
The chef and The charmer
Heartbroken and betrayed, aspiring chef Evelyn Hayes leaves behind her small-town life after discovering her fiancé in bed with her best friend. Determined to rebuild herself in the bustling city, she vows to focus on her dreams and forget about love. But life has other plans when a chance encounter with the enigmatic billionaire Damian Blackstone turns her world upside down.
Known for his playboy reputation and ruthless charm, Damian has everything—wealth, power, and a trail of admirers—but not the approval of his family. When his meddling mother pressures him to settle down, Damian proposes an unorthodox deal to Evelyn: pose as his girlfriend for financial security and a chance to kickstart her culinary career.
What begins as a simple arrangement quickly becomes a complicated dance of secrets, sparks, and simmering emotions. Evelyn is determined to guard her heart, while Damian struggles to resist the woman who doesn’t fall at his feet.
But as their fake relationship blurs the line between pretense and passion, both must confront their past wounds and hidden desires. Will Evelyn and Damian find the courage to embrace the love they never expected—or will their carefully constructed façade crumble under the weight of their growing feelings?
With betrayal as the catalyst and love as the ultimate challenge, the Chef and the Charmer is a slow-burn romance filled with heartache, humor, and the irresistible pull of second chances.
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Chapter: chapter 39The city was finally beginning to feel like home. It was strange how familiarity crept in—slowly at first, then all at once. The streets that once seemed too loud, too crowded, too impersonal, now carried a sense of routine. The bakery on the corner who bakes my favorite kind of cake and bread. The barista at my favorite cafe smiled at me like we shared an inside joke every time i get out of the penthouse and last but not the least the corner store where Damien buys me ice cream when we go out for a walk, it has starts to look like a routine for the both of us . The loneliness that once pressed against my ribs was easing, even if it wasn’t completely gone. But even in the midst of my quiet victories, there were moments when the past clawed its way back in, uninvited and unrelenting.Eric and Emma. Their names had lost the sting they once carried, but every now and then, a memory would resurface, raw and vivid. Betrayal had a way of branding itself into a person’s bones, and no amount
최신 업데이트: 2025-04-03
Chapter: chapter 38After my walk with Damian last night, something in me shifted. Lighter. Freer. As if the weight of pretending, of balancing the tightrope between what was real and what wasn’t, had finally eased just enough for me to breathe.For the first time since stepping into his world, I felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.That morning, as I moved around the penthouse kitchen, my phone buzzed with an email notification. I wiped my hands on a kitchen towel before picking it up, expecting another mundane message. But as soon as I saw the sender’s name, my breath hitched.From: Chef Alain DufortSubject: Private Catering RequestDear Miss Evelyn,I hope this email finds you well. I had the pleasure of watching you few months back at Cooking Contest, and your passion for food was truly inspiring. I am hosting a private birthday dinner for my daughter this Saturday and would love for you to handle the catering. It will be an intimate gathering of about twenty guests, and I trust your e
최신 업데이트: 2025-04-03
Chapter: chapter 37Evelyn POVDamian’s world is nothing like mine.I realize this the first moment I step into the kitchen—our kitchen, technically, since I live here now. A penthouse too grand, too extravagant for someone like me. Stainless steel appliances gleam under warm, recessed lighting. A marble island stretches across the center, as if it were made for casual morning coffee and whispered confessions. Every tool, every spice jar, every delicate crystal glass has a place. Everything is intentional. Thoughtful. Perfect.Unlike my life. Unlike me.I tighten my grip on the handle of my knife, grounding myself in the familiarity of the blade’s weight. Cooking has always been my solace, my anchor. No matter how chaotic things get, the act of preparing food—the slicing, the seasoning, the slow transformation of raw ingredients into something nourishing—keeps me steady. It keeps my heart from drifting toward dangerous waters.Because that’s what this is. Dangerous.I exhale slowly, pushing aside the uns
최신 업데이트: 2025-04-02
Chapter: chapter 36Damian’s POV – The morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting long shadows across the sleek, polished desk. I leaned back in my leather chair, the unopened letter resting on the surface in front of me like a loaded gun. I had barely slept. My mother’s words had carved their way into my mind, stirring memories I preferred buried.A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.“Come in,” I called, straightening as Chris walked in.He looked like he had just downed a gallon of coffee—sharp suit, tired eyes. “What was so urgent that you dragged me in this early?” He dropped into the chair across from me, one brow raised. “Don’t tell me it’s about last night. You and Evelyn put on a good show.”I exhaled slowly, reaching for the letter and tossing it onto the desk. “Read it.”Chris picked it up, unfolding the expensive stationery. His expression shifted from mild curiosity to sharp focus as he scanned the words.“Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He lower
최신 업데이트: 2025-04-02
Chapter: chapter 35The next morning, I woke up alone in my room, the distant hum of the city filtering through the penthouse windows. Damian’s presence was nowhere to be felt—not that it ever was. We had separate rooms, separate lives, even if we were bound by this arrangement. Still, a faint trace of his cologne lingered in the air from when he had passed by my door last night. He was long gone. Again.Over the next week, a pattern emerged. Damian left early and returned late, his face drawn with exhaustion. He barely had time to eat, let alone talk. When he did speak, his words were brief, the sharpness of his usual charm dulled by whatever weight he was carrying.One evening, I was curled up on the couch when he finally came home, his tie loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looked exhausted, but still unfairly good. He sighed heavily as he dropped onto the couch beside me.“Long day?” I asked softly, studying him.He rubbed a hand down his face before leaning back against the cushions. “You could say th
최신 업데이트: 2025-03-29
Chapter: chapter 34The grand dining hall of Damian’s mother’s estate was as imposing as the woman herself. Crystal chandeliers cast an almost blinding glow over the long mahogany table, which was set with fine china and polished silverware. I smoothed down my white satin dress, feigning composure while internally bracing myself for the battle ahead.Damian’s mother sat at the head of the table, a perfect picture of cold elegance. Her eyes flickered to me, sharp and assessing, as if she were dissecting my very existence. I forced a polite smile, knowing she could see right through it.“So, Evelyn,” she began, her voice silky but laced with an unmistakable edge. “Tell me, where are you from?”“Cold Spring,” I replied evenly, keeping my tone polite but distant.Her perfectly arched brow lifted slightly. “Cold Spring? And your family? What do they do?”“Just regular civilians,” I said, holding my posture firm. “Nothing extravagant.”She hummed, taking a slow sip of her wine. “Interesting.” Her gaze lingered
최신 업데이트: 2025-03-28