“Miss Green, I understand you come from a privileged background, and your family might indulge you, but that doesn’t give you the right to throw insults around. Allison’s deception was really masterful. Otherwise, Colton wouldn’t have fallen for it…”
Colton’s expression darkened at Rebecca’s words. Though he was restrained by her social standing, his voice was cold.
“Miss Green, before you rush to defend Allison, you should consider her true nature. This woman is all vanity, always on the lookout for an opportunity. Don’t let her pull the wool over your eyes.” His gaze was sharp, clouded with the memories of Athton, the irritation of being outplayed evident. “Allison used to act like the perfect, caring partner, but she could switch off her emotions like flipping a switch. Be careful – she might be using you too!”
Rebecca didn’t flinch. Instead, her laughter rang out, louder this time.
“I didn’t want to believe it at first, but you are playing his strings like a fiddle. He can’t even see what’s in front of him! Should I applaud your acting or pity his lack of brains?”
Colton’s expression twisted as he retorted,
“What are you implying, Miss Green?”
Rebecca casually draped an arm around Allison’s shoulders, her smirk full of disdain.
“Oh, nothing at all. It’s just that you’re blind, Colton. I’ve known Allison for years. Do you think your words are going to change my view of her? Back when you were chasing after your little fantasy of a perfect, submissive woman, Allison gave you exactly what you wanted. But now? She doesn’t need you, and she’s done playing that role. Now, you seem to be pissed off by her wise choice.”
She gave him a once-over, shaking her head.
“Honestly, a man as oblivious as you is a rare find!”
Rebecca then bumped Allison with her elbow.
“You’ve got to teach me those acting skills sometime. It might keep my dad from always calling me a wild child.”
Allison sighed,
“That’s because some people can’t tell the difference between gold and garbage. When someone’s born with bad taste, there’s no helping them.”
She couldn’t help but smile faintly at the absurdity of it all.
Allison couldn’t help but remember that moment in Athton. Kellan, with just a few subtle hints, had pieced things together, even recognizing that she had once been Emanuel’s teacher. But Colton, oh God! He had lived with her for three years and never caught on to a thing!
It was a matter of intelligence, plain and simple.
As the banter between the two women continued, Colton found himself at a loss for words. The mockery was obvious, but he knew better than to let his frustration show. Rebecca’s reputation for being wild and her family’s fierce protectiveness made any attempt to retaliate futile. If she snapped and slapped him, the Green family would stand firmly behind her, leaving him with no choice but to swallow his pride.
Melany, for her part, forced a strained smile as she tried to keep her composure.
“The competition’s about to start. Allison, I know you like these perfume contests, but maybe you should stick to the audience section in the back. We wouldn’t want you getting lost.” Her words dripped with sarcasm, the implication clear: Allison didn’t belong here.
Colton’s face remained stony as he added, “Not just anyone can enter this arena.”
He wrapped an arm around Melany’s waist, pulling her close as if to make a point. “Women of real talent, like Melany, don’t need to scrape and claw for attention. Unlike those who climb their way up through vanity! Maybe one day someone will realize her worth, but until then, it’d be a shame to see her thrown out by security.”
Just then, a staff member with a red brooch approached.
“Hello, Miss Lemonade,” he greeted.
At these events, staff members were distinguished by the color of their brooches, indicating their roles within the contest organization. This particular staff member was responsible for the SVIP lounge. Colton sneered at the mispronunciation. “Lemonade? Allison doesn’t belong here. You should escort the unqualified out before they embarrass themselves.”
But the staff member paid him no mind. His attention remained fixed on Allison, his demeanor shifting to one of utmost respect as he noticed the champagne in her hand. Bowing slightly, he gestured politely toward her.
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival. And knowing your preference for red wine, we’ve made sure to have it prepared in advance. The champagne here in the main area doesn’t meet the standards, so let me escort you to the SVIP lounge. We’ve arranged a private space just for you.”
Melany stared at the staff member, her expression full of disbelief.
“Are you sure you’re not making a mistake? The rules clearly state that only those who placed in the top ten during the first Perfumery Competition are allowed in the exclusive lounge.”
She had been pretending to be the champion, Scarlet Snake, in front of Colton, but in reality, she had come in last. Before arriving today, she’d lied to Colton, claiming she didn’t want to use the SVIP corridor and preferred keeping a low profile.
But now, here was Allison, basking in premium treatment? It felt like a cruel joke.
Colton joined in with a mocking tone. “How sloppy can your organization be? Don’t you worry about complaints?”
The staff member remained unfazed, offering a smile that was both polite and firm. “The vetting process for the competition is extremely stringent. We are professionally trained, and there’s no chance of an error.”
“Then someone’s tricked you!” he said, his voice carrying enough weight to draw nearby glances. “Call whoever’s in charge. Allison must’ve tampered with your records somehow. I know her well – she dropped out of middle school and lived on an isolated island. How could she have possibly learned perfumery?”
He squinted at Allison, sensing an opportunity to humiliate her.
The first International Perfumery Competition had been held overseas when Allison was still a sixteen-year-old orphan. Back then, perfumery was probably as foreign to her as a plane ticket was unaffordable. The idea that she could’ve competed alongside professionals seemed laughable to him.
Just as the staff hesitated, perhaps considering calling security, a cold, razor-sharp voice sliced through the air.
“I wasn’t aware this place had become a gathering for nobodies.”
Heads turned as a man in a wheelchair approached, his face as unreadable as stone.
It was Kellan, his expression cold as ice, with his smirk revealing a chilling edge. The bright red mole on his Adam’s apple added an unsettling, almost predatory air. His presence was overpowering.
“Mr. Lloyd,” the crowd murmured, stepping aside as whispers rippled through the room.
“I didn’t expect to see Mr. Lloyd here.”
“I just arrived in Ontdale – who is he?” someone whispered.
“You don’t know? Heir to the Lloyd Group, built his empire from scratch. He’s the CEO of the largest luxury goods company in the world. Even if you’ve never seen him, you’ve probably heard his name on the billionaire lists,” another explained.
Kellan’s gaze locked onto Colton coldly. “If you think this contest is so sloppy that random participants can question its integrity, why bother being part of it?”
Colton flinched, avoiding Kellan’s gaze as the memory of past humiliation crept back. Forcing a smile, he stammered, “Mr. Lloyd… you… you’ve 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. She was apparently in the top ten of the first contest, and we were curious about her codename back then. No harm meant.”
Allison, sipping her champagne, cut in, “According to the rules, only the top ten from the first contest can be made public. Ms. Johnson, are you thinking of breaking those rules?”
Caught off guard, Melany stumbled. “I’m not,” she said, flashing a bright smile and clinging to Colton’s arm as though asserting some sort of claim. “Well then, let’s just hope Allison makes the top ten again this year. Even Colton didn’t know she had a talent for making fragrances. We’re all eager to see how this plays out.”
Colton, his fingers now interlaced with Melany’s, added smugly, “Some people like to play hard to get, but it’s just a waste of time. You’re the one that matters, Melany. You’re just too humble, not flaunting your identity as the genius perfumer from the first contest. Otherwise, you’d have gone through the SVIP corridor already.”
Melany’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Colton to say it so openly. Luckily, his voice wasn’t loud enough for many to overhear. She was about to come up with a quick excuse when she noticed Allison laughing softly from across the room.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.