Chapter 321: Isobel: Rising Above The Storm

Charlotte had spent years building her reputation, carefully cultivating her public image and using every opportunity to climb higher.

Now, it was all falling apart.

Charlotte pressed her trembling fingers against her forehead.

How did things get this bad?

Then another thought struck her, cold and merciless.

Did I really dig my own grave?

Charlotte felt regret she had never experienced before.

And for the first time, she was genuinely afraid that there might be no way out.

...

Meanwhile, across the city, a very different storm was sweeping through Aioryx Corporation.

Only this time, it was a storm of orders.

The company’s e-commerce platform was experiencing an unprecedented surge in sales of KitKat, its robotic baby pet toy.

At first, the marketing team assumed the spike was simply a temporary reaction to the viral nursery footage.

After all, the internet was notorious for turning almost anything into a passing sensation.

But the orders kept pouring in.

Hundreds became thousands. The number of visitors browsing the product page climbed at a staggering rate, and the notification system chimed almost continuously as new purchases came through.

Within minutes, the available inventory was gone.

"Director! We have a problem!"

The sales director looked up from his computer. "What problem?"

"We’re out of stock!"

He blinked. "What do you mean, out of stock? Didn’t we just update the inventory?"

"Yes, Director! But the entire batch has already been sold!"

The employee turned his monitor toward him, his expression caught between disbelief and excitement.

"The waiting list is growing by the minute. Customers are asking when the next batch will be available, and several retail partners have already contacted us to secure additional units."

The director stared at the figures on the screen.

For a moment, he couldn’t find the words.

"Are these numbers accurate?"

"We’ve checked them three times."

Another employee hurried over with a tablet in hand.

"Director, that’s not all. We’re receiving inquiries from technology reviewers, parenting influencers, and even representatives from the medical sector. They want to know more about the product, especially Lexan, the upgraded KitKat version that saved little Alexander."

The director slowly straightened in his chair.

"Get the production team on the phone. I want an updated inventory forecast immediately. Then prepare a report on the new inquiries. We need to know which opportunities we can pursue first."

"Yes, Director!"

The office erupted into activity.

Phones rang. Employees hurried between departments. The marketing team scrambled to respond to inquiries while the sales department worked to manage the growing waiting list.

Nobody had anticipated this level of demand.

Not even the people who had helped develop the product.

What made the sudden success remarkable was that Aioryx hadn’t needed an expensive advertising campaign or a carefully staged product launch.

The nursery footage had done what millions in promotional spending might never have achieved.

It had shown the public what AI and robots could actually do.

The robotic companion wasn’t merely an adorable toy with a clever design. Its ability to monitor a baby’s condition and issue an emergency alert had given people a glimpse of a technology that could potentially make a real difference in everyday life.

Parents saw an additional layer of protection for their children.

Technology enthusiasts saw the possibilities of intelligent companion devices.

Medical professionals saw a potential tool worth investigating.

And investors saw a promising new market.

Of course, the company still had to prove that the technology was reliable, establish clear safety standards, and demonstrate that the beta version’s performance could be reproduced consistently. One viral incident wasn’t enough to establish its effectiveness in every situation.

But the public’s interest was undeniable.

For Aioryx, it was an extraordinary opportunity.

For Isobel, it was something even more meaningful.

Her invention was no longer just a project she had poured her time and effort into. It was reaching people, attracting attention, and opening doors she had never imagined possible.

And all of it had begun with a moment that had nearly ended in tragedy.

The repercussions extended far beyond Aioryx.

...

On the financial markets, Dalton Realty’s shares had come under pressure as the controversy intensified. But as the narrative shifted and investors reassessed the potential damage to the company, the stock began to recover.

By noon, its share price had climbed two points from its earlier level.

The recovery brought some relief to the board, which had been watching the unfolding scandal with growing concern.

Kristoff’s position had changed, too.

He was no longer being portrayed solely as the heartless man who had abandoned a woman who claimed to have sacrificed her future for him.

More people were beginning to see him as a father determined to protect his child—and a man who had every right to draw a line when someone threatened his family.

He did not let emotions cloud his judgment.

The shift did not mean everyone had suddenly taken his side. Some remained skeptical, while others continued debating the history between him and Charlotte.

But the tide had turned.

And Charlotte was the one being swept away by it.

Meanwhile, Isobel’s name was spreading across the internet for an entirely different reason.

The woman who had been accused of interfering in another person’s relationship was now being praised for her ingenuity. Discussions about her invention were replacing the gossip that had once dominated conversations about her.

People wanted to know who she was, what else she had developed, and whether Aioryx planned to release more products like KitKat.

Some even began calling her a rising star in the technology industry.

The irony was impossible to miss.

Charlotte had tried to use public opinion to destroy Isobel.

Instead, she had drawn the world’s attention to her rival’s greatest strength.

While Charlotte’s endorsements hung in the balance, Isobel’s invention was selling out.

While Charlotte struggled to find someone willing to take her calls, Aioryx was receiving inquiries from potential business partners.

And while Charlotte watched her reputation crumble, Isobel was gaining something far more valuable than temporary sympathy.

Admiration.

She did not need to attack Charlotte, trade accusations, or beg the public to believe in her.

Her work had spoken for itself.

By noon, the internet had delivered its verdict.

Charlotte Harris suffered a spectacular public defeat, losing the sympathy she had once commanded and along with her lucrative endorsements.

But the most painful part was that she had helped create the very outcome she had been desperate to prevent.

She wanted to make Isobel look like a villain.

Instead, she turned her into a sensation.

And somewhere behind the doors of Aioryx Corporation, Isobel’s next Chapter was only beginning.

Charlotte had fallen.

Isobel had risen.