Chapter 156

"Let's take a closer look." Evelyn's curiosity was piqued.

As they stepped inside, their eyes fell upon several containers of crimson mahogany. At first glance, they appeared nearly identical to the standard variety. The market was flooded with imitations, but these specimens seemed remarkably authentic—at least upon initial inspection.

Yet, they weren't particularly rare.

"What makes these so special?" Vanessa leaned in, studying the leaves before inhaling their scent deeply.

"You're the experts. Why don’t you examine them yourselves?" Elliot, who carried himself with an air of quiet confidence, offered a knowing smile.

Evelyn moved closer, her fingers brushing against the foliage before plucking a leaf. A drop of sap beaded at the broken stem, releasing an unexpected fragrance—one that carried both warmth and a crisp, cooling edge.

Her fingertips traced the branch, pausing where the wood bore a faint, deliberate scar.

"You grafted this?"

The gardener's eyes lit up with approval. "Sharp eye, miss. You're the first to notice." He gave an impressed nod. "Grafting? What did you fuse it with?" Vanessa’s interest sharpened as she crushed a leaf between her fingers, breathing in its essence.

Elliot chuckled, but there was unmistakable pride in his expression. "Trade secret."

For a gardener, success in cultivation was akin to raising a prodigy—a labor of love worth guarding.

"Mint, isn't it?" Evelyn said.

Elliot’s jaw slackened. "How did you—?"

This experiment had been his private endeavor, untested and unshared. Yet, she had discerned it in moments.

The realization that his secret was laid bare so effortlessly left him equal parts stunned and amused.

"The scent gives it away," Evelyn explained. "Crimson mahogany has its own richness, but this carries something sharper—a cool, almost medicinal freshness. It shouldn’t work, yet it does."

Vanessa dropped to one knee, pressing her nose to the leaves. "She’s right. It is mint."

Earlier, she had detected something unusual but couldn’t place it. The idea of grafting hadn’t even crossed her mind—let alone that it could succeed so seamlessly.

Her gaze flicked to Evelyn, admiration flickering in her eyes.

"You’ve got an incredible nose, miss. We’ve been experimenting for months, and mint is the only pairing that’s taken. What do you think of the blend? Too strange, or…?"

These plants were still in trial. Market viability was uncertain, and mass production hadn’t begun.

Evelyn didn’t hesitate. "They’re perfect. I’ll take them." Her finger pointed decisively at the crimson mahogany.