Chapter 1065
No.1
Her words, though gentle on the surface, were a blatant attempt at bribery. She was offering more money to buy his silence.
Silas felt a pang of sympathy for the beautiful, distressed girl. But one thought of how Maxwell had dragged him here made him shudder violently. "I'm not in trouble! I'm not facing any hardships! And I'm not lying! I have proof!"
He fumbled for his phone, holding it up high for everyone to see. "This is surveillance footage from my security cameras! Everyone, watch closely!"
All attention focused on the screen. The video was crystal clear.
The footage showed a dimly lit basement. A woman clad entirely in black, a mask obscuring part of her face, was handing a stack of cash to the scarred man. In return, he handed her a small medicine bottle.
The woman was unmistakably Isadora Vasquez. Her height, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, even the partially visible profile—it was all a perfect match.
A second video played. It showed Isadora walking backstage at the Mercedes Auto show, carrying a box of water bottles. She distributed them to the crew. Everyone thanked her. She even kindly helped arrange the strawberries on the display. Then, when no one was looking, she discreetly poured the contents of the medicine bottle over the strawberry tower.
The evidence was undeniable.
The atmosphere in the room erupted.
No.2
"It was Isadora! She works for Victoria!"
"Oh my god! I can't believe it! Victoria had her buy the drug and frame Isabella!"
"She pretended to be Isabella's biggest supporter. She acted so genuine, so nice! All this time, she was pure evil!"
"She's a master of deception! She played every single one of us for fools!"
"We should have realized. That drug is only stable in liquid form. The video Victoria showed earlier had to be a fake! It was fabricated!"
"Not only did they frame Isabella, but they also manufactured evidence to ensure her conviction!"
A wave of angry accusations crashed over Victoria. The crowd stared at her with undisguised contempt and disgust.
Reporters raised their cameras, flashes popping incessantly. Influencers pointed their phones directly at her, broadcasting the scandal live to their audiences.
Even Eleanor, who had defended her so fiercely, looked at Victoria with utter disbelief. "Victoria," she asked, her voice shaking. "What is the meaning of this?"
No.3
This was the daughter she trusted and cherished above all others. Could she truly be capable of such monstrous deceit?
Victoria stood frozen, her face a ghostly white.
How could this be happening?
Isadora had assured her everything was handled. How could this damning evidence still exist?
Her anxiety spiked to unprecedented levels.
Yet she maintained that pitiful mask perfectly.
"It's fabricated," Victoria whispered hoarsely. "This video is completely fake. Someone engineered this to destroy me. I would never harm my own sister like this."
One of Victoria's loyal friends quickly rallied. "Exactly! If Gabriella's footage was manipulated, this could be too!"
Eleanor snapped out of her stunned silence.
No.4
She immediately moved to shield Victoria, her body a protective barrier.
She fixed a furious glare on Silas. "Who paid you to create these lies? Why are you targeting my daughter? I raised Victoria myself! She is incapable of such monstrous acts!"
Her defense was fierce, unwavering.
Isabella watched from the sidelines, a cold, knowing smile touching her lips.
The stark contrast was not lost on her.
Had she been the one accused, Eleanor's hand would have already struck her face.
But for Victoria? Only fierce protection.
Eleanor was about to learn the brutal truth about her precious, perfect daughter.
Isabella's gaze shifted back to Silas, her voice cutting through the tension. "Your credibility is being questioned. Presenting forged evidence in a court of law carries a sentence of up to three years."
No.5
Three years in prison.
Silas's legs nearly buckled beneath him.
He was already a wanted man, cooperating with Maxwell for a chance at leniency.
He turned desperately to the lead officer. "I swear on my life this video is authentic! If there's a single fabricated frame, sentence me to death! Verify it yourselves! Go to the black market! Retrieve the hidden security footage! You'll find Miss Martinez clear as day there!"
His eyes darted wildly between Victoria and Gabriella. "Only black market insiders know about that camera. It can't be tampered with! It can't be erased! Nothing escapes its lens!"
Gabriella's face drained of all color.
She had been so careful to avoid all visible cameras that night.
The existence of a hidden one was a catastrophic oversight.
This could ruin her completely.
No.6
The lead officer immediately dispatched a team to investigate, forcing a terrified Silas to guide them.
If his claim was verified, she was finished.
A frantic calculation sparked in Victoria's eyes.
Suddenly.
Slap!
A sharp crack echoed as her palm connected brutally with Gabriella's cheek.
"How could you!" Victoria cried out, her voice laced with manufactured agony. "Gabriella! Why would you frame my sister? I treated you like family! Like my own blood! How could you commit such an evil act against her!"
The force of the blow sent Gabriella stumbling to the floor.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
No.7
She was dazed, struggling to process the sudden betrayal.
The realization dawned cold and hard.
Victoria was sacrificing her.
Of course. Victoria's career, her future, couldn't be tarnished.
She was the top model. She had to remain pristine.
Gabriella remained on the cold floor, sobs beginning to wrack her body.
–
"It's my fault," she wept, the words catching in her throat. "I was blind with rage. I couldn't stand watching Isabella constantly overshadow you. You were always so kind to her, and she repaid you with nothing but schemes. I just... I just wanted to get revenge for you!"
"Unbelievable!" Victoria shrieked, her performance flawless.