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Nathan suddenly lost control and reached out to grab Isabella, but he didn’t expect her to slap him in return. She screamed in shock, “Ah! Pervert! How dare you harass me…‘
Before the words fully left her mouth, several men in the shop had already stepped in to block Nathan.
Taking advantage of the commotion, Isabella quickly dashed out of the store.
Nathan’s face turned ashen. Though he hadn’t seen‘ her face clearly, the voice confirmed his suspicion–it was his wife, Isabella.
He desperately tried explaining to the foreigners holding him back, “I’m not a pervert! That girl just now, she’s my wife. Let me go! I need to bring her home!”
The men who intervened looked at Victoria skeptically. “She’s your wife? Then who is this beside you?”
Nathan was momentarily speechless. The disdain in the men’s eyes was obvious.
Victoria, always eager to cling to Nathan, quickly stepped
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forward to smooth things over. “You misunderstand. I’m his wife’s Sis, and we’re just here looking for my Sis.”
The men, half–convinced, finally let him go.
Nathan staggered outside, shouting, “Isabella!” His voice echoed as he called out desperately.
Isabella, familiar with this street, hid in the shadows, coldly watching Nathan frantically searching for her. Her gaze grew icier by the moment.
A man who chased after his wife while keeping an ambiguous relationship with his first love–how had she not dumped such a scumbag sooner? She even wasted a kidney on him!
Nathan called out until his throat went hoarse, but Isabella didn‘ t respond. His expression turned increasingly puzzled. He didn’t understand why Isabella was avoiding him.
Hadn’t she always adored and relied on him? Shouldn’t she have run to him upon seeing him?
Victoria emerged, stopping him from spiraling further. “Nathan, stop looking. We’ve made a mistake. I asked the shop owner, and he said the girl earlier wasn’t named Isabella.”
Nathan hesitated, doubt clouding his sharp eyes.
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“If it wasn’t her, then why did she run as soon as she saw me?”
Victoria’s voice was soft and comforting, “Nathan, if it were Isabella, she would have rushed to reunite with you.”
Nathan’s resolve began to waver Had he truly been mistaken?
“Nathan, the girl we saw is probably here to participate in the fashion newcomer competition. You’ll definitely see her on the competition day. Let’s go.”
Victoria tugged at Nathan, leading him away, but he kept looking back with every step.
were o
Once they Isabella stepped out from her hiding spot and ran swiftly in the opposite direction.
Back in her rented apartment, Isabella collapsed onto the sofa, her mind in chaos.
She had anticipated running into familiar faces at the competition, but she clung to the faint hope that Nathan, busy with work, wouldn’t accompany Victoria personally.
But it turned out that his cherished “white moonlight” meant too much to him. His attentiveness to Victoria only highlighted his neglect and coldness toward her, his wife.
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Isabella suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to divorce him.
Why not just end it tomorrow when she
saw him again?
If he refused, she’d file for divorce.
She no longer wanted any ties to Nathan.
The day of the competition arrived as scheduled.
Contestants gathered early to draw lots and determine the order of presentation.
Isabella drew the last number, while Victoria was first.
Thirty contestants participated, each presenting their work through models walking the runway. The judges scored the designs, with the highest total score deciding the winner.
The competition began, and the atmosphere grew intense.
As the lights hit the stage, the models showcased the designs with graceful strides.
Victoria’s entry utilized luxurious fabrics and expensive jewels,
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fully embodying a European queen’s elegance. Her work was met with thunderous applause.
The judges gave her consistent scores above 9.5, leaving many whispering, “This Miss Victoria is undoubtedly the dark horse tonight. The championship is hers to lose.”
After Victoria’s exhibition, Nathan, momentarily relieved, shifted his focus to searching for Isabella.
But contestant after contestant disappointed him–they were clearly not the Eastern face he was looking for.
Eventually, Nathan gave up his search.
Subsequent contestants scored lower than Victoria, which delighted her. She was already envisioning herself as the champion.
But then came the 30th contestant.
The lifeless stage suddenly came alive.
Cheers erupted from the audience.
“Wow! These outfits are so creative. Each one is unique!”
Victoria instantly felt the pressure. She whispered to a fellow
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288 our heri
contestant, “Who is this contestant? From her tailoring skills, she’s clearly not a rookie but an experienced designer.”
A nearby student from Milan Fashion Institute chimed in excitedly, “She’s from the East too, just like you. Her name is Thea.”
“Thea?” Victoria murmured, puzzled.
The name was unfamiliar–certainly not a well–known designer.
Suddenly, there was a loud clatter as something fell.
Victoria turned to see Nathan, visibly shaken.
He muttered in a low voice, “Thea… Isn’t that the name of the chief designer hired by Theodore?”
Victoria’s face turned pale.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Both she and Nathan instinctively looked toward the stage.
As the models completed their walk, the contestants were called onstage to explain their design concepts.
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Isabella walked confidently onto the stage. Her gaze briefly swept over Nathan and Victoria before settling, calm and steady.
The reunion she dreaded had finally come.
Nathan’s piercing gaze locked onto Isabella. Despite her slender frame, her proud and poised demeanor, elegant swan–like neck, and Audrey Hepburn hairstyle exuded a regal and aloof charm.
At first glance, she didn’t seem like Isabella.
But after years of marriage, how could she hide from his scrutiny? Nathan Hill finally recognized her.
His fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white.
He remembered the fruitless trip to the U.S., the misdirection by federal authorities, and the crushing belief that she had met with misfortune.
The guilt that had plagued him all this time…
Yet here she was, vibrant and stunning, standing before him.
Isabella’s designs were met with thunderous applause from the audience.
