Chapter 4：The Perfume Trap
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"What are your plans for tonight?" Alexander asked me in a low voice as we danced.
"What do you mean?" I pretended not to understand.
Alexander's hand tightened around my waist: "Your assistant visited three perfume shops today and ended up buying the same perfume as Clara's."
I smiled: "You had someone follow me?"
"Protecting my investment," Alexander corrected, "Are you planning to humiliate her in public?"
"She made me lose everything," my voice turned cold, "a little rash is nothing in comparison."
As the dance ended, I walked toward the restroom. After confirming no one was there, I took out a small spray bottle and sprayed the specially formulated high-concentration perfume near the ventilation duct. Then I returned to the ballroom and stood in a corner to observe.
Clara was talking with several investors when suddenly, her expression changed. She began scratching her arms incessantly as a red rash quickly spread to her neck and face, and her breathing became rapid.
"Someone——someone sprayed lily of the valley perfume here!" Clara cried out in panic, her voice already becoming hoarse.
Just as she swayed looking for support, Alexander suddenly appeared beside her, handing her an EpiPen auto-injector: "Miss Sinclair, your allergic reaction appears to be severe."
Clara tremblingly took the injector and skillfully pressed it against the outer side of her thigh. A few minutes later, her symptoms began to subside.
I stood at a distance, watching this scene in disbelief. Alexander walked to my side and whispered in my ear: "Public humiliation would be too easy for her. I want her to watch as you take everything away from her."
"You changed the perfume ingredients," I said through gritted teeth.
Alexander smiled: "Just diluted it a little. Enough to embarrass her, but not life-threatening."
"Why intervene?" I questioned.
Alexander's fingers gently brushed against my wrist: "Because your revenge plan is too simple. True revenge isn't about momentary humiliation, but continuous, systematic destruction." His gaze turned dangerous, "I thought you understood that."
I remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "You're right. I was too impatient."
"Patience, dear wife." Alexander raised his champagne glass to toast with mine, "The sweetest revenge needs time to ferment."
After the dinner, Clara stopped me as I was preparing to leave.
"You did it, didn't you?" Clara's swollen eyes stared at me.
I smiled: "I don't know what you're talking about, sister. Perhaps you should check your genes to see why you're allergic to ordinary perfume."
Clara grabbed my wrist: "You've changed, Vivian. You weren't like this before."
"People always change," I gently pulled away, "especially after dying once."
I left a confused Clara and walked toward Alexander who was waiting. He opened the car door for me and whispered in my ear: "First lesson: Never let your enemies know your next move."
Sitting in the car on the way home, I gazed at the twinkling city lights outside the window, contemplating Alexander's words. He was right; my revenge couldn't just be shallow retaliation. I needed a more comprehensive and thorough plan.
Clara's allergic reaction was just a warning, a signal—I'm back, and I know her secrets. The real blow was yet to come. I would make her lose everything, just as she once did to me.
But Alexander's intervention also made me wary. Why was he so concerned about my revenge plan? What were his true intentions? Our engagement was mutually beneficial on the surface, but I began to suspect he was playing a double role in this chess game.
Regardless, I must remain vigilant. In this game of revenge, I could no longer trust anyone, not even my contract husband.
