Chapter 1048
No.1
This was it.
Isabella was making her move.
A special alert blasted across social media.
Breaking: Isabella Montgomery has a new official account!
Everyone scrambled for their phones. Even Anthony, now Nathaniel Blackwood, paused his work to look.
Her profile bio read: ‘A background character in a past life. Find your true power in Crimson. Unlock your star potential. Transformation starts with Red. Live your main character story.’
Below it, a gallery of photos. A video.
The video showed Isabella in a home gym.
She wore a crimson sports bra and matching leggings.
No.2
The vibrant red against her porcelain skin was striking. Breathtaking.
She punched a sandbag. Again. Again. Sweat glistened on her skin.
Her face was bare. No makeup. Yet, she was stunning.
The photos were comparisons.
One side: Sage Green. The other: Crimson.
An old, "ugly" photo next to a styled Guci crimson shot.
A side-by-side with Victoria Kensington in Sage Green versus Isabella in Crimson.
Every single comparison was night and day.
In every frame, the Crimson version won. It was undeniable.
No.3
Isabella’s new account exploded.
Thousands of supporters, real people and netizens, rallied behind her.
They clashed with Victoria’s fans, shifting the online narrative.
(Her workout face is so fresh and natural! Zero makeup! Zero surgery!)
(Isabella is devastatingly beautiful in Crimson!)
(Did they pick Sage Green to make people look bad? Even a beauty like Isabella looks washed out in it.)
(True! In the group photo, the Sage Green makes her fade into the background. I barely saw her!)
(What a shame. It can make a supermodel and a diamond CEO look average. Avoid it! I’m steering clear.)
(I love her bio: Find your true power in Crimson!)
No.4
(Yes! I want to buy the Crimson line! I want to live my main character story! No more being a side character.)
The tide turned instantly.
The side-by-side comparisons were too powerful. The evidence was clear.
Whether it was Isabella or top model Victoria Kensington, Crimson was superior. It was the color of victory.
Ruby Red could transform your entire look instantly. It made you impossible to ignore.
Avocado Green was fresh, but it was a background color. It was meant for blending in, not standing out.
Most people wouldn't spend a fortune just to be noticed. But Guci's clientele was different. They were the elite. Movie stars. Socialites. Tycoons. These women were used to being the center of attention. They never settled for second best.
So the sales shift was dramatic. Avocado Green's early lead vanished. It was completely obliterated by the massive surge in Ruby Red orders. The numbers weren't even close. Ruby Red outsold it by more than ten to one.
Julian Hawthorne and his team were stunned. So was Genevieve Beaumont, who had been waiting for Isabella's downfall. No one saw this masterstroke coming. Isabella had orchestrated it all. She let those "unflattering" photos leak. She didn't suppress them. She amplified them. It was all a setup for her grand reveal. The stunning Ruby Red photos were her knockout punch.
No.5
Everyone forgot the real competition wasn't about beauty or popularity. It was about sales. Those "ugly" pictures were Isabella's secret weapon all along.
Over at Blackwood Corporation, Oliver was ecstatic. "Yes! Mommy is a genius! She's the smartest! I want to be just like her!"
"That's not all," Nathaniel stated coolly. He pulled out his phone and called Dominic Sterling. "Transfer fifty million. Use it to boost Isabella's campaign. Flood every platform with her Twitter post," he commanded. He wanted her message seen by the entire world.
With a fifty-million-dollar push, Isabella's face was everywhere. Her caption was analyzed, shared, and memed. People scrutinized the photos. Her features were the same. The transformation was in the color. The Ruby Red collection, combined with the right makeup, created pure magic. It was alchemy.
Even those who never used Twitter were suddenly craving red. Ruby Red became the undisputed color of the season. All because of Isabella Montgomery. Her caption—"Embrace the red. Unleash your inner success. Live your life like the star you are!"—became a viral sensation. Businesses adopted it. It inspired a generation of young women. Her comeback was legendary.
Meanwhile, at a private SJAQ atelier, Victoria was being fitted. She stood in a dazzling blue gown that shimmered like a galaxy. A circle of socialites showered her with praise.
"Absolutely breathtaking!"
"Victoria, you must wear this to accept your award. You'll break the internet! All the headlines will be yours!"
Victoria smiled, basking in the adoration. "Oh, stop it, you're too kind," she demurred, feigning humility. "Nothing is guaranteed yet."
No.6
"Who else could possibly win? In our world, you're untouchable," one heiress insisted.
"Besides, you've definitely won the Guci face-off! You're a shoo-in for the 'Most Valuable Commercial Model Award' now!" another added.
The 'Most Valuable Commercial Model Award' carried immense weight. It wasn't just prestige; it was pure commercial power. The winner was guaranteed a flood of lucrative endorsements. Brands always chose the MVCM over the Top Supermodel. It meant business.
Last year, Arabella Fontaine won it. This year…
A triumphant smile played on Victoria's lips. She didn't need to say anything. She carried herself with the haughty grace of a victor.
Suddenly, her agent, Isadora, burst into the room. Her face was pale. "Victoria! It's a disaster! Something terrible has happened!"
Victoria Kensington was clearly upset, but they were in a public place. Throwing a tantrum would ruin her image. She forced a sweet smile. "What's going on, Isadora? Take your time and explain."
Isadora Vasquez felt all eyes on them. She understood why Victoria was being so polite. For a moment, she was speechless. One of the socialites seemed to guess the news. "It can't be," the woman probed. "Did Victoria lose the competition?"
"That's impossible," another heiress exclaimed. "She practically had it in the bag. How could she lose?" The crowd gathered closer. They began pulling out their phones to check the news.
No.7
The complexions of the socialites instantly paled. Victoria sensed the shift. She snatched the phone from Isadora's hand. Her eyes scanned the headlines. The entire internet was obsessed with Isabella Montgomery's new tagline and platform. Furthermore, Isabella's endorsed fashion line, 'Midnight Iris,' had completely sold out.
In stark contrast, the sales of Victoria's 'Crimson Blush' collection were minuscule. Only a hundred sets were purchased by her most loyal fans. It was a total defeat. Her expression said it all. The onlookers immediately began making excuses.
"Victoria, we just remembered something urgent. We have to go. We'll catch up later." They scurried away like frightened mice.
From a distance, a low voice carried over. "Hmph. She was trying on gowns way too early. Did she really think she'd win this year's prize? Someone finally put her in her place!"
Rage consumed Victoria. Her palms curled into tight fists. Her jaw clenched so hard it ached. Those disloyal social climbers always flocked to the next big thing. She would make them pay one day.
A boutique assistant approached timidly. "Miss Kensington, are you purchasing the gown? Store policy states that even VIPs cannot try on a gown for more than five minutes..."
Victoria's face darkened like a storm cloud. Even this lowly shop girl dared to disrespect her! In the past, she would try on gowns for over ten minutes without a word. The audacity! Isadora saw Victoria's fury and feared she might collapse.
"We'll take it!" Isadora declared to the assistant. "Of course she's buying it! Here's my card. Please give us some privacy." She handed over her card and quickly guided Victoria into a private fitting room.
Once inside, Victoria's composure shattered. She grabbed the nearest object and hurled it across the room. "That witch, Isabella! How dare she! How could she be so vile! How could she defeat me!" she screamed.