Chapter 47
After submitting their statements at the police station, Isabella and Alexander spent three more days in Athton. Benjamin insisted they stay until he was certain they had fully recovered.
When it was time to leave, Benjamin’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he bid them farewell.
“Take care, Isabella, you reckless speed demon!”
Though reluctant to part ways, Isabella had pressing matters to attend to.
Back at the Montgomery estate, Isabella stepped into the shower, letting the warm water soothe her lingering aches. Wrapped in a towel, her damp hair dripping, she made her way to the hidden room her best friend Olivia had designed.
Inside, she grabbed a spare encrypted phone and dialed a familiar number.
The voice on the other end gasped before dissolving into theatrical despair.
“Boss! You finally remembered I exist! Did Cobweb mean nothing to you?”
Isabella’s reply was clipped.
“I need you to find someone.”
Julian Whitmore scoffed. “A lover, right? You vanish for ages, then call just to dump work on me? Fine. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Compile everything on Alexander Kingsley and send it to my secure drive.”
“Alexander Kingsley? The Kingsley Group heir?” Despite his playful tone, Julian worked swiftly. Within moments, a decrypted file landed in Isabella’s inbox.
“His records are heavily guarded. Plenty have tried digging up dirt on him.”
Isabella remained silent, scanning the documents. Her brows furrowed.
No wonder Alexander had mentioned family troubles.
The Kingsley dynasty was a battlefield. His mother had died young, and his father, Richard Kingsley, was no saint. With a string of illegitimate children, the family was a viper’s nest of power struggles.
Alexander, the rightful heir, stood at the center of it all.
His stepmother, Victoria Kingsley, had clawed her way into the family. Though her youth had faded, photos revealed a woman who still wielded charm like a weapon.
Then there was Damian Kingsley, her son, who had recently made waves.
“What’s Damian’s deal?” Isabella asked.
“That brat? Another bastard who somehow got legitimized. Ruthless, ambitious—launched his own luxury brand to rival Alexander’s. Behind the scenes? Dirtier than a back-alley brawl. It’s no secret they despise each other. They’d probably pay to watch the other burn.”
Isabella’s jaw tightened. The assassin hunting them was likely Damian’s handiwork.
Julian sighed dramatically. “Boss, don’t you miss us? Running Cobweb alone is torture. Half these idiots couldn’t find intel if it bit them. If you were here, things would run like clockwork.”
“Hang in there. I’ll be back soon.”
“Wait—really? I’ll start prepping everything!” Julian’s excitement crackled through the line. He’d hoped for remote assistance, but her return was a jackpot.
“Don’t get carried away…” Isabella massaged her temples. She hated being the center of attention.
Footsteps outside cut Julian off mid-ramble. Isabella quickly issued final instructions and ended the call.
“Hey, all fresh and clean, huh? You smell amazing.” Olivia emerged from behind the couch, wrapping Isabella in a bear hug like an overgrown puppy.
“Seriously? You’re an adult.” Isabella smirked, familiar with Olivia’s boundless energy. To spare her worry, she’d kept the Athton ordeal a secret.
“You’ve been off having fun while I’ve been slaving away for you,” Olivia huffed, oblivious. “I already registered you for the perfume contest—just like you asked. Didn’t use ‘Scarlet Serpent’ this time. Went with ‘Lemon Drop’ instead.”
“Now I’m craving a cocktail.”
Isabella chuckled, equal parts amused and touched. Before she could thank her, Olivia brandished a set of keys.
“I know you haven’t crafted fragrances in years, so I set up a full lab for you! Practice till you drop, and when the time comes—we win.”
“Olivia.” Isabella’s smile softened. She’d been mulling over the competition during the trip back. Olivia’s initiative was a welcome surprise.
Her voice turned earnest. “Thank you. For everything.”
Olivia puffed up, squeezing her tighter. “See? This is why best friends are the best!”
“I’m heading to the lab now.” Isabella grinned. “Behave yourself.”
To hide her injuries, she slipped into the lab unnoticed.
Inside, the space was a perfumer’s dream—state-of-the-art equipment, rare materials, and samples from master perfumers. Every resource she could need was at her fingertips.
Opening the scent archive, she found over eighty meticulously cataloged base fragrances. But Isabella didn’t dive in. Instead, she sat quietly, letting childhood memories wash over her.
The surrounding aromas were a time machine. Scents had a way of preserving moments, unlocking them with a single whiff.
Isabella set out to capture her mother’s fading essence in a bottle—to immortalize her in something new.
