Chapter 48

"And the winner of this episode of the Spice Masters cooking contest is…”

Freya's mind felt numb. She stood frozen, staring lifelessly at the host, her emotions long gone. Her eyelashes were still wet with tears, a single teardrop which clung to a strand of her lashes, blurring a part of her vision as glanced at the judges. She was very certain that she wouldn't be the winner of the contest she had put all her best in.

“...Simon Maxwell!”

Freya, who wasn't surprised that she would lose, silently exited the restaurant, dragging her feet lifelessly, her spirits dampened.

Diego sprang up to his feet with a sense of urgency, his eyes following Freya till she walked out the door.

“Noah, let's go”, he said, his eyes still fixed on the exit door, and Noah gave a quick nod in agreement.

Together, they hurriedly excused themselves from the crowd who gave a standing ovation and a thunderous round of applause for the winner of the contest.

With his face contorted in an unpleasant sc