“Scarlet Snake, the genius perfumer, right? Funny thing,” Allison said with a teasing lilt. “If you’re really Scarlet Snake, Melany, why not just verify your ranking in the SVIP area instead of putting on this little charade?”
Rebecca nearly burst into laughter when she heard the name “Scarlet Snake.” She cast a disdainful glance at Melany, her lips curling into a sneer. “I’d bet money you’re just some knock-off. You can’t even prove who you are.”
Melany’s face paled even more as her hands clenched into fists. It was clear that Rebecca and Allison were trying to get under her skin – and they were succeeding.
The mere thought of having her identity tested made Melany’s stomach churn. Biting her lip, she said softly, “I never said I was Scarlet Snake. Sure, I won championships before, but that was a long time ago. Now, I’m just relying on my skills.”
She didn’t confirm or deny anything – just dropped enough breadcrumbs to keep them guessing, all while subtly hinting at her past success.
Her reddening eyes and stubborn expression made her seem like someone trapped, caught in a fight she couldn’t win.
Colton, noticing her distress, immediately stepped in front of her. “You two need to stop playing this game. She’s not here to prove anything to you. Melany just doesn’t want to flaunt her identity. Some of you probably won’t even crack the top fifty. I wonder how you’ll handle that humiliation.”
Kellan remained still, showing no reaction. Years ago, the one who had bested him in the first Perfumery Competition in Leswington was none other than Scarlet Snake. Could Melany truly be her?
Kellan glanced briefly at her. If she was Scarlet Snake, the image he’d held in his mind for years now felt shattered, twisted. Allison, on the other hand, remained composed, watching Colton’s growing agitation with a calm smile. “Well then, let’s congratulate Melany in advance for winning this year’s competition. That should settle any doubts about her skills.”
Her smile hit like a punch to the gut.
Colton’s face darkened even further, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “If jealousy worked, we wouldn’t need cameras, would we? I don’t care how you slithered your way into the SVIP section, but let’s get one thing straight – fake can never pass for real!”
He was confident. The entire venue was covered in surveillance, ensuring no funny business.
Each contestant’s work was to be judged by an anonymous panel of international experts, making it impossible to game the system. Allison’s smile grew wider. “Exactly. Fake will never be real!”
Though her tone remained measured, the sting of her words was enough to make Melany avert her gaze. Kellan then spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. “I’ve always wondered, what kind of people drag down the collective IQ?”
He had a way of making even a single sentence sting. “If connections were all it took, Mr. Stevens, then why didn’t you bring your girlfriend into the SVIP section too? Are you too principled for that, or is it just beyond your reach?”
The title “Mr. Stevens” brought Colton back to the humiliation he’d suffered in Athton at Kellan’s hands. His expression soured, but he quickly rebounded. “I was joking earlier. What I meant is, if you’ve got nothing to hide, there’s no reason to feel guilty.”
Seeing Kellan, Melany instinctively straightened up, forcing a smile. “I didn’t expect to run into you here, Mr. Lloyd. Seems like fate, considering our last meeting in Athton.”
Kellan didn’t bother responding to either of them this time. His eyes flicked over Melany, then moved on, clearly disinterested. She was trying to use past humiliations to forge some kind of connection. Pathetic! He turned to Allison, his tone casual. “Were you part of that first Perfumery Competition?”
“Of course.”
Allison’s gaze met his, and without words, he understood the depth of her response.
“Let’s not waste time with these tired old games. How about we cut to the chase?”
Kellan’s smirk grew, something familiar flickering in his eyes. “What was your ranking in that contest?”
“Rankings? They mean nothing to me. I’d rather put my faith in my own abilities.” Allison sidestepped Kellan’s question entirely, using her words to lightly jab at Melany while wearing a casual, almost playful smile. “I’m just here for the spectacle, a little fun on the side.”
Kellan let out a chuckle, clearly entertained by her deflection.
Their unspoken understanding was palpable. Allison was deliberately downplaying her true potential, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Intrigued, Kellan smiled and said, “Well, in that case, I wish you the best of luck, Ms. Clarke.”
It only took a moment for Kellan to read the situation. The contest was a trivial affair for Allison. His tone carried a hint of shared knowledge, as if they both were in on the same secret.
This silent connection between them felt like a thorn digging deeper into Colton’s side.
The thought that the woman who had once stood beside him now shared an unspoken rapport with another man gnawed at him. It rattled him more than he wanted to admit.
Even though they were divorced, the fact that Allison had once been his only added salt to the wound.
“Colton, we should get going,” Melany urged, clinging tighter to his arm. “We don’t want to be late for the waiting area.”
Sensing his sour mood, she squeezed his arm even more possessively, hoping to flaunt their relationship in front of Allison.
But Allison had already turned on her heel, walking away without so much as a glance in their direction.
As the staff arrived to escort Kellan to the SVIP lounge, Allison followed behind.
Rebecca, sharp-eyed as ever, narrowed her gaze and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “When did you get chummy with Kellan?” she teased, her voice playful as she reached over to pinch Allison’s cheek. “He even wished you good luck! Oh, how sweet! Best of luck!”
Allison coolly caught Rebecca’s wrist.
“Rebecca, don’t overthink it. He’s just someone I know. Relax. You’re still my favorite.”
Rebecca’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she puffed up with mock pride. “Well, obviously! I’m the real deal around here!”
Their playful banter would’ve been amusing to anyone, but to Colton, it was a trigger. He couldn’t swallow the growing knot of jealousy and anger any longer.
The moment Kellan disappeared from view, the anger boiling inside Colton finally erupted. Even with Melany hanging onto his arm, he spun around, his eyes blazing with accusation.
“So, it’s obvious you and Kellan have crossed paths before. How long have you been cozying up to him? Why does he keep stepping up for you?”
His grip on Melany’s hand tightened, though his focus remained locked on Allison. “No wonder you’ve been acting so full of yourself lately. You’ve already found someone to replace me, haven’t you?”
The sound of Colton’s voice grated on Allison’s nerves, triggering a headache she could feel coming. She shot him a look so cold that it could freeze the air between them. “There’s nothing between Kellan and me! But as for you and Melany? Everyone knows the two of you were never really apart. Frankly, I’m disgusted by the whole thing! And for the record, we’re divorced. You have no right to tell me what I can or can’t do!”
Her words sliced through the air with icy detachment, and her complete disinterest in anything concerning Colton was written all over her face. It didn’t take long for others nearby to start whispering about the unfolding scene.
Rebecca, never one to hold back, chimed in with a grin, “Exactly! You’re nothing more than a stain on Allison’s life. Can you quit lurking around like a bad smell? You’re not fooling anyone with that sad, abandoned act.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, tossing his own words back at him. “So stop playing these games to get Allison’s attention. This charade ends now!”
As if to drive her point home, Rebecca covered her nose theatrically. “Allison, we should go! I feel like I’m starting to stink just standing near this trash.”
Colton was left speechless, unable to come up with a retort.
All he could do was watch as the two women walked away, leaving him standing there with a heavy ache pressing against his chest, making it hard to breathe.
His grip on Melany’s hand tightened even further, causing her to wince, though she dared not complain. The jealousy bubbling inside her toward Allison was a fire she couldn’t contain. How could Allison still manage to draw his attention?
“Don’t worry, Colton,” Melany cooed, attempting to soothe him. “Let’s focus on what matters. I’ll do everything I can to make it into the top ten.”
Her words were steady with determination as she squeezed his hand in reassurance.
“Once we secure that partnership with the Everett Group, there’s nothing that will stand in our way!”
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.