At her words, Frederick’s face darkened. He asked, “Are you telling me the scent of this blush is identical to Pr Radiance?”


    Marguerite, puzzled, nodded in confirmation. “Yeah, that’s right!”


    What was so surprising about that?


    She couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but Frederick’s expression grew stormier by the second. His breath was hot on Marguerite’s face as he dered with an air of


    righteousness, “Absolutely not!”


    Marguerite was taken aback, her heartbeat halting abruptly. She instinctively leaned back, swiftly breaking free from his embrace.


    “Why not?”


    Why not, indeed? It was all because subconsciously, he believed Pr Radiance was a scent that belonged solely to him.


    He was the only one who should be enveloped by its fragrance, wanting selfishly to im it as his own. He straightened up, his gaze piercing and fierce, “No reason needed. I do not approve of this n.”


    Marguerite was bbergasted. Why would he disapprove outright?


    When Pr Radiance was set tounch, the anticipation had been palpable!


    Now that she was incorporating its form into a blush, it was bound to be the season’s blockbuster product.


    Yet he had dismissed her n without a second thought, without even a semnce of an exnation.


    Marguerite was fuming. “Frederick, can you stop being so irrationally decisive for once? Even if you reject my proposal, at least give me a reason!”


    “Marguerite, do you intend to rehash the same old dish until it’s burnt out? Have you exhausted all your creativity that you can’te up with any new scents?”


    Marguerite was stunned by the insult, his reaction seemingly over the top.


    She stood up abruptly, and though shorter than his jawline, her presence wasmanding as she retorted, “I’m the designer, you’re in distribution! Since when do you have the right to dictate what goes into the fragrance form?”


    Caught up in his fervor, Frederick blurted out, “This scent is mine, and I will not allow you to sell it in such a manner.”


    It was rare for the man to lose hisposure, but his vulnerability in that moment left


    09-22


    Marguerite frozen in ce, unable toe to terms with his reaction.


    If Pr Radiance meant so much to him, how had he survived those three years at Vespera?


    Was it Pr Radiance he cared about, or was it her?


    Marguerite had no clue.


    Sheposed herself, her tone softening but still edged with defiance, “I created the perfume. When did it be yours?”


    “Do I need to remind you that I bought the rights to Pr Radiance three years ago?”


    “The rights were purchased by LuxeScents International! And LuxeScents International is no longer yours!”


    Their words flew like rapid gunfire, and Marguerite’sst statement plunged them both into silence.


    Frederick, agitated, lit up a cigarette and took drag after drag.


    Perhaps he was inhaling too fiercely, his throat growing parched while his nose tingled with a barely perceptible sourness.


    Indeed. LuxeScents International was no longer his empire.


    As for Pr Radiance, it had long ceased to be his.


    Slowlying to his senses, he realized that he was the one who couldn’t break free from the memories of three years ago, so much so that he could no longer distinguish


    between the past and the present.


    The one truly trapped was himself.


    Marguerite took a moment to fully calm herself. She didn’t want the argument, so she sighed and exined softly, “Penelope also saw the potential in Pr Radiance, which is why she brought me on board at Poppy Petal Fragrances. She wants to make a special edition blush in coboration with Pr Radiance. If you have any objections, you should take it up with her.”


    Frederick looked down to extinguish his cigarette, avoiding her gaze. “This was Penelope’s idea?”


    Marguerite nodded. “Yes.”


    Poppy Petal Fragrances was not hispany, and he had no sway over someone else’s decisions. So, what was he doing here in the first ce?


    He had long since left the fashion world and had stopped dealing with anything rted to perfumery. Yet, when Penelope mentioned that Marguerite had joined Poppy Petal Fragrances, he couldn’t help but show up.


    09:22


    He never asked himself why or what he hoped to gain. Unwilling to confront his feelings,


    Frederick finally conceded, “Contact the factory. Start the production.”