Chapter 1

After the celebration ended, I followed the crowd out of the lounge.

I hadn't taken more than a few steps when a strange voice suddenly called out: "Miss Davenport!"

I turned to find Mr. Morgan, a banker who had long sought merger opportunities with my family.

Not wanting to expose my identity, I was pondering how to dismiss him when one of Lucas's investor friends emerged behind him. The man looked me up and down, letting out a scoff. "'Miss'? Does that outfit of fast-fashion discount rack items even add up to two hundred euros? 'Miss' indeed! It's a joke, absolutely hilarious."

His remark invited a fresh wave of ridicule.

This time they didn't speak German, so I understood every word of their scorn, though my face remained expressionless.

It was Lucas who seemed slightly annoyed. He shot the man a cold glance, his eyes holding a warning.

The friend, clearly displeased but intimidated, reined in his arrogance and ceased his open mockery. The others, receiving similar cold stares, gradually quieted down.

As the noise subsided, Mr. Morgan didn't follow us further. I walked silently behind Lucas. On the way back to the apartment, not a word was exchanged.

Once inside, he took off his bespoke suit, hung it on the rack, and finally spoke.

"Babe, I won't take you to these business gatherings anymore."

My expression was calm as I asked, "Do you think I embarrassed you?"

He let out a short, incredulous laugh, reaching out to stroke my cheek, but I dodged his touch. He sighed. "What are you imagining? I just don't want to see you unhappy."

"But the class difference between us exists; we'll encounter scenes like this eventually. Isn't your father constantly pressuring you to marry for an alliance?" I gazed at him, trying to catch a trace of guilt in his expression.

However, even hearing the words "marriage alliance," Lucas's face only stiffened for a second before quickly returning to his usual composure. "Vivian, you only need to know that you are my muse. As for the rest, I will handle it."

If I hadn't been staring at him so intently, I might have missed that fleeting crack in his armor.

After saying this, Lucas went to the study to deal with emails. Watching his retreating back, I remained silent, but a thought gnawed at my heart like a venomous snake:

Is his "solution" to comply with his family's wishes to marry another woman, while keeping me as a mistress in the shadows?

On the coffee table, Lucas's phone suddenly chimed with a notification.

He never hid his passcode from me, so I easily unlocked it and opened the message. The sender was Charlotte Rothschild.

【Lucas, we have to choose the flowers for the engagement venue tomorrow. If you don't stay here tonight, aren't you afraid the media will find out our engagement is just a business arrangement? I know you love your little assistant, but for these few days, please, can you accompany me?】

Between the lines, it seemed humble, but I saw through her true intentions.

First, use the media as an excuse to keep him.

Then, she would constantly use this excuse, taking a yard after gaining an inch, advancing step by step.

But it no longer mattered to me. I was already planning my departure.

I marked the message as unread and put the phone back. Shortly after, Lucas came out of the study, glanced at his phone, and looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"Vivian, there's a problem with the data at the lab. I have to go there tonight. You get some rest."

He left in a hurry, so eager that he didn't notice my reaction, nor did he realize that I, who usually straightened his tie and reminded him to drink less coffee, made no attempt to make him stay. I just quietly watched his figure disappear into the night.

*Ding-dong*. Just as Lucas left, my phone rang.

【I only needed one sentence, and Lucas came back obediently. We are going to choose flowers tomorrow. When we need to actually get married, what will you be? Merely... a shadow of a perfumer who can never see the light?】

Charlotte's words were vicious, but what chilled my heart even more was that the knife she stabbed me with had been handed to her by the boyfriend I thought I could entrust my life to.

Lucas probably didn't know that even if he hadn't discussed the engagement in German, the news of him marrying another couldn't be kept from me for long.

Charlotte had added me on Instagram long ago. For the past few days, she had been sending me all sorts of demonstrative stories.

Photos of Lucas accompanying Charlotte to try on wedding dresses, photos of them choosing vintage diamond rings, photos of them inspecting the estate venue...

Each photograph thoroughly pulverized the last shred of love I had for Lucas.

That night, Lucas did not come home. I didn't care.

Early the next morning, after a simple wash, I went straight to the lab to resign. The resignation procedures were completed that same day.

When I returned to the apartment, Lucas was there. I told him I had resigned, then continued carrying cardboard boxes toward the room.

His brows furrowed tightly. "You love perfumery so much; why did you suddenly quit?"

I stopped and looked at him with a smile. "Because I have a job I want to do even more now."