Chapter 7

Natalie's POV

A week later, Serena's personal lifestyle brand "Serena's Time" held a grand launch event at the city's most luxurious hotel.

Not only did Damian personally appear in support, but he also mobilized all of Harrison Group's PR resources to promote it for her.

The core highlight of the launch was a custom fragrance called "First Love."

When the big screen displayed the composition and the top, heart, and base notes of this fragrance, I clenched my fists.

Cedar, white tea, mixed with an extremely minute amount of bitter orange leaf.

This was the competition piece I had spent half a year preparing for the International Perfumery Competition. "Rebirth."

The formula ratios were precise to the milligram. Besides myself, only one other person could have accessed my formula book.

I stood up, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight to the VIP lounge backstage.

The moment I opened the door, Damian was bent down adjusting Serena's dress, the two looking at each other with smiles, a painfully warm scene.

Hearing the noise, Damian looked up and saw me standing in the doorway, his brow instinctively furrowing.

"What are you doing here?"

I ignored him, walked straight to the table, picked up the bottle of "First Love" fragrance being used as a display piece, and looked at Serena.

"Where did you steal this formula from?"

Serena's face went pale. She immediately hid behind Damian, her voice trembling.

"Natalie, what are you saying? I formulated this myself..."

"You formulated it yourself?"

I pressed forward step by step.

"What's the extraction temperature for bitter orange leaf? What's the fusion ratio of white tea and cedar? Can you tell me?"

"Enough!"

Damian pushed me away and shielded the swaying Serena, shouting sharply.

"Natalie, are you done with your madness!"

I was pushed back two steps, my waist hitting the edge of the table, a sharp pain shooting through me.

I stared straight at Damian.

"You gave it to her, didn't you? You went through my formula book."

Damian's eyes flickered, but he quickly regained his cold, righteous composure.

"So what if I did?"

He admitted it, his tone even carrying a trace of condescending arrogance.

"Serena's brand urgently needs a blockbuster product to break into the market. Your formula was perfect for it. You're so talented. You can just formulate another one for the competition. But Serena can't. She needs this success to build confidence and overcome her depression."

A roar echoed in my ears.

My world completely collapsed.

The man before me was terrifyingly unfamiliar.

In Damian's eyes, my life's work, my dreams, all those sleepless nights. They meant nothing next to Serena's so-called "confidence."

My talent had become a cheap gift he used to please another woman.

"Damian, that was my competition entry," I said softly.

"In the perfumery world, stealing someone's formula can ruin your career."

"As long as you don't say anything, no one will know."

Damian adjusted his cuffs dismissively.

"As compensation, Harrison Group will transfer five million to your account. This matter ends here."

Five million.

He bought out my life's work, and with it, the last shred of my feelings for him.

I didn't cry or make a scene.

I just quietly looked at Damian, for a long time.

"Fine."

I nodded gently.

I carefully placed the fragrance bottle on the table and turned toward the door.

As my hand gripped the doorknob, I stopped but didn't turn around.

"Damian, the formula is yours to give. I wish you both eternal happiness."

The door closed softly.

There were three days left until I left.

The atmosphere in the villa became eerily quiet.

I sat on the living room carpet, organizing several small cardboard boxes.

"What are you packing?"

Damian walked over.

"Some old things I don't need anymore. I'm planning to donate them."

I didn't even look up, placing some old books into a box.

Damian didn't think much of it. He sat down beside me, pulled out a velvet jewelry box from his pocket, and placed it in front of me.

"Open it and see."

His tone carried a hint of expectation.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at the ring inside the box, sparkling with brilliant light from a pink diamond.

Very beautiful, very expensive.

But I only found it ironic.

He shattered my life's work, trampled on my dignity, then tried to buy me off with a stone.

This was Damian's love.

"Thank you, it's beautiful."

I didn't refuse. I took the jewelry box and casually placed it on the table beside me without trying it on.

Damian's brow furrowed. He was getting irritated.

"You don't like it?"

"I like it."

I gave a perfunctory response and continued organizing the box.

Damian grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him, trying to kiss my lips.

"Natalie, it's been so long since we..."

His voice was low and husky, carrying a hint of suggestion.

I turned my head away, avoiding his touch.

"I'm very tired today. I don't want to."

My rejection was undisguised.Damian's hand froze in mid-air, his expression instantly darkening.

He stared at me for a long moment, then finally let out a cold laugh and stood up.

"Fine, I won't force you. Tomorrow is your birthday. I've reserved a table at the rooftop restaurant. Seven o'clock in the evening. Don't be late."

With that, he turned and strode upstairs, his back radiating suppressed anger.

I watched him go, my gaze returning to the cardboard box filled with "old items."

Inside wasn't old books at all, but everything Damian had given me over the past three years.

Including the wedding album that had been flipped through countless times.

I tossed the pink diamond jewelry box in as well and sealed it with tape.

Tomorrow was my birthday, and also the day I flew to Paris.

Damian, you're destined to wait in vain for this birthday dinner.

The next day, at the international airport departure hall.

I sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at my phone screen.

I calmly powered it off, removed the SIM card, and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

"Attention passengers traveling to Paris, flight AF112 is now boarding..." A gentle female voice came through the speakers.

I stood up and pulled my single small suitcase.

Without looking back at this city I'd lived in for three years, I strode toward the boarding gate.