Chapter 605

No.1

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.

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.

No.2

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!)

(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."

No.3

"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.

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!"

No.4

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!"

"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.

No.5

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.

So she wanted to buy this gown. Not because it was unique. But because Frederick's raw passion and love shouldn't be ruined by ignorant people.

Meanwhile, the bidding price reached eighty million. People were throwing money around without understanding the gown's true value.

Finally, a user named 'Seraphina Delacroix' commented, [One billion!]

The live-stream chat exploded in shock.

[Seraphina Delacroix? The world's sexiest supermodel?]

[One billion? Is she serious? It's just a gown! How is it worth a billion?!]

[Seraphina, have you lost your mind?]

[I'm not crazy. I'm rich! I'm buying it no matter what! Anyone else want to challenge me?] Seraphina typed her response immediately.

Isabella had been dominating the modeling industry lately. Many artists from her company wanted to terminate their contracts. Seraphina Delacroix was furious about the situation. She just wanted to vent her anger through extravagant spending.

No.6

Plus, as the most celebrated supermodel, she needed to stun everyone at the Celestial Gala tomorrow night. She had to outshine everyone, especially Isabella!

When Isabella saw Seraphina's comment, her lips curled into a cold smirk. Her fingers began typing on the keyboard.

[I'll add one more dollar to any bid Seraphina Delacroix makes.]

The comment instantly captured the attention of everyone watching the live stream.

(An extra dollar? Hah! Who is this? What a bold move!)

(Definitely one of Seraphina's haters. They're deliberately trying to provoke her!)

Seraphina Delacroix trembled with rage. She tried to identify the user, but the account was just a random string of numbers. No clues at all.

She typed furiously. (Who are you? Are you targeting me on purpose?)

Isabella Montgomery replied: [Targeting you? Sorry, but you're not that important. I simply admire Mr. Ashford's gown design and must have it.]

A viewer commented: (Another wealthy contender! I wonder who will win this bidding war.)

No.7

(Probably Seraphina. She's one of the richest models in America. Money is no object for her!)

[No matter how rich this mystery bidder is, can they really outspend Seraphina Delacroix?]

Meanwhile, Frederick Ashford stared intently at his screen. He had used the pseudonym D.K for fifty years. The public only knew him as D.K. How did this person know his real surname was Ashford?

Amid the ongoing bids, he picked up his phone and sent Isabella a private message.