Chapter 497

Serena's antics made Evelyn chuckle. She understood perfectly—no matter how mature Serena pretended to be, in Harrison Whitaker's eyes, she would always remain his little girl. A master perfumer like Harrison would never craft a sultry, intoxicating fragrance for his own daughter. That would be practically encouraging her to seduce men.

Though legally an adult, Serena still had that rebellious streak, desperate to prove she wasn't a child anymore. She hated being treated like some innocent, sugar-coated darling.

"I get it. It's not impossible, but..." Evelyn paused, choosing her words carefully. "Right now just isn't a good time for me."

"What?" Serena's face fell. "What do you mean? I need it for the fashion show!"

Shaking her head, Evelyn shut her down firmly. "I'm swamped. Two urgent projects on my plate. Can't take on anything else at the moment. If you can wait, I'll try after wrapping these up. But if it's too late, you should find someone else." She was being brutally honest—her schedule was a nightmare.

"No! I don't want anyone else!" Serena insisted stubbornly. "It has to be you. You're the only one who truly gets me!" After a thoughtful pause, she added, "Fine, it's too soon now, but I still want you to create something exclusive for me. And don't worry—I'll pay top dollar! Just... help me after you finish your other work."

"Alright," Evelyn conceded. With Serena's persistence, there was no other answer.

As they talked, their food arrived. Evelyn's recent lack of appetite meant she'd ordered lightly, but Serena barely touched anything except her salad. This was odd—back in Laurentia, Serena had devoured cakes and steaks without hesitation. What changed?

"You used to inhale desserts and red meat. Since when did you turn into a health nut?" Evelyn asked, amused.

Serena sipped her lemon water before answering. "That was during my off-season. A little indulgence never hurt. But when I'm working? Strict diet only." She groaned dramatically. "Do you know how many hours I have to sweat in the gym to burn off one slice of cake? Absolute torture."

To Evelyn, depriving oneself of delicious food was the real crime. But Serena had no choice—her career demanded discipline. She had to maintain peak physical condition for the runway, to captivate every eye in the audience.

Evelyn studied her. The once-shy, carefree girl had truly grown up. Time had swept them both forward, each carving their own path.

"Speaking of which," Serena said, pushing away her half-finished salad, "remember Penelope?"

"Of course," Evelyn replied without hesitation.

"She finally gave up," Serena murmured, a strange mix of relief and melancholy in her voice. Despite everything, they had once been friends.

"Gave up what?" Evelyn frowned.

"On using Oliver to win Donovan back." Serena sighed. "I never thought she'd let go. For years, she clung to the idea of reuniting with him. And now? Just like that, she walks away."

"Maybe she finally saw reason," Evelyn offered lightly.

After years of obsession, exhaustion must have set in.

Serena scoffed, shaking her head. "No way. I've known Penelope forever. If she were capable of 'seeing reason,' she wouldn't have been so delusional to begin with." Her lips twisted bitterly. "I used to feel sorry for her—thought she genuinely missed Oliver. That's why I tried helping them reconnect. But after what she did to you? It's clear she never cared about him. He was just a pawn."

Evelyn leaned in. "Then why do you think she quit now?"