She took a shaky breath. “Would you… would you consider taking me on as your student?”

Isabella paused, touched by Sophie's earnestness but cautious. "I'm sorry, I don't take students."

Sophie, slightly taken aback, quickly recovered. "I'll keep trying!"

Suddenly, photographers swarmed them. Their cameras flashed, capturing the moment. Once the media moved on, Isabella declined the staff's invitation to stay. She exited the bustling venue alone.

Outside, a cool evening breeze hinted at approaching autumn. She wrapped her coat more snugly around herself. She hadn't seen Ethan for several days. She considered calling him but hesitated. He might be too busy. She decided against it.

Fatigue crept up on her. She massaged her temples. Pulling out her phone, she checked the time. It was already time to pick up Liam from school.

The kindergarten entrance buzzed with lively chatter.

Liam dashed towards her with glee upon seeing her. He leaped into her embrace. "Mom!"

Isabella crouched down and picked him up. She kissed his cheek gently. "How was your day?"

Liam swelled with pride. "Fantastic! My teacher said my drawing improved!" Isabella's face lit up with a tender smile.

They walked home hand in hand. After dinner, she played games with him. Then she read him a bedtime story. Her calming voice slowly lulled him to sleep. She tucked him in and kissed his forehead. She turned off the light and quietly left the room.

Night had deepened. Silence blanketed the world outside. A sharp ring woke Isabella the next morning. Her phone on the nightstand showed "Chloe" on the display.

She wiped her sleepy eyes and answered.

"Sadie, are you aware of the latest headlines?"

"What headlines?"

"About you and Sophie! Photos of you receiving her gift are everywhere! Rumors are spreading online that you favored her unfairly!" Alertness instantly replaced Isabella's sleepiness.

A gift from Sophie? Accusations of favoritism?

She leapt out of bed. Her feet hit the cold floor. She strode to the window and yanked back the curtains. The bright morning sun was piercing. It paled compared to the turmoil brewing within her.

A heavy feeling settled in her chest as she realized the implications. "I'm on it now."

Ending the call, she grabbed her phone to check the headlines. The hashtag #IsabellaScott&SophieTurner dominated the trending topics.

She clicked the link. Her screen filled with articles and the incriminating photo. The photo showed her receiving the gift from Sophie. It was taken from a manipulative angle, implying a secretive exchange. The comment section was a turmoil of speculation and condemnation.

"I knew it looked too perfect! How else could Sophie's design have stood out?"

"What did Isabella get for this? She's too audacious!"

"I thought Isabella was above this. She's just like any other compromised designer!"

Isabella browsed the comments with a sinking heart. Her expression hardened. She exited the news app and dialed her assistant.

"Oliver, we need to find the source of these photos. Someone's orchestrating this chaos."