He Was Her Everything Until He Betrayed Her

Rosalie finally noticed a new message from her aunt:

'Luke and I went to the perfume shop next door in the mall. He forgot to tell you. Come over, Rosalie, so that I can give you a gift.'

She listened to the message, her emotions churning. When she reached the perfume shop, the sight before her was like a punch to the gut.

Fiona held out her wrist for Luke to smell, and their warm smiles and easy gestures conveyed an intimacy she could only observe from the outside. She had always been the outsider.

Fiona noticed and waved her over, but Rosalie lingered at the store's entrance, glancing toward Luke. She didn't even know what she was clinging to.

Taking a steadying breath, she summoned the strength to ask, in a calm but strained voice, "Should I come in?"

Luke's expression darkened as he looked at her, his irritation flashing across his face. "What are you being so sensitive about? It's a perfume store; it won't kill you to step inside."

Fiona quickly stepped in, her tone gentle. "Luke, don't talk to Rosalie like that." Luke's demeanor softened immediately as he affectionately stroked her hair, then turned back to Rosalie with a dismissive look.

"Come in, Rosalie. Or would you rather have Fiona stand here with the gift waiting for you?"

Rosalie felt her resolve waver but took a step inside. Her sensitivity to strong scents had first shown up years ago. Back then, Luke had immediately removed all scented products from the house, even banning anyone from wearing perfume.

When she'd struggled with it at school, he had arranged for her to study at home, and on the rare occasions she attended classes in person, he ensured every precaution was taken.

Their home became a sanctuary of fresh flowers and subtle, natural scents where she felt safe. Even living in a country where perfume was everywhere, Luke protected her.

But now, just standing at the shop's entrance made her dizzy, yet he continued urging her to step further inside.

Fighting the nausea, Rosalie approached Fiona, who immediately produced a perfume bottle from her bag.

"This one is a limited edition called 'Moonlit Rose.' As soon as I heard the name, I thought it would suit you perfectly. Come, let Auntie spray a little on you to try it."

Rosalie pulled her hand back, feeling her stomach twist. "Thank you, Auntie, but it's not necessary. I'm allergic to perfume."

Fiona's face fell, her eyes instantly welling with tears as she looked genuinely remorseful. "I'm so sorry, Rosalie. It's my fault. I don't even know what you like."

But before Rosalie could respond, Luke roughly pulled her closer, pushing the gift into her hands.

He looked at Fiona reassuringly. "It's fine. It's not that serious."

Turning to Rosalie, his tone grew cold. "This is a gift from us. A little spritz won't kill you."

Rosalie met his gaze and forced a bitter smile after a moment of hesitation. She brought the bottle to her wrist and sprayed a small amount.

Immediately, the overpowering scent assaulted her senses, leaving her lightheaded and nauseous, but she steeled herself, fighting the urge to recoil.

Forcing a strained smile, she looked at Fiona and said, "Thank you, Auntie."

Then, with a steady gaze, she turned to Luke, her voice carrying a note of finality. "Thank you, Uncle."