Chapter 2

At my new brand “Phoenix Rising” launch event, he showed up conspicuously with Seraphina.

Seraphina wore a backless gown, her “Moonlight Skin” on full display.

The entire press corps’ flashbulbs seemed to gravitate towards them.

What truly sickened me was the familiar scent clinging to her.

‘Moonlight Whispers’.

It had been my proudest creation, a perfume I’d blended exclusively for Julian.

Catalyzed by my body temperature, it released a unique, cool yet lingering base note.

That scent was Stella Nova and Julian Sterling’s exclusive memory.

Now, that memory was being brazenly sprayed by a crude impersonator.

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Seraphina held infatuation, but also a fleeting hint of confusion.

Because the scent was off.

It was missing the most crucial ingredient.

My body temperature.

My soul.

Seraphina, oblivious, clung to Julian’s arm and deliberately walked up to me, showing off. “Ms. Thorne, what a coincidence. Do you also like ‘Moonlight Whispers’?”

“Julian says it’s the most beautiful scent he’s ever smelled.”

I looked at her face, which was practically screaming provocation, and smiled.

“Is that so?”

“Yet, I always feel that fakes, no matter how good, never quite make the cut.”

Soon, the launch officially began.

I stood under the spotlight, holding a bottle of perfume, its dark liquid swirling within.

“Thank you all for attending the Phoenix Rising launch event.”

“Returning to ashes, then reborn.”

My voice, a little raspy from the fire, was exceptionally clear through the microphone.

“Today, I’m only introducing one product.”

I raised the bottle in my hand and lightly pressed the sprayer into the air.

“Its name is ‘Heart Ablaze’.”

A strange fragrance instantly permeated the air.

It wasn't any kind of floral or woody scent.

The top note was the scorching heat of a raging fire.

The middle note was the icy coldness of betrayal piercing through bone.

The base note was the scent of dead ashes, after everything had settled.

“It was created to commemorate a lost love.”

My gaze, dark and lingering, fell on Seraphina.

“The top note is love, the middle note is betrayal, and the base note is ashes.”

“What’s even more interesting is, it can awaken memories.”

“It contains a special catalyst that can resonate in a magical way with certain ‘borrowed elements’.”

As soon as the words left my lips, I aimed the perfume sprayer into the air and pressed it again.

The fine, misty spray of perfume descended like a gentle rain, settling softly on everyone’s hair and shoulders.

But the moment it touched Seraphina, a drastic change occurred!

“Ah!”

A piercing scream ripped through the venue.

Seraphina’s flawless, luminous “Moonlight Skin” erupted in large, visible red rashes.

It was as if countless invisible poisoned needles were brutally stabbing her.

The imitation perfume on her, catalyzed by ‘Heart Ablaze’, transformed into a nauseating, putrid stench!

The beautiful masterpiece, before everyone’s eyes, became a piece of rotting flesh!

“It itches! It hurts so bad!”

Seraphina shrieked in terror, frantically clawing at her back, instantly leaving streaks of blood.

The entire hall erupted in chaos!

Reporters’ flashlights flickered madly, capturing the horrifying scene.

“Security! A doctor!”

Julian Sterling’s face was ashen as he clutched a nearly hysterical Seraphina.

Then he lunged onto the stage, grabbing my wrist with a force that threatened to crush my bones.

Those eyes, once filled with false affection, now held only bloodshot terror.

He stared at me, rigid.

“What did you do?!”

“Who… who exactly are you?!”

Julian Sterling’s voice was tinged with a rare loss of control.

I stood in the center of the stage, meeting his furious gaze, but offered no reply.

Instead, I slowly, chillingly, offered him a cold, mysterious smile.