Trey's jaw dropped in shock. In the blink of an eye, he snatched up the bottle and took a whiff.

This wasn't his.

“My perfume has been tampered with," Trey exclaimed, his voice steady. "This isn't the fragrance I created."

“What did I tell you? Even if you give him another chance, he'll just concoct another excuse for why his perfume is so subpar. Can we announce the result now?" Milly urged impatiently.

Trey was at a loss for words. He had kept his bottle by his side the entire time, yet the scent had changed the moment he stepped on stage.

"Very well. Miss Vasquez, your creation advances to the next round. Mr. Garza, although we didn't specify the exact criteria for entries, we expect a modicum of respect for both yourself and the competition. Submitting such drivel is a blatant waste of resources."

The judges had no authority to impose a penalty.

The competition was open for anyone interested in perfume-making, and the organizers had no reason to single out any one individual.

However, the competition was being broadcast live.

Thus, Trey's career as a perfumer seemed destined to end.

Effie murmured, “Trey's bottle looks like a match to the concept of Milly's creation. Is there some underhanded scheme at play here? It reminds me all too well of the time I was framed."

Lilah had the same gut feeling.

Milly's ploy had succeeded before, so she was confident it would work again.

Lilah smirked ever so slightly.

Milly's agitation was to Lilah's advantage. It meant she wouldn't have to expend much effort to counter her.

"You're reading too much into this," Karol interjected once more. "Effie, some people are always looking to ride the coattails of others to gain attention. Be wary of those with ulterior motives. You might end up being misled."

She was referring to Lilah, who was seated beside Effie.

Karol mused over what qualities Lilah possessed to warrant such favor from both Gerard and Effie.

"I know exactly what you mean." Effie dismissed Karol without a second thought. "Lilah, you must show me how to distinguish between the good and the bad. I don't need to attend every single event; I can afford to decline a few."

"You!"

Karol felt a wave of humiliation, glaring at Effie. But considering Effie was Gerard's younger sister, Karol was in no position to retaliate, and could only hold her tongue.

As the next group of contestants took the stage, the earlier drama faded into oblivion.

Trey Garza? If Milly's presentation earned the judges' accolades, it meant Trey was a formidable contender in the world of perfumery. Lilah believed he could be an asset to her company.

The contest dragged on until dusk. Laura departed after receiving a phone call, but not before snagging several samples of Windy's perfumes from Lilah.