### The Aftermath
Charlotte barely made it to her car before the weight of the night crashed down on her. She gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, as the humiliating scene replayed in her head.
The laughter. The cameras. The red wine soaking her shirt.
Then, her own voice, ringing loud and defiant:
"Good food doesn't discriminate—not by wallet size, not by waist size."
At the time, she had spoken from pure instinct, raw and unfiltered.
But now, alone in the quiet, doubt crept in. Had she just ruined everything?
Her phone buzzed.
Olivia: Call me the second you see this. Holy sht, Char.
Another buzz.
New Notification: 257 Mentions
Charlotte exhaled sharply. That couldn't be good.
She tapped open her social media.
#CharlotteEvansMeltdown was trending.
Videos of her tearing off her apron, snapping at Victoria, and—God help her—stabbing the cake had already spread like wildfire.
Some comments were brutal:
> This chick is unhinged. Y'all hyped her up too much.
> Who acts like that at a fancy event? Trashy.
But others… something unexpected was happening.
A different hashtag was trending too.
#GoodFoodForAll
> "Good food doesn't discriminate—not by wallet size, not by waist size." I felt that in my soul. Charlotte Evans, you just got yourself a new fan.
> I've spent my whole life being too broke for "fine dining" and too fat for "health food." Charlotte Evans said FCK those rules. I'm in. #GoodFoodForAll
>This is the energy we need. She's not just about losing weight, she's about making good food accessible. That's the kind of influencer we need.
> Charlotte Evans just became my spirit animal.
> The way she ATE that cake and made it a statement?? ICONIC!
> Compare Charlotte to those rich brats who only pretend to like food for aesthetics. She actually loves cooking and eating. I trust her way more.
> If she starts a real nutrition and fitness program for people like us, I'm signing up. Who's with me?
Charlotte blinked at the flood of support.
People weren't just defending her. They were rallying behind her.
And more than that—
They were asking to join her.
Her chest tightened, heat pricking behind her eyes. She had spent years feeling like an outcast in the world of food. But now, people weren't just listening. They understood.
Her phone rang. Olivia.
"Tell me this isn't as bad as it looks," Charlotte said in lieu of hello.
"Bad? Are you kidding me? You just started a movement." Olivia sounded borderline giddy. "Brands are gonna eat this up, they are gonna be all over you."
"All over me?" Charlotte repeated, her disbelief evident.
"Yeah, you showed up in your true colors, and your message hit home. People are sick of those influencers who just pose for the camera. They're craving something real, down-to-earth. And you just gave them that."
Charlotte was quiet. She'd never imagined that an outburst would rally people behind her.
"And—wait for it—" Olivia continued, "Hastings Industries reached out."
Charlotte froze. "What?"
"Not Alex himself, but his PR team. They want to set up a meeting. Something about a business opportunity."
Charlotte's stomach flipped. "Why would they—"
"Don't know. But if his company is interested, you must've really made an impression tonight."
Charlotte chewed her lip. The last thing she needed was Alexander Hastings thinking she was some charity case.
Still… she couldn't deny she was curious.
### System Alert: Hidden Reward Unlocked!
Just as Charlotte was about to start the car, her system interface flashed to life.
[Mission Update: Unexpected Achievement!]
Goal: 500,000 total views – COMPLETED.
Actual Outcome: 1,000,000 views – DOUBLE ACHIEVEMENT!
Rewards Updated:
Original Rewards
- Physique Optimization – Your body will adapt faster to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced Sense of Smell – As a chef, taste is vital, but so is smell. Sharpened olfactory senses for superior culinary skills.
Hidden Reward Unlocked!
[Special Reward: Double Fitness Sculpting Effect]
> System detected Host's high dedication to improving appearance. Special bonus tailored to your personal goals!
> Warning: No pain, no gain! This is not a free pass. Exercise is still required. Perfect body = sweat + effort!
Charlotte blinked at the screen, rereading it twice.
"Wait, what?"
Her fitness progress would be twice as effective?
That was—actually, incredible.
But of course, the system had to remind her that she wasn't getting a shortcut.
"Ugh," she muttered. "Fine."
If she had to work out anyway, at least now it would be worth double the results.
### Alexander's business partner's videos
Alexander sat in his office, watching the video of Charlotte's outburst for the fourth time.
The first time, he had just been… surprised.
The second time, he'd analyzed it—every flicker of emotion, every sharp retort.
By the fourth, he was just staring.
His jaw tightened as he watched her, standing in the middle of that over-the-top gala, her chest heaving, eyes blazing, wine dripping from her ruined dress.
Most people, when humiliated in public, either crumbled or lashed out in pure anger. But Charlotte?
She had owned it.
That line—"Good food doesn't discriminate—not by wallet size, not by waist size."
It wasn't just a defense. It was a statement. A challenge.
And the world had heard her.
His phone vibrated. A message from his PR director, Lisa Carmichael.
Lisa: Her numbers are skyrocketing. Social sentiment is shifting in her favor. If she pivots correctly, she could become a major voice in the health and wellness space. We should discuss a potential partnership before someone else does.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against his desk.
Charlotte Evans.
A woman he had dismissed without a second thought years ago. A woman who had once thrown herself at him with reckless desperation—only to now become a force in her own right.
"Wow," a familiar voice drawled from the couch near the window.
Alexander barely glanced over. Damien was sprawled across the expensive leather, a glass of whiskey in hand, smirking like the devil himself.
"You look like a man going through a mid-life crisis," Damien added, swirling his drink.
Alexander ignored him, eyes still on the paused video.
"You know," Damien continued, unbothered by the silence, "if you keep watching her like that, people are gonna think you actually care."
Alexander finally turned, leveling a glare at his friend. "I don't."
Damien snorted. "Uh-huh. Sure. So, sending your PR team to 'explore business opportunities' with her? That's just, what, charity?"
Alexander exhaled sharply. "She has an audience. A loyal one. If she partners with the right brands, she could be a powerful asset. Hastings Industries is expanding into the health and wellness sector. It makes sense to get ahead of the trend."
Damien tilted his head. "Right. Business. Nothing to do with the fact that she just dragged your entire social circle through the mud and came out winning."
Alexander's grip tightened around his glass.
That part did bother him.
He had spent years navigating the ruthless world of high society, knowing exactly when to speak, when to hold his silence, and when to strike. It was a game of control.
Charlotte? She had walked into that event—a room full of people who had mocked her for years—and blown the entire game up.
She had been impulsive, reckless, completely unfiltered—
And yet, somehow, it worked.
People weren't just defending her; they were rallying behind her.
He hadn't seen that coming.
Damien studied him for a long moment, then grinned. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you admire her a little."
Alexander scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."
Damien took a slow sip of his drink, clearly enjoying this far too much. "I mean, think about it. She used to chase after you like a lovesick fool, and you didn't give her a second glance. Now? You're sitting here watching her videos on repeat."
Alexander set his glass down with a thud. "I'm watching a potential business partner. That's it."
"Uh-huh." Damien's grin widened. "And how many times do you usually watch a business partner's videos at one in the morning?"
Alexander didn't answer.
Because, for the first time, he wasn't entirely sure Damien was wrong.