He Gave My Work to Another Woman

For seven years, Theodore gave all his love and attention to Audrey.

I spent three agonizing years waiting for my big moment at the perfume awards, only for him to walk the red carpet with her instead.

He even stole my exclusive fragrance formula and gave it to her.

He always said, Audrey lost her parents when she was young. She's sensitive. You're my girlfriend, Amber. You need to be the bigger person.

Until the day I threw the non-disclosure denial in his face and walked away.

Later, the flawed formula Audrey stole caused widespread skin burns and allergic reactions, pushing Vance Group to the brink of bankruptcy.

The once-mighty Theodore knelt at my door in the pouring rain, his eyes bloodshot as he begged:

"Amber, I was wrong. Please, come back to me."

I wrapped my arm around the worlds most eligible billionaire and smiled down at him.

"Mr. Vance, your late regrets are worth absolutely nothing."

The air conditioning backstage at the awards ceremony was freezing.

I held the custom-made black suit I had personally designed for Theodore, my fingertips already numb from the cold.

There were only ten minutes left before the red carpet started.

When Theodores phone finally went through, it was Audreys whimpering voice on the other end:

"Amber, I'm so sorry. I suddenly had a panic attack in the car."

"Theodore was trying to calm me down, and I accidentally wrinkled his suit..."

Theodore took the phone, his voice laced with exhaustion and impatience:

"Amber, Audrey is in a really bad state. I need to walk the red carpet with her first to calm her down."

"I can't wear that suit anymore. Just walk the red carpet on your own."

I looked at my dressed-up reflection in the full-length mirror and asked softly, "Theodore, do you even remember what day it is today?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Today was the launch day of "Azure Veil," the perfume I had spent three agonizing years developing.

Today was also the day he had promised to propose to me in front of the entire industry.

"Amber, can you not throw a tantrum right now?" Theodores voice sank, annoyed.

"Audrey is a rookie. It's her first time at an event like this, and she's terrified."

"You're already a famous perfumer in the industry. What's the big deal with walking the red carpet alone?"

I didn't say another word and hung up.

I raised my head. On the dressing room monitor, the red carpet live stream had already begun.

Theodore stepped down from a black Maybach.

He wasn't wearing the suit I had prepared.

Instead, he had changed into a pure white tuxedo that perfectly matched Audreys white gown. They looked like a perfect match.

Audrey held his arm, her eyes still red and teary, looking like a helpless little deer.

The host smiled and handed them the microphone. "Mr. Vance and Miss Audrey look stunning together today."

"May we ask what fragrance you two are wearing? The scent is incredibly unique."

Theodore looked down at Audrey, his eyes dripping with warmth.

"It's a new scent Audrey developed herself, called 'Frost Kiss'."

"She was very nervous today. As her mentor, it's only right that I give her some support."

The cameras flashed wildly.

Looking at his tender expression on the screen, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

"Frost Kiss."

That was a rejected base formula I had mixed in the lab three months ago after pulling several all-nighters.

I had discarded it because the top note was too sweet and lacked depth. I had carelessly left it on the waste shelf.

Now, it had become Audrey's "Frost Kiss," and the tool Theodore used to show his public favoritism.

I tossed the custom suit into the nearby trash can.

Theodore, since you chose Frost Kiss, you will never touch my Azure Veil again.

The awards ceremony ended, and I walked away with the Perfumer of the Year trophy.

But the launch of "Azure Veil" was completely overshadowed by the hype surrounding "Frost Kiss."

By the time I returned to Theodore's villa, it was already past midnight.

The living room lights were on. Theodore was sitting on the couch, a velvet jewelry box resting on the coffee table.

Hearing me come in, he looked up, his brow furrowed. "Why are you back so late? Why didn't you answer my calls?"

I took off my heels, my voice flat. "I had to do a few interviews after winning."

He stood up, walked over to me, and handed me the velvet box.

"I'm sorry I couldn't walk the red carpet with you today. This is a makeup gift. See if you like it."

I opened the box. Inside was a brilliant diamond necklace.

But near the clasp, there was a tiny, barely noticeable scratch.

Moreover, the box still smelled faintly of that cloyingly sweet "Frost Kiss."

I looked up at him. "You originally bought this necklace for Audrey, didn't you?"

Theodores face stiffened for a second, replaced quickly by irritation.

"Audrey said the necklace was too expensive and didn't suit her."

"I thought it matched your style, so I brought it back. Amber, do you really have to be this petty?"

"You're giving me something someone else rejected?" I tossed the box back onto the table. "Theodore, I don't take leftovers."

