Chapter 60:

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Melany realized she was trapped, cornered by the two people before her. Anger flared within her chest. “Since Mr. Lloyd and the judge have spoken, I’ll take it as my mistake. Dragging this out is a waste of everyone’s time. So fine, I’ll admit defeat. Everyone can go now, and let’s just assume Allison is Scarlet Snake.”

The unspoken message in her words was loud enough for anyone paying close attention. Her eyes, tinged with a slight redness, added to the effect, making it seem as though she was the victim of Allison’s influence and her group’s power, leaving her with no choice but to back down.

“Melany, what are you so afraid of?” Colton asked, his voice harsh as he grabbed her wrist tightly. His gaze shifted toward Allison, filled with disdain. “Haven’t you done enough? Even with the truth staring you in the face, you’re still shamelessly lying? If you confess to cheating today and apologize to Melany, I might show you some mercy.”

Melany whispered, “There’s no need, Colton. You don’t have to go this far for me. Who doesn’t know Mr. Lloyd controls everything around here? I lost fair and square. There’s no need for her to apologize.”

Rebecca, who had already been stunned by Colton’s audacity, stood speechless, watching them try to pile the entire blame on Allison. “Are either of you even thinking before you speak? You demand proof, but you’ve got nothing. You’re just throwing out wild guesses. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Allison was your mother, with how obsessed you are with her!” she scoffed.

Allison stared at Colton in disbelief. “I never realized how blind you’ve been all this time.”

Her voice was calm, but the biting sarcasm cut deep, making Colton feel as if everything he had said was meaningless to her, like a child’s tantrum.

Under everyone’s gaze, Allison calmly picked up the bottle of Melany’s perfume and took a careful sniff. “Cedarwood, musk, and violet. The base is close to mine, sure, but you left out rosemary. Can you feel that, Melany?”

Melany froze. The realization hit her — this was why, no matter what she tried, she couldn’t replicate the original scent.

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Allison’s voice softened but remained focused. “Cedarwood’s cold, musk is heavy, and violet’s light. You got the ratios down, but you missed the rosemary at the finish. That’s the difference.”

The key. It tempers the weight of the musk and lifts the cedarwood, allowing its fragrance to bloom.” As Allison spoke, her tone shifted into one of deep concentration, a focus that only appeared when she discussed perfumery. She could diagnose the exact issue from a mere whiff of Melany’s work. “Your proportions are off. Musk is the foundation here. If you wanted a lighter fragrance, you needed to balance it, not just reduce the amount. What you’ve ended up with is shallow and cheap. It lacks any real depth.”

Allison’s explanation was so detailed that even those with no expertise could grasp it. Even Melany felt her heart pound with fear — Allison hadn’t just seen through her; she had practically walked through the entire process and pinpointed every flaw.

Forcing a thin smile, Melany replied, “You know your stuff, no doubt about it. But that just shows we happen to share similar techniques. That’s all.”

Melany kept her voice steady, though her nerves were fraying. Allison could know a lot about perfumes, but there was no way she could be Scarlet Snake! According to her investigation, all the information about Scarlet Snake pointed to a person who was supposed to be over sixty years old.

“And like I said, Allison, I’m not pushing this issue anymore. Consider it your win. We just happen to be unusually in sync, that’s all. No need to argue about it.” Her words dripped with subtext. Even if the base notes were similar, it didn’t prove anything. Many great perfumers refined their creations for years before releasing a classic.

As long as no one could prove the timeline, Melany was confident she could keep her lie hidden.

Allison, with a hint of amusement, remarked, “So, you think a shared base note equals plagiarism?”

“I never said that,” Melany replied, her gentle, dignified smile firmly in place. “I just think we’re extraordinarily in sync. It’s just unfortunate that others doubt us, throwing around accusations like plagiarism.” With the contest being anonymous, the real Scarlet Snake wasn’t likely to step forward. The argument over who introduced the base note first seemed like a dead end, and Melany was banking on that.

“I’m bummed that I always keep track of stuff, especially when it comes to the proportions in perfumery.” Allison glanced up, sarcasm woven through her words. “This perfume was created using a technique of blending contrasting temperatures. I’ve had detailed records of it on my phone for eight years now, even though they were never made public. So, I’ve got the timeline, the technique, and the proof. Would you care to see it?”

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