Chloe's eyes brimmed with tears.
She tilted her head back, letting them stream down her cheeks.
"I learned perfumery for you."
"I only wanted to help you."
The CEO of Radiant Beauty Group had suddenly turned hostile.
Chloe was disqualified.
Liam's collaboration fell through.
They'd been humiliated before the media.
After leaving the venue, Liam remained silent.
His expression was stormy, his demeanor icy toward Chloe.
Chloe had no choice but to make the first move.
"I suffered so much researching Crimson Serpent's perfumes."
"If I'd known Sophia was Crimson Serpent, I wouldn't have struggled so hard."
Liam's expression softened slightly.
A beautiful woman's tears, her submissive posture.
Even the hardest heart would melt.
"Stop crying."
Liam wiped her tears away.
But his chest felt tight.
Something had shifted—he could feel it.
"She deceived even me. It's not your fault."
"Three years of hiding her identity—what skill!"
Liam had never seen that side of Sophia before.
What unsettled him more was how her eyes no longer held him.
Once, she'd washed his clothes and cooked his meals.
Now, they were strangers.
Since the divorce, she kept invading his thoughts.
"Fame means nothing compared to your devotion."
Liam pulled Chloe into an embrace.
The words felt more like self-reassurance.
Then he looked up—and saw Sophia walking past.
A silver sequined dress beneath a black trench coat.
Mysterious. Cold. Breathtakingly striking.
She didn't even glance their way.
Liam's shock hardened into fury.
"Stop right there!"
Both women halted.
Sophia's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Should we applaud your public display of affection?"
"Not satisfied with humiliating yourselves? Now you need an audience?"
Isabella turned.
Her gaze was pure disdain.
"Sophia's right."
"Can't you save the intimacy for home? Even animals know privacy."
Liam's temper flared.
"Ms. Robinson, does your family make a habit of betraying allies?"
"Winston Energy has ongoing projects with your corporation."
Today's losses were catastrophic.
A ruined deal. Hefty hush money paid.
His glare turned glacial.
"However Sophia tricked you, at least show some respect for business partners."
Isabella scoffed.
"Thanks for the reminder."
"That petty sum? My subordinates don't even bother reporting it."
She pulled out her phone.
"I'll inform Father immediately—Robinson Group severs ties with sunset industries."
"What a disgrace!"
Liam had meant to leverage their partnership as pressure.
Instead, he'd lost another deal.
Chloe looked stunned.
"Ms. Robinson, mixing personal grudges with business? How childish."
"Money matters less than principles."
Isabella's tone was razor-sharp.
"My family has wealth to spare. But trash? We've seen enough."
Sophia gave a lazy nod.
"White Tea Restaurant should raise its entry standards."
"Lately, all kinds of filth slip through."
Liam's face darkened.
He was too furious to speak.