Chapter 357
No.1
Criticizing her.
Praising that vile Isabella.
Isabella had stolen everything.
Their love.
Their loyalty.
Their respect.
Isabella had orchestrated it all!
She was the monster!
Not Victoria!
This could not stand.
No.2
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.
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…
No.3
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.
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.
No.4
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.
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!)
No.5
(I thought his decade-long creations were a myth! To see it is unbelievable!)
D.K remained completely unfazed by the lavish praise. His demeanor was calm and dignified.
"This phoenix embroidery took me a full decade to complete," he explained. "Every stitch was done using a nearly extinct technique known as the Serial and Curly method."
"I am the last living artisan capable of this work. The phoenix's eyes are set with exceptionally rare yellow diamonds."
"The creativity and design of this gown encapsulate fifty years of my story. Therefore, the starting bid is set at ten million dollars."
The moment he announced the price, the bidding war erupted.
(Fifteen million!)
(Eighteen million!)
Isabella watched her screen silently. Her expression was unreadable, a mask of cool composure.
Her desire for this gown went beyond its breathtaking beauty. It was deeply connected to an event from ten years ago.
No.6
A shadow passed over her eyes as the memory surfaced. The past held a painful grip on her heart.
Ten years ago, Isabella Montgomery was only thirteen. She was the adopted daughter of the Montgomery family, just starting seventh grade. Under Victoria Kensington's influence, she became obsessed with gothic fashion. While everyone else dressed elegantly, she wore bizarre outfits. She went to school with wild, untamed hair. She became an object of ridicule. The entire Montgomery family despised her.
Victoria would always tell her, "Isabella, remember this. Everyone has the right to be unique and beautiful. We don't all have to be the same. Alexander loves your uniqueness! Even if your family hates you, you still have us!"
Isabella was completely fooled by their manipulation. She believed her family didn't understand her. She thought they didn't support her interests. During one heated argument, she ran away from home. That's when she accidentally met D.K.
Back then, D.K was just a local designer. His real name was Frederick Ashford. He came from the Ashford family, which had over a century of embroidery history. Legend said their ancestors served the royal family for generations. Unfortunately, machines replaced hand embroidery. Traditional clothing was overtaken by modern designs.
The Ashford family gradually faded into obscurity. But Frederick remained dedicated to traditional wear. His girlfriend thought he was too old-fashioned and stubborn. She eventually broke up with him. That breakup inspired him to blend modern designs with traditional techniques. He created elegant gowns that bridged past and present.
D.K were his ex-girlfriend's initials. Sadly, when he became less stubborn, she didn't return. She had died in a car accident the day she left him.
That was ten years ago. Frederick told Isabella everything while drunk on the roadside. He even said, "She loved red gowns. She said people would notice her immediately in red. After her death, I made a gown in her favorite shade. I called it Phoenix. I hoped she could come back to life, reborn like a phoenix."
"But I know that's impossible. I started this project when I was thirty. Now I'm seventy. I lack the courage to finish it. I'm afraid once it's done, she still won't return. I'm scared my only belief will disappoint me in the end."
"I lost this year's fashion week. I felt my Phoenix could win. But I just can't bring myself to complete it!"
No.7
"If I ever finish it one day, it means I'm ready to leave this world. I can finally go meet her."
"Young lady, Phoenix represents my lifelong devotion. It's my life's work. Do you think I can make it happen?"
Young Isabella listened to the drunk old man's rambling. She didn't understand what 'devotion' meant back then. She didn't take it seriously. Yet, this memory stayed vivid in her mind all these years. Even now, she could recall Frederick's expression clearly. His face was full of passion and nostalgia.
After Alexander cheated on her, Isabella suddenly understood Frederick's story. She felt it deeply. Frederick's devotion to his ex-girlfriend was something Isabella would never experience. She knew no one would mourn her death. No one would miss her for that long.