Chapter 62:

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A stifled chuckle rippled through the room. No one knew who started it, but soon enough, all eyes turned toward Melany, flickering with a mix of disdain and amusement. “Well, she fumbled this time!” someone whispered with a smirk.

“How many lies does she think she can get away with? First, she says she’s Scarlet Snake, then claims it was just a tribute. Now, she’s even suggesting Scarlet Snake was her mentor.”

“Exactly! Who knows how long she’s been fooling people, pretending to be someone she’s not.”

“Shameless, absolutely shameless.”

Melany opened her mouth, grasping for an explanation, but the words caught in her throat. There was no way out.

Instinctively, her hand reached for Colton’s arm, seeking support, but he stepped back, his face a portrait of disbelief and disappointment.

Colton’s heart sank. It was as if he was seeing Melany for the first time — a stranger wearing the face of someone he once trusted.

In his memories, she had always been kind, gentle, and understanding. He had stood by her, defending her against everyone, believing in her without hesitation. But now, all of that trust felt like a lie.

What stung even more was the revelation that Allison had been the real Scarlet Snake all along.

The truth hit him like a punch to the gut, more painful than he ever imagined.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Melany whispered, “Colton, please, let me explain…”

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But how could she? Even she was entangled in the web of her deceit, too far gone to unravel it now.

One lie had given birth to many, and now they were devouring her.

As the crowd’s murmurs of ridicule grew louder, Melany knew that any defense she mounted would crumble under the weight of her lies. But she couldn’t just stand there, humiliated. She had to salvage something — if not her reputation, then at least Colton’s heart.

Tears streaming down her face, she fell to her knees and raised her hand in a solemn gesture.

“I have always admired Scarlet Snake,” she declared, her voice hoarse, as if she were the one wronged. “When I first encountered her perfume, it inspired me to try recreating it. I had no idea Allison was Scarlet Snake. I am truly sorry for any confusion.”

She sniffled, casting herself as the victim of circumstance. “I never intended to claim someone else’s work. I only entered the contest to help Colton’s business. I never meant to cause any harm or disrespect.”

Colton’s hardened expression softened, his defenses weakening once again.

“You’re not the one to blame,” he muttered, almost as if convincing himself. “After all, I didn’t even realize that my ex-wife, the woman I shared a bed with for three years, was a brilliant perfumer. Of course, you couldn’t have known either, Melany.”

His attempt to comfort her seemed as much an effort to justify his blindness. The fault had to be Allison’s.

Yes, she had been hiding her identity all these years, deceiving him in ways that hurt even more now.

“Besides,” Colton continued, his voice laced with cold resolve, “What Melany did was just an improvement, not theft. If Allison hadn’t kept her identity a secret, none of this would’ve spiraled out of control.”

He shot a venomous glare at Allison. “And that award-winning formula of yours? I’ll offer you 200 thousand dollars for the rights.”

At the mention of such an offer, the crowd instinctively recoiled, exchanging bewildered glances.

It was hard to believe the audacity of Colton, even now, trying to buy his way out of a scandal.

Colton knew it wasn’t the most elegant solution, but with the competition results finalized and Melany securing third place, she was in line for Everett Group’s sponsorship. This could still be turned into an opportunity. He was not going to let it slip by.

His best option was to buy the formula and bury the controversy. After all, money could silence even the loudest whispers of truth.

“200 thousand dollars?” Kellan’s voice rang out with a mocking laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Colton, are you serious? You think you can just wave some cash around and fix this? Do you have any clue how…?”

“How much do you think that formula is worth? You couldn’t even touch it with two million, let alone 200 thousand,” Kellan said, his voice laced with mockery.

Rebecca chimed in, her voice full of pride. “Allison’s perfumes are priceless, and there’s no way she’d ever sell that formula to someone like you.”

Allison’s gaze swept across the crowd, her face composed, as if the weight of the moment didn’t faze her.

“There’s no need to buy it,” she began, her voice carrying an undeniable certainty. “The formula isn’t something I see as perfect. It was always a prototype, never meant for profit. You’ve all seen it by now. So, as of this moment, it’s public. Anyone can use it. No one will profit from it—it’s free for all of us to learn and grow from.”

The room froze in disbelief.

This was the formula of a legend in the perfume world, and yet, Allison was simply… giving it away.

A stunned silence hung in the air before someone from the crowd finally found their voice. “Scarlet Snake is incredible! She’s sharing the formula just like that. Would she ever care about 200 thousand dollars? The two of you should stop your nonsense and apologize already!”

Colton’s expression stiffened.

He hadn’t expected Allison to take such a bold stance.

Melany, standing beside him, felt her heart drop. This wasn’t the outcome she had prepared for—not by a long shot.

Allison’s identification as Scarlet Snake had been verified, and it felt like a slap in their faces.

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