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chapter 39
Last Updated:
2025-04-03 08:02:03
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The chef and The charmer chapter 40
Sitting at the kitchen table, I flipped through my notebook, tapping my pen against the page as I scribbled down thoughts. My mind kept circling back to my encounter with Eric and Emma. Seeing them again stirred something in me—not anger, not sadness, just a strange hollowness. Eric had frozen, saying nothing, while Emma—my ex-best friend—had done all the talking. Her words were laced with that same condescension she always used when trying to get under my skin.I had spent so much of my relationship with Eric feeling dismissed, like my feelings didn’t matter. He never outright hurt me, but he made me feel small, like I was always reaching for something that would never come. And yesterday had only confirmed it—when faced with me again, he had nothing to say. Not even an acknowledgment.The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Damien stepping out of his room. His broad shoulders were slumped slightly, his usual air of confidence replaced with something
Last Updated : 2025-04-04The chef and The charmer chapter 41
As soon as we stepped into the air-conditioned lobby, Morgan waved one of the staff members over like she was conducting an orchestra.“Take their things to the Oceanview Suite,” she said smoothly. “And please ensure everything is prepared for tonight’s dinner. We’ll keep things light today—the real fun begins tomorrow.”Oceanview Suite. Singular.I blinked. Wait—Suite? Not suites?Damien didn’t even flinch.My eyes cut to him instinctively, but he avoided my gaze with impressive skill, like he’d suddenly discovered something incredibly fascinating about the marble floors.Right. Fake dating. Shared rooms. Intimacy for show.I’d forgotten about that little detail in the emotional whiplash of being back around Morgan and Miranda and the rest of Damien’s walking headache of a family.I forced a gracious smile and nodded. “Sounds lovely.”Morgan smiled back, the kind of smile that said, I’m watching you. Then she turned her attention to Miranda, whispering something I couldn’t hear—but d
Last Updated : 2025-04-05The chef and The charmer chapter 42
Dinner ended in a blur of too-perfect smiles and sharp-edged compliments, and I could’ve sworn my cheekbones were sore from all the fake smiling. I made it through the battlefield with only minor emotional wounds, which honestly felt like a win.After the last wine glass clinked and the staff cleared the final course, Damien and I retreated from the terrace. Neither of us said a word until we were halfway through the resort’s private garden path, surrounded by manicured hedges and soft lantern lights that lined the walkway like fireflies.The air was warm but soft, carrying that faint Miami breeze that whispered luxury and secrets.“You did good back there,” Damien said eventually, his voice low and unreadable.I exhaled, folding my arms across my chest. “Good? I felt like I was on trial.”“You were,” he said with a dry smile. “You just didn’t realize the jury was drunk and playing favorites.”I laughed—just a little. It felt like the tension cracked a bit, enough for me to breathe ag
Last Updated : 2025-04-06The chef and The charmer chapter 43
Back in my room, I shut the door quietly. Not slammed. Not dramatic.Just… closed. Controlled.Because if I’ve learned anything since entering the Blackstone orbit, it’s that you never show your cards. Not around people like Morgan.My hands were trembling. I stared down at them, willing them still, as if control over my body could somehow tether the storm brewing inside my chest.I started to paced.Hands clenched. Chest tight. Mind racing.Engagement?We’ll announce it tomorrow, Morgan had said. Like it was already signed, sealed, and delivered.I pressed my palms into my eyes, as if blocking out the world would stop it from spinning so fast. So violently.What the fuck did I get myself into?This was not the deal. No goddamn way.The contract was clear. I was to play the part—smile, nod, show up to events, wear the right dress, drink the right wine, say the right things. For six months. No more. I wasn’t supposed to become collateral in some twisted inheritance war. I wasn’t suppos
Last Updated : 2025-04-07The chef and The charmer chapter 44
