Free Web NovelChapter 155: Chapter 155 Review Bombing
Christina’s POV
My phone vibrated against the table, Hudson’s name flashing on the screen. I quickly answered.
"I’ve already had the video taken down," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of tension. "There are still reposts circulating though. Cleaning those up might be trickier. What happened exactly? Did Zoe Foster come to the studio?"
Akira stirred within me, impressed. "He works fast," she purred.
"Yeah," I replied. "She wanted a custom piece. I showed her the door. Next thing I know, she’s making headlines."
"She planned this."
"You think? Could be payback for what happened yesterday."
"I told Cassian to keep her away from you. Now she’s pulling this behind his back."
"She claimed Cassian sent her to me," I snapped. "So who knows what’s true anymore."
Hudson’s voice deepened. "I’ll have a talk with Cassian."
The call ended abruptly.
I refreshed the page to find the video gone, with only scattered reposts that were disappearing one by one like dominoes falling.
"The media’s actually being reasonable," Daniel said, scrolling through his phone. "They know it’s all bullshit, so they’re clearing things up."
Priya nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, good thing it didn’t cause more damage. That report button really works, huh?"
I snorted and closed my phone. "That’s the power of money."
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked.
They both looked so proud, thinking they were responsible for the video’s removal.
I couldn’t bear to burst their bubble. "You two are amazing," I shrugged.
Silently, I thanked Hudson. Without his swift intervention, this would have spiraled out of control, damaging the studio’s reputation.
Long-term, it wasn’t a big deal, but I knew custom orders would take a hit for a while.
Just as I pushed that thought away, my phone vibrated again.
Cassian was stumbling over his apology. "I swear I had nothing to do with any of this. This isn’t on me."
I wasn’t in the mood for niceties. "Zoe said you sent her to me. So who’s lying—her or you?"
He paused before speaking again, his tone hesitant. "Look, I’ll handle Zoe, don’t worry. But Hudson... can you put in a good word for me? He’s furious right now."
Akira chuckled. "Funny how scared Cassian is of Hudson. Though to be fair, an Alpha of the Sabreridge pack is nothing to mess with."
My wolf had a point. Cassian was only apologizing because of Hudson, not because he actually felt sorry for his girlfriend hurting me.
So I replied coldly, "He has every right to be angry. So do I."
"So... is that a yes or no?"
"I’ll think about it."
I hung up.
***
Two days later, I was half-listening to Daniel ramble when he thrust his phone in my face.
"You need to see this. Zoe Foster’s stirring up trouble again."
I turned away from my workbench, squinting at the screen.
Her latest post read "Tastes disgusting" with a direct tag to Ysolde’s bakery location.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
Ysolde had been working 14-hour days for weeks to get Sugar & Whim noticed.
Business was finally picking up.
Influencers were lining up for those ridiculous pink carousel cakes.
And now this.
"She’s doing this deliberately," I said angrily.
Daniel leaned toward the window. "Wait, is that her? Corner table by the window. She’s still there."
I was already moving.
Pushing through the studio door, I crossed the street with my phone out.
One glance at the screen sent my blood pressure soaring.
Zoe’s post already had hundreds of comments piling up.
"I saw this place all over TikTok and thought it was legit."
"Bet they paid for promotion."
"All trending bakeries serve crap."
[Zoe must have been fooled by the algorithm too.]
Then her reply: [Curiosity got me here, and I regret it. Terrible and overpriced. Don’t bother.] #Sugar&Whim #NotWorthTheHype
I arrived too late.
Ysolde and Zoe were already locked in combat.
Ysolde had a fistful of Zoe’s hair.
Zoe was clutching Ysolde’s curls.
They were shrieking and stumbling around like two wine moms having a catfight in a parking lot.
Ysolde’s breathing was heavy, her neck flushed red.
I pushed through the crowd of onlookers and grabbed Zoe’s wrist, yanking down hard to release her grip on Ysolde’s scalp.
"You tried to set me up, and now you’re here? Didn’t Cassian tell you to back off?"
She swung her arm at me.
I blocked her path and slapped her across the face.
A loud, solid crack against her cheek.
Her head snapped to the side as she stumbled backward but didn’t fall, mostly because Ysolde still had a grip on a chunk of her stupid, expensive, fluffy hairstyle.
Zoe’s eyes quickly filled with tears.
She made pathetic choking sounds before breaking into loud sobs, snot running down her face.
"You’re both ganging up on me!"
"You deserve it!"
She swung wildly.
Her elbow jabbed into my ribs.
I shoved her away and smacked her shoulder, harder this time.
"Help!" she screamed. "They’re trying to kill me!"
"Sit. Down." I pushed her into a chair.
She landed heavily, legs bent at awkward angles, hair a mess, eyes puffy. freёwebnovel.com
People were filming. Phones everywhere.
Zoe Foster was big news, and this would be all over social media in less than two minutes.
My heart was still pounding, but the red haze was starting to clear.
I raised my voice.
"This woman came here looking for trouble. She’s been trashing this bakery online, deliberately targeting the owner. This was planned, it’s revenge, not a review. You’re all witnesses."
I held up my phone for emphasis.
"I’m covering everyone’s bill today. Free food for all. I just ask that you don’t post those videos."
Then I glanced at the nearest employee—they should be cleaning up. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
But they were frozen, terror on their faces.
Thankfully, Daniel eventually spurred them into action.
After everyone cleared out, only Zoe remained with us.
She trembled, eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route.
"W-what are you going to do?" she stammered.
