Melany stared at the employee, disbelief etched on her face.

“Are you sure you’re not making a mistake? The rules clearly state that only those who finished in the top ten of the first Perfumery Competition can enter the exclusive room.”

She had pretended to be the champion, Scarlet Snake, in front of Colton, but in reality, she had come in last. Before arriving, she’d lied to Colton, claiming she didn’t want to use the SVIP corridor and preferred to keep a low profile. But now, here was Allison, enjoying top-notch treatment? It seemed cruelly ironic.

Colton chimed in, his tone mocking. “How sloppy can your organization be? Don’t you care about complaints?”

The staff member remained unfazed, offering a polite but firm smile. “The selection process for the contest is very strict. We are professionally trained, and there’s no room for error.”

“So someone has tricked you!” Colton exclaimed, his voice loud enough to attract attention. “Call whoever is in charge. Allison must have tampered with your records somehow. I know her well: she dropped out of high school and lived on an isolated island. How could she possibly have learned perfumery?”

He looked at Allison with narrowed eyes, sensing an opportunity to humiliate her. The first International Perfume Competition had been held abroad while Allison was still a sixteen-year-old orphan. At the time, perfumery was likely as foreign to her as an airplane ticket was unaffordable. The idea that she could have competed alongside professionals seemed laughable.

Just as the staff hesitated, perhaps considering calling security, a cold, sharp voice cut through the air. “I didn’t know this place had become a hangout for nobodies.”

Heads turned as a man in a wheelchair approached, his face as impassive as stone. It was Kellan; his expression was as cold as ice, his smile chilling. The bright red mole on his Adam’s apple gave him a brooding, almost predatory air. His presence was overwhelming.

“Mr. Lloyd,” the crowd murmured, stepping aside as a ripple of whispers spread through the room. “I didn’t expect to see Mr. Lloyd here.”

“I just got to Ontdale. Who is it?” someone whispered.

“You don’t know? Heir to the Lloyd Group; he built his empire from scratch. He’s the CEO of the largest luxury goods company in the world. Even if you’ve never met him, you’ve probably heard his name on the billionaires’ lists,” another explained.

Kellan’s gaze fixed coldly on Colton. “If you think this contest is so sloppy that random contestants can question its integrity, why do you even bother being a part of it?”

Colton flinched, avoiding Kellan’s gaze as he recalled past humiliations. Forcing a smile, he stammered, “Mr. Lloyd… you… you misunderstood. I’m not questioning the contest itself.”

Sensing the rising tension, Melany quickly tried to smooth things over. “Yes, Mr. Lloyd, we were just a little surprised. This year’s contest is open, and we didn’t expect Allison to do so well. Apparently, she placed in the top ten of the first contest, and so we were curious to know her code name. We didn’t mean to…”

Allison, sipping her champagne, interrupted. “According to the rules, only the top ten from the first contest can be made public. Miss Johnson, are you thinking of breaking those rules?”

Caught off guard, Melany faltered. “I’m not,” she said, flashing a bright smile and clinging to Colton’s arm as if seeking vindication. “Well, then let’s hope Allison makes the top ten again this year. Even Colton didn’t know she had a talent for making fragrances. We’re all looking forward to seeing how this plays out.”

Colton, his fingers intertwined with Melany’s, added smugly, “Some people like to play hard to get, but it’s a waste of time. You’re the one who matters, Melany. You’re too humble; you don’t flaunt your identity as the genius perfumer of the first contest. Otherwise, you would have already passed through the SVIP corridor.”

Melany’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected Colton to be so open about it. Luckily, his voice wasn’t loud enough for many to hear. She was about to offer a quick excuse when she noticed Allison laughing softly across the room.

“Scarlet Snake, the genius perfumer, isn’t he? How funny,” Allison said mockingly. “If you really are Scarlet Snake, Melany, why don’t you check your rank in the SVIP area instead of putting on this little farce?”