Chapter 100

“They’re just a mob feeling sorry for that worthless man. They got carried away. As for the photos, don’t worry about them right now.”

“Don’t worry?” Julian questioned her with a deep frown.

Isabella nodded. “Exactly. Let the keyboard warriors keep attacking me. The more they do, the better. It’ll make the final reveal in two days even more satisfying.”

Julian’s expression tightened. “I’m your agent. You need to tell me your plan. I can’t do my job if this spirals out of control.”

“You’re smarter than this. Think about it. ‘The darkest hour is just before the dawn.’ Since Victoria and Alexander are behind the photo leak, I will make sure they regret it deeply,” Isabella stated with unshakable confidence.

Julian remained uneasy. He understood the saying, but Isabella’s reputation was in ruins. How could she possibly recover? Her Gucci editorial, though stunning, would be accused of plagiarizing Victoria’s the moment it launched. ‘How can she come back from this?’ he wondered. With the ‘ugly photo’ scandal, her career seemed doomed.

Seeing his concern, Isabella gently patted his shoulder. “Relax. I promise I will win the showdown. If I lose, I’ll leave the fashion world forever. I’ll manage the diamond business and never seek revenge again. Is that good enough for you?”

Julian knew her well. Revenge had always been her driving force. For her to bet that on this outcome meant she was utterly confident. How could she still win under these circumstances?

Meanwhile, at Blackwood Corporation, Oliver clung to Nathaniel’s hand. “Daddy, the things they’re saying about Mommy online are horrible. If this continues, she’ll lose the Gucci editorial. You have to help her!” Oliver’s voice was filled with worry, nearly trembling.

Nathaniel remained calm. He gently ruffled his son’s hair. “Don’t worry. Remember what Mommy said? This is all part of her plan. We’ll have a great show to watch in two days.”

“Really? Are you sure?” Oliver looked at his father with suspicion.

Sebastian, napping in the corner, overheard and perked up. “A show? What kind of show?”

Nathaniel smiled mysteriously. “It’s a secret.”

Oliver and Sebastian fell silent. They knew Nathaniel’s stubborn nature. If he wouldn’t talk, nothing could make him. They could only wait impatiently for the showdown.

Over the next two days, Isabella’s ‘ugly photos’ spread like wildfire across the internet, remaining a top search topic. ‘Ugly as Isabella’ became a popular insult. Everyone waited for a statement from her, but she had vanished without a trace.

Finally, the day of the Gucci editorial showdown arrived. Despite the scandal, the magazines were printed and ready for sale. If Isabella’s Avocado Green collection sold well, it might mitigate some of the damage. In the entertainment world, any publicity was good publicity. The worst fate was obscurity.

At dawn, Gucci released both Isabella and Victoria’s photo editorials. They launched the sales for both collections simultaneously.

The epic battle between Isabella and Victoria had officially begun!