At Caitlin’s direct question, Liliana’s eyes flickered with a trace of mockery. She turned to her assistant. “When you submitted the applications, did you see Odessa’s name?”
The assistant replied smoothly, “Yes, we received her application, but unfortunately, it came too late. By then, submissions were already closed. That’s why her name wasn’t added.”
Liliana nodded, then looked back at Caitlin with an apologetic shrug. “I’m really sorry, but your registration missed the deadline. It’s a pity, but we can’t let you compete this year. However, we’ll host another competition next year—you’re welcome to try again then.”
With that, Liliana slipped her sunglasses back on, lifted her chin, and swept
“Liliana, I did register. I even checked my name last night—it was there. You’re the organizer, so tell me, why is my name missing?”At Caitlin’s direct question, Liliana’s eyes flickered with a trace of mockery. She turned to her assistant. “When you submitted the applications, did you see Odessa’s name?”The assistant replied smoothly, “Yes, we received her application, but unfortunately, it came too late. By then, submissions were already closed. That’s why her name wasn’t added.”Liliana nodded, then looked back at Caitlin with an apologetic shrug. “I’m really sorry, but your registration missed the deadline. It’s a pity, but we can’t let you compete this year. However, we’ll host another competition next year—you’re welcome to try again then.”With that, Liliana slipped her sunglasses back on, lifted her chin, and swept
He wanted to. He had never stopped wanting to see her.But the cruel truth kept him from daring to hope.“Look at me now… like this…”Leif VI’s fingers dug hard into his knees. In his mind, he could still see Kelly as she had been in their youth—bright, beautiful, full of life. For so many years, it was the memory of her that had kept him alive.But now he was just a crippled man. They had both built separate lives, separate families. How could he face her again?There was an old saying: better to hold someone in memory than to see them again and destroy the illusion. He wanted her to remember him as he had been—proud, strong, whole—not the broken man he was now.Magnus saw his father’s pain, saw the self-loathing etched into his face, and spoke gently. “Father, it’s all right. Some things cannot be forced. I understand. But if you and Caitlin’s mother truly had
“Yes. I found Esme, thanked her in person, and invited her to visit our country someday.”Heather had secretly worried her son might fall for Esme or even bring her back home, but clearly she’d been overthinking.“Good. Then this matter is settled. You should focus on state affairs now.”“Of course. And this is a gift I brought back for you.”Magnus handed over the present before leaving. Heather accepted it with a smile. “Go, help your father with his burdens.”“Yes, Mother.”Magnus left her chambers and made his way to the king’s study. There, he found his father bent over documents.“Father, I’m back.”Leif VI stopped writing, set down his pen, and looked up at the man entering the room. “Well? Did everything go smoothly?”He maneuvered his wheelchair out from behind the desk. Magnus stepped forward to push him
“Look here, Liliana. She’s Hector’s daughter with his second wife. Right now she’s the executive vice president of TGV Perfumes and their chief perfumer. She’s also recognized as the number one socialite in D country. I know her.”“You know Liliana?”“Yes. Seeing her photo reminded me. Back when I competed in Paris, she and I crossed paths. She was easy to talk to, and we got along well. She won runner-up at that competition. Afterward, she even invited me to join TGV Perfumes. Of course, I had no idea at the time that the Jonathan family was connected to Walter.”Sebastian nodded. “That could work. If you can get her to introduce you, you’ll have a natural way into the Jonathan family.”“Exactly.”Caitlin flipped through the file again and found another useful detail. “It says here Liliana’s birthday banquet will be held tomorrow night at th
Wendy heard his words, but without looking back, she ran straight into the house.Benjamin stood there watching her retreating figure vanish. Thinking of what he had just done, he slapped himself hard across the face—twice. Fear gripped him that Wendy might never forgive him.Wendy closed the front door behind her. She had wanted to collapse into tears, but the housekeeper intercepted her.“Miss, Caitlin is here.”“Caitlin? Where is she?”“In the dining room.”Wendy walked in to find Caitlin sitting with Rebecca, feeding her dinner. Caitlin paused when she saw Wendy. “You’re back. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”“Thank you. You two eat first, I’m fine. I’m not hungry. I’ll just go upstairs for a while.”Wendy forced a thin smile and hurried off.Caitlin caught the redness in her eyes. She knew Benjamin must have been i
Wendy pulled her hand free from his grip. “Go wash up first. I’ll take care of it after. Where’s the first-aid kit?”“On that cabinet.”Benjamin pointed, then rushed toward the bathroom, still anxious. “Don’t you dare sneak off. Don’t leave!”Wendy gave a small nod, and only then did he disappear inside to clean the blood from his face and shirt.By the time he came back out, Wendy was waiting on the sofa. He sat down beside her, trying to steady the storm inside him. “I’m here.”She lifted her gaze. His handsome face was marred with cuts and swelling, the cleaned skin making every bruise stand out.Wendy disinfected the wounds with alcohol, then rubbed ointment into the bruises and covered the obvious scrapes with bandages. Once she finished and began to put the kit away, Benjamin caught her hand and held her eyes with his own.“Wendy, please&he