Nathaniel had been thinking about Lily when news of his accident broke. Even his mother had visited him. He knew Lily must have heard about it, yet she hadn't appeared. Melanie, instead, was the first to visit after the news aired on television.

Eloise smirked coldly at her son. "Visit you? If I were Lily, I'd have torn you to pieces after what you did to her. The nerve!"

"Mother! Am I not your son?" Nathaniel snapped. How could she side with an outsider?

"I'm saying this because you're my son; otherwise, why would I care?!" she retorted. Noticing his expression, her tone softened. "It's not a reprimand, but constructive criticism. I've met many people, and I know Melanie is unsuitable for you."

"Then what about Lily? Is it because she's a talented perfumer? I'm looking for a wife, not a perfumer. Besides, have you seen her seeking revenge? Isn't Lily a scary woman, too?" Nathaniel argued unconvincingly. He knew, deep down, that Lily was better than Melanie.

While with Lily, he hadn't worried about new products; she always generated fresh ideas suited to their market. He hadn't worried about formulas or resource shortages—Lily always solved those problems. He'd been so ignorant of his job that he hadn't realized a single formula error could destroy the company.

Although they lived separately, hearty home-cooked meals always awaited him at Lily's. Melanie, on the other hand, never cooked. She worried the oil and smoke would damage her skin and reduce her finger sensitivity.

Lily was the ideal wife, but lacked appeal. She was always engrossed in her experiments, ignoring his calls. Sometimes, when he found her attractive and wanted to kiss her, the lingering smell of chemicals repelled him.

Melanie was different; her scent intoxicated him. She was also alluring in bed, and after a time with her, he'd lost interest in Lily, finding her unappealing.

Eloise sighed, bringing over a chair, tired of standing. "How long were you with Lily? Why didn't she seek revenge before? Why now? Are you sure you don't know the reason?"

"I don't care what happened, but as a grown man, you should handle your problems. However, Nate, your taste in women is horrible! If I recall correctly, Melanie's from a working-class family, right? Her parents are ordinary folks," Eloise asked.

Melanie was indeed from a working-class family, but he didn't care. He believed a capable man could provide for his wife and make her happy. He didn't want to rely on a woman. Besides, Lily was also from a working-class family.

"While Mel's family might not be rich, they're normal, and I've met her parents! I've never seen or heard Lily mention her family after all these years! For all we know, she could be an orphan! How is her family better than Mel's?"

Nathaniel had tried asking Lily about her family, but she always avoided the topic. Eventually, he assumed she was an orphan and dropped it.

Eloise stared at him as if he were the world's biggest fool. She couldn't understand why he hadn't inherited her intelligence, choosing instead to resemble his father's ignorance. "An orphan? Ha ha!" she laughed ironically.