Chapter 6
Someone even started a supertopic for their ship, and fans were going wild, calling them "ship goals."
People started digging up their old love story, and from beginning to end, Charlotte felt like she never belonged, like she was nothing but a punchline in all of this.
She'd been shooting all day without a bite to eat, and by late evening, her stomach was practically screaming from hunger.
Vivian finally picked out the most gorgeous ten-second clip of herself.
She waved her hand like a queen, acting as if she was handing out charity.
"Since you all worked so hard with me today, dinner's on me! Miss Rivers, you better show up~"
Charlotte clutched her aching stomach, cold sweat trickling down her face. She tried to come up with an excuse to leave, but Liam shot her a warning look, making it clear she wasn't going anywhere.
She followed them into the private dining room, and when she saw the table piled high with spicy food, her face turned even paler.
Vivian deliberately sat right next to her and put the spiciest beef right into her bowl.
Vivian waved her hand with a smug smile. "Miss Rivers, you're gorgeous and so sweet. You helped me out all day without a single complaint, such a trooper," she said, almost mockingly.
The provocation in Vivian's eyes made Charlotte instantly wary. She frowned and refused.
"I can't handle spicy food, could you skip the beef for me?" Charlotte started to say.
But before she could finish, her phone buzzed.
James was sitting to Vivian's left, noticing the curious glances from the staff all around.
With a scowl, James texted her, "Eat it. Don't cause any trouble."
Charlotte clenched her fingers, and with the camera trained on her, she forced herself to take a bite.
After just a few bites, her stomach was in turmoil.
She kept scratching at her neck, gasping for breath, her whole face breaking out in blotchy red welts.
One of the staff gasped, shattering the tense silence.
"Oh my god, Miss Rivers, you're having an allergic reaction!"
James's face changed instantly. He was about to step forward, but Vivian grabbed his arm.
"James, the company wants us to ride the wave and hype up our ship. It's not a good look for you to get close to Miss Rivers right now," Vivian said.
Charlotte thought about how the shoot was almost over. She hesitated for a few seconds, but let Vivian keep holding her hand.
As soon as the shoot wrapped, James could rush her to the hospital and have the best doctors waiting.
Her voice was hoarse as she forced out her last words, her breathing growing weaker.
"James, I'm your wife," she said.
She saw James just sitting there, making no move to help her, as she collapsed to the floor.
The waiter rushed in, let out a scream, and the piping hot soup he was carrying spilled all over her.
The double shock of the allergic reaction and the scalding soup was too much. Her vision went black and she fainted.
When Charlotte opened her eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant hit her nose.
She tried to move, but ended up straining her injury without realizing it.
She gasped in pain, and the sound made James look up from the couch.
He strode over, reaching out to help her, but froze right before his hand made contact.
A legal notice was thrown right in front of her.
James towered over her, his cold fingers pinching her chin.
"You promised to cooperate, so why are you going back on your word? Do you even realize how many people are working overtime to clean up your mess because of your little attitude?" he snapped.
The legal notice in front of her left her confused.
She shook off his hand, read the notice, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her eyes went wide in disbelief.
"I'm the one who had to eat beef even though I'm allergic and nearly passed out. Why am I the one who has to apologize and explain?" Charlotte shot back.
The document spelled it out in black and white. She had to make a public statement saying her collapse had nothing to do with Vivian.
And on top of that, she was supposed to act like they were besties, putting on a show of deep friendship.
What a joke.
James watched as she avoided him again, and his anger burned even hotter.
"That uncut HD video got posted at 3 AM. Don't tell me you didn't plan it. You dropped it right when Foster Enterprises' PR was off guard. By the time anyone noticed, the video of you collapsing and getting sent to the hospital was everywhere online. Now everyone's blaming her," James snapped.
"Charlotte, you really know how to play your cards," James sneered.
His icy, heartless words slammed into her like a sledgehammer, leaving her reeling.
She shot him a glare, her lips curling into a cold, mocking smile.