Chapter 1356
No.1
The nurses exited without another word.
Eleanor and Richard Montgomery approached the bed.
They looked down at their motionless daughter.
Richard’s voice was heavy with disappointment.
“Your daughter has become unpredictable, Eleanor.”
“This is not my fault!” Eleanor protested. “I called her every day in that wretched village! I welcomed her home! She deceived her own mother!”
She let out a weary sigh.
“I never imagined she was capable of this.”
“Cancel everything,” Richard stated flatly. “All appointments. All events. No visitors. For the family’s reputation, she remains here until this blows over.”
No.2
Eleanor frowned. “The Celestial Gala committee called. She’s nominated for Best Supermodel—”
“A publicity stunt,” Richard interrupted sharply. “They’re using her for ratings. Even if she won, could she show her face? Cancel it. All of it. Our focus must be on Isabella now. The media is slaughtering us over the wedding.”
The public had turned fiercely protective of Isabella Montgomery.
The adopted daughter neglected by her own family.
Pictures circulated online.
Eleanor delivering soup to Victoria.
Eleanor ignoring Isabella completely.
“I admit I failed her,” Eleanor conceded quietly. “She was always so difficult, so defiant… but it looks terrible.”
“The past is irrelevant,” Richard dismissed. “Damage control is everything now. Our family’s future depends on Isabella’s goodwill. You will accompany her to events. You will be seen together. Use our resources to support her at the Celestial Gala.”
No.3
He glanced at the still form in the bed.
“As for Victoria… let her rest. A year, perhaps. Arrange for a psychiatrist. See if that helps.”
Beneath closed eyelids, Victoria seethed.
Their words were poison.
Criticizing her.
Praising that vile Isabella.
Isabella had stolen everything.
Their love.
Their loyalty.
No.4
Their respect.
Isabella had orchestrated it all!
She was the monster!
Not Victoria!
This could not stand.
She would not let Isabella win.
The moment the door closed behind her parents, Victoria forced her eyes open.
A grim determination settled in her heart.
None of the nurses were willing to tend to Victoria. This left her completely unsupervised.
No.5
She seized the opportunity to retrieve her phone. A message was quickly typed out to Penelope.
(Isabella must not receive any awards. Ensure she is barred from attending the Celestial Gala entirely. Contact Seraphina Delacroix. Inform her of my strategy.)
Victoria sent the text using a specialized encryption application. It was designed to automatically erase all messages after they were read.
Not even the most advanced hacker could possibly retrieve the data. The conversation would vanish without a trace.
All she needed to do now was wait. She would watch patiently as Isabella's world crumbled. Isabella needed to experience the same agony she felt.
Over at the Montgomery Manor…
Since the disastrous wedding, she had publicly announced a hiatus from all professional work. Every scheduled commitment was deliberately postponed.
This was a calculated move to sell her narrative of a heartbroken woman. It was all a performance to avoid raising suspicion.
In reality, she had been spending every single day with Oliver inside the vast estate. They shared meals, worked on his school assignments, and even exercised together.
No.6
This particular afternoon, Isabella finally had a moment to herself. Oliver was napping. She collapsed onto the plush sofa with a sigh.
She pulled out her phone and opened a specific live-streaming application. It was a platform famous for auctioning rare and exclusive luxury items.
The Celestial Gala was tomorrow evening. The event would be swarming with the world's top supermodels. She needed a gown that would make a statement.
She remembered today was the auction for the limited edition D.K creation. Isabella wasn't typically obsessed with high fashion.
But this specific gown's design had captivated her. For the last five years, she had relied solely on herself.
She had cultivated a simple philosophy: reward yourself when you succeed. She was determined to win that auction.
Isabella opened the app and navigated to an old man's live-stream. The chatroom had a modest audience of about forty viewers.
The elderly man, with a full head of white hair, addressed the camera. "The gown I am auctioning today represents a lifetime of my work. I have named it 'Phoenix'."
His two assistants carefully brought the gown into view. It was a stunning, vibrant red.
No.7
The design featured a tight, open-shoulder bodice. The sleeves were meticulously crafted, fitting snugly at the top to slenderize the arms.
From the wrist, the fabric dramatically flared out. It extended into a magnificent three-meter-long train.
The elongated sleeves and the mermaid-tail silhouette created an exquisite, flowing shape. A golden phoenix was intricately embroidered across the bodice, from the chest down to the thigh.
The expansive train was embellished with elaborate embroidery resembling phoenix wings. The craftsmanship was utterly mesmerizing.
It appeared as though the mythical bird could burst from the fabric and take flight at any moment.
The live-stream chat immediately exploded with excitement.
(Absolutely breathtaking! I must have it!)
(This is the legendary D.K! A true master who only creates a masterpiece once a decade!)
(I thought his decade-long creations were a myth! To see it is unbelievable!)