Chapter 347

No.1

There were videos of her visiting impoverished rural communities, working alongside local women harvesting crops.

She performed every task herself.

Her clothing was simple, unassuming, often plain linen and cotton.

She appeared entirely without makeup, her face bare, projecting an image of genuine, girl-next-door innocence.

Within a month, her follower count skyrocketed to seventy million.

'My Fairy Victoria' became the top trending hashtag. Her account exploded in popularity.

Comments flooded every post.

[I can't believe this is Victoria Kensington! She seems so humble and genuine!]

[This is nothing like those other celebrities who stage everything for attention. She's actually doing real work with her own hands!]

[Look at her face, glistening with honest sweat. This feels completely authentic. There's no way this is faked.]

No.2

[She's only doing this because her scandal ruined her career! This is just a calculated PR move to rebrand herself!]

[Oh, shut up. If you think it's so easy to fake, why don't you go try it for a month straight?]

[She's clearly remorseful. Why keep attacking her? Does destroying her life bring you joy?]

The court of public opinion had shifted.

Skeptics were quickly drowned out by a wave of supportive defenders.

Victoria's public persona was successfully reborn. She had shed the skin of the manipulative socialite.

She was now the pristine, relatable, 'earth-goddess' fairy.

Time accelerated, bringing them to the eve of the grand ceremony.

Eleanor Kensington personally went to collect Victoria from her retreat.

They also summoned Isabella Montgomery back to the family manor to finalize wedding arrangements.

No.3

Alexander Whitmore had been Isabella's designated chauffeur for weeks.

She always returned to Rosewood Manor each night, carefully concealing her cohabitation with Nathaniel Blackwood.

Alexander watched her in the rearview mirror.

Despite their increased proximity this past month, she never sat in the passenger seat.

She never initiated physical contact. Not even a casual brush of hands.

A simmering frustration gnawed at him.

"Tomorrow is the wedding," he finally said, breaking the tense silence. "The entire elite of high society will be watching. Are you absolutely certain you're prepared?"

Isabella gave a noncommittal hum from the back seat, her eyes closed.

He detested her cold, detached demeanor.

She was the one who had begged for this marriage. She had demanded a spectacular, public wedding.

No.4

She had no right to act so aloof and superior around him.

He swallowed his irritation. Just one more day.

Tomorrow night, she would be his. She would be pleading beneath him. She would learn her place.

The car arrived at the grand Montgomery Manor.

Alexander exited and moved to open her door, extending his hand in a performative gesture of chivalry. He needed to maintain appearances in front of her family.

Isabella hesitated briefly.

Then her gaze caught a familiar silhouette through the living room window.

A subtle, knowing smile touched her lips.

She accepted his arm, looping hers through his in a formal, detached manner, the kind seen at galas between business partners. It conveyed zero affection.

Yet, it was enough.

No.5

Inside the opulent living room, Victoria held court.

She was the center of a concerned family huddle.

"Victoria, my dear, you promised you would take care of yourself," Eleanor fretted, her voice thick with maternal worry. "Look at these calluses on your hands! And that faint scar on your cheek! You are a Montgomery heiress! How could you subject yourself to such hardship?"

Richard Montgomery's face was a mask of paternal anguish. "We have cherished you since the day you came to us. I've always handled you like the most precious porcelain. The thought of you alone in some remote village, doing manual labor... it breaks my heart. Did you even consider how this would make your mother and I feel?"

Victoria kept her head bowed low.

"I'm so sorry, Father, Mother, Grandfather, and everyone I love."

"I deeply regret causing you all such worry."

"My only intention was to atone. To seek redemption."

"You don't need to go to such extremes to repent," Eleanor murmured while applying ointment to the scar. "Everyone makes mistakes. I forgave you long ago."

A collective sigh filled the room.

No.6

Everyone admired Victoria's actions, including Theodore Montgomery, who seemed genuinely pleased to have her home. Among all the family members, Victoria was the only one who had chosen to live humbly in a remote, rural area. Her actions had garnered widespread respect and admiration, even causing the family's stock shares to rise.

Victoria basked in the greetings and concern from everyone, feeling deeply satisfied.

Then the maid announced, "Ms. Kensington, Mr. Whitmore is here."

All eyes turned to see Alexander and Isabella entering side by side. Isabella's arm was linked with Alexander's, and he held her hand with a gentle firmness. They were a stunning power couple, seemingly made for each other. Their brilliance outshone even the glimmering stars in the night sky.

Victoria's eye twitched violently. A sharp pang of jealousy and anger stabbed through her heart.

Isabella and Alexander were so close, so sweet with each other! Alexander was even holding her hand!

Although Alexander had cheated with her, he had never been publicly seen with another woman. He had always maintained a well-behaved image over the years. Why was he so intimate with Isabella now?!

As the couple stepped into the living room, Isabella secretly glanced at Victoria and flashed a smirk only she could see. In pain? Suffering?

Hah. Served her right!

Isabella then looked at Victoria with an inquisitive gaze. "Victoria, when did you return? You should have told us earlier. Alex and I would have picked you up."

No.7

Alex? She called him Alex?!

Alexander jolted slightly, caught off guard by the strange sensation that nickname evoked.

This drove Victoria insane. He was still her man. Hers! Isabella was blatantly showing off in front of her. No matter how much it hurt, Victoria couldn't show it. She had to suppress her emotions.

Fortunately, Eleanor changed the subject. "Isabella, Victoria went to the countryside because of you. She didn't want to come back. She only returned when I told her about your wedding tomorrow. Please tell her you forgive her. Ask her never to go back to such a place again."