Chapter 10

No.1

The security guards froze in confusion. The crowd fell silent, stunned. Wasn’t she just some nobody? What changed?

The coordinator rushed to Isabella and bowed deeply. “Miss Montgomery, my sincerest apologies. You requested one minute? Please, take all the time you require.” His words spilled out in a nervous, respectful rush. “Chanel values fairness above all. We would be honored to have you participate.”

Isabella’s brow furrowed. His attitude shifted faster than a flipping page. Who was on that call?

A strange sensation prickled her skin—the feeling of being watched. She glanced upward, her eyes locking with a man observing her from behind a second-floor glass door.

Nathaniel Blackwood.

What was he doing here? A faint, unconscious smile touched Nathaniel’s lips when their eyes met. Beside him, Oliver waved at her excitedly.

Isabella’s heart skipped. Why would Nathaniel help her? The kid was odd enough, but his father was even more perplexing. She had rejected him plainly yesterday. Was he actually pursuing her?

Nathaniel’s slight smile faded into a frown. Women usually threw themselves at him. Why did Isabella seem so wary and resistant?

Noticing Nathaniel’s intense gaze, the coordinator trembled. “Miss Montgomery, shall we assist you with any preparations?”

“No. I’m ready.” She walked toward the stage, confidence radiating from her.

No.2

Isabella’s goal was clear: strip Victoria Kensington of every opportunity and shred of fame. The audience remained clueless, still mocking her choice of dress and her audacity to compete.

They saw her as a delusional upstart. Giving her a chance was charity. Who did she think she was?

Even the designer was appalled. How could the coordinator allow this? Letting this woman touch her creation was an insult. “Not just anyone can wear my designs. If this amateur remains, I will cease working with Chanel.”

Suddenly, all the lights in the ballroom cut to black.

After a moment of darkness, a soft green spotlight swept across the T-stage. A weathered wooden stump materialized in the center. Isabella perched on it, one hand supporting her chin, her features exquisitely highlighted.

She leaned back with effortless grace, as if resting on a lazy summer afternoon. Her dark green dress cascaded around her, evoking a timeless, vintage beauty.

Her crimson lips did not clash with her elegance. Instead, they enhanced it, giving her an ethereal, almost mystical aura—cold and flawless.

Fireflies began to glow in the darkness, drifting toward her. Some settled on her curled lashes; others landed gently in her palm. The scene was breathtaking, a living fantasy painting.

The replica necklace around her neck seemed to come alive against her skin, glowing with an otherworldly light.

The audience held its breath, utterly captivated. It became clear: true beauty didn’t require simplicity or false innocence. A real goddess could shine even with blood-red lips.

No.3

The silence was absolute. Everyone was mesmerized.

When her performance ended, the spell broke. Thunderous applause erupted.

“Magnificent!”

“That’s the true essence of ‘Glowing Forest’!”

The designer completely retracted her earlier words. “Who is she? I take it all back. Sign her immediately!” she exclaimed, beaming. “We must have her!”

Upstairs, Oliver jumped with joy. “Mommy is so beautiful! Daddy, hurry! You have to win her over before someone else does!”

“Patience yields better results than haste,” Nathaniel replied flatly, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“Hmph! You’re too slow! I’ll help you!” Oliver pushed away and bolted downstairs.

Nathaniel’s frown deepened. “Stop him!”

Sebastian Blackwood immediately gave chase.

No.4

The Chanel executive extended the contract toward Isabella.

Sophia Kensington stepped forward abruptly. "Mr. Chamberlain, are you certain about this? She has no professional runway experience whatsoever!"

"Absolutely. Her little firefly stunt was just a cheap parlor trick. Anyone could pull that off with enough preparation. It won't impress anyone at tomorrow's actual event."

The manager's expression turned icy. "If you're all such experts, perhaps you should demonstrate your superior skills? From what I observed, most of you move like mannequins with frozen expressions." He turned back to Isabella with a respectful smile. "Miss Montgomery, your signature right here will suffice. We trust your capabilities completely."

Isabella signed the document with a flourish.

She then faced Sophia with a challenging gaze. "You might want to step up your game tomorrow. It would be embarrassing for an established model like yourself to be outperformed by someone you consider inexperienced." A subtle smirk played on her lips as she turned to exit.

Sophia's cheeks flushed crimson with humiliation. Though not as renowned as Victoria, she commanded significant recognition as both model and actress. Her bold, unfiltered persona had earned her a dedicated following. Never had she been so openly mocked—especially not by an adopted daughter like Isabella! Losing this opportunity to her was absolutely intolerable.

...

Isabella emerged from the hotel into the cool evening air. The parking lot glittered with luxury vehicles, a stark contrast to her modest motorcycle parked discreetly in the corner.

As she reached for her helmet, a small figure darted toward her.

No.5

"Mommy! Mommy!" Oliver's sweet voice carried through the night as he wrapped himself around her leg, clinging like a determined koala.

Isabella instinctively moved to push him away, but his cherubic face and pleading eyes disarmed her. She sighed and ruffled his hair. "Sweetheart, where's your father? Did he leave you alone again?"

"I ran away. I missed you... Will you come home with me?" He buried his face deeper into her coat.

"Oliver, I'm not your mother. I have my own home to return to." Her voice softened despite her words.

"But you are! Daddy promised you'd be my mommy! He thinks about you all the time. He even sleeps with your photo!" The words tumbled out in an eager rush. "Today he canceled a billion-dollar meeting just to watch you. He wanted to protect you."

Isabella fell silent. Could this be true? Did Nathaniel actually keep her picture by his bedside?

She gently stroked his hair. "Sweet boy, you're too young to understand. Love isn't something that happens instantly. What people call love at first sight is usually just attraction. It's superficial. Like when a homeless person admires someone beautiful from afar. It's not real, and it's not right."

Nathaniel emerged from the shadows just in time to hear her last words. His handsome features darkened immediately, like storm clouds gathering before a tempest.

Homeless? She compared him to a homeless person?

Nathaniel hadn't anticipated Isabella would be so unresponsive. He'd thought mentioning his father would spark her interest.

No.6

He wanted to say more, but Isabella simply lifted him and set him aside. "Ollie, go back to your dad. I have important matters to handle," she stated firmly. "Go home, okay?"

"Mommy..." Oliver gazed up with pleading eyes, hoping to sway her with his pitiful expression.

Isabella couldn't deny it affected her, but she remembered her purpose for returning.

Refocusing, she swung her leg over the motorcycle seat.

Oliver pouted dramatically, his lips forming a perfect sulk. His plan had failed. He needed another strategy.

He swung his chubby arms casually as the engine roared to life.

Pop!

The rear tire deflated instantly, causing the bike to tilt dangerously.

"Mommy! Your tire!" Oliver shrieked with feigned terror. "Someone shot it with a dart!"

Isabella dismounted quickly. Sure enough, a silver dart protruded from the rubber.

No.7

Who used darts anymore? Especially as a weapon. It seemed bizarre.

Noticing her suspicion growing, Oliver quickly grabbed her hand. "Don't worry, Mommy! Daddy will take you home!" He yelled into his smartwatch, "Emergency protocol! Daddy, respond!"

Her suspicion intensified, but it didn't make sense. Oliver was only five. He couldn't have thrown that dart... probably. His convincingly terrified expression made him seem uninvolved.

A sleek black van pulled up abruptly. Sebastian rolled down the window. "Miss Montgomery! Oliver! Get in now!"