Ken''s gaze remained inscrutable, especially as he held up the scent strip of perfume number five.


    Lemonade? The doubt persisted in her mind: this was Scarlet Snake''s signature, and that meant that Allison was Scarlet Snake!


    Ken realized with the force of a lightning bolt.


    Of all the fragrances on disy, only this one carried the unmistakable hint of Scarlet Snake.


    The scent was not only strikingly simr, but had a calming effect on him.


    Only Scarlet Snake’s extraction technique could have done that.


    “Congrattions, Miss rke, on your victory.


    ” Ken’s words held a measured curiosity.


    “I must admit, I didn’t expect it to hide so well.


    That strange fragrance you said you stumbled upon… was it one of your creations?”


    His mind shed back to their first meeting in his office, when she said she had just casually purchased that perfume.


    Ken then ordered his men to shop at the most exclusive perfume stores downtown.


    Yet none hade close.


    Each attempt paled, likeparing gold to fool''s gold.


    Allison, sharp as ever, caught the hint in his tone.


    “I could neverpare to your reputation, Mr.


    Lloyd.


    The Carismapany is already a legend in the industry.


    But then again… your base scent doesn’t exactly scream originality.


    ”


    Allison hadn''t anticipated that Ken was the founder of Charisma.


    The news left a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing how close he hade to finding clues about his mother years ago.


    His eyes remained fixed on him, searching for any sign of offense.


    But, to his surprise, there was none.


    What was essentially a veiled usation of giarism did not faze him in the slightest.


    “Of course not.


    ” Ken’s lips curved into an unppable smile.


    “It’s a family secret, passed down for generations.


    And using ‘Lemonade’ as an alias? You’ve kept a much lower profile than I thought.


    ”


    Now, he was sure.


    Allison was Scarlet Snake!


    Ken marveled at her.


    From the Royal Princess cruise to Athton and now the perfumepetition, this woman kept peeling backyer afteryer, each revtion more shocking than thest.


    And Allison knew full well that Ken had the answers she needed.


    But now was not the time or the ce for it.


    Not yet.


    Their words dripped with congrattions, but their fixed eyes told another story: a silent duel that yed out like the sh of two mas, opposites but undeniably drawn to each other.


    Sparks flew, but no one else seemed to notice the heat.


    Reba, oblivious to the undercurrent, sighed wistfully.


    “What a pity.


    If you hadn’t married that scum, you would have swept the international market ages ago.


    Hell, you’d probably be sitting with the judges right now!” Herment was sincere.


    Allison’s eyes briefly dropped to the bracelet she was fiddling with.


    “There’s no shame in it.


    I chose my path.


    The wrong path, yes, but at least I got off it in time.


    ” Her voice sounded confident, though there were moments when regret crept in.


    She remembered when she had married Colton with new hopes, even creating a custom fragrance for his birthday.


    But instead of appreciation, she had been met with cold disdain from him, who had thrown it back in her face, calling it useless.


    It had hurt, though she could now admit that it had been part of arger mistake: her misced loyalty to a man who didn''t deserve her.


    But she only had herself to me.


    Colton, who was nearby, was now the one fighting a storm of emotions.


    His earlier taunt now felt like a p to his own pride.


    His face darkened as he picked up perfume number five and held it up to his nose.


    His expression immediately soured.


    “This smells like Mny’s perfume.


    ”


    Hisment sent a wave of unease through the crowd.


    “Could it be cheating? They smell simr.


    ” The murmur spread, quickly silencing the earlier murmur in the room.


    Colton, encouraged by the growing suspicion, upped the ante.


    “Mny is Scarlet Snake! There’s no way Allison could have gotten past her.


    Sniff everyone, number five is almost identical to Mny’s perfume.


    ”


    Amid rumors of possible cheating, several contestants who had not made the top ten looked up, intrigued by the unfolding drama.


    One by one, they leaned in topare.


    Base notes of pine and violet lingered, artfully blended.


    Yet they were undeniably familiar.


    Scarlet Snake’s unique styleyered, intricate, and enigmatic—was not easy to imitate.


    Colton, emboldened by the audience’s hesitation, turned to Allison, his voice usatory.


    “Did you steal Mny’s form?”