Sophia Sullivan stepped out of the room.
Isabella Robinson immediately approached, linking arms with her affectionately.
"Mr. Roscente's personal chef is absolutely divine. I managed to gather some juicy details."
Her eyes sparkled as she shared the gossip.
"The current Mrs. Sullivan was the other woman who broke up the marriage. Rumor has it she drove Ethan's birth mother to her death. Old Mr. Sullivan wasn't any better—raising his sons like they were fighting in some twisted competition, deliberately pitting Ethan against his illegitimate half-brothers."
Isabella clicked her tongue.
"Thank God I'm an only child. My family doesn't have this kind of drama."
Sophia's lips curved slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You learned all this after just one conversation with Julian? Seems you two hit it off."
"Not bad. Julian's decent-looking and gets things done efficiently." Isabella tapped her chin thoughtfully. "But I've got suitors lined up all the way to Paris. Men aren't worth my time. Relationships are death—being single is freedom!"
Sophia chuckled. Isabella had always been this unapologetically independent.
Suddenly, Isabella slung an arm around her shoulders. "Speaking of which, how did your talk with Ethan go? Any leads on the perfume?"
Sophia's brow furrowed slightly. She briefly explained her theory.
Then she carefully retrieved a strand of hair from her bag, sealing it in a specimen bag for Isabella.
"Run a DNA comparison for me. The timing is too coincidental."
Isabella pocketed the sample. "Easy. My contact at the genetics lab guarantees absolute confidentiality!"
She agreed the circumstances were suspicious. The timeline of Sophia's mother's disappearance aligned too closely with Mrs. Sullivan's death, not to mention the identical perfuming techniques. The theory made perfect sense, except...
"God help us if this turns into some twisted star-crossed lovers scenario." Isabella waggled her eyebrows. "I've got a sixth sense for these things—the way you two look at each other could start a fire!"
Sophia ignored the teasing. When Isabella wouldn't let up, she finally raised her hands in surrender. "We're just acquaintances who happened to cross paths. Lovers? Impossible."
Isabella shrugged dramatically, skepticism written across her face.
"Never say never. The future's full of surprises."
They drove to the testing center. Isabella cheerfully handed over the hair samples to Dr. Murphy. "Make this priority, Doctor. And remind your staff—loose lips could cost you next quarter's funding."
Her pleasant tone carried an unmistakable warning.
The doctor bowed respectfully. "Understood."
The genetics lab owed its establishment in A-City to the Robinsons' investment, specializing in discreet DNA tests for wealthy families. In this business, confidentiality wasn't just policy—it was survival.
Isabella grinned. "Relax, darling. Results will be ready soon. After today's marathon, let's hit our usual spot!"
"White Tea Restaurant then."
Sophia wasn't particularly hungry, but Isabella's enthusiasm was infectious. Plus, it had been three years since she last inspected the establishment. She nodded in agreement.
She dozed off almost immediately in the car. When she awoke, the familiar private restaurant came into view—an elegant oasis of pavilions and koi ponds where A-City's elite dined.
"Still the same after all this time."
Sophia smiled as they headed for the rooftop dining area.
What should have been a pleasant girls' night took an unfortunate turn the moment they entered.
Chloe Evans stood in a shadowed corner, eyes red-rimmed and pleading.
"Liam, after all these years together, how can you doubt me? I never claimed to be Crimson Serpent, let alone knew your ex-wife was the legendary perfumer!"