Chapter 5: Scents Of Tension

Aurelia’s POV

The moment Selene saw me, she froze like a thief caught in daylight. But Grant didn’t even flinch. He only reached for his trousers, shameless, as though I had merely interrupted him tying his shoelaces.

“You’re back?” His tone was cold. “Well, you left me for days. What did you expect me to do?”

My body trembled. Even now, with Selene naked and panting in our bed, he dared to twist the blame onto me.

Without a word, I stormed into the hallway and grabbed the fire extinguisher mounted on the wall. Rage guided my hands as I pressed down hard. A hiss filled the room, white foam spraying over their bodies.

They shrieked and flailed, but I didn’t stay to watch. Before they could gather themselves, I was gone, out of that suffocating house. I didn’t need proof anymore. I knew he had done it. I knew what he had fed me.

Back at the hospital, I apologized to the doctor for leaving so abruptly. He only shook his head, reminding me again that my body would heal as long as I stopped taking the pills.

When I returned to Cassia’s apartment, the anger had nowhere to go. It burned in my chest, so I turned to the kitchen.

I cooked like a woman possessed, side dishes, sauces, meals that could last for days. The fridge filled quickly, but I kept moving, chopping, stirring, tasting, as though I could slice through the betrayal with a knife.

Cassia found me there when she came home. She didn't ask questions. She just watched me quietly until I finally set the last dish down.

Then we sat together, and over our meal, I told her everything. And when the words left my lips, it felt like setting fire to the chains I had carried for seven years.

“Grant is evil!” Cassia spat, her voice trembling with rage. “How can someone be so heartless, so wicked, to the very person they swore to love and protect?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m confused. Did he ever truly like me? Or… did he just see me as the perfect girl to manipulate?”

Cassia’s eyes softened with pity. “I can't begin to imagine your pain.”

I sighed. “You warned me before, Cassia. You told me, but I didn’t listen. You don’t have to remind me now.”

She reached for my hand, squeezing it firmly. “Aurelia, I will never blame you for what happened. You were in love, and he preyed on that. He took advantage of your kindness.”

We finished eating and I was about to help her clear the table when my phone rang. Unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Good evening, Mrs. Aurelia,” a warm, professional voice said. “This is the HR department at Emerald. We’re pleased to inform you that you passed the interview and are officially invited to join us.”

I froze, then gasped, clutching the phone tight. “R-really? Oh my goodness, thank you!”

The call ended, but I was already on my feet, spinning in circles like a little girl. Cassia jumped up, clapping her hands. “You did it!” she squealed.

All the bitterness and betrayal I felt dissolved in that single moment. That same evening, Cassia dragged me out for celebratory shopping. She made me try on dresses, sharp blazers, elegant skirts, sleek trousers. Clothes that made me look like a woman with purpose.

Back at her apartment, I laid out my new wardrobe, touching each fabric like it was a piece of my new life.

As we folded the last bag, I turned to her. “Why was the CEO the one interviewing me? Isn’t that unusual?”

Cassia tilted her head. “It is. But Julien went through the list himself and said he wanted to handle your interview personally.”

“I see. I… I never even realized Mr. Knightley was gone.”

Cassia nodded. “You wouldn’t. Grant kept you in a cage, Mr. Knightley retired two years ago.”

And she was right, Grant hated Cassia coming around, and when she did, he gave her that look that said she didn’t belong. The only time we could talk was behind his back. How small my world had been. How small he had made it.

“That scum,” I muttered to myself.

Cassia leaned back. “Anyway, let me tell you something about Mr. Knightley’s son. Julien is the firstborn, the heir of Emerald. He’s the most eligible bachelor in the city, rich, disciplined, ridiculously hot. I mean, you saw him.”

“Yes,” I admitted softly, his face flickering in my mind before I could stop it.

“But unlike his father, Julien is known to be cold. Arrogant, even. He has that reputation of being untouchable.”

“Really? That’s surprising.” The words slipped out before I could catch myself. “Because when we had dinner, he was nice.”

Cassia’s eyes bulged, nearly popping from her head. “What?!” She shot forward, clutching my arm. “You had dinner with Mr. Julien Knightley?”

I froze, staring at her, wishing I could swallow the words back. “I… didn’t say that.” I quickly looked away, heat rising in my cheeks.

“Oh, don’t you dare try to play coy with me.” Cassia grinned like a cat who had just cornered a mouse. “Spill it. When? How? And do not leave out a single detail.”

Her persistence broke my defenses. I sighed and told her everything, how I had bumped into him, how he’d invited me for dinner, the things he said that night.

By the time I finished, Cassia was staring at me like she’d stumbled into a dream. “Maybe he likes you,” she said breathlessly. “He’s never nice to anyone else. I bet he saw your name and insisted on doing your interview himself.”

I scoffed, shaking my head, brushing it off like a silly thought. “Cassia, please. I’m a mom. I’m going through a divorce. Why would a man like that be interested in me?”

Her smirk was infuriating and comforting all at once. “You never can tell, Aurelia.”

The next morning, Grant called me before I left for work. His tone was smug, almost mocking, as if nothing had happened.

“I’ll forgive you if you apologize,” he said. The audacity of this man was beyond comprehension.

“Grant,” I replied calmly, “I’m divorcing you.”

“You have a son! How can you abandon him?” His voice rose in anger.

“Isn’t he your son too?” I asked flatly. “Didn’t he say he wanted Selene as his mother? Divorce me, Grant, and let your wishes come true.”

Before he could respond, I hung up.

At Emerald, I joined Cassia’s team, the division in charge of creating new, captivating scents. I was assigned my own office as assistant team leader, right next to Cassia’s. She nearly squealed with excitement on my behalf.

But I could feel the stares from others. Whispers trailed me like perfume. A newcomer with her own office, while they had shared one for years, it didn’t sit well with them. I knew what they were thinking: unearned privilege.

Julien himself came to show me around.

“I don’t want to put pressure on you,” he said as we walked through the halls, “but we’ll be happy if you and your friend create something as remarkable as Magical.”

“I’ll give my best, Sir,” I replied, trying to sound professional, though my pulse quickened.

He guided me into a room lined with shelves of fragrances, bottles glinting like captured jewels. He introduced me to Emerald’s most celebrated scents, even those not yet released. The air was thick with layers of scents.

At one point, we both leaned over the same bottle. The moment our faces nearly brushed, time seemed to suspend. His eyes lifted, intent, just as I felt the warmth rise to my cheeks. I quickly pulled back, clearing my throat, desperate to steady myself.

The scent lingered in the air between us, but it was nothing compared to the tension we’d just created.