Chapter 51:

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Melany stared at the staff member, her expression full of disbelief.

“Are you sure you’re not making a mistake? The rules clearly state that only those who placed in the top ten during the first Perfumery Competition are allowed in the exclusive lounge.”

She had been pretending to be the champion, Scarlet Snake, in front of Colton, but in reality, she had come in last. Before arriving today, she’d lied to Colton, claiming she didn’t want to use the SVIP corridor and preferred keeping a low profile.

But now, here was Allison, basking in premium treatment? It felt like a cruel joke.

Colton joined in with a mocking tone. “How sloppy can your organization be? Don’t you worry about complaints?”

The staff member remained unfazed, offering a smile that was both polite and firm. “The vetting process for the competition is extremely stringent. We are professionally trained, and there’s no chance of an error.”

“Then someone’s tricked you!” he said, his voice carrying enough weight to draw nearby glances. “Call whoever’s in charge. Allison must’ve tampered with your records somehow. I know her well — she dropped out of middle school and lived on an isolated island. How could she have possibly learned perfumery?”

He squinted at Allison, sensing an opportunity to humiliate her.

The first International Perfumery Competition had been held overseas when Allison was still a sixteen-year-old orphan. Back then, perfumery was probably as foreign to her as a plane ticket was unaffordable. The idea that she could’ve competed alongside professionals seemed laughable to him.

Just as the staff hesitated, perhaps considering calling security, a cold, razor-sharp voice sliced through the air.

“I wasn’t aware this place had become a gathering for nobodies.”

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Heads turned as a man in a wheelchair approached, his face as unreadable as stone.

It was Kellan, his expression cold as ice, with his smirk revealing a chilling edge. The bright red mole on his Adam’s apple added an unsettling, almost predatory air. His presence was overpowering.

“Mr. Lloyd,” the crowd murmured, stepping aside as whispers rippled through the room.

“I didn’t expect to see Mr. Lloyd here.”

“I just arrived in Ontdale — who is he?” someone whispered.

“You don’t know? Heir to the Lloyd Group, built his empire from scratch. He’s the CEO of the largest luxury goods company in the world. Even if you’ve never seen him, you’ve probably heard his name on the billionaire lists,” another explained.

Kellan’s gaze locked onto Colton coldly. “If you think this contest is so sloppy that random participants can question its integrity, why bother being part of it?”

Colton flinched, avoiding Kellan’s gaze as the memory of past humiliation crept back. Forcing a smile, he stammered, “Mr. Lloyd… you… you’ve misunderstood. I’m not questioning the contest itself.”

Sensing the rising tension, Melany quickly tried to smooth things over. “Yes, Mr. Lloyd, we were just a little surprised. This year’s contest is open, and we didn’t expect Allison to do so well. She was apparently in the top ten of the first contest, and we were curious about her codename back then. No harm meant.”

Allison, sipping her champagne, cut in, “According to the rules, only the top ten from the first contest can be made public. Ms. Johnson, are you thinking of breaking those rules?”

Caught off guard, Melany stumbled. “I’m not,” she said, flashing a bright smile and clinging to Colton’s arm as though asserting some sort of claim. “Well then, let’s just hope Allison makes the top ten again this year. Even Colton didn’t know she had a talent for making fragrances. We’re all eager to see how this plays out.”

Colton, his fingers now interlaced with Melany’s, added smugly, “Some people like to play hard to get, but it’s just a waste of time. You’re the one that matters, Melany. You’re just too humble, not flaunting your identity as the genius perfumer from the first contest. Otherwise, you’d have gone through the SVIP corridor already.”

Melany’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Colton to say it so openly. Luckily, his voice wasn’t loud enough for many to overhear. She was about to come up with a quick excuse when she noticed Allison laughing softly from across the room.

“Scarlet Snake, the genius perfumer, right? Funny thing,” Allison said with a teasing lilt. “If you’re really Scarlet Snake, Melany, why not just verify your ranking in the SVIP area instead of putting on this little charade?”

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