The following morning, Isabelle woke up bright and early, ready to prepare for her audition with Starlight Industry. She chose a crisp, white blouse that had a subtle shimmer to it. Around her neck, she wore an elegant silver necklace with a dainty pendant, which perfectly matched the small stud earrings in her ears. Her outfit was completed by a pair of fitted black trousers that hugged her curves in all the right places.
A thin, matching belt cinches at her waist, emphasizing her slender figure. Isabelle's hair was styled in loose, effortless waves that framed her face beautifully. With a little touch of makeup, she was satisfied with the way she looked. The final touch was a pair of sleek and sophisticated black stiletto heels.
When Isabelle stepped out of her room, she found Alice standing at her door, her expression composed but alert.
"Good morning," Isabelle greeted, her voice steady but curious. "Were you able to do it?"
Alice gave a quick nod. "Yes, madam," she replied, her tone respectful and efficient.
A small smile touched Isabelle's lips. "Good."
Satisfied, Isabelle made her way downstairs, her heels clicking softly against the floor. The dining room greeted her with its usual elegance—a table set with precision and a warm breakfast waiting. She settled in to eat. Every bite was deliberate, her mind already focused on the day ahead.
After finishing, Isabelle dabbed her lips with a napkin and stood, glancing at the staff. "Thank you," she said, her tone polite but distant.
With Alice trailing a few steps behind, Isabelle walked to the front of the house. A sleek black car was already waiting. Davis, her driver, stepped forward, opening the door with practiced ease.
"Madam," he said with a slight bow.
Isabelle inclined her head gracefully and slid into the car, Alice following closely. Once both were settled, Davis closed the door and took his place behind the wheel. Without delay, the car pulled away, gliding smoothly onto the road.
Twenty minutes later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the towering Starlight Entertainment building.
Isabelle stepped out, pausing for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the grand facade that loomed above her.
She had once stood here as Ruby, filled with hope and excitement, invited for her undeniable talent. But all of that had been shattered when Catherine and Sonia conspired to destroy her reputation.
I will clear my name, for now the show must go on.
As she stepped into the gleaming lobby, the hum of conversation and the occasional shuffle of heels filled the air. The atmosphere was charged with ambition and competition. Isabelle's entrance did not go unnoticed. Heads turned, eyes lingered—some curious, others sizing her up.
"You made it!" a familiar voice chimed.
Isabelle turned, her gaze landing on Sonia, flanked by Catherine and a group of women trailing behind her like lost sheep's. Sonia's smile was dazzling, but her eyes betrayed a sharp glint of malice.
"Why wouldn't I?" Isabelle replied smoothly, her voice light and sweet. She stepped forward and leaned in for the customary cheek peck. Her lips, of course, didn't touch Sonia's skin, though she made the gesture look polite enough to an outsider.
Sonia's gaze flicked to Alice, who stood silently behind Isabelle. "And she this?" she asked, her tone coated in feigned curiosity.
Isabelle followed Sonia's glance, "Oh, she's, my friend. She came to support me," Isabelle said casually, her smile unwavering.
Sonia's eyes narrowed briefly before she extended a manicured hand toward Alice. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Sonia," she said, her voice carrying that practiced charm Isabelle knew all too well.
Alice didn't move. Her expression remained neutral; her hands firmly clasped in front of her. The silence stretched with awkwardness.
Sonia's outstretched hand faltered. A faint flush crept up her neck as she awkwardly lowered it, forcing a tight smile to mask her irritation. "She's not very social, is she?"
"Not really. She's more of a quiet observer," Isabelle replied, her tone dripping with innocent apology but her eyes twinkling. Inside, she was holding back a smirk, relishing the flicker of embarrassment on Sonia's face.
Sonia's smile stiffened further. "No problem," she said, her voice a shade cooler now.
Isabelle tilted her head slightly, her own smile serene. The little victory gave her a satisfying spark of confidence.
A commanding voice echoed through the spacious hall, cutting through the hum of chatter.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Starlight Industry Auditions," announced a sharp-looking woman with a poised demeanor. She stood at the front of the hall, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Before we begin, I'd like to go over a few ground rules."
Isabelle, out of the corner of her eye noticed Sonia's usual entourage slipping out quietly.
A knowing smirk tugged at Isabelle's lips. Of course, they had something up their sleeves. They always did. But Isabelle didn't react; she kept her face calm, her eyes forward as though the distraction didn't exist.
The woman at the front finished her speech and clapped her hands sharply. "Now, if you'll all follow our staff, you'll be assigned your audition numbers and wardrobe for today's session."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the room as the contestants were guided into separate rooms.
In the fitting room, Isabelle was handed a floor-length gown made of smooth, silken fabric. The fabric shimmered faintly under the overhead lights, the soft, flowing material perfectly complementing her silhouette. She ran her fingers lightly over it, appreciating its elegance.
