Chapter 265

"That's not possible!" Frank insisted.

"Give me a minute," Melanie said. She parked in the hotel parking lot and showed Frank a photo of Lily on her phone.

Even though they had met in Middle Valley a long time ago, Frank might have forgotten what she looked like and mistaken someone else for her. "It's her! You sure you didn't know about this?" Frank exclaimed. Confusion clouded their faces as Melanie concluded, "Looks like I'll have to get reacquainted with Lily."

When Lily arrived home, she put two wooden puppets in a living room cabinet. She then wrapped another piece of wood in paper and went to shower. Initially, she wasn't in a hurry, but the memory of touching the filth made her want to scrub herself clean. She hadn't wanted to argue with Frank earlier, but now, reflecting on their encounter, she understood his implication.

Apparently, Frank was judging the championship and had vowed to prevent her participation. Lily believed his threats were credible; he either possessed the authority or the means to achieve his goal. The judges had already been announced, so his knowledge wasn't surprising. Furthermore, he'd been a special judge at the last sampling event, indicating significant influence in the industry. It was a shame such a highly regarded person was a scoundrel.

After showering and changing, she went to the kitchen for a snack. Alexander had suggested she not cook, but thoughtfully stocked a snack cabinet for her.

Most of the snacks were her favorites. She was amazed by his insight. Whenever she thought of Alexander, she smiled involuntarily, feeling happy. She selected some snacks, placed them on the coffee table, and prepared a pot of fruit tea. She loved the sweet, fruity aroma filling the room. She settled onto the sofa, enjoying her snacks and watching television. Previously, she'd been too busy to indulge in such pleasures, but Alexander had taught her about work-life balance and enjoying her free time.

Lily gradually realized that relaxation improved her work, allowing her to appreciate beauty and find inspiration. Coincidentally, the TV showed a drama about a rigged beauty pageant. The protagonist, an excellent contestant, was constantly overlooked because she refused to sleep with a judge who was using his position for revenge. This reminded Lily of Frank; he bore a striking resemblance to the actor portraying the manipulative judge. "Does this mean he wanted me to sleep with him? He was with Melanie in Middle Valley, and Jenny told me they were involved. Were they sleeping together? Was that why Nathaniel had his accident?"

Lily was astonished, connecting the dots. However, she was puzzled why Frank would approach her when he already had Melanie. Was he greedy or plotting something else?