Howard Sullivan's voice cut through the air like ice.
His piercing gaze locked onto Chloe Evans.
"Your work claims to imitate Crimson Serpent."
"Yet you failed to recognize the original standing right before you."
"Instead, you falsely accused others of cheating."
"What malicious intentions."
Chloe's face turned deathly pale.
Her lips trembled as she stammered out a defense.
"That's not true..."
"How could she possibly be Crimson Serpent?"
The thought barely formed before she viciously suppressed it.
She dared not dwell on it.
If Sophia Sullivan truly was Crimson Serpent.
That woman would be terrifying beyond measure.
Liam Winston was the first to regain composure.
He stepped forward, shielding Chloe with his body.
"Chloe's work pays homage."
"Plagiarism can't be determined by a single statement."
"Everything requires evidence."
His sharp eyes swept over Sophia.
While pottery skills might be explained by island adventures.
The title of perfumery champion was impossible.
"The first competition used strict anonymity."
"Beyond codenames, no one knew contestant identities."
"Even staff weren't permitted to inquire."
Liam's tone grew increasingly frigid.
"Someone attempting impersonation now remains possible."
He couldn't accept Sophia being that genius.
Refused to believe she'd achieved such heights.
Chloe regained confidence at his words.
She forced down her rising panic.
Surrendering now meant losing everything.
Better to gamble recklessly.
"Mr. Sullivan, your reputation precedes you."
"A single word from you can make or break lives."
Chloe turned teary eyes toward the elder.
A perfect picture of wronged innocence.
"But competition rules strictly prohibit information leaks."
"Doesn't your identification today violate regulations?"
"Were all those promises from years ago just empty words?"
Sophia watched coldly from the sidelines.
"Utter shamelessness."
"To dare bite back even now."
The woman's audacity was breathtaking.
Chloe redirected accusations toward judge favoritism.
"Even as a Sullivan."
"You shouldn't show partiality."
She deliberately raised her voice.
"Everyone here saw my sister's closeness with Mr. Sullivan."
"Your desire to help her is understandable."
"But not through such methods!"
She clung desperately to the rule loophole.
If Howard insisted on identification.
He'd be admitting his own violation.
As long as she held this point.
Unless Crimson Serpent appeared personally.
They'd remain trapped in this scandal.
Howard studied the young pair before him.
"Outrageous slander!"
In all his long years.
Never had his integrity been questioned.
The competition's reputation now hung in balance.
If he'd truly lied.
The entire organization would be disgraced.
Fear churned in Chloe's gut.
Yet her voice rang with conviction.
Those secrecy measures had been flawless.
Countless attempts to unmask Crimson Serpent had failed.
Even if Sophia was the original.
Who could possibly corroborate?
"Please calm down." An assistant rushed to steady the elder.
Mr. Sullivan's heart condition couldn't withstand such agitation.
Chloe retreated half a step.
Adopting a remorseful expression.
"Never mind, I'll let it go."
"Perhaps even the tightest rules have gaps."
"Judges privately contacting champions might be understandable..."
She intended to muddy these waters completely.
Ensuring no one emerged clean.