Jared did not return home until late that night.

The first thing he did was step into the children’s rooms and kiss their sleeping faces.

I looked at the freshly drafted divorce papers in front of me, feeling an unexpected twinge of regret.

Jared was, after all, a good father. He just did not love me.

My thoughts were interrupted when his angry voice cut through the silence.

He grabbed the container of protein powder from the table and threw it into the trash, his expression tense. “What is this? Are you preparing for the Supermodel Showdown?

“I told you before. Your only duty is to give me more children and be my wife.”

After all, as long as I kept having children, I would never step back onto the runway to stand in Natalie’s way.

In this house, contraceptives and fitness regimens were forbidden, but they were also my secret weapon against him.

When I gave birth to Annie and he was tied up with Natalie, I calmly told him that after delivery I planned to return to the runway. Within five minutes, he had rushed into the delivery room.

On Anna’s birthday, while he was shopping abroad with Natalie, I went to the gym. Within half an hour, he was on his private jet heading home.

Every time I hinted at a comeback to outshine Natalie again, he would abandon everything and return to the family.

When I didn’t answer, his voice softened.

“I’ll spend more time at home with you. Don’t touch that stuff. You don’t need to work on your figure.”

I smiled lightly, brushing him off.

“I’m not training for the competition. The doctor just recommended I add more protein.”

Relieved, he exhaled and even sounded apologetic as he said, “Tomorrow I’ll take you to your favorite French restaurant. You’ll get all the protein you need there.”

The next day, we had barely sat down when his phone rang. It was Natalie’s special ringtone.

He answered, and his usually cold expression softened into a faint smile.

“Natalie has an important engagement. As her boss, I need to handle the arrangements. Is that alright?”

It sounded like a question, but his tone left no room for refusal.

As he turned to leave, I handed him two documents.

“Medical paperwork. I just need your signature.”

My face was composed, but my voice trembled slightly.

If he took even a moment to read carefully, he would see the truth. They were divorce papers, along with a waiver of custody rights.

He frowned slightly, about to question me, but his phone buzzed again and again.

I gave it a quick glance. It was Natalie urging him on.

He hastily picked up the documents. Just before signing, he paused.

My heart tightened.

Then he said casually, “Stop drinking protein powder. I know your body. You don’t need it.”

When I nodded, he signed smoothly.

On the way back from the divorce attorney’s office, I scrolled through the trending news and saw Natalie’s latest headline.

So much for her important engagement. It had actually been a romantic beach date with Jared.

Jared was kissing Natalie’s lips tenderly, and their intimacy was way too obvious.

The comments overflowed with blessings for the couple.

Now and then, someone remembered me. “Wait, isn’t Clarissa Mrs. Johnson? She was the top model who once outshone Natalie!”

However, the mockery soon drowned those voices out.

“She’s just a washed-up wife who trapped her husband with kids. How could she compare to our Natalie? She should get out of the Johnsons!”

“I heard she even signed up for Aeterna’s competition. Stealing a man wasn’t enough; now she dares to steal a career, too?”

“After seven years away, what does she have to fight Natalie with?”

I tightened my grip on the phone, a cold smile curving my lips.

Then I opened my contacts and sent a message to Aeterna’s organizer.

[I’ll agree to appear as your special opening guest. I’ll walk the runway to open the show.]

The reply came quickly.

[Great. One million per step.]

That evening, I went as usual to the beauty institute. My modeling coach was already waiting for me.

After a moment’s hesitation, she finally asked, “Do you really plan to return to modeling?”

I smiled. “Not just me, but my three children as well.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, three little heads peeked out from behind me.

I added with a laugh, “Please arrange training for them as well.”

After a crash course, my children walked the runway with impressive poise. The coach could not stop marveling, exclaiming how they were born to be supermodels just like me.

However, before the joy could settle, a strong hand yanked me off the runway.

It was Jared, with a flustered Natalie right behind him.

His face was cold, his eyes burning with fury.

“You dare to train as a model again? And you brought the children?”

I brushed the dust off my clothes and gave a mocking smile as I looked at the couple before me.

“You have your little seaside hobbies. Why shouldn’t the children have hobbies of their own?”

His jaw tightened, his expression darkening further.

“Clarissa, don’t forget. They’re my children! I will never allow them to follow your path, nor will I allow you to return to the runway!”

I already had custody in hand, so there was no need to argue further. Meeting his gaze, I answered calmly, “I’ll decide the path for me and the children.”

The firmness in my eyes seemed to unsettle him. For a moment, he was silent, then he let out a cold laugh.

“Fine. I’ll watch and see just what tricks you think you can pull.”

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out behind us. Natalie was on the ground, clutching her ankle, while Anna stood nearby.

With a pitiful voice, Natalie said, “Clarissa, just for this competition, you actually told your daughter to push me?”

I laughed without mirth. “A six-year-old child? Do you really believe that?”

However, Jared’s veins bulged in anger. He grabbed me by the collar and hurled me to the floor. “Are you insane, Clarissa? If anything happens to Natalie’s foot, I won’t forgive you!”

The blow left me dizzy, darkness clouding my vision. My children rushed to my side in panic, but Jared only lifted Natalie into his arms and summoned the only emergency medical team.

He never spared me another glance.

Just before I lost consciousness, my phone buzzed with a message from Natalie.

It was a video of Jared carefully massaging her ankle, arranging treatment with anxious care.

I pulled my lips into a weak, bitter smile and closed my eyes, refusing to watch further.

As the competition drew near, Natalie’s updates appeared daily.

Every post carried the same theme. It was of Jared by her side, eating with her, living with her, training with her.

On the day of the competition, Jared finally called me.

“Clarissa, everyone is waiting to see the former top supermodel. You’re not going to back out, are you?”

I pressed my lips together, my voice steady.

“I’ll be there.”

He sounded satisfied. “It’s not like you’re going to win. Just show up, that’s all.”

Then, with mocking emphasis, he added, “Oh, and bring those three little supermodel babies of yours.”

But he forgot to hang up. In the background, his friends jeered, “See? Your wife’s so obedient. Even if you told her to walk into fire, she’d do it!”

Natalie’s faint laughter carried through the line.

I let out a cold laugh of my own. “We’ll make sure both you and Miss Natalie remember us well.”

Backstage at the Supermodel Showdown, Natalie leaned on Jared’s arm and whispered, “I’m still a little nervous about Clarissa…”

Jared’s reply was firm.

“She’s no longer your opponent. Today, she’s nothing more than your stepping stone.”

However, before he could finish, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

Stage lights flashed in every direction, and all eyes turned toward the source.

I stood there, clad in Aeterna’s unreleased masterpiece, the Nirvana gown. My presence radiated power, a queen descending to her court.

Behind me, my three children were dressed in matching couture. They walked with flawless runway steps, their striking looks capturing every camera in the room.

As I entered, the host’s voice rang out in excitement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our special guest, Aeterna’s global ambassador Clarissa Middleton, accompanied by her three supermodel prodigies! She will also serve as a special judge for tonight’s showdown!”

Amid the thunderous cheers, I led my children down the runway.

As we passed Natalie and Jared, I did not slow my steps. I merely offered them a faint smile.

“The show is about to begin.”