Chapter 508
No.1
Isabelle scrolled through the messages, a cold smirk forming on her lips as she typed:
[Sleep with men for money? Try sleeping on a bed of cash!]
She attached three photos: a towering stack of property deeds, a collection of luxury car keys, and a sweeping aerial view of Westchester’s Gold Avenue.
The images instantly went viral across the platform. Gold Avenue in Westchester was legendary—a two-kilometer stretch home to the world’s most exclusive luxury brands. The stack of deeds represented ownership of multiple properties on that very street. And the car keys? Each one belonged to a supercar worth millions.
[Holy crap, she’s a billionaire!]
[No way this is real. She’s just some adopted orphan—how could she afford all this?]
[I verified it. It’s legit. Isabella Montgomery owns a quarter of the properties on Gold Avenue. Even the powerful Blackwood family only owns half!]
[So maybe she’s sleeping with someone from the Blackwoods. But no way would a family like that take in an adopted girl. Who else is funding her?]
[Even if she’s loaded, she definitely paid for that finalist spot and the ambassador role. She’s buying her way to fame!]
No.2
[Exactly. She’s got nothing but cash.]
[She’s purchasing clout, and Chanel is playing along? Money really can buy anything, huh?]
The narrative swiftly twisted.
[Isabella Montgomery uses wealth to buy fame and bully Victoria Kensington!]
Isabella wasn’t surprised. She had anticipated this. She typed another reply:
[Whether I bought my fame or not, you’ll all find out tomorrow night!]
‘Find out tomorrow night’? How could a fraud be so confident?
…
At the Blackwood Estate…
No.3
Oliver Blackwood had been quietly browsing on his tablet when he suddenly shot up, bursting with excitement. “Mommy is so cool! I’ve never seen anyone this awesome! I’m totally her biggest fan!”
“You’re a boy,” Nathaniel stated flatly, moving Oliver aside as he opened his laptop.
Oliver pouted, confused. “Daddy, so many people are bullying your wife. How can you just sit there and work? You’re so cold!”
“Quiet. I’m handling Mommy’s situation,” Nathaniel murmured, his tone mysterious yet compelling.
That could be fixed.
With a few deft keystrokes, the headline instantly changed to:
The video began with Professor Zero, a man in his mid-sixties with distinguished grey hair, addressing the camera.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Professor Zero, a National Photo Analyst. As many of you know, I work for the government, specializing in verifying the authenticity of various images and assisting departments in validating evidence from crime scenes.
“Recently, I came across a highly discussed topic and decided to use my resources to clarify the truth. Honestly, I’ve been a longtime admirer of Victoria Kensington. She embodies purity and diligence, and I’ve even encouraged my granddaughter to aspire to her accomplishments at such a young age!
No.4
“Therefore, when I saw that controversial photo of her, I was deeply troubled by the false accusations. I took some time to analyze this image to determine if it was altered with Photoshop or AI tools.”
Professor Zero turned the camera to his computer screen, launching a complex software program. As it loaded, he continued, “This is a advanced photo analysis tool, available only to certified professionals. It can detect any form of manipulation or artificial merging in photographs.
“Normally, this software is reserved for critical government projects. However, I obtained special permission to use it today to help everyone uncover the truth.”
He uploaded Victoria’s image into the program. A progress bar appeared:
[Processing: 9%]
Within seconds, lines of complex code filled the screen. The professor turned back to the camera, his expression earnest. “This is the program analyzing the photo’s data. It’s processing every detail.”
He scrolled through the data as he spoke. Suddenly, his aged hand stilled, trembling slightly.
[The image is 100% authentic]
The words were unmistakable.
No.5
Instantly, the comments beneath the video exploded.
[This can’t be right! Victoria would never take such a photo! Is this a mistake?]
[It has to be an error! Professor Zero is a respected expert; he wouldn’t fabricate this. Plus, only government officials have access to that software. The results are legitimate.]
[So Victoria actually took that photo? I can’t believe she’s that kind of person.]
[Well, if you think about it, no one is that pure and perfect. She’s been deceiving everyone all along.]
Negative comments flooded the forum. The topics that had been attacking Isabella now shifted to:
#The-photo-is-real
#Professor-Zero
The photo had been verified by Professor Zero. There was nothing her fans could do to defend her.
No.6
Victoria’s reputation was permanently stained.
Inside the Montgomery Manor…
Victoria Kensington collapsed onto the sofa, trembling uncontrollably.
‘How did this happen? Everything was perfect… How did it all go so wrong? Why would Professor Zero destroy my reputation like this if he claimed to be my fan? And he published that clip!’ Her thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Just then, Alexander Whitmore entered the room, dressed in a flawlessly tailored suit. “Victoria, what’s this about the pho—”
“It’s all lies! Complete nonsense!” Victoria snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Alexander froze. He had never seen Victoria in such a state before.
Realizing it was him, she quickly composed herself and rushed to his side, her voice trembling with feigned distress.
“Alexander, my love, I didn’t mean to shout. I’m just so hurt by Isabella.” She let bitterness seep into her tone. “I’ve always treated her well, except for that one incident five years ago. I never imagined she could be so vicious. Who knows what she’s been doing in Africa all this time? Making money, buying properties, even befriending Professor Zero. She probably paid him off to fabricate that analysis. We both know nothing about photo forensics. He could say anything and get away with it!”
No.7
She trembled as she cried, making it seem as though Isabella had committed an unspeakable betrayal. “Alexander, we’ve known each other since childhood. Do you really believe I’m capable of such things? Why would I ever sabotage my own reputation?” Her performance was so convincing it was almost flawless.
“Please, don’t cry. I trust you completely.” Alexander pulled her into an embrace, gently rubbing her back. “I can’t believe Isabella Montgomery has turned so malicious in just five years.”
Victoria pushed him away gently, feigning fear. “Yes, and she’ll come after us for revenge. After all, I did accidentally push her down the stairs, and you… you kicked her. With the power she has now, she’ll stop at nothing to destroy us.”
“Ha! She won’t stand a chance,” Alexander scoffed. “Don’t worry about this. She’s wronged you twice now. I won’t let it slide.” After settling her comfortably on the sofa, he picked up his phone and logged into his Twitter account, which boasted millions of followers.
Over the past five years, Alexander’s parents had retired and handed him the family business, making him the CEO of Whitmore Enterprises.
Originally ranked among the 'Top Ten Most Successful Companies' in the nation, Whitmore Enterprises owned shopping malls, theaters, hotels, travel agencies, and more. Under Alexander’s ruthless yet charismatic leadership, coupled with his savvy social media marketing, the company had climbed into the top five.
Even Theodore Montgomery admired his capabilities and approved of Alexander’s relationship with Victoria. However, they couldn’t officially get engaged until Isabella returned the engagement token, a fact that had fueled their resentment toward her over the years.