"Kiddo, would you like Daddy to marry your mommy?" Gilbert Watson bent down slightly, his voice gentle.
Marry Mommy?
Adam froze for a second, stunned, his eyes widening.
If this jerk of a dad wanted to marry Mommy, did that mean he wasn't completely unforgivable? If he really married her, they'd become a real family. He and Hilary would finally have a father. Wouldn't that be amazing?
Back in Nocta, Mommy had such a hard time, juggling school, working to earn money, and taking care of both him and Hilary. It was exhausting.
And this Daddy? Not only was he rich, but also so handsome totally worthy of Mommy!
If he really married Mommy, maybe she wouldn't hate him so much anymore. They could be a loving family. How wonderful that would be.
His dark eyes sparkled with excitement.
"If you marry Mommy, will she get to eat well, dress beautifully, and live here too? Will you treat her nicely?" he asked seriously, blinking his big eyes.
"Of course."
"That's great! But do you mean it? Will you really keep your word?" he asked again, his tone soft but skeptical.
"Of course. I always keep my word. Don't worry. I'll marry your mommy very soon." Gilbert's lips curved slightly as he looked at his son's eager eyes. He patted Adam's small head.
"Alright, it's getting late. Time for bed."
Satisfied, Adam nodded and let out a big yawn. His little legs wobbled as he climbed onto the soft bed.
Wow. So soft and comfy.
He flopped down, limbs splayed out, and the moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted off to sleep.
Gilbert gazed at his son's adorable little face, his delicate features radiating pure charm. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
The next day, Claire came to the Zanna Perfume Shop,her mother's original perfume shop
The moment Claire stepped inside, her chest tightened, pain stabbing at her heart. This high-end perfume boutique had once been her mother's pride and joy, but now its reputation was crumbling, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Standing in the hallway, she lifted her eyes toward the CEO's office, her fingers absentmindedly toying with a lock of hair by her temple. A cold, mocking smile played at the corners of her lips.
Gilbert Watson, you heartless, fickle bastard… you never expected me to come back alive, did you?
I hope you don't drop dead from shock.
Tightening her lips, she strode straight toward the CEO's office.
Inside the CEO's Office, a refined, aristocratic man sat on a genuine Italian leather sofa, a cigar held between his fingers. The landscape painting on the folding screen behind him lent a dramatic air to his already enigmatic aura. He radiated a powerful presence from head to toe.
Claire walked in with graceful confidence.
"You… How is it you? Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Gilbert's expression changed in an instant. The cigar slipped from his fingers as he shot to his feet.
"Oh my, Mr. Watson," Claire sneered, her tone sharp and cutting. "What a greeting, telling someone they're supposed to be dead the moment you see them. You that desperate to curse me? Can't stand seeing me alive?"
Gilbert's handsome face shifted through a range of expressions, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
But he was no stranger to crisis. He quickly composed himself.
Of course. A woman like Claire wouldn't commit suicide. Back then… he had almost believed it.
"So? What are you doing here?" he asked, hands in his pockets, his gaze icy, voice indifferent.
Claire laughed coldly.
"How odd. Your company invited me here to discuss a collaboration, and now that I'm here, you're acting like I'm unwelcome? Seems like there's no sincerity at all. Never mind. I'll just leave."
She turned on her heel and walked away.
Gilbert Watson was once again stunned.
Invited her?
"Stop right there."
Sharp as ever, he instantly picked up on something. Before Claire could step out of the executive office, he called out loudly,
"You're Miss Daisy?"
Claire froze, her fingers tightening around the charm on her purse.
"What do you think?"
She turned slowly and gracefully, twirling an invitation between her fingers.
Gilbert's handsome face turned pale again, his deep-set eyes dark and unreadable as he studied her.
Six years had passed, and the woman before him felt like a stranger. The timid girl who used to shrink in his presence, barely daring to speak, was gone.
The woman standing in front of him now was like a rose covered in thorns, radiant, bold, and impossible to ignore.
And undeniably more beautiful and refined than ever before...
It was true. He had indeed invited the renowned international perfume expert, Miss Daisy, to discuss a potential collaboration today. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown up so early himself.
Zanna Perfume Shop was technically owned by Emma, but clearly, she had no talent for running a business.
Since taking over, the company had been losing money every year. If not for the sake of their two children, he wouldn't have bothered with it at all.
Even with all the resources of the Watson Group, as a savvy businessman, he had no intention of endlessly covering a bottomless pit. Each year, he had to inject hundreds of millions just to keep it afloat.
So he took matters into his own hands and brought in international experts to try to turn things around.
What he never anticipated... was that the so-called expert would be none other than Claire Miler—his ex-wife, who had supposedly drowned herself six years ago.
"What's your agenda?" His expression darkened, almost convinced that Claire had come just to make trouble, his tone cold and mocking.
"My agenda?" Claire gave a chilly laugh, her voice laced with disdain. "I simply want to rebuild Zanna Perfume Shop, make it bigger, stronger, and restore its former glory."
"You're that selfless?"
"Then you tell me what else would I be here for?"
Her voice suddenly rose several octaves, sharp and piercing.
"What, you think I came because I was mesmerized by your good looks? That I'm here to seduce you? You really think every woman in the world is desperate to throw herself at you just because you're handsome? What a delusional ego!"
At that exact moment, the secretary walked in with tea, only to freeze in shock at what she was witnessing.
My God! who was this woman? How dare she speak to Mr. Watson like that? Everyone knew even Emma, their boss, spoke to him with fear and trembling.
And honestly she wasn't wrong. Mr. Watson was the wealthiest, most handsome man in South City. Women lined up hoping to get into his bed. Saying he was irresistible wasn't even an exaggeration.
Gilbert's eyes turned icy, his entire presence radiating an oppressive aura.
In Heidelberg, this was the first woman who had ever dared be so reckless with him.
His dark, brooding gaze locked onto the woman who clearly had no fear of death.
Claire's almond-shaped eyes remained cold and composed, unshaken.
The two stood locked in a frigid standoff.
Inside, Claire's heart ached quietly.
To this day, Gilbert still didn't know that this perfume shop had been founded through the painstaking efforts of her mother, Lara Smith. In his eyes, it was nothing more than a gift her father Ronald Miler had handed over to Emma Miler.
He had no idea that the perfume formulas passed down by her grandmother had been her mother's lifelong work ,an embodiment of her deep belief in love. Sadly, that love had been tragically misplaced.
"Alright then, Miss Claire," Gilbert suddenly said, his thin lips curving into an unexpected smile. "If you're that capable, let's talk business."
For once, he set aside his arrogance and took the initiative to break the stalemate.
His curiosity was piqued. He genuinely wanted to see just how competent this woman, missing for years, had become bold enough now to challenge him face to face.
Cat and mouse? That was his specialty.
After all, she was just a woman.
And more importantly, his ex-wife, a woman he had never once taken seriously.
He calmly took his seat again on the sofa.
Claire, just as composed, walked over and sat gracefully across from him.