Secrets Of The Neglected Wife: When Her True Colors Shine
Chapter 62

Chapter 62: A chuckle ran through the room.

No one knew who started it, but soon all eyes turned to Melany, blinking with a mixture of disdain and amusement.

This time he failed! Someone whispered with a mocking smile.

How many lies does he think he can get away with? First he says he's Scarlet Snake, then he says it was just a tribute.

Now, he even suggests that Scarlet Serpent was his mentor.

Exactly! Who knows how long she's been fooling people, pretending to be someone she's not.

Shameless, absolutely shameless.

Melany opened her mouth, searching for an explanation, but the words stuck in her throat.

There was no way out.

Instinctively, her hand reached for Colton's arm for support, but he stepped back, his face reflecting disbelief and disappointment.

Colton's heart sank.

It was as if he were seeing Melany for the first time, a stranger with the face of someone he had trusted.

In his memories, she had always been kind, gentle, and understanding.

He had been by her side, defending her from everyone, believing in her without a doubt.

But now, all that confidence seemed like a lie.

What hurt him even more was the revelation that Allison had been the real Scarlet Serpent all along.

The truth hit him like a punch in the gut, more painful than it had ever been.

imagined.

With her eyes filled with tears, Melany whispered: Colton, please, let me explain.

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But how was I going to do it? Even she was tangled in the web of his deception, too far away to untangle.

Now.

One lie had given birth to many, and now they were devouring her.

As the crowd's mocking murmurs grew louder, Melany knew that any defense she mounted would crumble under the weight of her lies.

But she couldn't stay there, humiliated.

He had to save something, if not his reputation, at least Colton's heart.

Tears streamed down his face, he fell to his knees and raised his hand in a solemn gesture.

"I've always admired Scarlet Snake," he declared, his voice hoarse.

, as if she were the wronged one.

When I found out about her perfume, it inspired me to try to recreate it.

I had no idea Allison was Scarlet Snake.

I'm very sorry for any confusion.

He whimpered, pretending to be a victim of circumstances.

It was never my intention to claim someone else's work.

I only entered the contest to help Colton's business.

I never meant any harm or disrespect.

Colton's hardened expression softened, his defenses weakening once again.

It's not your fault, he murmured, almost as if convincing himself.

After all, I didn't even realize that my ex-wife, the woman I shared a bed with for three years, was a brilliant perfumer.

Of course you couldn't know that either, Melany.

His attempt to console her seemed so much like an effort to justify her blindness.

It had to be Allison's fault.

Yes, she had been hiding her identity all these years, deceiving him in ways that now hurt him even more.

Besides, Colton continued, his voice filled with cold resolution, what Melany did was just a improvement, not a theft.

If Allison hadn't kept her identity a secret, none of this would have gotten out of hand.

She shot a venomous look at Allison.

And that award-winning formula of yours I offer you two hundred thousand dollars for the rights.

At such an offer, the crowd instinctively recoiled, exchanging bewildered glances.

It was hard to believe Colton's audacity, even now, trying to buy his way out of a scandal.

Colton knew Which wasn't the most elegant solution, but with the contest results finalized and Melany securing third place, she was in line for sponsorship from the Everett Group.

This could still become an opportunity.

He wasn't going to let her escape.

His best option was to buy the formula and bury the controversy.

After all, money could silence even the loudest whispers of truth.

$200,000 Kellan's voice rang out with a mocking laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Colton, you're serious You think you can just wave some money around and fix this Do you have any idea how.

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How much do you think that formula is worth You couldn't touch it with two million, much less two hundred thousand, Kellan said, his voice mocking.

Rebecca chimed in, her voice full of pride.

Allison's perfumes are priceless, and there's no way she's selling that formula to someone like you.

Allison's gaze scanned the crowd, her face serene, as if the weight of the moment didn't faze her.

There's no need to buy it, she began, His voice carried an undeniable certainty.

The formula is not something I consider perfect.

It was always a prototype, it was never for profit.

You've all seen it already.

So, from this moment on, it is public.

Anyone can use it.

No one will profit from it: it's free for all of us to learn and grow.

The room froze in disbelief.

It was the formula of a perfume legend, and yet Allison was just… giving it away.

There was a stunned silence.

before someone in the audience finally found their voice.

Scarlet Snake is amazing! He is sharing the formula just like that.

Does $200,000 matter to him? You two should stop this nonsense and apologize once and for all.

Colton's expression stiffened.

He hadn't expected Allison to take such a bold stance.

Melany, who was next to him, felt her jaw drop.

heart.

This was not the outcome they had prepared for, far from it.

Allison's identification as Scarlet Serpent had been verified, and it felt like a slap in their faces.

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