As Isabelle admired her assigned dress, a familiar voice chimed from nearby. "Your gown looks so good," Sonia said, her tone dripping with admiration "I bet you'll be one of the winners today."
Isabelle returned Sonia's smile. Inside, though, she saw through the act. She knew exactly what Sonia was doing—she had played this game before.
It was always the same. Sonia would shower her with praise, lifting her confidence just high enough to make the fall more painful. When things went wrong, Sonia would swoop in, pretending to console her, but the comfort was laced with quiet mockery. Each word, each gesture, would chip away at her self-esteem, leaving her doubting herself.
Not this time.
"This is the outfit they gave me to wear…I can't wait to try it on,"
As Sonia held up her protective garment bag, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen, and for a brief moment, a devious smile crossed her lips, vanishing almost instantly.
"Oh no…" she said, her voice tinged with mock concern. Her face shifted to a look of mild distress as she turned toward Isabelle.
"What's wrong?" Isabelle asked, her brows knitting together in a display of polite curiosity.
"Catherine is having trouble with her dress," Sonia replied, shaking her head slightly. "I need to go help her."
Isabelle's lips curved into a polite smile, her voice steady. "Of course. Go help her. I'll be fine here."
Sonia returned the smile, her eyes gleaming with concealed triumph. "Thank you, Isabelle. Best of luck to you!" She turned and strode out of the room.
Isabelle's gaze followed her, her expression unreadable.
After slipping into her elegant gown, Isabelle adjusted the fabric and admired the way it clung perfectly to her frame. Just as she reached opened the door, she collided with someone.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" a man snapped, his tone sharp with irritation.
Alice took a step forward, her protective instincts flaring, but Isabelle subtly raised a hand to stop her.
"My apologies," Isabelle said smoothly.
The man huffed, brushed past her, and disappeared down the hallway while Isabelle and Alice went to the audition room.
"You can wait outside," she told her companion. Alice hesitated but nodded and stepped back.
Isabelle entered the audition room through the back entrance. She joined the other contestants, who were waiting their turns behind a long set of thick curtain blinds. Peering through a small gap, she admired the view.
The fashion runway was mesmerizing—a sleek, shimmering silver catwalk that seemed to stretch endlessly under the bright lights. Rows of seats lined either side, with a group of people seated prominently at the front row.
They must be the judges, she thought, studying their expressions.
Before she could lose herself further in the scene, a sudden shove from behind jolted her.
Gosh, what is with people bumping into me today? Isabelle turned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she recognized Catherine, dressed to the nines in her audition attire.
"I'm in a rush," Catherine said curtly, brushing past Isabelle without so much as an apology. She was annoyed that Isabelle was even here for the audition.
Isabelle watched her go, her lips pressing into a thin line. Catherine's rudeness was no surprise.
---
"Why did you tell her? You know how much this audition means to us! We can't let some nobody steal our spotlight," Catherine hissed, her tone laced with frustration.
"Relax," Sonia replied coldly. "Do you think I would invite her without a plan?"
Sonia stepped closer, running her hands over the fabric of Catherine's outfit as if smoothing out invisible wrinkles.
"Just go ahead with your audition. After you will watch the plan unfold in front of you. Just make sure you act when necessary…if you know what I mean," She remarked.
Catherine smirked, her irritation giving way to smug satisfaction. "You always know how to handle things."
---
Sonia's plan never fails. That's how she got rid of her bitch of a sister. Her sister always did better than her, in grades and even in beauty and she hated it. She hated that Ruby kept sending her money to show her who earned more in the entertainment industry. Now that she is rotting in hell, she is going to take her place in everything. She also had this feeling that Isabelle felt familiar.
Now I know why, she is just like Ruby, acting like some kind of goddess. Well not anymore, Catherine thought. It was her turn on the stage and she came forth, walking on the runway. She strode with every vein of grace and elegance she could muster. Before the day of the audition, she had been practicing for so long. She even came across Ruby's videos online.
Catherine hated it. She hated how Ruby's shadow loomed over everything she did. Even though Ruby was gone, her talent seemed to follow Catherine like an unshakable ghost.
She was done cat walking and went backstage. She sees that it was Isabelle's turn.
"Wish me luck," Isabelle remarked as she passed by.
Tch. You wish. Catherine thought. She peeked through the blinds to see how Isabelle will do hers.
The way she moved, the effortless grace, the poise—it was nothing like what Catherine had expected. Isabelle wasn't just walking; she was commanding the stage.
Isabelle's confidence radiated, and Catherine's grip on the edge of the blinds tightened in frustration.
When she reached close to where the judges were, her eyes flickered over their faces until she saw one, she instantly recognized which shocked her. It was Logan.