Chapter 452
No.1
"Absolutely. I have a strong feeling she could stage a major comeback."
"Her popularity would skyrocket."
Madam Whitmore heard these murmurs of approval.
A wide, satisfied smile spread across her face.
Victoria had made her immensely proud.
She walked confidently onto the stage.
She presented a glass case to Victoria.
"Victoria, this is for you."
"From this day forward, you are my official daughter-in-law."
No.2
"I will take excellent care of you."
"And I will protect the baby you carry."
"I promise you will know nothing but happiness."
Victoria accepted the ornate case.
Inside rested an exquisite piece of emerald jade.
The carving was masterful, the shade a deep, captivating green.
It evoked the pure, untamed beauty of nature.
This was a top-tier imperial jade, large and flawlessly sculpted.
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
No.3
"That's the Whitmore family heirloom!"
"A legend says it was a gift from royalty generations ago!"
"Madam Whitmore is giving it to Victoria!"
"She is passing the family legacy directly to her!"
Victoria's smile widened at their words.
She bowed her head graciously.
"Thank you, Mother."
The precious jade felt cool in her hands.
Her eyes flickered subtly toward the group of bridesmaids.
No.4
Isabella stood in a shadowy corner, obscured from the light.
A large potted plant blocked her from view.
No one could see her expression.
A surge of triumph coursed through Victoria.
Perfect.
All eyes were on her.
The world's cameras were focused solely on her.
She was showered with praise and blessings.
Today, she was the woman everyone revered.
No.5
Isabella was merely an invisible spectator, utterly ignored.
But no... it wasn't quite enough.
She would only be truly satisfied when Isabella's reputation lay in ruins at her feet.
She wanted the entire world to witness how Isabella had seduced Nathaniel.
She wanted them to know she had slept with him.
Victoria gave an almost imperceptible signal to Penelope, who stood nearby.
Penelope nodded in understanding and immediately moved to prepare.
The background music softened into silence.
The large screen transitioned to a romantic backdrop of falling blossoms and snow.
No.6
The emcee's voice rang out clearly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for has arrived."
"Please welcome our beautiful bride and handsome groom to the center stage."
"Let the official ceremony commence!"
This time, Alexander offered his arm to Victoria with genuine care.
They walked together to the center of the stage.
The memory of her tears and her haunting voice filled him with guilt.
He must have been under a spell to let such a gentle, beautiful woman go.
He had been a fool to choose the poisonous Isabella instead.
No.7
Isabella was stunning, yes.
But she was a rose covered in sharp thorns.
She was not feminine. She was not wifely material.
The Montgomery family was utterly disgraced.
They wished they could vanish into the ground.
The shame was overwhelming, a suffocating weight with no escape.
Even Eleanor and Richard were completely devastated.
Their hearts were shattered, their trust obliterated.
They offered no defense for Victoria.