A sudden snicker broke the silence.
All eyes turned to Chloe Evans.
"Hit a brick wall, didn't you?"
"Miss Evans here has been spinning lies—first impersonating Crimson Serpent, then claiming it was just homage, even misleading people into thinking Crimson Serpent was her mentor."
"How long has she been riding on Sophia Sullivan's coattails?"
"The audacity is astounding!"
Chloe's lips parted, but she found herself cornered by her own deceit.
She instinctively reached for Liam Winston's arm.
He took two steps back, eyeing her with a complicated gaze.
Liam felt a hollow ache in his chest, as if he was seeing Chloe for the first time.
In his memories, she had always been gentle and serene, like moonlight.
Just moments ago, he had defended her against the entire room.
Only to discover it was all lies.
The hardest pill to swallow?
Sophia Sullivan was truly Crimson Serpent.
That truth cut deeper than any blade.
Tears welled in Chloe's eyes. "Liam, let me explain—"
But even she didn’t know how to explain.
One lie required a thousand more to cover.
The jeers around her grew louder.
Chloe knew excuses were futile now.
Her priority was damage control—especially winning Liam back.
Tears spilled over.
She suddenly dropped to her knees, raising her hand in a dramatic vow.
"I just admired Crimson Serpent so much. After smelling that perfume years ago, I tried recreating it. I never imagined it was Sophia's work... I’m so sorry."
Her voice trembled with feigned anguish.
"I never meant to claim her identity. Entering the competition was only to help Liam’s business. I didn’t mean to wrong Sophia like this."
Liam’s resolve wavered.
"You’re not at fault," he said firmly. "Even I, her husband for three years, didn’t know Sophia was the prodigy perfumer from Italy. How could you have known?"
He was justifying it to Chloe—and to himself.
The blame had to lie with Sophia.
That woman had deceived him for three whole years!
"Chloe only made improvements—it’s not plagiarism. If you hadn’t hidden your identity, none of this would’ve happened."
Liam shot Sophia a venomous glare.
"I’ll buy the rights to your Italian award-winning formula. One million dollars."
The crowd collectively recoiled.
Their stares turned incredulous.
How could he still twist the narrative?
Even attempt to silence her with money?
Liam knew it sounded terrible.
But the results were out—Chloe placed third, securing Radiant Beauty Group’s sponsorship.
This was a golden opportunity for Winston Group’s ad campaign.
He couldn’t let it slip away.
Buying the rights was the quickest way to bury the scandal.
"One million?"
Ethan Sullivan scoffed.
"Quite the generous offer, Mr. Winston. You think everyone’s as gullible as your little mistress? That pocket change for Crimson Serpent’s masterpiece?"
He arched a brow. "Do you even know what this perfume is worth?"
"Not for sale at any price!" Isabella Robinson lifted her chin defiantly. "Sophia’s creations are priceless. We wouldn’t sell to scum like you!"
Sophia finally spoke, her voice cool and clear.
"No need for a buyout. This formula was always a prototype to me—never meant for profit."
She scanned the room.
"Today, I’m making it public. Open license for personal use only. Consider it a perfumer’s exchange."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
She was giving away a legendary perfume formula—for free!
Someone immediately shouted, "Crimson Serpent is sharing her work openly. Who’d stoop to your level for a measly million? Apologize already!"
Liam: "..."
Chloe: "..."
Neither had anticipated this move.
It was a masterstroke to sway public opinion.
And with her identity confirmed, every word from Sophia now felt like a slap across their faces.