Chapter 305

The commotion around them was deafening, yet Lucien Dubois remained utterly composed. A glass of wine dangled carelessly from his fingers as he smirked at the unfolding drama.

"Do you recognize that man?"

Vanessa Blake glanced at the imposing figure before turning back to Lucien, shaking her head.

This was her first time in Laurentia—she wouldn’t know anyone here.

"That’s Harrison Whitaker," Lucien explained, forming the number eight with his fingers for emphasis. "A master perfumer from Valmont. This year, he’s chairing the competition. One of the world’s top eight perfumers—a genius that appears only once in centuries."

His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do you really think that woman can walk away unscathed after offending him? Or worse—make a name for herself in Laurentia’s perfumery world now?"

Vanessa’s lips curled into a delighted smile as understanding dawned.

"So she’s doomed?"

"Not necessarily."

Lucien shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Mr. Whitaker is unpredictable. No one can ever guess his moods. Either way, this will be entertaining."

His words did nothing to dampen Vanessa’s glee.

No one enjoys being publicly humiliated, least of all a man of his stature.

Evelyn Carter had just called out the organizers for their incompetence, accusing them of bias.

She basically declared the entire event rigged, shaming them in front of everyone. She’s finished.

Faced with Evelyn’s sharp critique, Harrison merely arched a brow.

"I never claimed this would be fair."

The crowd fell silent.

Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

Even Evelyn was momentarily stunned.

Unfazed, Harrison continued, his voice cutting through the tension. "The world isn’t fair. Every perfumer here knows that. Some are born with an extraordinary sense of smell. Some have families wealthy enough to fund their dreams. Others? No matter how hard they work, they’ll never match those born with talent. Is any of that fair? No. So why demand fairness from me?"

His brutal honesty left the audience reeling—yet no one could deny the truth in his words.

Life was unfair. Many had faced injustice from the moment they were born.

"I’m not asking for perfect fairness," Evelyn countered, her voice steady despite the weight of his gaze. "But basic respect is non-negotiable. Correct me if I’m wrong—most of us here haven’t even seen the organizing committee until now, have we?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, though no one dared to voice their support aloud.

Harrison said nothing, his piercing stare locked onto Evelyn.

The silence stretched, thick with tension, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

A bomb could have gone off, and no one would have noticed.

Harrison’s displeasure was palpable.

How dare this young woman—this nobody—publicly challenge him, a legend in the industry?

Beside Evelyn, Adrienne Laurent was already sweating.

How did things spiral so out of control?

She had taken every precaution, yet here they were—on the verge of disaster.

If she had known this would happen, she might have convinced Evelyn to skip the event entirely.

Meanwhile, Vanessa was practically glowing with satisfaction.

She’s finished. Her arrogance blinded her. Does she really think past success gives her the right to lecture Harrison Whitaker? He could ruin her with a single word.

A new thought struck her.

If I could get close to him—use his influence, maybe even learn from him—my career would skyrocket.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a sweet, melodic voice sliced through the silence.

"Daddy! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"