Charlotte gasped and jerked backward, nearly dropping her phone.
What the hell?!
She rubbed her eyes, blinked.
The screen was still there.
Her chest tightened. This isn't real. I'm hallucinating. Maybe I'm losing my mind.
She squeezed her temples. Maybe the stress had finally broken her. Maybe—
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
No.
She wasn't crazy.
And even if she was… what did she have to lose?
She inhaled sharply.
"Hey, system." Her voice was quiet, almost testing.
[Host has acknowledged system! Would you like to accept the mission?]
----------
Just as she made up her mind, her phone buzzed.
[Incoming Call: Olivia Sinclair]
Charlotte blinked. Olivia?
She hesitated before answering. "Hey…"
"Oh my God, Char! You're back in New York?" Olivia's voice was full of excitement. "Why didn't you tell me? I just saw Victoria's message in the group chat—she's been bragging about running into you."
Charlotte's stomach clenched. Of course, Victoria had spread it everywhere.
"I've been busy." She forced a casual tone.
"Busy? Babe, I heard about the interview. That was total BS."
Charlotte sighed. "Yeah, well. It is what it is."
"No, it's not! Screw them. Look, you'll get another chance." Olivia paused. "Let's get dinner tonight. My treat."
Charlotte hesitated. Dinner? Food? The enemy?
But Olivia was one of the few people from her past who hadn't abandoned her.
"…Alright."
"Great! 7 PM at La Riviera. Oh, and you won't believe the gossip I have. It's about Alexander."
Charlotte's breath caught. "What about him?"
Olivia chuckled. "Let's just say… he's moved on. And his new girl? She's a chef. A gorgeous, famous one."
Charlotte's grip on the phone tightened. Of course. Of freaking course.
--------------------
Later that night, she sat alone in her tiny apartment, fingers shaking as she typed the name Olivia had given her.
Serena Vaughn.
The name Olivia had given her had led to a perfectly curated Instagram page.
Charlotte scrolled through the photos, each one a painful stab to her ego. Serena wasn't just beautiful—she was effortlessly stunning. Long dark hair, sun-kissed skin, a body that looked sculpted by the gods.
And she wasn't just another socialite or influencer.
She was a chef. A damn good one.
Charlotte clicked on a video. Serena stood in a sleek, modern kitchen, plating a dish with a smile. The comment section was flooded with admiration.
— She's gorgeous AND talented!
— New queen of the culinary world!
— Wait… isn't that Alexander Hayes in the background??
Charlotte's fingers trembled as she clicked on another post.
It was them.
Serena, leaning against Alexander in a candlelit restaurant, laughing at something he whispered. His arm was casually draped around her waist, his gaze warm.
Charlotte's stomach twisted painfully.
So, that was his type now?
Not just beautiful. Perfect.
And here she was—200 pounds of failure, living in a tiny apartment, rejected by the same man who had once dismissed her like she was nothing.
Her throat tightened. She shut her eyes, willing the sting away.
This wasn't fair.
She used to be like that—the glamorous, envied one. She used to be the one people whispered about, wanted to be.
But now?
Now she was a joke.
Her eyes burned, her breath shaky. It hurt. More than she wanted to admit.
-------------
Her grip on the phone tightened. "Hey, system? Can I change the reward?"
[What do you desire?]
Her reflection stared back at her from the dark screen.
"I want to be beautiful again."
The system paused. Then—
[Beauty transformation is possible. However, host must earn 'Beauty Points' through public engagement. The more people follow your journey, the more your beauty will grow.]
Charlotte exhaled slowly. "So, I have to be watched?"
[Correct. Public attention fuels transformation. Visibility equals power.]
A slow, bitter laugh escaped her lips.
How ironic. She had spent the last two years hiding.
And now?
She had to put herself back on display.
Charlotte clenched her fists.
If that's what it took… so be it.
"I accept."
---
### Going Public
Charlotte reopened the video app she hadn't touched in two years.
Once, she had millions of followers. People had tuned in to watch her perfect life—her luxury shopping hauls, five-star vacations, exclusive parties.
But that girl was gone.
Now, she was about to show them something very different.
She set up her phone, took a deep breath, and hit Record.
"Hey, everyone. It's Charlotte Evans."
A beat of silence. Her own voice felt foreign.
"Yeah, I know. It's been a while."
She exhaled, stepping back to reveal herself. No filters. No angles. Just raw, unedited reality.
"If you're here for designer hauls or yacht parties… surprise! You're getting a weight loss journey instead."
Her stomach twisted, but she kept going. "I used to have it all. Then I lost everything. And when I lost everything… I let myself go."
A pause.
"But I'm done hiding. I'm done being ashamed."
She forced a small smirk. "And if you want to watch me do it—stick around."
A glint of mischief sparked in her eyes. "Oh, and by the way? Victoria Langley? Screw you."
She ended the video and hit Upload.
---
And within minutes… the internet exploded.
Comments poured in almost instantly.
— WTF???
— Is this the same Charlotte Evans??
— No way this is real.
— Girl, what happened??
Charlotte stared at the screen, heart pounding.
Her past fans, her haters, the ones who had forgotten her—
They were all watching.
And as the numbers climbed, something new popped up in her vision.
[Ding! Mission activated. Public engagement detected.]
[Beauty Points: +5]
Charlotte inhaled sharply.
It was working.
A slow, determined smile crept onto her lips.
This was just the beginning.
Charlotte practically sprinted to the bathroom, her heart pounding with anticipation.
She flicked on the light, gripping the edges of the sink as she leaned in, searching her reflection for any sign of change.
Her brows furrowed.
At first glance, she still looked the same. The same round cheeks, the same soft jawline, the same tired eyes framed by slightly smudged eyeliner.
But then—
She leaned closer.
Was her skin… glowing?
It wasn't a drastic transformation, but something felt different. Her face seemed a little less puffy, her dark eyes a little brighter. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Or maybe—
Her gaze dropped to her hands.
She flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulders.
She felt… lighter.
Not in a physical sense—she knew she hadn't magically dropped pounds in an instant—but there was a new energy coursing through her veins. A strange, exhilarating lightness, like she'd just finished an intense workout.
Sweat clung to her skin, dampening her shirt. The system hadn't mentioned exercise, but somehow, her body felt like it had just burned through an hour of cardio. Her muscles were warm, her breathing steady, her limbs tingling with an almost electric buzz.
Charlotte exhaled and ran a hand through her hair.
"Well, that's… weird."
Still, she couldn't deny it—she felt amazing.
For the first time in years, something inside her had shifted.
She felt awake.
Alive.
Her lips curled into a slow grin.
A small hum escaped her throat, then turned into a quiet melody—an old song she used to sing under her breath when she was happy. She hadn't even realized she was doing it.
She actually felt good.
Not because she was suddenly stunning or because Alexander Hayes would come crawling back.
But because, for the first time in a long time, she was doing something. Taking control.
And damn, it felt good.
She spun away from the mirror, tossing her phone onto the bed.
"Alright, system," she said, stretching her arms above her head. "What's next?"
A soft chime echoed in her ears.
[Ding! Next mission: Walk 10,000 steps within 24 hours. Reward: Increased Stamina +10 Beauty Points.]
Charlotte raised a brow.
A walking challenge?
She glanced down at her old sneakers by the door, then back at the glowing screen.
A slow, mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Easy."