Lilah directed her gaze at Karol, and then took a quick look at the man beside her. "I'm just here to clear up the truth."

A different journalist added with a hint of irony, “Clear up the truth? You're accused of theft, and yet you seek to clarify the truth? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?"

“What if I told you that the formula is rightfully mine? Would that change your opinion?" responded Lilah with resolve.

The journalist gave a dismissive snort. "Given the evidence right in front of us, why should we prioritize your words over the established facts?"

"You stole someone else's creation, and even when the original maker is right here confronting you, you are still denying it. How stubborn and shameless!" another person remarked.

A person in the crowd, intrigued by Lilah's persistence, raised a question. "Is there perhaps an aspect of this story we're missing?"

“Have you lost your senses? The proof is unmistakable, yet you consider trusting this liar?" retorted another with disbelief.

Visibly upset, Karol said, “Lilah, you're being stubborn. Do you truly believe you can reverse the situation?"

Lilah approached Karol, her demeanor calm and collected, “The truth will emerge, and falsehoods will crumble."

Karol asked, “What exactly are you implying?"

Lilah argued, "You're accusing that I stole someone else's formula, right? If that's the case, let's have the alleged original creator come forward and tell everyone the truth."

As the crowd grew more furious, they started throwing accusations at Lilah. “She'll only confess when she's backed into a corner."

"Let's have the rightful owner step up. Then we'll hear what she has to say."

"She's already embarrassed herself, why hold back now? Once everything is out in the open, we should just hand her over to the police."

Karol's demeanor shifted with the crowd's murmurs. She wanted to mention Milly's role in this matter to convince the crowd even more, but felt the pressure of a promise to keep her anonymous. Then, recalling the supposed creator of the formula was present, Karol said confidently, "Lilah, the creator of the formula is right here. Are you claiming this person is fake?"

Lilah glanced once more at the man, who couldn't meet her eyes for more than a moment.

Her stare seemed to see right through him.

He felt utterly vulnerable under her gaze.

Lilah asked him coldly, “Are you the person behind the formula?"

The man, attempting to appear confident, answered, “Yes.”

“Did you write this Botanic formula? And I'm accused of stealing it from you?" Lilah pressed him.

The man felt uneasy but weighed the benefits of the job and persisted with his falsehood, saying, "Yeah, I wrote it, and it's hard to believe you're still denying it."

Karol, with a smirk, turned to Lilah, "What's your response, Lilah? Still denying your actions?"

Lilah stayed composed and questioned the man, "If you claim I took your formula, then we must know each other well. We should have a history, correct? So, when exactly did I take it from you? You should remember all the details."