The Fragrance Queen's Final Note novel Chapter 74

Unsurprisingly, Renata didn't let her down.

She picked up quickly, her voice dripping with its predictable, sickly-sweet malice. "Well, if it isn't Queenie. What's the occasion?

Looking for Zander? He's a bit tied up right now. He's in the shower, and we've got things to do once he gets out..."

"What kind of things?"

Queenie played along, purely to make sure the man sitting next to her caught every word.

Renata let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, please. You know exactly what things. With you out of the picture, Zander finally gets to let loose. He's having the time of his life. Honestly, I'd suggest you stop torturing yourself."

She sounded like she was about to hang up.

"Wait," Queenie interjected quickly. "Does Zander know that this is how you talk to his actual wife behind his back?"

Renata's tone grew even more arrogant. "Actual wife? Haven't you ever heard the saying that in a relationship, the unloved one is the real third wheel? What kind of wife are you anyway, if you can't even keep your man satisfied?

If you had any real skills, Zander wouldn't be this obsessed with me..."

Queenie glanced over at the man beside her. The color had drained from his face, leaving behind a sickening, ashen gray.

It was the lifeless hue of a corpse pulled from formaldehyde.

His hands were clasped so tightly together that his fingernails had dug deep into his own flesh.

Blood was beginning to bead, but he seemed entirely numb to the pain.

"Renata, you clearly have someone else you love, so why are you clinging to Zander? Having your cake and eating it too—don't you feel the least bit ashamed?"

"Stop talking nonsense. When have I ever had someone else I loved?"

"I saw a picture of a man in the trash can in your office. If he isn't someone you love, why did you keep his photo?"

Renata let out a dismissive scoff. "Oh, that? Just some pathetic guy who was obsessed with me. He was like a dog wagging its tail, begging for scraps—just like you. If he was really someone I loved, would I have thrown him in the trash? Anything in the garbage is nothing but trash!"

Cough.

As soon as Renata's words hung in the air, the man on the bench choked violently, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Horrified, Queenie scrambled to hang up the phone.

"Are you okay?"

She frantically dug some tissues out of her pocket, trying to wipe the blood from his clothes.

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