Page 44 of Scent of Desire

I gulped my feelings, thinking this through. “A message…”

The aphrodisiac and the perfume were ready. Could it be it? On her day of death, could she have wanted to see the light? Could I honor her death by making this day a glorious one? I unlocked my phone, set on announcing the news. I’d make her immortal and unforgettable.

I didn’t open the messages from my uncle, from which the preview was “Did you see what happened to the Carmins?” because I was bored of his obsession with them. I opened the unread messages from Adonis instead.

Yesterday, 10pm.

Adonis:Happy birthday, Lily. I’m thinking about you. I hope you’re having a special day. Wanna hang out tomorrow?

Today, 8am.

Adonis:Are you okay?

My eyes swiveled to the upcoming message, my heart leaping into my throat, about to combust.

No.

The earth seemed to have ripped open, dragging me into the endless dark. My hand frantically grabbed the curtain next to me as I felt myself spinning.

“Lily?” Radcliff called out to me, but his voice was distant and blurry.

The last message from Adonis was fatal.

Today, 5pm.

Adonis:So, you get on your knees in front of the Devil but you don’t even bother to reply to me? For info…

I opened the attached picture. It was an invitation that Radcliff had sent to Adonis.

Mr. Adonis Carmin, you’re invited by Mr. Radcliff for a meeting at 9pm today at Club 7. It’s a onetime invitation.

Betrayal was all I felt reading the next message, acid burning my throat.

Three words.

Three words that meant everything.

Adonis:I saw you.

“Lily?” Radcliff’s voice buzzed through my ears.

Adonis might have seen me giving a blowjob to Radcliff that night at the club, but more importantly, Radcliff knew that all along. He did it on purpose. My hand fisted the curtain, and I refused to let the salty tears of anger bleed on my skin. Radcliff had used me to get his revenge on Adonis.

I wasn’t his equal.

I was his puppet.

I finally met Radcliff’s eyes, an expression of disgust twisting my features. I wanted to blow up this fucking place. I was an idiot.

“How could you!” I screamed.

He didn’t even flinch, keeping his regal calm. “You’ll have to be more precise.”

“Adonis!” I yelled hysterically. “You invited him to your club that night! You knew he was there when we…” The next words stuck in my throat.

“I did.” He didn’t bother to hide the truth and adjusted his cuffs. “It was a matter between him and I that needed to be solved.”

“You used me.” My single tear finally escaped as I pushed him away, hatred consuming my core.