Chapter 1056
No.1
Her expression remained unreadable. “Accusations require evidence,” she stated, her voice cutting through the tension. “Without it, you’re committing slander. I will not hesitate to pursue legal action.” Her tone was ice, leaving no room for argument.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Victoria feigned weakness, her voice a fragile whisper. “She’s right… We need proof. I know my sister… She could never do this.” She then turned pleading eyes toward Nathaniel Blackwood and Archibald Worthington. “Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Worthington… Everyone is still here. The investigation must start immediately.”
“The strawberries were eaten recently. Evidence might still be found. The container… other clues… Please, call the police. We must clear my sister’s name…” She coughed violently, pretending to fight through agony for Isabella’s sake.
Gabriella Martinez rushed to support her. “Victoria, don’t speak! Save your strength!”
Isabella suppressed an eye-roll. The performance was nauseating. A wolf playing the sacrificial lamb. This move was clever. It discredited Isabella and simultaneously won the sympathy of the other models.
Seraphina Delacroix’s agent shouted, “Yes, involve the police! Find who did this to my Seraphina!”
“We demand justice!” another model cried out.
Eunice Kerr’s replacement, Genevieve Laurent, glared at Nathaniel. “This happened at your event! If you protect the guilty party, our fans will ruin you!”
Nathaniel’s face darkened. His gaze turned dangerously cold. “The police will be called. Not because of your threats. But to find the truth.” His piercing eyes briefly landed on Victoria, seeing through her facade. He gave a slight nod to his assistant, Julian Prescott, who immediately pulled out his phone.
No.2
A chill ran down Victoria’s spine. Nathaniel’s gaze always felt like it could strip her soul bare. Could he know? ‘No. Impossible,’ she reassured herself. Her plan was flawless. Days of meticulous preparation left no trace. The police would find nothing pointing to her. Everything would lead back to Isabella.
‘Just wait, Isabella. Your future is behind bars,’ she thought, a hidden smirk forming behind her mask of pain. She bowed her head, pretending to be overcome by illness.
The police arrived swiftly after the call. A thorough investigation commenced backstage and in the main hall. Everyone who touched the strawberries was a suspect. Test strips were used on fingertips to detect poison residue.
Nothing was found.
Suddenly, Gabriella blurted out, “Isabella must be tested too! She handled the strawberries first! She had the perfect opportunity—”
“Gabriella! Stop!” Victoria frantically tried to pull her back, putting on a show. “Don’t listen to her! She’s talking nonsense! My sister is not a suspect! She doesn’t need to be tested…”
Officer Donovan Pierce stepped forward, test strip in hand. “Anyone who had contact will be tested.” He moved toward Isabella. A sense of foreboding settled in her gut…
Isabella Montgomery was forced into a chair. Her eyes widened as Officer Donovan Pierce approached.
He extended the test strip toward her. "Ms. Montgomery," he instructed, "briefly pinch this with your fingers."
No.3
The strip was partially damp, embedded with complex components. Any trace of halophilic bacteria on her skin would trigger a color change from white to purple.
The crowd turned on her, voices sharp with accusation. "You claimed innocence! Hurry up and do it!"
"Where's that arrogance now? Prove it!"
"Scared? We need to see the results!"
The taunts grew into a deafening roar. Cornered, Isabella had no choice. She reached out. Her fingers squeezed the strip.
It turned purple immediately.
She was guilty. The evidence was on her fingertips.
"I knew it! It's her! She's pure evil!"
"Just over some petty arguments? How could she poison us?"
No.4
"She's a viper! You'll pay for our medical bills! And our trauma! And our lost wages!"
The models erupted in fury, hurling abuse. Nathaniel Blackwood watched, his brow furrowed. This was unexpected. The cunning Isabella Montgomery, trapped?
Yet, she sat perfectly composed. A cold smile touched her red lips. Victoria had outdone herself this time. The plan was clever.
Isabella deduced the poison was on the juice bottle Veronica had handed her. She had contaminated her own hand disposing of it.
Since they wanted to play this game, she would play. And she would make it interesting.
Officer Pierce produced handcuffs. "Ms. Montgomery, you are under arrest for the intentional poisoning of your colleagues. Come with us."
"Fine," she replied, her tone breezy. She stood in one fluid motion. A swish of her long hair. She walked toward the police car, her steps confident, her aura undiminished.
She didn't look like a criminal being arrested. She looked like a CEO heading to a board meeting.
The crowd stared, baffled. No explanations? No denials? What was happening?
No.5
"She's scared stiff with the evidence," someone muttered.
The officers ignored them and got into the car. Victoria struggled to her feet, feigning weakness. "No... This is a mistake. It can't be my sister... She isn't capable of this. Please, don't take her."
"Victoria," Gabriella reasoned, "the evidence is right there. Why defend her? She's just an adopted orphan. Who knows what kind of criminals her real parents were!"
Victoria clutched Gabriella's shirt, her performance flawless. "Gabriella, I know her. She's not like that. Please, call Mother and Father. Have them hire the best detectives. Find the truth!"
Her face was a mask of frantic worry, perfectly convincing. Gabriella played her part with equal skill. It was a masterclass in deception.
The police car began to pull away.
The car door slammed shut.
Chris let out a piercing scream.
He bolted forward, tiny legs pumping furiously. "Mommy! Mommy!"
No.6
Nathaniel scooped him up in one swift motion. A large hand covered the boy's mouth, muffling the desperate cries.
He carried the struggling child through the main doors. The police car was already gone, vanished into the city streets.
Chris thrashed violently. He sank his teeth into Nathaniel's hand with all his strength.
Nathaniel's brow furrowed. He didn't release his grip. He shoved the boy into the backseat and slammed the car door.
The interior fell silent except for choked sobs. Chris realized they were alone. No bodyguards. No driver.
Tears streamed down his face. "Daddy! Why? Why did you stop me? Mommy needs us! She's innocent! I know she is!"
His small fists pounded against Nathaniel's chest. "Did you stop loving her? You're a traitor! A monster!"
Nathaniel caught the flailing hands. His voice was low and firm. "Enough. The authorities are handling this. What exactly did you plan to do?"
"I...I would have thought of something! I couldn't just watch them take her!" Chris wailed, his body shaking with grief.
No.7
"She wasn't taken," Nathaniel stated calmly. "She went with them willingly. There's a difference."
Chris sniffled loudly, confusion replacing some of the anger. "Huh?"
"Think," Nathaniel said, his tone softening slightly. "Remember all the other times? The impossible situations your mother has escaped?"
Chris nodded slowly, a flicker of hope in his wet eyes. "Mommy always fixes everything. She's amazing." His voice dropped to a worried whisper. "But this time...there's evidence. Real evidence. And it's a serious crime. How can she get out of this?"
"Trust her," Nathaniel replied, his gaze steady. "Has she ever truly failed you? Be quiet now. I will take you to see her."
"Okay," Chris whispered, wiping his face on his sleeve. Nathaniel sighed inwardly. Parenting was exhausting. First, he needed to check on Isabella.
The story exploded across every major news outlet within the hour.
[12 INTERNATIONAL SUPERMODELS POISONED.]
The headline screamed. [Initial reports indicate a backstage dispute led designer Isabella Montgomery to poison twelve supermodels. The victims include global sensation Seraphina Delacroix, America's sweetheart Victoria Kensington, and fiery French model Genevieve Laurent. All twelve received immediate medical attention. While Victoria Kensington has remained silent, the other eleven models are demanding a public apology, criminal charges, and fifty million dollars in individual compensation.]