?Chapter 1175:


    Their outburst brought thepetition venue to a stunned silence. All eyes turned toward themotion, anticipation thick in the air.


    The host’s expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. He fixed Ernst and Emilee with a sharp gaze and asked coldly, “Are you implying that the judges tampered with the results?”


    The judging panel wasposed of world-renowned perfumery masters—figures whose reputations were as pristine as they were powerful. To question their integrity was tantamount to career suicide; anyone foolish enough to offend them would find themselves permanently shut out of the industry. Realizing the tightrope they were walking, Ernst and Emilee swiftly backpedaled.


    “N-no, that’s not what I meant,” Emilee stammered, her confidence wavering. “I have the utmost respect for the judges. I’m simply questioning Araceli herself. I’ve known her since elementary school, and I can’t shake the feeling that she cheated somehow.”


    “I wasn’t doubting the judges either,” Ernst added hastily. “But I used to date Araceli, so I know firsthand that her perfumery skills areughable. There is no way she won fair and square—she must have used some underhanded trick.”


    Just then, the chairperson of the judging panel picked up the microphone, his voice carrying an unmistakable authority.


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    “You would do well to think before you speak,” he warned, his gaze icy. “Every contestant was closely monitored throughout thepetition. Cheating was next to impossible. And let me tell you—Araceli’s perfume was personally praised by Elin.”


    At the mere mention of Elin’s name, Ernst and Emilee instantly fell silent. The woman’s reputation was untouchable; to challenge her judgment would be sheer folly.


    A murmur rippled through the audience as whispers spread like wildfire.


    “Didn’t Emilee im she was apprenticed to Elin? If she had such a prestigious mentor, why didn’t she even make the rankings?”


    “She boasted that the Hinks family hired Elin to train her, but that’s just her word. Who knows if it’s even true?”


    “She couldn’t even ce in thepetition. Maybe Elin saw she had no real talent and refused to take her as a student. Honestly, I think she’s just a fraud.”


    The murmurs of the crowd gnawed at Emilee’s pride, making her cheeks burn with shame.


    Ernst, however, seized the moment to twist the knife. With a smirk, he said, “I used to think the Hinks family was something special. Turns out I waspletely duped by your empty boasts. I even went out of my way to curry favor with you. What a joke. Now I see—the Hinks family is nothing.”


    “You—!” Emilee’s eyes red with fury, her hands clenched into fists. But she forced herself to keep herposure. Losing control here, in front of everyone, would only add to her humiliation.


    Just then, the host’s voice cut through the tension. “The CEO of Minty Fragrances and Perfumes holds thispetition in high regard and has personallye to present the awards. She will be awarding the first, second, and third-ce winners and offering them positions as perfumers at Minty Fragrances and Perfumes. Now, let us wee the CEO to the stage.”


    Despite their lingering resentment, Ernst’s and Emilee’s ears perked up at the announcement. Their frustration momentarily forgotten, they turned toward the entrance with anticipation.


    Minty Fragrances and Perfumes was a powerhouse in the industry, a dream destination for any perfumer. Even catching a glimpse of its CEO was an honor—let alone the opportunity to work under her.


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