Chapter 261

No one could have anticipated Lucien Dubois would be so brazen as to pull such a stunt in broad daylight.

Evelyn Carter seized his wrist with one hand and twisted it with all her strength.

"Ah!" The pain forced a cry from Lucien's lips, yet he didn't retreat.

She had miscalculated—forgotten that foreign men had thicker builds. Her slender fingers barely circled his wrist, and no matter how hard she twisted, she couldn't snap it.

What she didn’t realize was that her resistance only fueled Lucien’s excitement. His blue eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "What a fiery beauty," he murmured, lips curling. "I must admit, I'm quite taken with you."

"Disgusting." Evelyn spat the word and aimed a sharp kick at his abdomen.

This time, Lucien was prepared. He sidestepped, catching her ankle mid-air—only to realize too late that he’d underestimated her.

The moment his fingers closed around her leg, an impossible force yanked him forward.

CRACK.

He hit the ground hard, the impact reverberating through his bones. His wrist, already strained, gave way with an audible snap. "Damn it—!"

Lucien gaped at her, disbelief warring with pain.

How?

This delicate-looking woman—who seemed like she’d struggle lifting a grocery bag—had just flung him like a ragdoll.

No witnesses. No tricks. Just raw, terrifying strength.

Evelyn had no interest in his shock. She turned to leave, boots clicking against the tile, when his voice stopped her.

"Wait—please!"

The word "please" made her pause. She glanced back, icy disdain in her gaze.

Lucien swallowed, forcing a charming smile despite the agony. "You don’t know who I am," he said, "but I know exactly who you are."

Her fingers twitched.

"Evelyn Carter," he continued, pushing himself up with his uninjured hand. "The brilliant perfumer who nearly brought DR Holdings’ fragrance division to its knees. A true artist—unlike Vanessa Blake."

At the mention of her former friend, Evelyn stilled. "Get to the point."

Lucien limped closer, undeterred. "Talent alone isn’t enough," he said, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You’ve been stagnant for years. Others take credit for your work. Tell me—what’s the use of skill without strategy?"

His smirk widened as he closed the distance between them. "Let me show you how to play the game."