Chapter 101

When they dropped Frank off at the hotel, they arranged a time to pick him up in the evening. Later, when it was just the two of them, Melanie finally asked the questions that had been on her mind.

"Nate, who is this Frank? Why are you so courteous to him? He clearly looks down on us; why are we treating him so well? If he's a legend in the perfume industry, why haven't I heard of him? Was he boasting?"

Remembering their earlier encounter, and still angered by Frank's behavior, she continued, "We wasted so much time picking him up! He did nothing all day. Why didn't you check his identity and abilities first? What if he's a conman?"

"He isn't. Don't worry. It took considerable effort to get him here," Nathaniel said, exhaling, his hands on the steering wheel.

Even though the issue remained unresolved, Nathaniel felt less anxious. He trusted Frank to guide them through this challenging period. After all, however skilled Lily was, she was still a newbie compared to renowned perfumers like Frank. Her childish tricks wouldn't impress him.

His words reminded Melanie of an earlier question. Cautiously, she asked, "Oh right, is Ms. Neville your mother?"

Nathaniel was silent for a moment before nodding. His mother, Eloise Neville, had remarried a wealthy and influential man years ago, a marriage achieved only after great effort. Being the wife of a rich man had many demands, including beauty and intelligence.

Eloise was considered the best actress of her time, but she left acting because her husband's family disapproved. She left Nathaniel behind, her "burdensome" son.

For all those years, Nathaniel lived with his grandparents and used his father's surname. In public, or when outsiders were present, he addressed Eloise as "Ms. Neville," never "Mom." Few people outside his close family knew of their relationship; even Lily was unaware.

Since Nathaniel and his mother weren't close, Melanie hadn't considered this possibility. However, his mention of "Ms. Neville" today brought it to mind, easing her anxiety. "We can trust him—your mother introduced him! How could I forget her at this crucial moment? With our difficulties, I'm sure she'll help. Lily is nothing compared to her connections and abilities." Melanie's hopes soared; their problems seemed solvable.

"I don't want to trouble her unless I have no choice. She doesn't want to be bothered by me either," Nathaniel said quietly, his gaze downcast.

Seeing his low spirits, Melanie tried to comfort him. "I'm sure she had no choice. As you said, being the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family limited her options. Since she's willing to help us, she still cares deeply for you."

"Maybe," Nathaniel replied doubtfully.

After Eloise remarried, she barely acknowledged Nathaniel. On the rare occasions she visited her parents' home, she brought gifts, but he noticed she rarely smiled. He understood that she had another child after remarrying, and a public family life was impossible. This fueled his ambition; he wanted to show Eloise he could succeed without her. However, problems kept arising just as he neared his goal. He even needed Eloise's… (The passage ends abruptly here).