The mere thought of that scene felt like the end of the world to Isabella Lancaster.
She had always prided herself on her flawless pedigree.
But now, every ounce of her pride and glory was about to be stripped away in front of everyone.
She couldn't even fathom it.
When the day of The Vinton Debutante Gala arrived.
How would her socialite friends look at her, and how hard would they laugh?
She couldn't imagine the sheer amount of mockery she would face once the scandal made its way back to Elyndor.
She would be drowning in schadenfreude and vicious stares...
She refused to let everything she had painstakingly built turn to dust!
She couldn't lose everything she had fought so hard to obtain!
Burying her face in her hands, Isabella was consumed by a suffocating wave of despair.
Her mind was entirely blank, leaving her grasping at straws with no idea what to do.
Right at that moment.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
The name flashing on the screen was a lifeline.
It was Agnes!
Isabella snatched up the phone immediately.
"Agnes..."
The moment she spoke, a choked sob escaped her lips.
All the grievance she had been swallowing these past few days came pouring out in an unstoppable flood.
"Agnes... I can't take it anymore. I've been biting my tongue for days, but no one cares about me, and no one even looks at me... They're all obsessing over that country bumpkin!"
"It's not fair! I won't just stand by and watch her ruin my entire life!"
On the other end of the line, Agnes's heart ached for her, murmuring a flurry of soothing words.
She finally managed to calm Isabella down. "Miss Isabella, Serena's Debutante Ball might be her grand entrance into high society, but it's
Falso the perfor
you to make sure she's banished from this circle forever."
Isabella sniffled. "But I... I can't do anything right now..."
"Didn't the Vinton family tell you to attend the gala?" Agnes asked.
Isabella gave a tearful "Mhm."
Having spent years cultivating her image in the United Realmon States, she had built a vast network of elite friends.
Anna was already out of the picture, unable to attend due to her arrest.
If Isabella didn't show up either.
The Vinton family worried the public would assume the newly returned heiress was
a tyrant who couldn't tolerate anyone else, spreading nasty rumors about Serena, which was why they permitted her to attend.
But showing her face at the gala.
It meant watching Serena step into the spotlight, paraded around by the Vinton family as they formally introduced her to the elite circles of the United Realmon States as their precious granddaughter.
It meant ripping off her own band-aid and exposing the fact that she was nothing but a fake in front of everyone.
That was the true source of Isabella's agonizing anxiety.
"Miss Isabella, rest assured, I will never let you lose what is rightfully yours! I am always in your corner!" Agnes promised, her tone hardening with absolute certainty.
Lowering her voice into a raspy, malicious whisper, she added, "Just show up at the gala. I've already arranged everything!"
Isabella's sobs hitched, a dangerous glimmer gradually returning to her eyes.
She gripped the phone tighter.
But her gaze soon dimmed again.
"But... I don't even have a decent gown right now. Mom and Dad have completely abandoned me, andr
compte Vifiton family has
one
even bothered to ask what I'm wearing..."
"Don't worry, I've already taken care of your dress," Agnes assured her. "I accessed one of the Lancaster
family's private safes here in the net ́
United Realmon States and
specifically secured the crown jewel of YB Atelier for your if you wear that to the gala, you will absolutely crush that little tramp!"
"The crown jewel of YB Atelier?" Isabella's eyes lit up with predatory excitement.
"Are you talking about... The Astral Symphony?"