Chapter 58
Reginald’s piercing glare locked onto Sophia as she finished speaking.
“You claimed your designs were inspired by the legendary Scarlet Serpent, yet you never credited her. Then you had the audacity to make baseless accusations. This is unacceptable.”
Sophia’s face drained of color as she scrambled for a defense. “I never said that! And besides… how could she possibly be Scarlet Serpent?” The terrifying thought flickered through her mind, but she dismissed it immediately. No, it was impossible. If Isabella truly was Scarlet Serpent, how many other secrets was she hiding?
“Sophia merely borrowed Scarlet Serpent’s style. It’s more of a tribute than plagiarism. Determining whether it crosses the line isn’t something we can decide in a heated moment. We need solid proof.”
Ethan was the first to regain his composure. Isabella had once mentioned meeting Benjamin on a desert island, which might explain her pottery skills. But claiming to be Scarlet Serpent, the winner of the first Perfumery Competition? That was absurd.
Besides, the rules of that inaugural contest were entirely different from today’s. All participants had remained anonymous. From submission to the final selection, no one knew the contestants’ identities—only their code names.
The current SVIP channel had been created exclusively for the top ten contestants of that first competition, but even the staff only had access to rankings, not personal details.
Ethan’s expression darkened as he continued, “Perhaps someone is trying to deceive the judges into believing this is Scarlet Serpent’s work. It wouldn’t be the first time someone attempted such a scheme.”
Whether it was jealousy, disbelief, or something else entirely, Ethan refused to accept that Isabella could be that kind of prodigy. His words seemed to reignite Sophia’s confidence. She couldn’t back down now. Admitting defeat would ruin everything. This was a fight for survival.
“Mr. Kingsley, you’re a revered figure in the perfume industry with countless protégés. Everyone values your opinion.” Sophia’s eyes welled up as she looked at Reginald, feigning wounded pride. “But the rules of that first contest were clear—no one was to know the contestants’ true identities. Unless you broke those rules, Mr. Kingsley? Or were they just for show?”
Isabella’s icy gaze sliced through the tension. “You truly have no shame. Even now, you twist words and drag others into your mess.”
Sophia was proving far more despicable than Isabella had anticipated. Now, she was insinuating that the judges themselves had been complicit in some conspiracy.
“Even if you’re from the Kingsley family, you shouldn’t play favorites. My reputation is at stake too,” Sophia declared firmly. “Honestly, everyone can see how close Isabella and Alexander are. If you’re going to defend her, at least be subtle about it!”
Sophia was using the contest’s anonymity to corner Reginald. If he tried to vouch for Isabella by confirming she was Scarlet Serpent, it would imply he had violated the rules. People might assume Isabella had cheated.
Sophia had made up her mind. Unless Scarlet Serpent herself appeared, she could spin this however she wanted. Isabella and Reginald would be tangled in her web.
Reginald’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the two women before him. “You’re fabricating lies!”
In all his years, no one had dared challenge him like this. He was being accused of dishonesty, of tarnishing the contest’s integrity. The sheer audacity!
A flicker of guilt gnawed at Sophia, but she masked it with defiance. After all, the anonymity of that first contest had been ironclad. Many had tried—and failed—to uncover the contestants’ identities. The judges had always sworn they never pried into anyone’s background, not even the champion’s.
So even if Isabella was Scarlet Serpent, who could prove it?
“Mr. Kingsley, please calm down.” A bystander stepped forward, concerned for Reginald’s well-being.
Seeing this, Sophia feigned remorse and backed away. “Let’s just drop it. Maybe there were loopholes in that so-called anonymous contest. Maybe the judges did peek behind the curtain to learn the champion’s identity.”
