The Scent of 119

“Oh, it’s Mr. Fletcher.”

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Seeing Oscar approach, Harvey and Wynn politely shook hands with him and exchanged pleasantries. “Mr. Fletcher, are you here discussing business with Mr. Yoder?”

“Yes, Mr. Yoder’s company has a few projects I’m quite interested in, so I came over to talk to him about them.”

1

Harvey paused when he noticed that Matthias and Celeste remained standing in place without coming over, but he didn’t think much of it.

Oscar, unaware of the underlying tensions, found Matthias reaction a bit odd. After all, as a businessman, even if Matthias didn’t know the Locket family personally, it wouldn’t hurt to go over and greet them, maybe even make a new connection.

While Wynn and Harvey chatted with Oscar, Erin greeted him briefly before walking toward Celeste and Matthias, accompanied by Lilian.

Matthias glanced at Celeste.

However, Celeste watched them approach but didn’t move

Erin spoke kindly, “Cel, it’s been a long time.”

Celeste said nothing.

Seeing her stubborn expression, Erin sighed. “Cel, you-

Before she could finish, Lilian interrupted her coldly. “Cel, no matter how many misunderstandings or grievances you have against me, that’s just between me, you, and your mother.

“It has nothing to do with Harvey or your grandma. I hope you won’t push away those who truly care about you.”

Lilian Shaw.

Celeste remembered how, before divorcing her mother, Harvey had once spoken of Lilian with deep affection. He had said that Lilian was just like her name–pristine and serene, proud yet elegant.

She was his unattainable dream; his forever crush.

He had said that only after meeting Lilian did he understand what love truly was. That their feelings for each other were mutual,

He had told her that although Lilian seemed indifferent, she was actually a wonderful person. He had urged her not to cause trouble like her mother and to acknowledge Lilian’s excellence.

Unlike most mistresses, Lilian had always treated her well. But her demeanor had always been cold and distant, as if she were far superior to her.

Years had passed, but Lilian was still as stunning and aloof as she had been in her memory.

So, when she spoke these words—not in the gentle, conciliatory tone of a stepmother trying to win favor, but in her usual detached manner–it almost sounded sincere. It made her words seem even more persuasive. After all, a woman as proud and distant as her wouldn’t stoop to making things difficult for a stepdaughter.

If there were conflicts, surely it was the stepdaughter who was being unreasonable.

Lilian claimed that the past issues between herself, her mother, and her father shouldn’t affect the love Harvey

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Chapter 119

and Erin had for her.

However, Celeste craved her father’s love and family affection. And that desire only grew stronger after her parents‘ divorce.

Back then, Celeste had been just around nine years old. She had loved both of her parents and couldn’t bear to choose between them.

But deep down, she had sided with her mother. She felt sorry for her.

So, when her parents fought for custody, even though her mother had already suffered a mental breakdown, Celeste still refused to stay with Harvey and Erin. She had insisted on following her mother.

Even after choosing her mother, she had still held onto feelings for Harvey and Erin. But to avoid making her mother sad, she had hidden those feelings.

A year after the divorce, Erin had come to Baumond for some business and secretly had someone contact her, saying she wanted to see her.

It had been over a year since she last saw her grandmother. She had missed her, so she had snuck out to meet her, hiding it from Ivan and the others.

But what she didn’t know was that Erin had also brought Wynn along.

Erin had told her that she and Wynn were sisters and should get along well.

She didn’t want to.

But when she saw the disapproving look in Erin’s eyes and heard her say that she was still too much like her mother, too stubborn, too unforgiving–she felt upset and started to doubt herself.

Was she really just an ungracious child?