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Chapter_83
The atmosphere was tense as the Ellington family moved swiftly toward their cars, eager to leave the hotel behind. Percival, Leopold, and Thomas were at the back of the group, a noticeable distance from the rest of the family, seemingly in no rush to follow the others. As soon as Percival noticed the cars ahead pulling away, he stopped abruptly and turned to Thomas.
“You need to keep an eye on Dorian,” Percival said, his voice low and deliberate.
Thomas didn’t quite understand the urgency in Percival’s tone, but he nodded anyway, waiting for clarification.
Leopold, ever direct, asked without hesitation, “You just got engaged to Ms. Hawthorn, and you’re already watching her father? What’s going on?”
Percival gave him a flat look, his expression serious. “He might have the potion.”
The words hung in the air for a moment. Thomas and Leopold were both caught off guard. The potion? Dorian? It didn’t make sense.
Leopold blinked, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. “The potion? Dorian? Are you kidding me?”
Though Dorian was a part of the Hawthorn family, he was hardly someone who would have access to something as powerful as the potion. Percival’s face remained unreadable, though his voice carried a firm certainty. “I’ve reason to believe the potion is tied to Vivienne’s mother. Dorian mentioned giving something to Beatrice—it might be that potion.”
Leopold’s anxiety grew at the possibility. “Then what are we waiting for? We should find him right now! How can he give that to Beatrice? Is he out of his mind?”
The potion was incredibly important—and dangerous. GTO had already dispatched hitmen to Havenwood, and many other powers were also after it. Whoever had it was a target. Dorian holding the potion and announcing his intention to give it to Beatrice was a reckless move.
“We can’t just go in blind,” Percival replied, his voice stern. “We’re not sure if what he’s giving to Beatrice is actually the potion. We can’t make a move until we know for sure.”
He turned to Thomas, his gaze sharp. “Keep an eye on Dorian. If he really is giving Beatrice the potion, we need to take it. But don’t do it yourself—let someone else handle it.”
Thomas nodded seriously, understanding the gravity of the situation. “I understand.”
Back at Tranquil Estates, Dorian had just returned home. As he walked through the door, he turned to Vivienne, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Vivienne, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Vivienne, seated on the sofa, glanced up at him. “What is it?”
She had been planning to ask Dorian about the nature of his dealings with Beatrice, but seeing his serious expression, she waited for him to speak first.
Dorian took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. “Your mother was a very talented perfumer. When she married me, she created a few perfumes. It was these perfumes that helped elevate the Hawthorn family from its decline.”
Vivienne nodded. She was well aware of her mother’s talents as a perfumer. But her mother, with all her hidden identities, had only ever revealed her perfumery work to the Hawthorn family. Vivienne remained silent, letting Dorian continue.
“After your mother left, she called me once,” Dorian went on. “She gave me the perfume formulas—twenty-eight in total. She used eight of them during her years with the Hawthorn family. After she left, I never used the formulas again. Now, I’ve decided to give one of those formulas to your grandmother.”
Vivienne blinked in surprise, her mind racing. She didn’t expect Dorian to be talking about perfume formulas. She had assumed the item in question was the potion. As Dorian continued, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions.
Dorian’s eyes were focused on her, watching carefully for her reaction. “I know this is your mother’s legacy, and I didn’t want to part with it. But your grandmother is becoming too much to handle. At your engagement party, her behavior was disgraceful. If I don’t give her something, she’ll keep pushing.”
Vivienne was quiet, processing the information. Dorian seemed earnest, but the mention of the perfume formulas added a layer of complexity to the situation.
“I know it’s hard,” Dorian continued, “but if I don’t do this, I’m afraid she’ll never leave us alone. I’m not doing this for my own gain—I just want peace for our family.”
Vivienne remained silent for a while. She had hoped Dorian was trustworthy, but her mind was clouded by doubt, especially when it came to the potion. However, there was nothing in his eyes that suggested deceit. Instead, there was only sincerity.
After a long pause, Vivienne spoke again. “Mr. Hawthorn, I have a question for you.”
Dorian nodded, giving her his full attention. “Go ahead.”
“You realize how valuable my mother’s perfume formulas are. You’ve had a rough time with the Hawthorn family—why not trade the formula for cash?” Vivienne asked, her voice steady. “There are plenty of perfume companies that would pay a lot for it. It could make your life easier.”
Dorian sighed deeply, looking conflicted. “Vivienne, you don’t understand. I owe your mother so much. She gave everything for this family, and I couldn’t do anything for her. I promised her I’d protect her, but I failed.”
His voice cracked slightly, and his eyes welled up with emotion. “This formula is the last thing she left behind. I can’t use it for personal gain. I won’t.”
Vivienne observed Dorian closely, looking for any sign of manipulation. But all she saw was deep regret and pain.
Her heart softened, but she still had doubts. “Did my mother give you only the perfume formula? Was there anything else?”
Dorian hesitated, his gaze faltering for a brief moment. But after a moment of reflection, he replied, “No, she only gave me the perfume formulas.”
Vivienne didn’t miss the subtle shift in his demeanor. However, she chose not to press further. She gave him a small nod, standing up. “Mr. Hawthorn, you make the decision. You don’t need my approval. Since my mother gave it to you, it’s yours.”
With that, Vivienne turned and walked toward the door. As she paused in the hallway, she lingered for a moment, her mind swirling with unanswered questions. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Dorian’s story than he was letting on. But for now, she had to trust him—and hope she wasn’t wrong.
