Chapter 1300
No.1
(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.
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.
No.2
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."
"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.
No.3
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.
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.
No.4
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.
'The winner should have been me,' Victoria seethed internally. 'Everyone's admiration should be mine!' If her plan had succeeded, the Guci launch would have been a triumph. The 'Most Valuable Commercial Model Award' would have been hers. Now, everything was ruined.
Isadora watched the meltdown with deep distress. "Victoria, I never expected Isabella to pull such a stunt. I know you're furious. Let it all out. Once you're done, we need to find a solution."
"A solution?" Victoria spat with bitter defeat. "What solution? Have you seen what the netizens are saying? They're all laughing at me! Can't you see how Isabella is overshadowing me completely?" She roughly tossed Isadora's phone back to her.
Isadora didn't have time to react. The phone struck the back of her hand with a sharp thud. Pain shot through her, but she felt no anger. Only profound sorrow filled her heart. The more she saw Victoria suffer, the worse she felt.
No.5
She picked up her phone and stepped forward. She wrapped her arms around a trembling Victoria. "Tori, if you need to cry, then cry. You don't have to hold back with me. If you need to hit me or scream at me, do it. This is my fault as your manager. I failed you."
“I gave your mother my word that I would protect you, yet I…” Isadora’s voice broke, thick with emotion.
Victoria stared at the angry red mark on her hand before lifting her gaze. Her agent, always so composed, now had tears welling in her eyes. Victoria’s composure shattered. She slid to the floor, a graceless collapse.
“Isadora, I never meant to lash out. I’m just… terrified. I know my place in the Montgomery family is temporary. I needed to build my own career, my own security, before they cast me aside. I wanted to earn my own fortune. Why is Isabella so determined to ruin me? She has everything! The Montgomery empire, more wealth than she could ever spend, even Nathaniel Blackwood himself. Why can’t she just leave me alone? She won’t be happy until I’m completely destroyed!” The words spilled out, venomous and raw with a pain that cut deep.
Isadora sank down beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Victoria, not everyone possesses a heart like yours. Isabella targeted you from the beginning. This was a calculated move. We didn’t lose to her; we simply underestimated her ruthlessness. Promise me you’ll pull yourself together. Go home. Rest. I will find another way. I promise you.”
Victoria could only nod, her body wracked with sobs. She leaned heavily against the cold wall, utterly defeated. The situation was dire. The humiliation would follow her for years. The mocking whispers were already beginning.
Watching her, Isadora’s heart ached. “Should I call Alexander? His company might distract you.”
At the mention of Alexander Whitmore, a flicker of life returned to Victoria’s eyes. Over the past few days, he’d been feeding her stories about Isabella’s attempts to seduce Nathaniel. But the news of their actual marriage was a blow she still couldn’t process. Nathaniel Blackwood would never marry a woman with a tarnished past, a woman who had supposedly lost a child.
Aside from the Blackwoods, Alexander was the most handsome, powerful man she knew. The nation’s most coveted bachelor. Securing him would be her ultimate victory over Isabella.
She gave a weak nod. “Yes. Let him come. There are things we need to discuss.”
No.6
“Alright.” Isadora made the call, then helped Victoria to her feet. She gently cleaned her smudged makeup and reapplied it with practiced hands.
Victoria glanced again at her injured hand, regret washing over her. “Isadora… I’m sorry. I lost control.”
“It’s alright, dear. No apologies needed. I made a vow to your mother. I owe her everything. Without Evangeline, I wouldn’t be here today.” Isadora’s gaze was filled with unwavering devotion.
Years ago, a young and naive Isadora had been brutally attacked and left for dead in a gutter. It was Evangeline Kensington, Victoria’s mother, who found her, saved her, and became her protector. Even later, Evangeline continued to be her guardian angel.
The last message Isadora ever received from her was clear. [I’ve never asked you for anything. Please, watch over my daughter.]
Isadora had dedicated her life to that promise. Victoria was her daughter in all but blood. Her success was Isadora’s success. Her pain was Isadora’s pain. No one would harm her.
“Remember your greatest asset is that beautiful face. When Alexander arrives, don’t let him see you broken. Hold onto him. He is your safety net. At the very least, you will become Mrs. Alexander Whitmore, a respected name in high society.”
“I won’t fail. Besides, Alexander has a plan. A way to destroy Isabella completely, beyond any recovery.” Victoria’s expression turned serious, determined. “Leave Alexander to me. You focus on Isabella. Watch her every move. We need to find the perfect moment to strike back. This time, we leave no trace. No evidence.”
“Understood.”
Outside, the summer sky had darkened. Thick, ominous clouds rolled in, and the wind began to howl. A storm was coming.
No.7
Victoria had barely been gone for five minutes when Alexander showed up.
The moment she spotted him, Tiffany rushed into his arms with theatrical distress.
“Alexander… I failed you,” she sobbed into his chest.
“I lost to my sister. I’m so ashamed.”
He gently wiped her tears away.
“Don’t cry, my love. This isn’t about me—it’s about you. You’re the one who’s hurting.”
She continued to weep, leaning heavily against him.
“I’m useless. Isabella is the talented one. She beat me fairly.
But the worse part is… the more she succeeds, the more Nathaniel will want her.
It breaks my heart for you.”