Chapter 35

No.1

Her own fans had abandoned her for this upstart.

The humiliation burned.

She had been the center of attention just moments ago.

What went wrong?

She forced a sweet, concerned smile and approached. "Isabella, we should go. The Gucci team is waiting for us."

"Please be quiet!" An impatient fan waiting for a signature shot her an annoyed glare for interrupting.

Who cared if she was a top supermodel? They preferred Isabella!

The crowd, though initially arranged by Nathaniel, had become genuine admirers.

These were people who usually avoided public scenes.

But since they were here, they wouldn't miss a chance for her autograph.

No.2

Victoria's face tightened into a stiff mask.

How dare these minor celebrities and singers speak to her like that?

Veronica saw the storm brewing and quickly grabbed Victoria's arm. "Victoria, let's head up first. Remember the plan."

The reminder of her scheme cooled Victoria's rage.

A sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

The real victory would come during the shoot.

She would crush Isabella so completely she'd never work in modeling again.

As Victoria walked inside, Isabella watched her retreating figure and smirked inwardly.

You think you can compete with me? How pathetic.

Isabella didn't need to lift a finger to win.

No.3

Help always arrived when she needed it.

Across the street, in a top-floor office, Nathaniel Blackwood and Oliver watched the scene.

Oliver bounced with excitement. "Mommy is amazing! Her fans are so dedicated! Daddy, you must reward them!"

Nathaniel nodded and turned to his assistant. "Dominic, double their payment."

It was money well spent, especially for the one who told Victoria off.

Dominic frowned, perplexed.

This was getting out of hand.

Not only was the young master obsessed, but the chairman was also throwing millions at this woman.

Since when did wife hunting involve such extravagant spending?

Beauty was truly a dangerous thing.

No.4

Sebastian Blackwood couldn't hold his tongue. "Brother, instead of wasting money on this, why not just buy her a gift?"

"Buy her a gift? What could she possibly lack?" Nathaniel countered.

Sebastian was speechless.

After Isabella's identity was revealed yesterday, their deep background check showed she owned countless luxury cars, mansions, and brands.

Some parts of her profile remained mysteriously inaccessible.

"It seems my future sister-in-law won't be an easy catch. Brother, prepare yourself for potential failure."

Nathaniel just smirked. "Failure isn't a word in my vocabulary."

He reached for Oliver. "Momo, come here."

"Yay!" Oliver leaped into his arms.

Nathaniel hoisted him onto his shoulders and strode out.

No.5

Sebastian frowned.

What was his brother planning now?

Isabella only entered Guci Tower after reapplying her lipstick.

The entire staff stood waiting for her arrival. The moment she stepped inside, Guci's manager rushed forward to greet her. "Ms. Montgomery, what an honor to finally meet you in person. Our entire creative team is prepared and awaiting your direction."

"My apologies for the delay," Isabella responded with genuine courtesy toward the waiting staff.

"Please, no need for apologies. We completely understand given your demanding schedule." The manager personally escorted her toward the preparation area. "We'll begin your makeup while I overview today's shooting agenda."

Isabella settled into the chair beside Victoria, immediately surrounded by a team of makeup artists, hairstylists, and styling assistants.

Victoria's hands clenched beneath the vanity. The manager hadn't even acknowledged her presence earlier—just an assistant had shown her to this room. Yet Isabella received royal treatment from the moment she arrived.

How could a newcomer command more respect than the industry's top supermodel?

Gabriella noticed Victoria's darkening expression and quickly adjusted her foundation. "Stay focused, Victoria. Your performance during the shoot will overshadow everything else. You know how to work the camera better than anyone."

No.6

Victoria composed herself. Of course she did. She had dominated magazine covers for years. She understood angles, lighting, and how to captivate the lens. She would outperform Isabella completely and reclaim her position as the undeniable star.

The manager positioned himself between their stations. "For Guci's Summer collection, our designers created two distinct lines. Each of you will represent one collection. The magazine feature will determine which line generates higher sales, thus declaring the winner of this collaboration."

"Given your stellar reputations, we anticipate record-breaking sales for both collections. Now we need to determine who represents the Avocado Green line versus the Ruby Red collection."

Victoria immediately offered her suggestion. "Isabella's vibrant energy perfectly suits the red collection. Red naturally draws attention in print, which would certainly boost sales for that line. I'm happy to let her have it."

Her generous tone impressed the surrounding staff, who admired her apparent professionalism and kindness toward her colleague.

Isabella nearly laughed aloud. Does she truly think I'm this naive?

While ruby red made a bold statement, this was a summer collection. Consumers gravitated toward lighter, cooler tones during hot months—especially refreshing avocado green. Statistics showed most people avoided attention-grabbing colors; only a small percentage preferred standout pieces like ruby red. The green line would undoubtedly outsell the red.

Gabriella intervened when Isabella remained silent. "Is something wrong, Ms. Montgomery? Victoria generously offered you the superior collection. You should be appreciative."

"If it's so superior, then she should keep it. I don't require handouts," Isabella countered sharply.

Victoria's smile tightened. She would never actually choose the red collection herself. Summer consumers avoided bold reds.

No.7

"As your elder sister, I've always let you have the best things since we were children," Victoria resumed her gracious persona. "I want to continue that tradition now. I have faith you'll excel with the red collection."

She selected several avocado green garments and headed toward the changing room without looking back.

Isabella Montgomery could only manage a faint, bitter smile.

This entire situation could have been avoided if she had arrived earlier.