Chapter 1009
No.1
Her fanbase would abandon her. Grandfather Theodore despised internal family conflict. His punishments were severe—from lashings with a thorned whip to kneeling in the ancestral hall, even revocation of company shares.
Another message flashed.
[Sophia Kensington. You have precisely sixty seconds. If that door isn’t open in time, even if opened later, I will not leave. When my absence from the show makes headlines, this recording will be published. What will people think?]
‘What will people think?’ They would believe Sophia deliberately trapped Isabella all day!
Fury contorted Sophia’s features. She desperately wished to eliminate Isabella, but the clock was ticking. Reluctantly, she dialed her assistant. “Lillian! Unlock the door now! Immediately! You have one minute!”
“What? Why the sudden change?”
“No questions! Just do it! A second late, and you’ll regret it deeply,” Sophia threatened viciously.
Terrified, Lillian ended the call. She grabbed a hammer and frantically smashed the heavy metal chain bolting the door. It had been securely fastened high on the doorframe, impossible to breach from inside. Destroying what she had painstakingly installed took immense effort. Within the minute, sweat soaked her clothes as the lock finally gave way.
The door swung open. Isabella Montgomery emerged, a vision in a crimson gown. Her captivating gaze locked onto Lillian’s. “Have my door repaired. Inform Sophia she wasted thirty-five minutes of my time. She will transfer three hundred and fifty thousand dollars as compensation.”
No.2
Three hundred and fifty thousand? That was outright robbery. Was she insane?
Isabella wanted to retaliate but Victoria had already swept past her. The sharp staccato of silver heels echoed through the hallway. Every line of her retreating figure radiated unshakable arrogance.
Click. Clack. Click.
Isabella stood frozen, watching until Victoria disappeared from view. Only then did she fumble for her phone. “Sophia, we almost had her! Why did we back down? You should’ve seen her attitude. She demanded I pay for her new door. Claimed we wasted thirty-five minutes of her precious time. She wants three hundred and fifty thousand!”
Three hundred and fifty thousand?
Rage boiled through Sophia. But the memory of that recorded call made her vicious. “This is your entire fault! Why did you call me back? She has the whole conversation! You’re utterly useless.” Her voice was a shrill whip. “The money comes from your salary. Ten thousand a month until it’s paid.”
A monthly deduction of ten thousand? Her entire salary was only twenty! Sophia hung up before she could protest. Arguing was pointless. She was trapped.
Fuming, Sophia quickly typed a warning to Victoria. [She’s dangerous. Got a recording of my call. Tell Alexander to be careful. She’s planning something.]
Victoria read the message, her face darkening. She had manipulated Sophia last night, fueling her hatred, using her as a weapon against Isabella. This defeat was infuriating. If Isabella made it to the show… if she actually won… Would Alexander be forced to humiliate himself live?
No.3
Never. She needed another plan.
A cruel idea sparked in her eyes. She turned and strode away without another word.
…
Isabella stood by the roadside outside her manor, waiting. Her booked car had canceled during the confrontation with Lillian. Rush hour meant scarce availability. She was going to be late. Walking was her only option, hoping to flag down a passing car.
The roar of engines interrupted her thoughts. A fleet of luxury sports cars screeched to a halt, encircling her. The lead vehicle was a black Porsche, its sleek body gleaming. Absurdly, its lights, rims, and door handles were painted a garish pink. The clash of colors was tacky, trying too hard to be feminine.
Victoria sat in the passenger seat, makeup flawless, features sharp. She wore a pristine white dress, playing the part of the elegant princess. Her aura was pure condescension.
The other cars held her equally wealthy, sneering friends. Their laughter was sharp and mocking.
“Victoria, isn’t this your charity case sister? The one who boasts about owning hundreds of supercars? The ten-billion-dollar better? Why is she walking?”
“Anyone can lie. I could say I own a thousand jets. Doesn’t make it true.”
No.4
“Look at her clothes. Some no-name brand. Lives in the middle of nowhere but talks about billions? She’s a joke. A pathetic one.”
