Chapter 425

"About that" he hesitated, then continued, "I didn't provoke her. She made things difficult. Public opinion is against us; sympathy's useless. Everyone believes Lily. If returns continue at this rate, we're finished."

She was furious, barely able to stand. Eloise remained silent, then footsteps were heard. Finding a private spot, she glowered. "She had nothing to do with my plan! You know who's behind her, yet you provoke her? Are you courting death?!"

"No, I told you, I did nothing! She started it. No one believes me, no matter how much I try to appear pitiful!" Nathaniel felt helpless.

Eloise snorted. "Don't bother with the pitiful act. You're an idiot!"

Nathaniel was speechless.

"Fine," Eloise said. "Let's drop it. I'll look into this. Don't call unless it's urgent." Before hanging up, she added, "Actually, don't call, even then. I'm busy. I'll contact you when I'm free."

The phone beeped. Nathaniel felt even more despondent. Instead of solutions or support, he'd received a scolding.

He realized he couldn't remain passive, especially given the current online buzz. Speculation centered on whether Lily or Melanie was responsible for MN Inc.'s earlier perfume lines, and whether Nathaniel and Melanie had stolen Lily's work. Another topic was whether Nathaniel had been in love with Lily, and if Lily or Melanie was his mistress. People were questioning his honesty. Resolving these two main issues would clear up the rest.

His love life was a private matter. The perfume ownership was the crucial issue. He could have ignored it before, but not now.

Nathaniel knew who created the perfumes, but he hadn't anticipated Lily's overwhelming evidence.

He decided confession was better than concealment. He reasoned that a confession to the police often resulted in a lighter sentence; perhaps a sincere apology and self-recrimination would save him.

The more he considered it, the better the idea seemed. He couldn't ask Eloise; he dared not bother her. He had no idea when she'd contact him. His anxiety mounted. He couldn't wait. He had to act.

He quickly opened his laptop, sat at his desk, opened a blank document, and typed, "My apology."

The next day, Lily arrived to find a large, tightly sealed wooden box on her seat. She couldn't see inside.

"Whose is this?" she asked.

"Yours," a colleague replied. "Security brought it early this morning. It's your parcel. It's quite heavy."

This baffled Lily. She examined the box; no courier slip or contact information. Only a name, written in black ink: "Lily Christian."

It seemed to be hers, but who would send such a large, anonymous package? "Lily, what's in this huge box?"