Chapter 529
No.1
No, it was impossible! This was just another one of her games to get his attention!
Alexander watched as Isabella disappeared into the distance.
"Isabella, if you wanted my attention, you've got it!" He turned to his assistant in the car and ordered, "Prepare a bouquet of roses. Send them to her shooting location tomorrow."
Alexander knew better than anyone that roses had been her favorite for eighteen years. Back when she followed him everywhere, she always begged him for roses.
Surely, she would melt when she received them tomorrow.
Women. They loved to play hard to get.
Isabella headed straight for the shower when she reached her manor. Just three minutes with that jerk made her feel sick.
As she stepped out, she noticed Julian was still there. Drying her hair, she asked, "Why are you still here?"
"You're famous now, but you don't seem to care. Naturally, I have a lot to handle," Julian replied, his eyes fixed on the computer screen.
No.2
Dozens of companies and brands had sent invitations to Isabella in just one day. Some wanted her as a brand ambassador, others for runway shows, and some sought collaborations hoping for her investment.
After reviewing every email carefully, Julian concluded, "Among all these, Guci is the most prestigious. It would be good for you, but it's highly competitive. The condition is to shoot a cover with Victoria, each representing a different color collection. Whoever's collection sells better wins."
Isabella frowned. Why would Guci suddenly use such a competitive tactic?
"I'll take it. Since Victoria wants to play, I can't say no. I just hope she won't regret it." Isabella tossed her half-dried hair and walked away.
She needed an early night, all to make Victoria regret ever proposing this.
Watching her leave, Julian smiled slightly. This woman grew more arrogant every day. He could only hope everything went according to plan.
Thinking of the plan, he made a call after leaving the manor. "Release the draft," he said into the phone.
Soon, a catchy article with an attention-grabbing headline became the center of discussion.
[Isabella and Victoria Kensington Collaborate on Cover Shoot: A Sibling Rivalry Showdown.]
No.3
The piece detailed every aspect of their professional face-off, complete with expert analysis of their respective strengths and weaknesses. Despite its objective and polished tone, fan wars erupted almost instantly after publication.
[So Isabella has money. Big deal. She’s still a rookie. How can she possibly compete with Victoria?!]
[What’s so special about Victoria? She didn’t even make the Chanel finale. Everyone knows new talent often outshines the old.]
[Pure luck. Isabella’s final walk was visually striking, but if you look closely, it was just her playing dress-up. How can she represent a powerhouse like Guci? Can she actually win this?]
[Exactly. The winner is determined by collection sales. Victoria has eighty million followers. Isabella has under eight. How is that even a competition?]
At the Blackwood Estate…
Nathaniel stood by the bed in the nursery. “Oliver Blackwood. Are you going to sleep or not?”
“No! I’m busy fighting these trolls. Mommy’s fanbase is too small. I’m using a hundred different accounts to defend her,” Oliver declared, rapidly switching between profiles on his tablet.
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. “You’ve been doing this for hours?”
No.4
“Yes! No one bullies Mommy on my watch!” Oliver pouted, his small fingers flying across the screen.
Nathaniel reached over and gently took the tablet. “This isn’t the way to support Mommy,” he said firmly. “Be good and get some rest. I’ll take you to see her tomorrow.”
“We’re seeing her tomorrow? Really?” Oliver’s eyes lit up like constellations.
Nathaniel gave a single, confirming nod. “Yes.”
The next morning, Isabella first completed a jewelry campaign shoot for Chanel before heading straight to Guci Tower.
Guci Tower occupied the most prestigious block in Westchester’s financial district. Rumors of the day’s shoot had drawn a massive crowd of fans, all gathered under the blazing sun. On the left side of the building, a boisterous swarm of supporters waved signs for Victoria Kensington. On the right, a quiet group of less than a hundred people waited patiently.
Isabella, after all, was a recent sensation. Her ‘Diamond Boss’ moniker sounded intimidating, not endearing. While she had gained admirers, few were devoted enough to stand in the heat for her.
As Isabella pulled up on her motorcycle, a sleek pink sports car arrived from the opposite direction. Its door swung open and Victoria emerged, elegant in a long mesh gown embroidered with delicate lisianthus blossoms.
The crowd erupted.
No.5
“Victoria! Victoria! Victoria!”
“The most beautiful supermodel! I love you! Can I get an autograph?”
“Victoria, sweetie, please, a photo!”
She was instantly swarmed, a radiant white swan at the center of a fervent flock.
Isabella simply parked her bike and dismounted. Her small cluster of supporters kept a respectful distance. Her aura was formidable, after all. She stood alone near the entrance, looking every bit the industry outsider.
“A nobody trying to compete with our Victoria? She’s just riding on her coattails.”
“I know, right? Has she even looked in a mirror? The audacity to shoot for Guci. Does she know how irrelevant she is?”
The jeers from the crowd were loud and clear, aimed at her solitary figure.
Victoria’s mouth twisted into a scowl. “Don’t speak about my sister that way. She has supporters too—just look.”
No.6
She gestured toward the far side of the venue, where a small cluster of about ten people lingered after the crowd had mostly dispersed. With over a thousand of Victoria’s fans still cheering loudly, Isabella’s group seemed pitifully small. As a newcomer to modeling, Isabella’s supporters seemed unsure how to show their enthusiasm, and many had already slipped away out of sheer awkwardness.
Victoria’s followers burst into mocking laughter.
“Ten people? That’s what she calls a fanbase? How embarrassing!”
“Didn’t she have eight million Twitter followers? Probably bought and paid for!”
“Exactly! She’s the Diamond Boss—she can afford fake followers!”
“What good is money if you’ve got no real talent?”
They stared at Isabella with open contempt, as if she were nothing but a circus act.
Just as Isabella pulled off her helmet, ready to respond—
“Isabella! Isabella! Isabella!”
No.7
A roar of voices cut through the air. Everyone turned to see a flood of people rushing toward her. Some sprinted, shouting as they ran.
“Isabella, I’m your biggest fan! What are you wearing today? I want to wear the exact same thing!”
“Isabella! I’m from Royal S Magazine—can I get a quick interview?”
“Look over here! I represent Tina Jewelry! Would you consider being our brand ambassador?”
“I don’t want to bother you, but could you please sign this? It’ll only take a second!”
A crowd of eager admirers swarmed around her, thrusting business cards and autograph books into her hands. Among them were celebrities, journalists, jewelry executives, singers, and even company owners—each one a recognizable name.
Were these high-profile individuals truly her fans? Had they canceled their appointments just to see her here?
Victoria’s face darkened with fury. Though she had many fans, Isabella’s supporters were influential figures. Even at the peak of her own career, Victoria had never attracted this level of elite attention. Important people usually sent assistants or subordinates in their place.
Victoria’s fans fell silent, recognizing famous faces in the crowd. They quickly pulled out their phones, scrambling to capture the moment.