Chapter 433

Nathaniel's dreams were about to shatter. Instead of celebrating increased sales and profits, he was facing a relentless barrage of attacks.

At 9:00 AM, a verified account posted three videos. The first was an old financial interview. In it, a confident Nathaniel discussed his perfume, expressing optimism about the industry and lamenting the lack of top-tier perfumers in the country. He emphasized research and development, inviting perfumers to share their ideas, promising personal supervision of any fragrances they developed. He also acknowledged the challenges faced by perfumers.

The second video showed an MN Inc. press conference where Lily resigned. The footage, shot with a high-quality camera, clearly captured Nathaniel's panic, Melanie's nervous gestures and repeated eye contact, and the embarrassing aftermath of Lily's refusal to apologize.

The third video was humiliating: authorities escorting Nathaniel from a lobby, clutching a bouquet of 99 roses. Attached was his apology letter, with certain phrases circled in red, including admissions of ignorance, deception, and his neglect of production oversight due to company business. He blamed Melanie for everything, stating she had betrayed his trust.

The account posting the videos offered no commentary, letting the footage speak for itself. The implicit message was clear: "Here's the evidence. Judge for yourselves. It's all Nathaniel." The only accompanying text was the perfunctory statement, "The Internet will always remember."

Nathaniel was devastated. He had forgotten his past boasts and misleading statements from countless interviews. His attacker had patiently waited, contrasting his current predicament with his earlier pronouncements. It was a devastating public humiliation. He had claimed personal supervision of production, only to later deny any involvement—a blatant contradiction that irrevocably damaged his credibility.

Furthermore, the videos juxtaposed his current situation with the celebratory balloon release at Rebirth, highlighting the apparent "new love, old flame" dynamic between him and Melanie at the press conference. Regardless of the context, his actions were reprehensible.

Furious and helpless, Nathaniel considered suing for defamation, only to be hit with another blow.

At 10:30 AM, the International Perfumery Competition awards—certificates, prizes, and trophies—were uploaded to Rebirth's website. Congratulatory messages poured in, celebrating Lily's first-place win. Her name was prominently featured; she was hailed as a triumph for Hyderland's perfumers, a community previously ridiculed internationally. Lily's rejection of Wesley's job offer, despite his high opinion of her, further cemented her reputation. Her success echoed like thunder among her peers.

While not a direct attack on Nathaniel, this news, following his recent public shaming, amplified Lily's accomplishments and underscored her power and international recognition. This stark contrast further exposed Melanie's inadequacy as a perfumer.