Chapter 1697
No.1
Drop-shoulder lace sleeves draped elegantly over her slender arms.
Most strikingly, the original tutu-style netting at the hem was gone.
Isabella had removed every layer.
She transformed the cheap, childish dress into a sleek, floor-length gown.
Delicate lace overlay added sophistication.
The smoky gray hue enhanced her cool, commanding presence.
Isabella didn’t wear the dress—she elevated it.
Whatever she touched turned to gold.
Victoria’s face froze.
No.2
How was this possible?
She had chosen the ugliest design on purpose.
The sleeves were meant to look like bat wings.
The tutu skirt was cheap and ridiculous.
How did Isabella alter it so quickly?
The other bridesmaids scowled.
They were all stuck wearing the identical tutu dresses.
Isabella had changed hers deliberately.
She wanted to stand out.
No.3
She wanted all attention on her.
Victoria couldn’t tolerate it.
She turned to the others. “Leave us. I need to speak with my sister alone.”
They filed out without question.
The door shut behind them.
Isabella and Victoria were alone.
Victoria’s gaze turned icy as she stared down Isabella. “You planned this all along, didn’t you? You’re just desperate for attention!”
“What if I am?” Isabella replied, her voice dripping with cold indifference.
Victoria hadn’t expected such a blunt admission. Her expression tightened, fists clenching. “Do you really think that will work? Mother and Father have already transferred their shares to me. I now hold thirty percent of the Montgomery family’s stock—far more than you! I’m their favorite daughter. Even if you reveal your true identity, no one will care!”
No.4
“And?” Isabella remained unshaken.
‘And?’ Was that all she had to say? How could she be so arrogantly dismissive?
Victoria shot to her feet, hatred burning in her eyes. “You’ve lost to me! Alexander is marrying me! Our parents adore me! Aside from Grandfather, I hold the most shares in this family! Me!”
“No matter how stunning or captivating you look today, you’ll always play second fiddle. You. Have. Lost.”
Victoria enunciated each word with venomous clarity, radiating superiority.
Isabella merely smirked. “You know, you look just like a flustered peacock right now.”
Steam practically billowed from Victoria’s ears.
She wanted to strangle Isabella. She wanted to wipe that smug look off her face forever.
Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door. Eleanor’s concerned voice followed. “Victoria, are you in there? Open up, darling—I’ve brought you that diamond necklace you wanted.”
No.5
Victoria’s expression shifted instantly. A triumphant smile curled her lips. “Hear that, Isabella? I’m still Mother’s favorite. I merely mentioned wanting a Cadisen diamond necklace, and here she is with it!”
“You call me a peacock? Look at you—a pathetic orphan trying too hard to be relevant.”
She turned away haughtily, her diamond heels clicking against the floor as she strode toward the door. Every movement oozed elegance and conceit.
Outside stood Eleanor and Richard. As soon as Eleanor saw Victoria, she fastened the dazzling diamond necklace around her daughter’s neck. “You were right, my dear. This wedding gown needed something extraordinary. Now it’s perfect.”
Cadisen was a world-renowned luxury diamond brand, famous for its exclusive, top-tier gems and exorbitant prices. If an ordinary jeweler sold a diamond for $100,000, Cadisen would price it at ten million! Their pieces were status symbols, notorious for their exclusivity and cost.
This particular necklace was a limited edition masterpiece, valued at fifty million dollars.
Witnessing the Montgomery family’s lavish treatment of Victoria—and knowing she held the majority of shares—even Margaret Whitmore stepped forward to praise her. “Victoria looks absolutely radiant in that necklace! No wonder she’s the Montgomery family’s most treasured daughter. It’s no surprise my son is so taken with her!”
“Of course,” Eleanor beamed with pride. “Victoria, darling, if you need anything else, just say the word. I’ll make sure you have it.”
“Your father supports you unconditionally, too,” Richard added.
No.6
Everyone gathered around Victoria, showering her with compliments and support. Standing at the center of it all, she cast a look of sheer arrogance and vanity toward Isabella.
So what if her reputation had been tarnished? She was still the favored daughter. She was the one marrying Alexander! She was their parents’ favorite! Isabella was nothing but a pitiful, irrelevant nobody.
Isabella Montgomery stood alone in the room.
Her presence was completely ignored by both the Montgomerys and the Whitmores.
During Isabella’s engagement celebration, neither Eleanor nor Richard had come to see her.
They hadn't even bothered to participate in the wedding preparations.
They sent staff to handle everything.
To them, their 'real' daughter Victoria was the most important.
No matter how many mistakes Victoria made.
No.7
She was still their true daughter.
Isabella was just the adopted one.
The rebellious child since childhood.
But Isabella stayed calm.
She was used to this treatment for as long as she could remember.
Isabella rolled her eyes and walked out calmly.
When Richard and Eleanor noticed her, they both flinched slightly.
Since when had Isabella been in there?
Why hadn't they realized she was present?