Chapter 452 Target Candidate
Anouk's face turned deathly pale at his words. The coldness in Zephyr's eyes and the distant hostility in his voice struck her heart directly. He hadn't even bothered to save her dignity in front of all these strangers.
In private, she could endure his contempt, but now, with others watching... it was unbearable.
Victoria and her companions observed with growing curiosity. Despite technically being husband and wife, Zephyr and Anouk seemed anything but - their interaction had an unmistakable tension that was impossible to ignore.
Victoria couldn't help but wonder if the rumors were actually true.
Eventually, the police escorted Octavia and her accomplices away. Alexander and Victoria departed as well, taking the injured Ignatius directly to the hospital.
After getting Ignatius settled, Victoria visited George and Marigold. George had regained consciousness but remained silent. Victoria spent nearly an hour in his room while Alexander kept watch outside.
Thomas approached Alexander, unable to contain himself. "I never would have guessed that the mysterious mastermind behind the Shadow Reapers - supposedly the deadliest mercenaries around - was you all along."
Alexander turned to him with measured coolness. "Something on your mind, Thomas?"
"Actually, yes." Thomas crossed his arms, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Three years ago, Cedric's entire mercenary unit was wiped out during a mission. The ones responsible? Your Shadow Reapers."
"Cedric has been hunting for the leader behind the Shadow Reapers ever since. He wants revenge," he added.
Alexander remained silent.
"Though," Thomas continued, "the fact that Cedric hasn't found you in three years suggests his people are simply outmatched by yours."
Still, Alexander said nothing.
Thomas stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I'd love to see Cedric's face when he discovers your identity... and even more interesting - which side Victoria would choose in that scenario." He glanced through the door's window at Victoria's silhouette.
Alexander's jaw tightened imperceptibly.
Meanwhile, in Country M, Esme discovered through social media that Victoria was in the Kingdom of Serenia. Worse still, she had encountered members of both the Montgomery and Windsor families. Someone had uploaded video footage from the charity event that clearly showed Victoria.
"Ms. Penrose, it's possible Ms. Kennedy has already encountered him," Nicholas said cautiously.
They had been back in Country M for several days but had deliberately avoided returning to the Penrose estate. Word had spread, however, and family members were quietly searching for Esme - exactly as they had anticipated in their plan.
Esme couldn't leave now. Since her departure, she had resolved to sever all connections with Zephyr, and naturally, she hoped Victoria would have no contact with him either. But events were unfolding beyond her control.
"Nicholas, find out how Victoria was injured," Esme said, staring at the paused image of Victoria in a wheelchair. Her daughter had been injured just a month ago, and now this.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll have Leroy and Eric investigate immediately."
At the Penrose Mansion, Isadora had returned from Rihegde after winning the perfume contest, staying there for over a week before coming back to Country M. Despite her preference for keeping a low profile about her victory, her mother - driven by an insatiable need for recognition - had thrown an elaborate celebration the very next day, inviting numerous high-profile guests Isadora didn't even know.
Isadora had made a brief appearance before escaping to her grandmother's residence, where she'd been hiding for over a month.
"Isadora, this was your first competition. Tell me your thoughts," said her grandmother, an elderly woman with short white hair and reading glasses, sitting in a rocking chair in the garden.
Isadora, with her gentle demeanor, round face, and large innocent eyes, replied sincerely, "Grandmother, I still have so much room to improve. Though I won, the other competitors were just as skilled. My advantage comes from your guidance all these years - I've been fortunate to learn from you."
Her grandmother smiled with satisfaction. She favored Isadora among all the Penrose children not only for her obedience but for her inherent qualities: humility, eagerness to learn, resilience, and steadfast authenticity. Moreover, Isadora possessed the greatest talent for perfumery among her generation.
The Penrose family, despite being preeminent in the perfume world and producing several world-renowned perfumers, maintained a low profile in keeping with their ancestral wisdom that there was always someone more skilled.
"Do you have someone whose skill you aspire to match?" her grandmother asked.
Victoria was the first person to come to Isadora's mind.
"Yes, Master Deer. I adore her fragrances."
"Oh?" Her grandmother's eyes lit up with excitement. She knew of Master Deer - a prodigy who had won her first perfume championship at thirteen and went on to claim six consecutive titles. She had followed Master Deer's career with interest, though the perfumer remained elusive, often competing behind a mask.
"Then you have your work cut out for you, Isadora. Even I might not be able to match her skill," she said with a smile. It wasn't false modesty - she had studied Master Deer's fragrances and could never quite replicate their formulas.
"I'm quite curious about this Master Deer. I'd love to see her face someday."
Isadora suddenly pulled out her phone and showed it to her grandmother. "Look, Grandmother - this is a photo of Master Deer and me together."
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