"No, there's no need. I've already troubled you twice. I can take a cab myself; it's still early," Olivia said, hastily waving her hand in rejection. "If you insist, I'll accompany you to get a cab," Edward replied.

Olivia remained silent.

Lily smiled at them. Walking to Olivia, she patted her shoulder. "You should let him accompany you!" Edward, standing nearby, sneezed loudly. "Achoo!"

Lily was speechless. She'd planned to shower as soon as they left. Initially, she hadn't noticed anything, but Edward's repeated sneezing revealed how strongly she smelled. Even from a distance, he'd been sneezing; she could only imagine how pungent the scent would be up close.

"I'll go take a shower," Lily said. Before she could turn, Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't hug me. I smell bad!" she whispered, struggling to free herself.

However, Alexander hugged her tightly, lowered his head, and inhaled deeply at her nape. "Who said you smell bad? You smell good. It's your smell, your unique smell."

Lily was speechless again. She had to admit his words were cheesy, but she enjoyed them, even if they were just a coaxing attempt.

"I'll take that as a compliment, but I still need a shower. Otherwise, I can't bear it," she said with a slight smile, patting his cheek lightly.

Lily enjoyed a warm bath, her thoughts turning to the woodcarving shop. The young man, though short-tempered, didn't seem unreliable. However, she only had his phone number. If she couldn't reach him soon, she'd have to delay the new product's development. Her existing samples were insufficient for the experiments. Humans often defied convention; the greater the obstacle, the more persistent they became. After some reflection, she quickly exited the tub, dried herself, and put on her nightgown. Meanwhile, Alexander had showered in another bathroom. He was in pajamas, reading documents in bed. Hearing a noise, he set aside his papers and looked at her.

Lily ignored him, hurrying to her side of the wardrobe, searching unsuccessfully for something. She checked the drawers, but still couldn't find it. Finally, she turned to Alexander.

He raised an eyebrow at her seemingly unfocused gaze. He realized she was lost in thought. "What are you looking for?" he asked, but before he finished, she'd already opened the door and gone downstairs.

'She left? She just left?!' He'd never been so completely ignored. Stunned, Alexander leaned back against the headboard. He, Alexander, had been ignored. By his beloved wife.

Deciding whether to wait or follow her, he heard footsteps outside his door. She had returned.