"The Crimson Wyrm, an extraordinary tea," Laura began, her voice clear and ringing.

"Its aroma unfolds in nine layers—the first hints of orchid, then osmanthus, then peach… The texture glides down impossibly smoothly. Its spirit, at the opening, is commanding like a king; mid-palate, gentle like a knight; and in the end, ethereal like an angel."

With every word, my chest sank a little deeper. These were exactly the tasting notes I had just formed in my mind, my perfect conclusion. Every word and nuance was identical.

Then, she paused. "And within it, I detected a faint, almost imperceptible trace of iron-like bloodiness. This may be the true origin of the name 'Crimson Wyrm'.

"It doesn't refer to color, but to that thread of ruthlessness in its spirit. You could say it's the aura of a massacre."

The venue went silent. Then, like a kettle finally boiling over, applause crashed through the room.

"A genius! A true genius!"

"This is unprecedented. This level of tasting is beyond masterful—it's divine!"

Dad's face was flushed with excitement, his eyes fixed on Laura like she was the very future of the family.

I had lost. The faint thread of iron was something I had just sensed, so subtle that I was still unsure if it even existed. I hadn't even formed it into clear words in my mind, yet Laura had voiced it aloud.

Just then, Liam stepped forward. He came up to me with a triumphant smirk. "Now, what else can you say for yourself, Juliana?"

I looked up, meeting his gaze in silence.

"At this point, you have to admit the stark difference between you and Laura," he continued. "I'm genuinely ashamed that I once blindly got engaged to a woman as petty and spiteful as you."

He pulled out a document and flung it at my face. The edge of the paper sliced cleanly across my cheek, leaving behind a searing sting.

"Today, I want everyone to know that I, Liam Ford, am officially calling off my engagement to Juliana White!" he announced.

"A narrow-minded, jealous woman like her doesn't deserve to be part of the Ford family, and she certainly doesn't deserve to tarnish the purity of the tea world!"

His voice boomed through the venue. Everyone watched me with cruel delight.

Mom and Dad stood not far off, their expressions conflicted. Despite that, they didn't even try to defend me.

Finally, Dad sighed and declared, "Since the result is clear, I announce that the future heiress of the White family is Laura! The future of the association will rest in the hands of someone with greater talent, and I can rest easy knowing that."

Betrayed by everyone, I felt humiliated to the extreme.

In my previous life, this moment had shattered me completely. I ran from the venue in tears, but now, my mind was sharper than it had ever been.

A single thought struck like lightning, cutting through all the fog.

I finally got it. What Laura had been stealing from me wasn't my notes. It wasn't my thoughts, and it certainly wasn't my memories.