My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 88: Signing a Bizarre Document

Adeline Lowell’s heart skipped a beat. "Everyone... what’s this about?"

"That young lady..." one of the elders began, his expression complex. "In several of the practical exams, we discovered she possesses an absolute sense of smell—the most precious talent in the Perfumery Circle. She spent the entire lecture trying her best to hide her abilities and appear ordinary. She might have fooled the others, but she couldn’t possibly fool us."

Adeline Lowell was stunned.

Similar to absolute pitch in the music world, an absolute sense of smell was an exceptionally rare gift in the Perfumery Circle. Not every legendary perfumer possessed this talent, but those who did were all but guaranteed to become legends themselves. It was only a matter of time. In the entire Lowell Family, only one elder had ever possessed such an ability.

"Not only that, the girl is a quick study and highly innovative," another elder added, looking at Adeline Lowell. "I’m afraid her overall abilities might already surpass Rosalie’s. Her only weaknesses are her theoretical knowledge and lack of experience. But if we were to teach her everything we know over these next two days, those gaps would slowly be filled."

Adeline Lowell felt a pang of envy. "To think the Sterlings have such a promising talent..."

But in her heart, a suspicion about Celia Sterling’s identity began to form. Who else could such a stunningly talented perfumer be, other than ’Brightmoon’? The Chief Perfumer who had been dazzling the competition circuit in recent years without ever revealing her face.

"She’s not a Lowell, after all," another elder said. "Are you sure we should continue to teach her?"

Adeline Lowell thought of the large stack of manuscripts sent out that morning, many of which belonged to the very elders in the room. Since the notes were already gone, what harm could a day or two of personal instruction do? She nodded.

"We made a promise, and there’s no reason to go back on it. It’s only for a day or two. The Lowell Family has at least that much integrity."

She was also quite curious to see just how far Miss Sterling could go with the Lowell Family’s support.

「Stillwater Cemetery.」

Celia Sterling cradled the lilies and carnations Evan Rhodes had handed her and respectfully placed them before Sylvia Lowell’s gravestone. Her almond eyes rested quietly on the black-and-white photograph on the headstone.

This was the first time she had ever seen what Sylvia Lowell looked like, yet she felt an indescribable sense of familiarity—perhaps from poring over her notes so often. She gazed at the photo in a trance for a long while before speaking softly.

"So this is what Professor Lowell looked like. She looks so gentle and beautiful..."

"She was a very kind person." Kian Sterling stood a few steps behind Celia Sterling, watching as the girl bowed respectfully after placing the flowers before the gravestone in the fading twilight.

Celia Sterling was a little regretful. "Brother, why didn’t you tell me we were coming to see Professor Lowell? I’ve indirectly inherited so much of her legacy. If I’d known we were coming to see her, I would have brought a bottle of perfume as a small token of my appreciation."

Kian Sterling’s expression was unreadable. "Cece, for her, the fact that you came to see her is the most meaningful gesture of all."

"Don’t be silly, Brother. You’re the only one who treats me like I’m some great treasure. I’m not that precious in anyone else’s eyes." Celia Sterling shot him a playful glare. "I don’t care. I’m coming back one more time before we leave Port Sovereign. I’ll bring my work and let Professor Lowell inspect it."

Kian Sterling didn’t say anything.

Only after Celia Sterling had bowed three more times and rambled on expressing her gratitude for a long while, ready to cede the floor to Kian Sterling, did he finally say calmly:

"Kowtow."

Celia Sterling was slightly taken aback.

Paying respects involved different rituals depending on one’s relationship with the deceased, and this was the first time Kian Sterling had ever asked her to kowtow before the grave of an outsider.

But when she met Kian Sterling’s dark, inky eyes, she swallowed the question on the tip of her tongue. She knelt obediently and earnestly kowtowed three times.

"Alright, you can get up." Kian Sterling gestured for her to rise. Only then did he step forward to stand beside her, gazing at the fresh flowers at the base of the gravestone with a reminiscent expression, not saying a word.

After a long while, Celia Sterling looked at the gradually darkening sky and tilted her head to ask Kian Sterling, "Brother, are we leaving?"

"No rush," Kian Sterling said slowly. "This is your first time visiting her in all these years. Spend a little more time with her."

Celia Sterling hummed in agreement and obediently bent down to clear away the dead leaves and twigs from around the gravestone.

Kian Sterling calmly watched her bustle about, letting her do as she pleased. When Celia had finished, she once again stood primly beside Kian Sterling. She no longer brought up leaving, but instead asked him:

"Brother, every time you come to Port Sovereign, do you spend a long time with her?"

Kian Sterling nodded. "From now on, when I come, you should come with me. I’m sure she would be... very happy."

Celia Sterling couldn’t decipher the complex emotions on Kian Sterling’s face. She nodded earnestly. "I will become the most outstanding master perfumer, carry on her philosophy, and become the disciple she would be most proud of."

Kian Sterling shot her a glance but didn’t respond.

Another half an hour or so passed. The sky grew darker. Finally, Kian Sterling stirred.

Just as Celia Sterling thought he was about to suggest they leave, his deep, magnetic voice took on a solemn tone. "Cece."

"Huh?" Celia Sterling looked at him reflexively.

Kian Sterling was silent for a few seconds. "There’s a special document I need you to sign."

Celia Sterling nodded. "Sure, I’ll sign it when we get back to the hotel."

"No." Kian Sterling enunciated each word clearly. "You’ll sign it right here."

’What kind of normal person signs documents in front of someone else’s grave?’

Yet Celia Sterling only hesitated for a moment. Her trust in Kian Sterling was bone-deep; if he didn’t state a reason, she would never press him for one. "Okay."

Kian Sterling turned and made a gesture to someone in the distance.

Evan Rhodes came forward, carefully holding a strange document. It was strange because aside from the exposed signature lines, all other information had been intentionally covered. The document was extremely thick, with dozens of pages requiring a signature.

Since it was already dark, Evan Rhodes had specifically prepared a small table and a desk lamp.

He placed the mysterious file—the very one that had cost him a night’s sleep and still made his heart pound even now—in front of Celia Sterling. Then he produced a pen and said respectfully:

"Miss Sterling, you only need to sign your name and the date on the signature line for the second party."

Celia Sterling’s gaze fell on the completely obscured document, and she immediately picked up the pen and started signing.

Kian Sterling lowered his gaze, watching her sign without a moment’s hesitation. After several seconds, he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. "You dare to sign a document like this? Aren’t you afraid I’m setting you up?"

Without looking up, Celia Sterling continued to sign page after page with swift strokes. "Anyone in this world might try to harm me, but not you, Brother. You’d only ever think you haven’t given me enough."

An indescribable emotion seemed to flicker in Kian Sterling’s eyes. His sharp, domineering gaze softened with exceptional tenderness and affection as it fell upon Celia Sterling. He watched patiently as she signed her way through the document, page by page, before finally responding to her words.

"Yes, I would never harm you. After all, you’re my only..."

He didn’t say what.

After Celia Sterling finished signing and waited for Evan Rhodes to carefully put the document away, she finally asked belatedly, "Brother, what did you mean just now? Your only what?"

Kian Sterling didn’t answer right away.

Only after Evan Rhodes had taken the document and tactfully withdrawn to the car several dozen meters away did Kian Sterling’s low, indistinct, yet lethally alluring laugh drift through the night wind.

"Besides my sister, what else could there be?"