Chapter 102

Ruby Red could transform your entire look instantly. It made you impossible to ignore.

Avocado Green was fresh, but it was a background color. It was meant for blending in, not standing out.

Most people wouldn't spend a fortune just to be noticed. But Guci's clientele was different. They were the elite. Movie stars. Socialites. Tycoons. These women were used to being the center of attention. They never settled for second best.

So the sales shift was dramatic. Avocado Green's early lead vanished. It was completely obliterated by the massive surge in Ruby Red orders. The numbers weren't even close. Ruby Red outsold it by more than ten to one.

Julian Hawthorne and his team were stunned. So was Genevieve Beaumont, who had been waiting for Isabella's downfall. No one saw this masterstroke coming. Isabella had orchestrated it all. She let those "unflattering" photos leak. She didn't suppress them. She amplified them. It was all a setup for her grand reveal. The stunning Ruby Red photos were her knockout punch.

Everyone forgot the real competition wasn't about beauty or popularity. It was about sales. Those "ugly" pictures were Isabella's secret weapon all along.

Over at Blackwood Corporation, Oliver was ecstatic. "Yes! Mommy is a genius! She's the smartest! I want to be just like her!"

"That's not all," Nathaniel stated coolly. He pulled out his phone and called Dominic Sterling. "Transfer fifty million. Use it to boost Isabella's campaign. Flood every platform with her Twitter post," he commanded. He wanted her message seen by the entire world.

With a fifty-million-dollar push, Isabella's face was everywhere. Her caption was analyzed, shared, and memed. People scrutinized the photos. Her features were the same. The transformation was in the color. The Ruby Red collection, combined with the right makeup, created pure magic. It was alchemy.

Even those who never used Twitter were suddenly craving red. Ruby Red became the undisputed color of the season. All because of Isabella Montgomery. Her caption—"Embrace the red. Unleash your inner success. Live your life like the star you are!"—became a viral sensation. Businesses adopted it. It inspired a generation of young women. Her comeback was legendary.

Meanwhile, at a private SJAQ atelier, Victoria was being fitted. She stood in a dazzling blue gown that shimmered like a galaxy. A circle of socialites showered her with praise.

"Absolutely breathtaking!"

"Victoria, you must wear this to accept your award. You'll break the internet! All the headlines will be yours!"

Victoria smiled, basking in the adoration. "Oh, stop it, you're too kind," she demurred, feigning humility. "Nothing is guaranteed yet."

"Who else could possibly win? In our world, you're untouchable," one heiress insisted.

"Besides, you've definitely won the Guci face-off! You're a shoo-in for the 'Most Valuable Commercial Model Award' now!" another added.

The 'Most Valuable Commercial Model Award' carried immense weight. It wasn't just prestige; it was pure commercial power. The winner was guaranteed a flood of lucrative endorsements. Brands always chose the MVCM over the Top Supermodel. It meant business.

Last year, Arabella Fontaine won it. This year…

A triumphant smile played on Victoria's lips. She didn't need to say anything. She carried herself with the haughty grace of a victor.

Suddenly, her agent, Isadora, burst into the room. Her face was pale. "Victoria! It's a disaster! Something terrible has happened!"