Chapter 36

At that moment, his only concern was calming Lily. Nathaniel's words made her laugh—words she'd longed to hear for years, yet now they sounded ironic. Marriage? In his dreams!

"That's unnecessary. It's easy enough to prove," Lily said softly, her mocking smile fading.

Seeing her expression, Nathaniel thought he'd convinced her to change her mind. He stepped forward, continuing to persuade her. "That's right. We should trust each other. You've always been there for me, through thick and thin. It'll be the same this time, right?"

"Alright. I have a way to prove you're not having an affair with Melanie and to save the company," Lily said, nodding.

"What way is that?" Nathaniel asked eagerly, envisioning a solution to both problems.

He'd spent the past few days trying to manage the situation and the media fallout, to no avail. Public opinion remained negative, and the company had suffered significantly, as evidenced by the latest sales figures. Reputation and credibility were essential for a rising company like MN Inc.

Lily saw Nathaniel's unease. He was right about one thing: she'd always helped him overcome past difficulties. She'd worked tirelessly on new products and ideas, believing she was building their future together. But how naive she'd been. "It's simple," she said. "We go back to the press conference now for a final clarification. You tell the media and reporters that I created all of MN Inc.'s past perfumes. All previous awards were also due to my efforts. Will you do it?" She smiled calmly.

Nathaniel stared, disbelieving. She was two steps ahead, and the pressure she exerted made him gasp.

"You're sending me to my death," he said through gritted teeth.

Lily laughed. "How's that possible? Isn't it the truth? I painstakingly created all of MN Inc.'s best-selling perfumes in recent years. All you have to do is tell the truth. It's not so difficult, is it?"

"Lily, you never cared about this before. Why now? Are fame and glory more important to you than me?"

Nathaniel's refusal prompted an accusation. It was as though she were the deceiver. Fame? Glory? He'd used those words in the past to keep her from the limelight, and she'd foolishly sacrificed herself for him. Was he still trying to suppress her with those clichés?

"Of course, it's important. I didn't care before, but now I do! Fame, money, and fairness. Can you afford to give me those things?" Lily asked, raising her eyebrows.