?Chapter 1173:


    Silver Fox had long since written Ernst off as nothing more than an irritating speck in her past, someone unworthy of her time or energy. So when his name shed across her screen, she barely stifled a sigh. The nerve of this man. If she didn’t put him in his ce now, he might keep popping up to bother her. A cold, mirthless chuckle slipped from her lips. “I hear you’re going topete in the perfume-making contest?”


    Thepetition had been set for three months ago but had been dyed due to unforeseen circumstances. Araceli, Ernst, and Emilee had all been preparing tirelessly, eager to prove their worth.


    Ernst, oblivious to the trap beingid, chuckled smugly. “That’s right. And I have no doubt I’ll take home the championship. Eloisa, you’ll regret walking away from me for the rest of your life.”


    Silver Fox let out a sharp, disdainfulugh. “Ha! You really are delusional.” She knew exactly why Ernst was strutting around like a peacock again. For a while, after losing his wealthy patron, Sansa, Ernst had been scraping the bottom of the barrel. But word on the street was that he had managed to cozy up to a female judge on thepetition panel—one with significant influence over the results. With her in his corner, he fancied himself invincible.


    What he didn’t know, however, was that Silver Fox was none other than the CEO of Minty Fragrances and Perfumes. And as long as she held that title, his so-called “sure win” was nothing more than a pipe dream.


    g ? ln σ ν?? ?s, where stories thrive


    A smirk curled her lips. “Ernst, I’m looking forward to seeing you crash and burn.” And with that, she ended the call.


    Sitting beside her, Bu, who had been quietly watching her expression, caught the flicker of annoyance in her eyes. With a knowing smile, he asked, “Another pest trying to get under your skin?”


    Silver Fox shot him a nce and, with a yful pout, said, “Honey, how about helping me swat that pesky fly?”


    Bu chuckled, pinching her cheek affectionately. “You don’t even have to ask. Consider it done. But don’t waste your mood on him—there are far better things to think about.”


    “Oh?” Silver Fox arched a brow. “Like what?”


    “Our wedding, of course.” Bu’s grin widened. “Connor and Marissa had the wedding of the year. We can’t let them steal all the thunder, can we? I want to give you a ceremony just as spectacr—no, even grander.”


    At the mention of Marissa and Connor’s wedding, Silver Fox found herself lost in memories of the breathtaking affair—the glimmering chandeliers, the romantic vows, the sheer magic of it all. A warm excitement bubbled within her. “You’re right,” she said, her eyes twinkling.


    And so, while the city still buzzed with talk of Marissa and Connor’s dazzling nuptials, Silver Fox and Bu spent the night weaving dreams of their own—a wedding that would be nothing short of unforgettable.


    Two days before their wedding, the grand finale of the perfume-making contest was set to unfold.


    Ernst arrived with a storm brewing in his heart, eager to make Silver Fox regret her choices. He was determined to prove himself, to show her exactly what she had lost.


    The moment he spotted Araceli at the venue, a strange mix of guilt and arrogance churned within him. He couldn’t resist sneering. “Araceli, you don’t belong in the world of perfumery. You pulled strings just to make it to the finals, all for the sake of chasing after me. In the end, you’ll only humiliate yourself.”


    Araceli gave him a look that could have turned wine to vinegar. “Ernst, you’re pathetic.”


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