“Please, don’t be cruel. She’s still family.” Victoria’s voice was a sickly sweet simper. She offered a fake, sympathetic smile. “Isabella, you only had to ask. My parents give me a new car every birthday. My garage is overflowing. I’d have given you one. There’s no need for this… walking.”
She poured on the false concern. “Are you going to the show? You’ll be late. Get in. I’ll drive you.” She stepped out and opened the rear door. A large, drooling pug occupied the seat, its fur matted and dirty. It took up most of the space.
The plan was obvious. Get Isabella in the car. Let the dog ‘accidentally’ bite her. A scratch on her face would be ideal. No model with fresh wounds could walk the runway.
Isabella let out a cold, dismissive laugh. Did Victoria truly think she was this stupid? “You think I’d get in that ridiculous eyesore?” Her scorn was palpable. “You believe your cheap, tasteless car is a favor?”
Cheap? Tasteless?
A stunned silence fell. The sheer audacity of the insult left everyone breathless. Even Victoria was momentarily speechless, her perfect mask finally cracking.
Victoria’s friends immediately erupted at Isabella’s insult.
“Isabella Montgomery, you’re nothing but a rabid dog biting the hand that feeds you. Can’t tell the difference between kindness and malice? Victoria offered you a ride out of the goodness of her heart. How dare you speak to her like that?”
No.5
“What are you even yapping about, you adopted stray? This is a limited edition Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. Only twenty exist in the entire world. It costs over forty million. You should be grateful just to lay eyes on it!”
“Exactly! If you’re so great, why don’t you show up in a better car? All you do is talk. It’s pathetic!”
Their words were venomous. Isabella’s face tightened with disdain. She didn’t even bother to respond.
The girls laughed, mistaking her silence for shame.
“Look at her! She has nothing to say! What a joke!”
“Her lies are catching up to her! She deserves every bit of this!”
“Please, everyone, don’t be so harsh on my sister,” Victoria interjected, her voice dripping with false concern. “Maybe she just doesn’t like Silas. It might not be about the car. Perhaps she’s uncomfortable sitting with him.” She turned to Isabella with a saccharine smile. “I can let you sit in the passenger seat if you prefer. Come on, we don’t want to be late.”
She pushed the passenger door open. Even from the front, she could make sure Silas got a good bite. Maybe he’d even take her head clean off.
Victoria’s friends were clueless about her dark intentions. They only saw her generosity.
No.6
“Victoria is such a saint! Isabella Montgomery, what are you waiting for? You ungrateful wretch!”
“Yeah, hurry up! Never been in a car this expensive before? Cat got your tongue?”
“She’s probably never even seen one! How hilarious!”
As they sneered, a shadow blurred past them and pulled to a smooth stop nearby.
The car was a stunning matte black, crafted from carbon fiber and titanium alloy. Its design screamed cutting-edge luxury. The LED headlights glinted with what looked like actual diamond dust.
One of the girls shrieked in recognition. “That’s a Hypersport! There are only seven of those on the planet!”
The group erupted in excitement.
“A Hypersport is worth over a billion! It’s the rarest supercar in existence!”
“I heard the seats are hand-stitched with gold thread. The headlights alone are embedded with diamonds worth a Rolls-Royce.”
No.7
“That’s the exact model that jumped between skyscrapers in that movie! The real deal!”
Who could possibly own such an incredible machine? Everyone held their breath, staring at the door.
It opened. A man in a tailored suit stepped out.
Though he was just a driver, he carried himself with a commanding presence that outshone any male model. But what he did next was even more shocking.
He stood rigidly by the car and announced, “Miss Montgomery, I’m here on behalf of my employer to escort you. Please come with me.”
Miss Montgomery? He was here for Victoria Kensington?
“Oh my god, Victoria! Since when do you know someone like that? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I’m so jealous! Victoria, please, can I just touch it? Just once?”
They gazed at her with pure adoration.