Chapter 59: In the Bennett Manor Gardens Vanessa Sat Beneath

In the Bennett Manor gardens… Vanessa sat beneath a blooming jacaranda tree. Her blood still boiled from the recent events. It would have been acceptable if Walter had transferred a small portion of shares to Sienna. But fifteen percent? Sienna now held the same stake as Vanessa, the supposed true heiress of the Bennett legacy.

To make it worse, netizens were glorifying Sienna, turning her into an icon. Others began questioning the earlier interview Vanessa and Sophia had given. Speculations arose, branding Vanessa as ‘fraudulent’ and ‘inauthentic’. Her ‘Top Supermodel’ title was on the verge of collapse. Her agent, Bianca, stood nearby with a concerned expression. “Valenne had finalized you for their seasonal cover. But they just called. They need more time to decide between you and Sienna.”

“What?” Vanessa gasped, stunned.

Valenne was no ordinary brand. It was the pinnacle of luxury fashion, adored by elites and coveted by the masses. An international powerhouse like Valenne only featured established supermodels and A-list celebrities. Yet they were considering a newcomer like Sienna? Watching Sienna and Grandpa sitting together in the nearby lounge, Vanessa clenched her jaw.

“Vanessa, securing the Valenne ambassador contract is critical now. Losing it to Sienna would be disastrous,” Bianca warned.

Vanessa’s face paled. Of course she wanted it. But how could she compete with this Diamond Queen? The nude scandal had already drained her resources. She spent fortunes deleting posts, erasing evidence, and bribing sources. The stains remained. Moreover, Sienna’s online popularity now rivaled her own. How could Vanessa possibly win? Popularity… Rivalry… An idea sparked. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Bianca. “Call Valenne management. Suggest they hire two models instead of one.”

“Vanessa, you mean…” Bianca processed the thought, then understood. “Brilliant! No wonder you dominate the industry. I’ll contact them immediately.”

If Valenne chose Sienna over Vanessa for the Summer cover, Vanessa’s reputation would shatter. A collaboration would eliminate that risk. Vanessa could leverage Sienna’s fame to boost her own. As the seasoned model, her shots would outshine any amateur’s. The world would see Vanessa’s superiority. Sienna was just a wealthy upstart. Vanessa would seize this dual shoot opportunity. Derek approached just as Bianca hurried away. “What’s going on?” he asked, noticing the rush.

“Nothing serious, just…” A sly smile touched her lips. “I learned Sienna’s manager was pushing for the Valenne Summer shoot. But Valenne had already chosen me. I asked Bianca to request bringing Sienna along.”

“What? After how she treated you? You’d share this with her?” Derek objected, displeased.

Vanessa took his arm. “Derek, darling, she’s still my sister. I wronged her five years ago. I want to make amends. Her career is just beginning. As her sister, I should help.”

“You’re too generous. Far better than that wretched Sienna! Remembering how she pursued me makes my skin crawl.”

As he spoke, inspiration struck. Sienna had adored Derek from age three to eighteen. A fifteen-year infatuation! How could she just stop? Her targeted posts about him were clearly attention-seeking ploys! If Vanessa used Derek to manipulate Sienna, turning her into a docile housewife… The idea thrilled her, but she masked it with a guilty demeanor, lowering her head.