Chapter 57:

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Melany’s heart skipped a beat as the words sank in.

No way!

Years ago, she had invested a fortune into tracking down Scarlet Snake. Everything pointed to Scarlet Snake being an elusive figure in her sixties, someone who had vanished from the spotlight. Besides, back then, Allison had been nothing more than a penniless orphan stranded on a deserted island. There was no way she could have afforded to travel to Leswington for some grand contest, let alone learn the art of perfumery.

“I’m not Scarlet Snake,” Melany admitted. “But I did learn from her. Over time, people started confusing me for her, and it became impossible to clear up. She’s been like a mentor to me.”

She had to reveal this now. There was no other choice, with everyone watching!

If her carefully constructed facade collapsed here, it would be nothing short of a disaster.

Melany tried to stay composed, avoiding looking at Colton beside her. She dug her nails into her palms, using the pain to stay calm and resist Allison’s provocation.

“Allison,” she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feigning calm. “Don’t go throwing around wild accusations without proof. I have too much respect for my mentor to let you slander her name. I have no idea why our perfumes share similarities, but let’s not forget Scarlet Snake won the first perfumery competition when you were sixteen. Forgive me, but back then, you were a destitute orphan. There’s no way you had the means to travel abroad, much less study the craft.”

Her words stirred the crowd.

The rumors had always painted Allison as nothing more than a girl from the countryside, someone far removed from the world of luxury and high-class perfumery. Colton remained silent, but his thoughts were loud in his mind.

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For as long as he remembered, he had believed Melany was Scarlet Snake. His friends had even praised her as a young genius on par with the legend herself after the cruise.

After all, she’d never outright denied it.

Modesty, he thought. He had admired her modesty, her humility.

But now…?

Colton clenched his fists, the memories flooding back — the time Melany had saved him five years ago, the trust he had in her. Could it all have been based on a lie? Was she just mimicking the real Scarlet Snake, riding on someone else’s legacy?

“Melany is right,” he finally spat, his voice laced with disdain as his gaze shifted to Allison. “You were nothing back then. You couldn’t afford a plane ticket, let alone lessons in perfumery. And now you stand here, trying to discredit Melany? You’re just a thief and a liar, but too proud to admit it!”

But before Allison could respond, a booming voice erupted.

“Enough of these baseless accusations!”

Heads turned, and the crowd parted to reveal an elderly man holding a thick stack of papers.

Mack Lloyd, one of the most respected names in the perfume industry, stepped forward. His presence alone silenced the crowd. A legend in his own right, he had mentored countless perfumers, many of whom were now standing in that very room.

“I hear there are doubts about our contest results,” Mack said, his deep voice reverberating through the hall.

“Let me make this clear: we have video records of all the top ten finalists. And, for the record, I have met Scarlet Snake before.”

Colton straightened, his face hard as he sneered at Allison. “You hear that? A man like Mack Lloyd won’t let a fraud like you stand here pretending. If I were you, I’d leave before things get worse.”

“Stop it, Colton!” Melany hissed, pulling at his arm. “It’s fine. If Allison has benefited from my perfume, let her have it. Scarlet Snake herself has chosen to live in anonymity. She wouldn’t care about public opinion.” Melany was desperate to end this quickly. If the real Scarlet Snake showed up, she’d have no way to escape the shame.

“Just… learn your lesson and don’t try anything like this again, Allison,” she added.

But Rebecca, standing beside Allison, wasn’t having any of it. She let out a short, mocking laugh and said, “What’s the matter, Melany? Afraid the truth is about to come out? It seems to me like you’re the one with something to hide.”

Mack turned his gaze toward Melany, his expression unreadable. “No. This cannot be brushed under the rug. The truth will come out today.”

With slow, deliberate steps, Mack approached Allison.

“I must say, I thought you’d continue using the name Scarlet Snake, but it seems you’ve switched to ‘Lemonade’ this time. Clever move, but your talent still shines through. What kept you away for so long, our real prodigy?”

His words fell like a bomb.

Because of his stature, what he said mattered. So, Lemonade had won the first Perfumery Competition as Scarlet Snake?

The room erupted into gasps and whispers. Scarlet Snake? Here, among them? Competing under a different name?

Melany’s knees nearly gave out. “No… no, that’s impossible,” she muttered, her vision swimming. Colton, equally stunned, stood frozen, unable to process the bombshell that had just dropped.

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