"Hey, Kate, I heard you broke up with Leon?"
The makeup area wasn't big, and people were coming and going. What had just happened spread quickly backstage.
Everyone thought Kate had been impulsive and made a big mistake.
Leonardo was a top-tier star—young, wealthy, and handsome, still a bachelor. Getting involved with a man like him could not only boost your fame and earn you a lot of money, but there might even be a chance to move into his mansion and become his other half.
Countless women in the entertainment industry dreamed of being his girlfriend.
Kate had such an opportunity, yet she chose to give it up.
It was incredibly unwise.
"Kate, Leon is still at the front. Why don't you two talk it over?"
Lima gently advised.
"No need, I don't plan to continue dating him," Kate said calmly.
Whether others were sympathetic, comforting, or mocking, Kate remained calm. She stood quietly at the entrance to the runway, waiting for the final show.
"Kate, was it because of Luca that you two broke up?" Lima was a bit annoyed. The reason for the conflict had also spread—it was all because of Luca, that guy who was always causing trouble.
Ever since Luca came into Kate's life, he had been making a mess and constantly causing problems for her. As Kate's friend, Lima was getting fed up.
"Lima, this has nothing to do with Luca," Kate shook her head slightly, a mocking smile on her lips. "We all know what kind of person Leon is. Without Luca, how much longer could we have stayed together?"
Thinking of Leon's behavior, Lima shrugged. "Alright, Kate, whatever you choose, I support you!"
"Thank you, Lima!" Kate said, moved, with a small smile.
"Alright, ladies, get ready. It's your turn to go on stage," the show's lead designer clapped his hands and announced loudly.
The supermodels immediately perked up and lined up at the entrance.
With a rhythmic beat, Gisele Bündchen, Karolina Kurkova, Kate Kelly, Adriana Lima, Carmen Kass, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and a slew of other supermodels walked onto the dazzling runway in their sexy outfits.
They had the most expensive bodies, the most beautiful faces, and the most perfect figures.
So many supermodels appearing at once was a sight to behold.
"Look, Kate's coming out!"
"Wow, the Ice Queen looks so cool tonight!"
On stage, Kate's face was cold. During makeup, she had applied an extra layer of foundation on her forehead, nose bridge, and cheekbones.
Under the lights, her cheeks reflected a frosty silver glow, making her look even more icy.
She was wearing silver-white lingerie, her long, slender legs like sharp scissors cutting through the space on stage, striding from the back to the front with an imposing aura.
Before her long legs, even the men felt a bit intimidated.
"Wow, she really lives up to the Ice Queen title; her aura is overpowering."
"With her striking eyebrows, cold gaze, and super long legs, her beauty is extraordinary."
The audience whispered praises.
"Leon, I heard you and Kate broke up?"
"Now I'm planning to pursue Kate. You won't mind, right?"
Under the runway, Leonardo's friends teased him.
"Heh, go ahead," Leo shrugged, staring at Kate with a hint of disappointment on his face.
Previously, when Kate was on the runway, she suddenly smiled, and the audience had called it one of the most beautiful moments of the night.
He was secretly pleased because Kate had smiled at him—that beautiful smile was for him.
But this time, Kate walked over coldly, bringing a chill with her, turning around without even glancing at him.
Leo regretfully shook his head. It was really over between them.
He had completely lost this woman who made countless men go "wow."
"Damn Luca!"
Leo clenched his fist tightly, feeling very annoyed.
"Luca, look at what you've done!"
In a quiet corner backstage, Luca was being scolded.
Kate's manager, Ms. Nina Syst, was in a foul mood.
Taking advantage of Kate's stunning performance on stage, she had gone to the front to contact representatives from CK and Gucci, hoping to facilitate cooperation between Kate and these brands.
In the fashion world, Gucci, CK, Chanel, Dior, LV, and Prada are known as the six blue-blood aristocrat brands. The more endorsements a model has, the more famous she becomes.
Kate had already secured Chanel's mainline endorsement. If she could get two more brands, her status as a top supermodel would be solidified.
Unfortunately, while she was paving the way in the front, someone was digging holes in the back, constantly digging holes.
And the person digging the holes was Kate's brother.
The more Nina thought about it, the angrier she got. "Luca, was it because of you that Kate and Leon broke up?"
"It wasn't me; it was Leon. He was getting cozy with Bündchen backstage, and I happened to walk in on them."
"And then you told Kate?"
Nina asked with a dark expression.
"Yes, Nina. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
Luca said innocently.
"No, you're wrong. You could have pretended you didn't see it."
"What? Are you serious? Kate is my sister," Luca said in surprise.
"So what? This is the fashion world. It doesn't matter who sleeps with whom; what matters is who is whose boyfriend in the media."
Nina said sternly, "In the entertainment industry, Leon is known for being picky. Any girlfriend he dates is seen as a symbol of sexiness, beauty, and fashion. Having a boyfriend like Leon greatly increases Kate's exposure, even more so than getting the Chanel endorsement. Do you understand, Luca?"
"Just a transaction?" Luca sneered.
Nina glanced at him and said calmly, "Luca, this is New York. Do you know what makes this place the world capital, the financial capital, the fashion capital? It's not anything else; it's transactions. Without transactions, this place would be a dead city."
Luca shook his head. "Nina, I agree with your point, but I don't agree with your approach. As Kate's brother and the head of the Kelly family, I officially notify you that this transaction ends now."
"No, Luca. I hope you can apologize to Leonardo and persuade Kate to make up with him. If they continue dating for another six months, Kate's career will definitely advance further."
"No need. Kate doesn't need this kind of transaction."
Luca waved his hand and started to walk out.
"One hundred thousand dollars, Luca. If you complete this task, I'll reward you one hundred thousand dollars on behalf of the company."
Nina shouted loudly.
Luca paused, glancing at her coldly. "Nina, I may be a worthless waste, a cripple surviving off my sister, a money-obsessed addict, but I have always known what's most important—and that's Kate, my sister. I will never sell out my sister for money. Nina, I hope you're not that kind of person either!!"
After saying that, he strode out of the backstage area.
Nina stood there staring at his back. Luca's gaze just now was so unfamiliar—cold, severe, determined, and confident, making him hard to figure out.
"Luca has finally grown up."
Kate walked over, draped in a coat, watching the departing figure, with tears glistening on her fair cheeks.
"Kate, you and Leon—"
"Nina, I've already walked the Victoria's Secret runway. I've succeeded, haven't I? The rest is up to us."
Kate pressed her red lips together, her sword-like eyebrows arched upwards, instantly becoming sharp and icy.
(End of Chapter)