Chapter 327

Vanessa emerged from the bathroom, a practiced smile playing on her lips.

Lucien was already awake. He rolled onto his side, his gaze sharp and alert—nothing like the haze of last night.

"Good morning," she purred, settling onto the sofa beside the bed, the bath towel clinging to her damp skin. "Now that you're up, shall we discuss business?"

"What is it?"

Propping himself up on one elbow, Lucien studied her with detached curiosity.

"The competition begins today," Vanessa said, crossing her legs deliberately. "What are your plans?"

"Hmm?"

He feigned ignorance.

Vanessa leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I intend to win first place."

Only victory would secure Wesley Whitaker's recognition. Only then would her name echo across the industry. This was her chance—one she couldn’t afford to waste.

Lucien's eyes gleamed with something dark, almost amused, as if she were a peculiar specimen under glass.

After a long pause, he burst into laughter. "Vanessa, darling, wake up. This isn’t Veridian City. Do you honestly think I can snap my fingers and hand you the trophy? Here, you’re nothing. A nobody." His words were brutal, leaving no room for negotiation.

She had expected this. Instead of anger, a slow, mocking smile curved her lips. "True. I’m insignificant here. But tell me, Lucien… what does that make you?"

His expression hardened. "Explain yourself."

"Oh, I’ve discovered some fascinating things," she drawled, tilting her head. "Lucien Dubois, the so-called genius perfumer. Turns out, we’re more alike than I thought."

She let the words hang, savoring the tension.

"I used Evelyn’s work to climb. But you? Your entire reputation is built on stolen ideas. Awards, designs—all plagiarized. We’re both frauds, aren’t we?"

"Watch your tongue."

Lucien shoved off the bed, yanking his trousers on with sharp, angry motions. "Spreading lies won’t benefit you."

"Lies?" Vanessa laughed. "You know the truth. You might’ve fooled Veridia, but the industry abroad sees you for what you are. Tell me, why did no one acknowledge you at last night’s gala? Why no special treatment from the organizers?"

She had dug deeper after noticing the snubs. What she uncovered was delicious.

Lucien wasn’t a master—he was a thief. Caught multiple times, his scandals buried under money and connections. But here, in Valmont, his past whispered in every shadowed corner.

Vanessa’s chest tightened with bitter regret. She had burned bridges for him. Destroyed years of effort. And for what?

A fraud.

Worse—she had sacrificed Dominic for this.