Chapter 330
No.1
"That witch set us up!" Reginald growled. "She pitted us against each other! Damn it... I'll make her pay!"
"Killing her is too easy," Genevieve replied quickly. "Let's join forces and destroy her career instead!" Reginald's eyes lit up. He liked the idea.
Both SilverPeak and Fortune Entertainment were industry giants. They controlled the entertainment world.
If they worked together, crushing a newcomer like Isabella would be simple.
She would suffer for messing with them.
The moment Isabella stepped into the private room, the uproar from Hubert and Genevieve's confrontation flooded the space.
Oliver, mid-bite into a crispy chicken wing, flinched at the sudden noise. "Mommy, what's all that yelling outside?"
"Just some stray dogs fighting." She shut the door firmly, sealing off the chaos.
Isabella settled beside him, gently dabbing his lips with a napkin. "Eat up. You need the energy."
"Okay! Try this cake, Mommy. It's super good!"
No.2
He speared a generous slice with his fork and held it out. Isabella leaned in, letting him carefully feed her.
Warmth spread through her chest. She never realized joy could be found in such simple moments.
Nathaniel watched their interaction from across the table, a slow smile gracing his features.
The meal was perfect.
Twenty minutes later, Nathaniel finished eating. Oliver was still happily munching on fried chicken while Isabella chatted with him. Nathaniel checked his phone for urgent messages.
Dominic's text glared back at him.
[Boss! Emergency! SilverPeak and Fortune Entertainment are colluding to blacklist Isabella! No one will sign her or collaborate. Anyone who does faces industry-wide boycott!]
SilverPeak and Fortune Entertainment controlled the industry's top talent. Defying them meant being relegated to third-tier artists permanently. No company could risk that.
Within an hour, news of Isabella's blackout spread rapidly. Everyone chose the safe side. Paparazzi scrubbed all online traces of her.
After last night's events, Isabella should have been the hottest new star. Her name dominated every headline and trended across all platforms. Then the blacklist announcement hit, and she vanished from the internet entirely.
No.3
Her name was purged from search results and trending topics. It was as if she never existed.
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'They dare target my woman?'
He kept the news from Isabella, quickly texting Dominic.
[Get her face on every national LED screen. Now.]
Dominic's reply was immediate. [Most slots are booked solid for months...]
[Buy them out. Pay any cancellation fees.] Nathaniel ordered.
[On it, Boss.] Dominic sprang into action.
Nathaniel was pulling out all the stops for the woman he loved. As his right hand, Dominic would fight alongside him.
Yet Nathaniel still felt uneasy. The Blackwood Corporation invested heavily across industries, except entertainment. They backed profitable ventures without hesitation. While financially secure, Isabella had no agency support after refusing to sign elsewhere. She only had GoldenPhoenix Entertainment.
Her company, GoldenPhoenix, had just signed three new artists. Other departments were still in early development.
No.4
His gaze shifted to Isabella. "How's GoldenPhoenix holding up? Need any assistance?"
"Progress is steady. We secured three talents quickly. Other sectors are still developing," she replied casually. "Don't worry about it."
Nathaniel’s expression darkened. “I can accelerate your company’s expansion.”
“Hmm?” Isabella finally sensed something unusual. “Is there a problem?”
Why was he suddenly offering to speed up her company’s growth? He had never mentioned it before.
Nathaniel’s face grew stern, but just as he was about to speak, Isabella’s phone rang.
She answered immediately. “Isabella,” Julian’s tense voice came through, “what exactly happened? Why is the entire industry blacklisting you?”
Major brands had been competing to collaborate with her after last night’s events, but all offers vanished within hours.
Isabella frowned. “Blacklisted? Today? I haven’t done anything...” Her voice trailed off as she recalled the incident with Reginald and Genevieve. “Less than an hour? That’s impressively fast,” she murmured, genuinely surprised.
“So you did cause trouble. How did you manage to get the entire entertainment industry to boycott you in one day?” Julian asked, utterly confused.
No.5
Nathaniel’s intense gaze remained fixed on Isabella, his brow furrowed. He wanted answers too.
Isabella twirled a strand of her hair, offering a faint smile. “It was nothing serious,” she explained casually, “though I might have provoked a conflict between Reginald and Genevieve...”
Julian was speechless. Those two were notoriously difficult personalities. He remembered specifically warning Isabella about them, yet she deliberately stirred trouble between them?
Unbelievable.
“Lay low for now. I’ll handle damage control.” Julian ended the call abruptly.
Isabella set her phone aside and noticed Oliver watching her with an amused expression. She gently ruffled his hair. “My sweet Christopher, eat well and grow strong. If anyone bullies you, tolerate it twice but never a third time. Fight back exactly like Mommy does.”
“Okay!” Oliver nodded enthusiastically, already imagining himself standing up to villains just like his mother.
Isabella then turned her attention back to Nathaniel. “You were saying? You want to help GoldenPhoenix expand faster?”
Nathaniel saw no reason for subtlety and nodded firmly. “It’s the most efficient solution currently.”
“But Julian and Adrian are still conducting interviews. They’re building a dedicated team from scratch—people who share our vision, possess strong teamwork, and demonstrate loyalty. Only with the right foundation can we achieve sustainable growth, and that requires time,” Isabella countered.
No.6
Building a company was like constructing a building—the foundation determined its stability. They couldn’t afford to compromise on integrity for short-term gains.
Nathaniel had always viewed her as ambitious, but he was pleasantly surprised by her maturity during this crisis. “I agree. A successful company requires a solid team.
They can take their time selecting members, but leave the rest to me,” he assured.
With the Blackwood family’s influence, no one would dare boycott Isabella.
Even without formal intervention, public opinion would shift simply by featuring her image on their properties.
“No need to rush,” Isabella responded calmly. “This isn’t worth deploying excessive force. I have everything under control. Your intervention isn’t necessary.”
“Explain your plan.” Nathaniel’s piercing eyes studied her as if attempting to read her thoughts.
“Yes, Mommy! Tell us! Daddy will worry endlessly otherwise,” Oliver chimed in supportively, deciding to advocate for his father. He added earnestly, “When you were detained, Daddy couldn’t sleep at all!”
An inexplicable tension suddenly filled the room between Nathaniel and Isabella.
Isabella recalled promising Nathaniel everything was handled. Yet he’d been so concerned about her he couldn’t sleep!
No.7
She quickly broke eye contact, shifting the topic. “Everyone’s watching these two entertainment giants because they’re using their top stars as bargaining chips,” she explained. “What if we recruit their artists instead? Strip them of their leverage.”
“Recruit them?” Nathaniel’s brow arched.
“Yes. I know GoldenPhoenix is new, but we’re not short on funds. Any problem solvable with money isn’t a real problem.”
She finally met his gaze again. “Guess how many would flock to us if I announced a hundred percent endorsement fee for anyone who signs with us.”