Chapter 13
No.1
Oliver Blackwood had been quietly browsing on his tablet when he suddenly shot up, bursting with excitement. “Mommy is so cool! I’ve never seen anyone this awesome! I’m totally her biggest fan!”
“You’re a boy,” Nathaniel stated flatly, moving Oliver aside as he opened his laptop.
Oliver pouted, confused. “Daddy, so many people are bullying your wife. How can you just sit there and work? You’re so cold!”
“Quiet. I’m handling Mommy’s situation,” Nathaniel murmured, his tone mysterious yet compelling.
That could be fixed.
With a few deft keystrokes, the headline instantly changed to:
The video began with Professor Zero, a man in his mid-sixties with distinguished grey hair, addressing the camera.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Professor Zero, a National Photo Analyst. As many of you know, I work for the government, specializing in verifying the authenticity of various images and assisting departments in validating evidence from crime scenes.
“Recently, I came across a highly discussed topic and decided to use my resources to clarify the truth. Honestly, I’ve been a longtime admirer of Victoria Kensington. She embodies purity and diligence, and I’ve even encouraged my granddaughter to aspire to her accomplishments at such a young age!
No.2
“Therefore, when I saw that controversial photo of her, I was deeply troubled by the false accusations. I took some time to analyze this image to determine if it was altered with Photoshop or AI tools.”
Professor Zero turned the camera to his computer screen, launching a complex software program. As it loaded, he continued, “This is a advanced photo analysis tool, available only to certified professionals. It can detect any form of manipulation or artificial merging in photographs.
“Normally, this software is reserved for critical government projects. However, I obtained special permission to use it today to help everyone uncover the truth.”
He uploaded Victoria’s image into the program. A progress bar appeared:
[Processing: 9%]
Within seconds, lines of complex code filled the screen. The professor turned back to the camera, his expression earnest. “This is the program analyzing the photo’s data. It’s processing every detail.”
He scrolled through the data as he spoke. Suddenly, his aged hand stilled, trembling slightly.
[The image is 100% authentic]
The words were unmistakable.
No.3
Instantly, the comments beneath the video exploded.
[This can’t be right! Victoria would never take such a photo! Is this a mistake?]
[It has to be an error! Professor Zero is a respected expert; he wouldn’t fabricate this. Plus, only government officials have access to that software. The results are legitimate.]
[So Victoria actually took that photo? I can’t believe she’s that kind of person.]
[Well, if you think about it, no one is that pure and perfect. She’s been deceiving everyone all along.]
Negative comments flooded the forum. The topics that had been attacking Isabella now shifted to:
#The-photo-is-real
#Professor-Zero
The photo had been verified by Professor Zero. There was nothing her fans could do to defend her.
No.4
Victoria’s reputation was permanently stained.
Inside the Montgomery Manor…
Victoria Kensington collapsed onto the sofa, trembling uncontrollably.
‘How did this happen? Everything was perfect… How did it all go so wrong? Why would Professor Zero destroy my reputation like this if he claimed to be my fan? And he published that clip!’ Her thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Just then, Alexander Whitmore entered the room, dressed in a flawlessly tailored suit. “Victoria, what’s this about the pho—”
“It’s all lies! Complete nonsense!” Victoria snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Alexander froze. He had never seen Victoria in such a state before.
Realizing it was him, she quickly composed herself and rushed to his side, her voice trembling with feigned distress.
“Alexander, my love, I didn’t mean to shout. I’m just so hurt by Isabella.” She let bitterness seep into her tone. “I’ve always treated her well, except for that one incident five years ago. I never imagined she could be so vicious. Who knows what she’s been doing in Africa all this time? Making money, buying properties, even befriending Professor Zero. She probably paid him off to fabricate that analysis. We both know nothing about photo forensics. He could say anything and get away with it!”
No.5
She trembled as she cried, making it seem as though Isabella had committed an unspeakable betrayal. “Alexander, we’ve known each other since childhood. Do you really believe I’m capable of such things? Why would I ever sabotage my own reputation?” Her performance was so convincing it was almost flawless.
“Please, don’t cry. I trust you completely.” Alexander pulled her into an embrace, gently rubbing her back. “I can’t believe Isabella Montgomery has turned so malicious in just five years.”
Victoria pushed him away gently, feigning fear. “Yes, and she’ll come after us for revenge. After all, I did accidentally push her down the stairs, and you… you kicked her. With the power she has now, she’ll stop at nothing to destroy us.”
“Ha! She won’t stand a chance,” Alexander scoffed. “Don’t worry about this. She’s wronged you twice now. I won’t let it slide.” After settling her comfortably on the sofa, he picked up his phone and logged into his Twitter account, which boasted millions of followers.
Over the past five years, Alexander’s parents had retired and handed him the family business, making him the CEO of Whitmore Enterprises.
Originally ranked among the 'Top Ten Most Successful Companies' in the nation, Whitmore Enterprises owned shopping malls, theaters, hotels, travel agencies, and more. Under Alexander’s ruthless yet charismatic leadership, coupled with his savvy social media marketing, the company had climbed into the top five.
Even Theodore Montgomery admired his capabilities and approved of Alexander’s relationship with Victoria. However, they couldn’t officially get engaged until Isabella returned the engagement token, a fact that had fueled their resentment toward her over the years.
Alexander composed a tweet and tagged Isabella.
[Laughable. “Wait until tomorrow night”? Only a fraud like you would spout such nonsense! If you actually make it to the show tomorrow, I, Alexander Whitmore, will owe you 100 million! @IsabellaMontgomery]
No.6
As the youngest, wealthiest, and most handsome CEO, he was dubbed the 'National Husband' by his over 40 million followers. Within seconds, his post garnered over 200,000 replies.
[Ahhh! My husband finally tweeted! So commanding and fierce!]
[Even our National Husband can’t stand that witch Isabella Montgomery!]
[Rumor has it Alexander Whitmore is dating Victoria Kensington. Is he defending her?]
[That’s irrelevant! Didn’t Isabella tell us to wait until tomorrow night? If she’s so capable, why is she hiding?]
Unbeknownst to them, Isabella had long logged off her account and was working out in her private gym at Rosewood Manor.
As her agent, Julian Hawthorne was tasked with monitoring the situation. After Professor Zero’s video went viral, he expected the hate toward Isabella to die down, but the attacks quickly resumed, especially with Alexander’s involvement. He had no choice but to leave the sofa and bring this to Isabella’s attention.
In the gym, Isabella was dressed in form-fitting workout attire, relentlessly punching a heavy bag. Sweat glistened on her toned body, her damp skin highlighting her untamed beauty.
Julian, like any man would, was momentarily captivated, but he quickly shook off the distraction. “Isabella, your ex-boyfriend just declared war on Twitter,” he said. “Do you have a moment?”
No.7
Ex-Fiancé?
“Alexander Whitmore? That disgusting piece of trash?” Isabella’s expression darkened instantly.
“Correct. He issued a public challenge. If you manage to win over the audience with your charm, he’ll owe you one hundred million dollars,” Julian Hawthorne stated calmly.
She scoffed. “Do I look like I need an extra hundred million?” Turning back to her training, she delivered a powerful blow to the heavy bag.
Thump!
The hundred-pound bag swung violently from the impact.