Chapter 264

The car was thick with tension as both occupants sank into their own thoughts.

Lucien suddenly erupted in fury, his face twisting with irritation. He violently rolled down the window and flicked his half-smoked cigarette onto the pavement.

Vanessa glanced sideways but kept her mouth shut, focusing on navigating through traffic.

"Why the hell didn't you warn me that woman knew martial arts?" Lucien spat through clenched teeth, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his injured arm.

Vanessa's brows knitted in genuine confusion. When she met his dangerous glare, she nearly swerved the car. "I... I don't understand. Who are you talking about? What martial arts?"

"Evelyn Carter!" The name burned in his throat like acid. Never in his privileged life had a woman dared lay hands on him. The humiliation still scorched his pride.

Lucien prided himself on understanding women. A few well-placed promises, the right incentives, and they always came willingly. If one approach failed, he simply raised the stakes.

But Evelyn had been different. He'd dangled the championship title, unlimited resources, industry connections - yet she'd responded with her fists. The memory made his fractured arm throb anew.

Vanessa's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Evelyn? Our Evelyn?" She shook her head slightly. "There must be some mistake. What kind of fighting are we talking about?"

"How should I know?" Lucien snapped. "Weren't you college friends? You'd know if she had combat training!"

Vanessa's mind reeled. The Evelyn she knew couldn't even win an argument, let alone a physical confrontation. She moistened her suddenly dry lips. "You're telling me... Evelyn Carter... the perfumer I've worked with for years... did this?" Her eyes darted to his cast.

"Are you questioning my account?" Lucien's voice dropped dangerously low.

"No! Of course not!" Vanessa backpedaled quickly. "It's just... completely unbelievable. How could I not know something like this about her?"

"You truly had no idea?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Vanessa raised her right hand like taking an oath. "I swear, Lucien. I've known her since university - never once saw her raise a hand to anyone. She couldn't even win a perfume competition without help." She hesitated. "Are you absolutely certain it was Evelyn?"

The car filled with suffocating silence as Lucien's jaw worked. The truth was, he'd never forget those cold, calculating eyes - or the precise way she'd dismantled him. That woman was no ordinary perfumer. And that made her infinitely more dangerous.