The audience was lost in thought, especially the unqualified contestants. Murmurs spread as doubt took hold. Perhaps the contest wasn't as fair as they'd thought.
“Melany is right,” one person murmured. “Scarlet Snake appeared out of nowhere years ago, making waves in the perfume world. How could someone absent so long be just a young woman?”
Another voice added, "After losing that year, I did everything to track down the finalists. I hired private investigators, spent a fortune, and still found nothing. Wasn't the first contest supposed to be confidential? How could a judge recognize a contestant unless there was a breach of rules, or worse, intentional cheating?"
Such moments revealed humanity's darker side. It was easier to believe in conspiracies within a supposedly fair competition than to admit personal flaws. Melany expertly stoked these feelings, twisting people's insecurities. Allison, caught in the middle, faced hostility regardless of her actions, especially lacking hard evidence to clear her name.
Rebecca, hearing the unfounded accusations, threw her wine glass to the floor, shattering it. “Spreading lies without proof? Let's see how bold you are when you're slapped with a lawyer's letter!” she shouted. How could Melany still argue after such impudence? Rebecca had seen much nonsense, but this audacity ignited her anger.
Mack, visibly bristling at Melany's accusations, clenched his fists, his face reddening. “I'm too old to protect someone undeserving. If someone has talent, I'd accept them as a direct apprentice. Does anyone dare question my integrity?” Mack's irritation was rare.
He continued, "I met this girl by chance. After the contest, I gave her a lower score than others. According to the rules, judges shouldn't know about contestants. But she approached me, eager to learn."
Mack had noticed Scarlet Snake's relentless curiosity and thirst for knowledge. She possessed once-in-a-lifetime talent, needing only a nudge to fully grasp concepts. Such brilliance was rare, and when he saw Allison…
This year's competition had been exciting, but who could have predicted a minor incident would escalate so dramatically? Mack's words resonated with the crowd. Surely a man of his stature wouldn't risk his reputation with a lie, especially when other, more honorable ways existed to guide a budding star.
With both sides firm, the audience wavered, caught between conflicting narratives. Allison gently calmed Rebecca before turning to Mack, offering a slight bow. “I’m sorry, sir, that you were dragged into this because of me.”
He straightened, his gaze locking on Melany with chilling intensity. “Whether or not I am Scarlet Snake doesn't change the fact that your perfume isn't a tribute; it's a blatant copy. And, conveniently, I have proof.”
Melany scoffed, stubborn. “That's impossible…”
However, Allison's unwavering gaze made Melany recoil. Perhaps it was her imagination, but for the first time, Melany saw Allison differently—no longer a simple housewife, but someone far more dangerous, someone who had faced life-or-death situations. That gaze, sharp as a dagger, seemed poised to cut her to pieces.
Kellan's voice, cold and commanding, cut through the tension. “Accusing the Lloyd family of lying and deceit? Who do you think you are?” His dark eyes glittered with fury; his presence was suffocating. “Melany, you have a lot of nerve, dragging my family name through the mud. Did you really think the Lloyds wouldn't defend their honor?”
The coldness of his voice, combined with Allison's piercing gaze, left Melany trembling. That look… they both had it. In that moment, Kellan and Allison looked incredibly alike. Their cold, predatory eyes made it impossible for Melany to meet their gaze.