“Rarely do we attend the same awards ceremony together. I thought we could even go out together, but turns out you didn’t come home at all last night. Mom and Dad asked me where you were, I didn’t know how to cover for you,” Victoria said, once again portraying herself as the caring elder sister for her younger sister.
“You should tell me where you actually stay. Just in case something happens, there can be someone to look out for you. Trust me, I won’t tell our parents,” Victoria continued.
Victoria looked at Isabella, her eyes shining. She had always wanted to know where Isabella had hidden that wild seed, feeling uneasy about not holding such a huge piece of leverage.
Listening to this, Isabella couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. It seemed she was waiting here for her after all. However, trying to manipulate her wouldn’t be so easy.
“Where else could I have gone? Last night, Olivia instructed me on today’s schedule. It got too late, so I crashed at her place. I can’t be like you, my sis, cozy in Caleb’s arms, sleeping so comfortably,” Isabella retorted, glancing at Victoria and not bothering to lower her voice, making it audible to several nearby staff members.
Victoria blushed intensely, glaring at her displeasedly, swiftly diverting the conversation.
After boarding the plane, Isabella sat next to Olivia, covering her face with a magazine, continuing her sound sleep.
As the plane descended over the airport and smoothly landed, Olivia impatiently shook her awake.
“Wipe the drool, we’re getting off the plane,” Olivia said.
Isabella rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, sitting up from her seat with an unwilling expression. Her sleeping posture had caused wrinkles on her dress, annoying Olivia.
“My princess, this dress will walk the red carpet later,” Olivia half-squatted in front of her, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress.
She felt she must have had her head banged against a door to have agreed to be Isabella’s agent; the meticulousness of this work was exasperating.
The Oscars ceremony was always grand and lively every year.
This was Isabella’s first time on the red carpet. She wore crystal high heels, a long white dress, and exquisite makeup on her face, radiating beauty under the flashing lights.
With one hand holding her long dress, the other hand waved to the people around her, the red carpet seemed a bit too long, and she smiled, a bit forced.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed being the center of attention. When she descended from the red carpet, she specifically instructed Olivia, “Next time, if there’s another chance to crash the red carpet, make sure to think of me.”
After hearing this, Olivia couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
The red carpet was lively, and the awards ceremony was even more so.
Following Olivia, Isabella entered the venue and found herself seated next to Victoria.
“We’re from the same production team, and we’re sisters, so they arranged us to sit together,” Victoria said with her usual graceful smile.
Isabella had nothing to say and simply adjusted her long dress before taking her seat next to Victoria.
As everyone settled in, the host stepped onto the stage. Victoria’s assistant hurried over, whispering a few words in her ear.
Victoria’s expression changed immediately, instinctively glancing at Isabella. However, she didn’t say anything, just signaled to her assistant, who nodded and left.
Soon after, Victoria resumed her usual gentle and friendly demeanor, chatting and laughing with Isabella.
Not long after, the assistant returned, holding two glasses of orange juice.
One glass was handed to Victoria, and the other was offered to Isabella. “Isabella, have a drink.”
“I’m not thirsty,” Isabella instinctively raised her hand to decline. Ever since the incident with poisoned green bean soup, she dared not touch anything belonging to Charlotte and her daughters again.
She didn’t expect that merely blocking the cup with her hand would cause the assistant to tilt it, spilling most of the orange juice onto Isabella’s white dress.
Isabella stood up in panic as the orange liquid dripped from her stained skirt, creating a messy scene on the floor.
Her dress was heavily stained, and she couldn’t even think about handling it.
Isabella looked extremely displeased, giving the assistant a cold glare.
The assistant, looking flustered and panicked, kept apologizing, “I’m sorry, Isabella, I didn’t mean to.”
“Why are you so careless in your actions? Get away from here, you’re just causing trouble,” Victoria reprimanded, her face cold.
The assistant looked crestfallen, teary-eyed, and walked away.
Victoria then quickly apologized to Isabella, “She really didn’t mean it. Don’t be upset. I have a spare dress, would you like me to get it for you?”
Isabella remained silent, her face cold. With reporters around, she wondered how she could leave the scene now.
“It’s okay, it’s just the hem of the dress that’s wet. While you’re sitting here, no one will notice. We’ll leave a little later after the awards ceremony,” Olivia said, wiping Isabella with tissues. After wiping her, Olivia subconsciously glanced at Victoria.
Olivia had been around the industry for years, witnessing all sorts of shady tactics. It was evident to her that both Victoria and her assistant had done this intentionally.
However, soon after, Olivia understood Victoria’s real motive. It was because Isabella had won the Best Newcomer Award.
Since she had won, she had to go on stage to accept it. If Isabella went on stage wearing a dirty dress, it would be a huge embarrassment, making headlines in major newspapers and magazines tomorrow.
Isabella looked coldly at Victoria, making her uncomfortable. Victoria’s smile seemed forced and unnatural.
At this moment, all the cameras were on Isabella, waiting for her to go on stage and receive the award.
Isabella forcefully tore off the stained hem of her dress and threw it on the ground, turning her long dress into a knee-length one. Though it lost some elegance, it didn’t look too bad.
She stood up, wearing high heels, straightened her back, and with a composed expression, walked onto the stage under the public’s gaze.
She never expected to win, and even Olivia had doubts about her chances. So, she didn’t bother to prepare any acceptance speech.
Now standing on stage, she had to improvise. After thanking her parents, family, especially the director and the crew, she held the trophy and stepped down from the stage.
Back at her seat, she deliberately placed the crystal trophy on Victoria’s side. Victoria felt uncomfortable but managed to force out a smile, “Isabella, congratulations! It’s rare to win an Oscar for Best Newcomer right at the beginning of your career.”
Isabella remained silent, merely kicking the stained part of her dress that was on the floor. Victoria’s expression immediately turned unpleasant, and she felt too embarrassed to say anything further.