"What is your problem?" His voice rose. "Am I not here with you now?"

"Audrey has no parents, and she's new to the company. What's wrong with me looking out for her a little?"

"As my future wife, can't you show a little more grace?"

"Future wife?" I laughed, tears practically pricking my eyes.

"Theodore, when you stood on that red carpet today and told the cameras that Frost Kiss was Audrey's original creation, did you think of me as your future wife?"

Theodores eyes flickered with guilt, but his tone remained defensive.

"It was just a discarded base note. You weren't going to use it anyway."

"Audrey needed a solid release to establish her career. What's wrong with me letting her borrow it?"

"If it makes you feel better, I'll have accounting transfer a million dollars to your account tomorrow to buy out the formula."

A million dollars.

Three years of my hard work, countless nights of boiling and extracting, was worth only a million dollars to him.

Looking at the man I had loved for seven years, he suddenly felt like a complete stranger.

Years ago, to help him build the Vance Group's fragrance line, I had smelled hundreds of raw ingredients a day until my nose almost lost its function.

He had held me close with teary eyes, swearing he would never let me down.

Now, for the sake of another womans career, he casually erased all my efforts.

"I'm not selling," I said, staring straight into his eyes.

"Theodore, the formula for Frost Kiss belongs to me. I'm releasing a public statement tomorrow."

"Amber!" He grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully tight.

"Do you have to take things to such an extreme? If you release that statement, Audrey's career will be ruined!"

"She's so young. Why are you trying to destroy her?"

Looking at his face, twisted with anger, I pried his fingers off my wrist, one by one.

"I'm not destroying her. You are."

The next morning, I went to Vance Group with my prepared statement.

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw a crowd gathered outside my private lab.

Audrey was standing in the center of the hallway, wearing a thin white shirt. Her eyes were red, and she looked like she might faint at any moment.

Theodore shielded her behind him, barking at my assistant, Leo:

"Is this how Amber taught you to behave?"

"Audrey just wanted to borrow the centrifuge from the lab. What right do you have to block her?"

Leo looked on the verge of tears. "Mr. Vance, Miss Amber gave strict orders. No one is allowed inside her lab."

"The final formula for 'Azure Veil' is in there..."

"What final formula!" Theodore sneered. "The entire Vance Group belongs to me. I decide who goes in!"

As he spoke, he reached for the keypad lock.

"Theodore, don't you dare touch that."

I pushed through the crowd, my voice icy.

Seeing me arrive, Audrey immediately shrank further behind Theodore, her voice trembling.

"Amber, please don't blame Theodore. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been greedy and wanted to use your high-end equipment... I'll leave right now..."

She turned to go but "accidentally" tripped, falling straight into Theodores chest.

Theodore caught her steadily. When he looked up at me, his eyes were full of resentment.

"Amber, look how terrified you've made her!"

"It's just a lab. What's the password?"

Looking at his self-righteous face, I found it utterly absurd.

"Theodore, this is my private lab. Every piece of equipment in here was bought with my own money."

"It has nothing to do with Vance Group." I stepped in front of the door, blocking the keypad. "If you want to get in, go get a warrant."

Theodores face completely darkened.

"Amber, don't push your luck."

"You are currently the chief perfumer of Vance Group. Your assets belong to this company!"

"Is that so?" I pulled the statement and my resignation letter from my bag and slammed them against his chest.

"Well, I'm not anymore."

Theodore froze.

He stared down at the resignation letter, seemingly unable to believe his eyes.

"You... you're resigning?" He looked up, a flash of panic in his eyes, though it was quickly masked by anger.

"Amber, don't think you can threaten me with a resignation! Do you really think any other company will hire you if you leave Vance Group?"

"That is none of your concern, Mr. Vance." I shot a cold look at Audrey.

"Furthermore, regarding the copyright of 'Frost Kiss,' I have already retained legal counsel."

"Mr. Vance, expect a lawsuit."

With that, I unlocked the door, walked into my lab, and began packing my things.

Theodore stood outside, his face pale with fury.

Audrey tugged at his sleeve, whispering timidly, "Theodore, is Amber really mad?"

"Maybe I should just give Frost Kiss back to her. I don't want it anymore..."

"No need," Theodores voice hissed from the hallway.

"She's just playing hard to get. Once she's threw her tantrum, she'll crawl back on her own."

My hand paused as I packed my files, and a cold smile spread across my face.

Crawl back?

Theodore, you will never understand.

The moment you trampled on my hard work to please another woman, we were completely finished.