Chapter 61:

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Though Allison merely asked if Melany was interested in seeing the evidence, she had already signaled to a nearby staff member. “I need the big screen,” she said, her voice calm yet commanding, “and upload the files from my laptop.”

Melany stood frozen, her mind racing. It was beyond her imagination that Allison might actually present any evidence. Unthinkable. If Allison could, Melany’s fate would be sealed.

Yet, as she watched Allison’s composed demeanor, a creeping unease slithered into her thoughts, clouding her confidence. Even Colton, who rarely showed much reaction, furrowed his brow, clearly startled by Allison’s apparent ability to back up her claims.

Within moments, all eyes were on the big screen. Footage flickered to life, showing a much younger Allison in a contest room. Her appearance was less refined, her poise not fully developed, but something in her furrowed brow and cool demeanor hinted at the woman she’d become.

Colton blinked, momentarily taken aback. This was a version of Allison he had never seen before. Her youthful face was still soft, yet an almost aloof focus gave her an air of mystery. The intensity in her eyes seemed to strip the world of its imperfections.

Colton’s heart thudded in his chest, almost involuntarily. But it wasn’t Allison’s appearance that captivated the crowd. It was her sheer, breathtaking talent.

“Unbelievable. She could determine the proportions just by sniffing, no calculations required,” one of the onlookers whispered in awe.

“Incredible,” another chimed in, “especially when considering that even the tiniest mistake can throw off the entire balance. Crafting a fragrance requires precise calculations and endless trials.”

“She’s a natural! Look at how effortlessly she’s blending those scents — it’s like watching a master at work,” someone else marveled. “That kind of seamless execution isn’t just talent. It’s a gift.”

Next chapter at g𝕒𝓵𝓃ov𝕖𝓵𝓼.cоm

Under the weight of their collective gaze, the video approached its conclusion.

On screen, Allison methodically added cedarwood, musk, violet, and a delicate touch of rosemary. She paused briefly, sniffing the concoction just before the final addition. It was exactly as she had described earlier.

“You are all experts here,” Allison’s voice broke through the murmurs. “I’m sure you can recognize the setting from the video.”

Her tone was steady, her face untroubled by the astonished stares.

“This footage was from the first competition I ever entered. According to the contest rules, judges and officials are sworn to secrecy — unless the contestant reveals themselves. Aside from Mr. Mack Lloyd here, no one has seen my true identity until now.” Mack nodded gravely in agreement.

“Yes,” he affirmed. “As you all witnessed, Allison’s process in the video matches the creation that won her the championship that year. Whether Allison is Scarlet Snake or not should now be clear to anyone with a shred of common sense. Nothing more needs to be said.”

The undeniable evidence left no room for doubt, and only a fool would continue to believe Melany’s lies at this point.

Excitement rippled through the crowd like wildfire. “Can you believe the audacity of Melany? Using the same perfume and still acting like a victim? Shameless!” “Wow, our community is thriving! Allison wasn’t even an adult back then, and look at her now — beyond incredible!”

“I once caught a whiff of the perfume Scarlet Snake crafted years ago, and it changed my whole approach to the art. I invested in new equipment, retrained myself from scratch, and now, I’m standing in front of my idol. Unreal!”

The conversations buzzed like a swarm of bees, each word another needle pricking Melany’s pride. The scornful stares surrounding her made her wish the ground would swallow her whole.

But Allison wasn’t going to let her slip away that easily.

“Just a little while ago,” Allison began, her voice as sharp as a knife slicing through the tension, “you implied that sharing similar base notes equates to plagiarism. You even tried to lead everyone here to believe your mentor was Scarlet Snake. But, if memory serves, I’ve never had a student quite as unworthy as you, especially…” Her eyes swept over Melany’s paling face like a hawk circling its prey. “Especially someone so foolish. What gives you the gall to think you can stand against the real deal?”

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