The Fragrance Queen's Final Note novel Chapter 82

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Now, substituting it with the Juliet Rose, she could only imagine how breathtaking the final product would be.

Separating the petals, washing them, soaking them—distillation was the final step.

The process would take eight hours. By evening, she would have the pure extract.

At five o'clock, Zander called to remind her not to forget his class reunion dinner.

If Grandpa Desmond's birthday wasn't right around the corner, she would never have let him boss her around.

She had gone to Seaview University with him, though in a different year, so his classmates knew her. In her eyes, none of them were decent people.

Taking her time on purpose, she didn't arrive at Maison Arome until nearly six.

She reached the door of the private dining room. Just as she was about to push it open, she caught the sound of them gossiping about her.

"Zander, I still can't get over it. How did our college heartthrob end up with someone so painfully average?"

"Seriously. You were Seaview University's golden boy. Half the girls on campus were throwing themselves at you, and you chose Queenie. Do you have any idea how many hearts you broke?"

"Aside from a pretty face, what does she even have going for her? She never amounted to anything. She's completely out of your league."

"She knew how to beg. Everyone knew she followed him around like a desperate lapdog. He couldn't shake her off if he tried."

Zander let out a light, chuckling sigh. "Alright, we're already married, so there's no point dwelling on it. But I will give a piece of genuine advice to those of you who aren't hitched yet.

Dating is one thing—you can mess around with whoever. But when it comes to marriage, you have to be careful. If a husband and wife aren't on equal footing, the gap between them only grows wider."