Chapter 1260
No.1
He was only her agent, after all. He wouldn’t be staying at her manor. Isabella locked the door behind him and went to bed early.
Victoria, however, wasn’t so relaxed.
She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Something felt off. Isabella had returned as a completely different person. It was shocking that she could afford the black-green meteorite. As Alexander’s lover, it would be humiliating if he lost the bet.
An idea suddenly sparked in her mind. She got out of bed and knocked on Sophia’s door.
The door opened, revealing Sophia’s confused expression. “Victoria, you’re still awake?”
“Mhm… I can’t stop thinking about Isabella. I’m worried about you,” Victoria sighed.
Sophia frowned. “Worried about me? Why?”
“Oh, Sophia… You saw what Isabella posted online. She’s building an image of being ‘bold and arrogant,’ just like you. And she’s being even more flashy about it.” Victoria paused. “If she dazzles everyone at the show tomorrow night, she might just replace you.”
“Replace me? Is she even capable?” Sophia retorted mockingly, eyeing Victoria. “Victoria, have you lost your mind? I’ve been in this industry for five years. I may not be as popular as you, but I’m one of the country’s top ten supermodels. She’s a nobody. How could she possibly replace me?”
No.2
Victoria gripped her hand tightly. “Sophia, the fact that Chanel signed her today proves she has talent. Haven’t you noticed how different she is now? Don’t underestimate her.”
Sophia recalled Isabella’s striking presence on stage. Her face was mesmerizing. Any woman would envy her beauty. Those long, perfectly sculpted legs.
A sudden sense of danger prickled under Sophia’s skin. “Don’t worry. I’ll give it my all. I’ll practice my runway walk right now.”
“One more thing, Sophia: take care of yourself. Isabella has already targeted me twice since she returned. I’m afraid she might come after you, too. Be careful,” Victoria warned softly. “But these are just my suspicions. Isabella is still family. Be kind to her. Don’t make things worse.”
As Victoria disappeared from view, Sophia’s expression darkened. Harm her? Replace her? Over her dead body.
She pulled out her phone and made a call.
…
By 8 a.m. the next day, the entire internet was buzzing about Chanel’s live stream. Isabella woke up early to prepare. But as she was about to leave, she found the door jammed. She tried the knob repeatedly. It was locked from the outside.
She was almost impressed. Someone had the audacity to pull such a childish, low-level stunt right under her nose. Fine. She’d play along.
No.3
A cold smirk curled her lips. Instead of forcing the door, she turned back inside.
A woman stood guard by the door, her eyes fixed intently. She smirked in satisfaction when the doorknob finally ceased its movement. Confident, she pulled out her phone to report. “Miss Sophia, the plan is proceeding perfectly. Isabella is securely trapped inside.”
“Excellent. Maintain your watch. Ensure she remains confined,” Sophia Kensington replied, her voice dripping with sly approval.
After ending the call, the woman settled into her chair, crossing her legs with a sense of accomplishment.
‘Isabella believes she can use the Chanel show to elevate her status and overshadow Victoria? How delusional. She’s now imprisoned in her own home,’ Sophia thought, smugly convinced that Isabella’s ambitions would crumble.
Isabella had audaciously accepted a wager against Alexander. If she failed to even leave her residence, her humiliation would be absolute.
Sophia chuckled darkly to herself. The image of Isabella becoming a laughingstock online was immensely gratifying.
Her private celebration was abruptly interrupted. A new contact request appeared on WhatsApp from the Montgomery family group. The profile was a stark black image, the username simply ‘Boss Montgomery’.
Who was this? Some relative? Cautiously, Sophia accepted the request. Before she could type a question, a voice message arrived.
No.4
[Miss Sophia, everything is going as planned. Isabella can’t get out.]
[Good work. Keep watching, and make sure she doesn’t come out.]
It was the exact recording of her call with her assistant!
Her phone buzzed again with a text from ‘Boss Montgomery’. [Sophia Kensington. Order your assistant to unlock my door immediately. Fail to comply, and I will release this recording publicly. You will share Victoria Kensington’s fate.]
Sophia’s face drained of color. So, ‘Boss Montgomery’ was Isabella Montgomery.
Her fingers flew across the screen in rage. [Isabella! How did you obtain this recording? Are you spying on me? This is illegal!]
A swift reply followed.
[So is unlawfully confining someone. This constitutes the crime of false imprisonment. Under Criminal Law, Article 238, it carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, criminal detention, or deprivation of political rights!]
Sophia paled further. Was Isabella seriously threatening her with legal statutes? The repercussions of the recording going viral would be catastrophic. Her reputation would be destroyed.
No.5
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.6
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.7
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.”