Chapter 259

Nora and Eleanor finished their creations almost at the same time.
The trays were set before Mr. Frost.
He sampled each scent in turn, inhaling thoughtfully, but instead of announcing his verdict, he invited ten audience members up to join the judging.
After everyone had taken a sniff, Mr. Frost instructed them to stand behind the perfume they preferred.
Within three seconds, every single person chose Nora’s side.
Whether it was “Winter’s Eve” or “Moonlight,” not one person stood beside Eleanor.
She dug her nails into her palm in disbelief.
“This can’t be happening.”
She refused to accept the result.
Storming forward, Eleanor grabbed Nora’s perfume and brought it to her nose.
A moment later, the bottle slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
Her face went pale as she staggered backward.
How was this possible? How could Nora have crafted a fragrance of such exquisite quality?
Winter’s Eve was crisp and pure, like freshly fallen snow.
Moonlight was elegant, with a cool clarity.
Eleanor couldn’t even bring herself to smell her own creation again.
Warner announced Nora as the winner.
No one dared question Nora’s skills as a perfumer now.
Eleanor forced a strained smile, humiliated. “You were better than me. Congratulations.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait.” Nora’s voice stopped her.
Eleanor already guessed what was coming. She didn’t want to stay another
moment, but after only two steps, Louis blocked her path. This update ıs available on.net
Behind her, Nora’s tone was icy.
“Eleanor, do you really think you deserve The Almanac of Air?”
Nora’s voice was cold and unyielding.
Ever since The Almanac of Air had been wrongly attributed to Eleanor, Nora had spent sleepless nights thinking about it.
But she’d never had the chance to set things right-until today.
Now, finally, her moment had come.
Nora advanced, slow and resolute, her eyes like sharpened blades, as if she could cut Eleanor down with a glance.
“Eleanor, The Almanac of Air is Aurora’s creation. What right did you have to claim it as your own?”
“When Aurora was alive, you never visited her, never once called her ‘sister.’ How dare you take the credit for her perfume?”
“I Eleanor was speechless.
The pride she’d shown before now twisted into utter disgrace.
Yet, she didn’t believe Nora had any right to question her.
Red-eyed, Eleanor faced Nora, refusing to back down. “And what about you? Haven’t you paraded around using her name and her formulas? Who are you to challenge me?”
Nora was no saint either.
Nora let out a scornful laugh. “So what? The Almanac of Air always belonged to Aurora.”
When she released The Almanac of Air, she’d done so under Aurora’s name.
She’d never intended to change the creator to Nora.
Eleanor clenched her jaw, her humiliation complete.
“If you can’t even recreate Winter’s Eve, Ms. Quinn, do you really deserve to be called a perfumer?” Nora sneered, offering Aurora’s original perfume to the onlookers.
“Why don’t we let everyone compare your blend to Aurora’s? Let’s see which is truly worthy of The Almanac of Air.”
Eleanor’s version of Winter’s Eve wasn’t bad-but it was ordinary, nothing special. Not nearly good enough for The Almanac of Air.
Overcome with shame and fury, Eleanor shoved past Louis and fled the room.
Daniel lingered, giving Nora a long, searching look, before following after her.
Nora noticed, but she didn’t care anymore.
Mr. Frost rose to his feet, deeply satisfied.
Susan’s legacy was in good hands.