora, often invited her over for meals. Lockman asionally shared additional tips and tricks with her.


    Aurora eventually began developing her own perfume. Denis Vukic soon discovered the real reason behind her determination to learn perfumery-her battle with NE.


    Denis had always disliked NE, and upon learning the truth, he didn''t hesitate to join Aurora in developing her perfume.


    The two of them experimented over and over, striving to perfect the form. While buying perfume might seem simple to outsiders, few realized the effort behind it: countless trials and adjustments by perfumers to achieve the ideal bnce.


    Though knockoffs might smell simr at first nce, true connoisseurs could immediately tell the difference. A genuine perfume could lift one''s spirits, while a counterfeit was often harsh and unpleasant.


    For a brand''s signature scent, precision was key. Too strong, and it overwhelmed; too light, and it faded too quickly. Only experienced perfumers with meticulous attention to detail could create a ssic fragrance.


    With Denis Vukic''s help, much of Aurora''s burden was eased. After all, for a neer to hope for immediate sess in the industry was nothing short of a dream.


    Meanwhile, for NE, things weren''t going smoothly. Aurora''s earlier rejection had left him frustrated and determined to outshine her with a better project.


    But something peculiar happened. Every potential partner who learned that Susan would be the face of the perfume immediately backed out. NE''s perfume became unseble overnight.


    It wasn''t that Susancked fame, but her reputation was so tarnished that no one dared risk theirpany''s name by associating with her.


    Missing out on NE''s contract was unfortunate for many, but the world was full of other lucrative opportunities. There were countless skincare products to market-why risk it all on NE''s perfume?


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! These businesspeople were sharp. Profit could be found anywhere; it was just a matter of how much. Avoiding losses was always the safer bet.


    The most distressed person in all this was Susan. Having failed to secure the love she craved in her marriage, she had hoped to use Hayden''s injury as an opportunity to care for him and strengthen their rtionship.


    But instead of healing, their bond deteriorated further. Hayden barely spoke to her.


    Her career was also in freefall. The scandal she had caused destroyed her reputation. Not only was she temporarily shelved by herpany, but many brands she had endorsed demandedpensation.


    Susan paid back the endorsement fees, but worse was yet toe. A new film starring her was about to be released, and the investors, wary of her negative image, barred her from participating in promotional events.


    Though Susan felt stifled with frustration, there was nothing she could do. The damage was done, and she had to live with the consequences, at least for now.


    Her name and face were erased from posters and promotional materials, reced by those of supporting actors.


    Previously, those same supporting actors had treated Susan with deference, even if they were older than her.


    Now, adding insult to injury, Susan received a call from one of those actors, Hailey.


    "Hello," Susan answered, cigarette in hand, her face clouded with discontent as she stared into the distance. She had heard that Aurora had gone to New York and thought Hayden might finally pay attention to her. Instead, he hadn''t even nced her way.


    "Susan, weren''t you at the movie premiere today?" Hailey''s voice was full ofughter. Once oppressed by Susan, Hailey now relished the chance to step on her.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Why bother asking when you already know?" Susan replied coldly.


    "Oh, I forgot-you''ve been shelved by thepany. Maybe it''s time to quit the industry and settle down as a full-time housewife."


    "Get lost." Susan hung up the phone, her anger boiling over. How had ite to this? When had even minor actors started mocking her?


    She couldn''t ept it. She wouldn''t just copse like this. Her face darkened with determination as she quickly dialed NE''s number.


    "Marcos, it''s me."


    "Susan, what''s wrong?" Marcos sounded weary. Once a golden child of the industry, he was now facing setbacks for the first time and felt just as frustrated.


    "About the perfume endorsement we discussed earlier-I''ve got some free time now. Why don''t we go ahead and shoot the cover?" Susan tried to make her voice sound as sweet as possible.


    "The perfume..." Marcos hesitated, unsure how to exin.


    "What is it? Did you choose someone else for the endorsement?" Susan''s heart sank. She refused to let Hailey''s words be a reality. She needed to fight her way back. NE was herst hope.


    For a celebrity, visibility was everything. In an industry overflowing with stars, even a brief absence could mean being forgotten.


    Scandals could at least keep her in the public eye. If she could clear her name, everything else would fall into ce.


    "No, I promised to use you, and I''ll keep my word. It''s just... there''s been a problem with the distributors," Marcos admitted with a heavy heart.