The air was thick with humidity as we stepped outside, the garden lush with tropical flowers and towering palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. The morning sun cast a golden glow on the table set with fine china, as if everything about this moment was meant to impress, to look perfect.Damien’s hand brushed against mine, his fingers warm, but there was no comfort in his touch. It was a fleeting connection, barely enough to soothe the unease that had settled in my chest since last night.I followed him to the table, my steps slow, measured. Morgan, Damien’s mother, as usual sat at the head, her expression unreadable, like she the queen presiding over some royal council. Beside her was his Uncle Anthony, loud and boisterous, already cracking jokes that didn’t quite land. His cousin Miranda sat across from him, her eyes narrowed, calculating—always on guard. Aunt Claire sat silently, as if waiting for the storm to hit, her gaze darting between the two of us, sharp but quiet.They were
Last Updated : 2025-04-08The chef and The charmer chapter 45
Damien povI hate the smell of this room—the heavy scent of jasmine and the stale air that seems to hang like a fog. I can’t escape it, not here, not with her. My mother. She’s sitting there, on that damned velvet chair, with a glass of wine in hand, her eyes narrowed like she’s studying me from across the room. Everything about her exudes control, dominance, like she owns the space. I used to care about it. I used to be afraid of it. But not anymore.“Damien,” she says, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “We need to talk about the engagement.”I take a breath, steadying myself. Here it comes.“ Mother, Evelyn and I aren’t getting engaged.” I say it as calmly as I can, but I know the tension in my voice betrays me.Her lips curl into a thin, almost disdainful smile. “You’re being stubborn, just like your father. He never listened to reason either.”I can’t stop the flash of irritation that sparks in me. “Don’t bring my father into this.”“Oh, I’ll bring him up if I wa
Last Updated : 2025-04-09The chef and The charmer chapter 46
Damien povThe soft hum of the private jet was the only sound that filled the space as we descended into New York. Outside the window, the skyline came into view—a cold, familiar silhouette against the night sky. I leaned back in my seat, eyes fixed ahead, my jaw tight, arms crossed. Evelyn sat beside me, her hands clasped together in her lap. She kept stealing glances at me, but I didn’t turn to meet her eyes. I couldn’t. Not yet.The landing was smooth. The kind of landing that made you forget you were ever up in the air, but I was far from grounded.The ride to the penthouse was a quiet one. The black SUV glided through Manhattan traffic with ease. Streetlights flickered across my face as I stared out the window. My reflection in the glass looked just like I felt—tense, distant, unreadable. Evelyn finally broke the silence.“Are you okay?”Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.“Yeah,” I said, too quickly. My voice didn’t carry the weight of truth, but I didn’t have the energy to pre
Last Updated : 2025-04-10The chef and The charmer chapter 47
Evelyn povThe morning light bled softly through the sheer curtains of Damien’s penthouse, casting golden stripes across the marble countertops and hardwood floors. I stood in the kitchen, barefoot, hair pulled into a loose bun, flipping fluffy blueberry pancakes on the stove. The smell of vanilla, cinnamon, and warm butter filled the space, offering a fragile sense of normalcy after the stormy whirlwind of the past two days.Damien had barely spoken since we landed last night. He wore that stoic mask of his, one that didn’t break even when I gently asked if he was okay during the drive back from the airport. He’d simply nodded, eyes fixed on the skyline through the tinted windows, his fingers clenched so tightly his knuckles turned pale. I didn’t press. I could feel the weight he carried.What his mother said to him… the look in his eyes when he stepped onto the beach to tell me we were leaving Miami—it haunted me. There was pain there, real and raw. A wounded little boy buried beneat
Last Updated : 2025-04-11
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Damian stepped forward, his presence imposing as always. “I’m warning you, Eric. You don’t want to go down this path.”after I stood up then and walk toward Damien and now am face to face with Eric, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t going to let Eric—my ex, the man who had betrayed me with my best friend—control the narrative of my life anymore. He didn’t get to decide what people knew about me, what I owed anyone. And certainly not after everything I had fought through to get here.“Damian, stop,” I said, my voice steady despite the rising tension. “I’ll handle this.”Damian looked at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I could see the conflict in his eyes—he wanted to protect me, but I knew this was something I had to face on my own. After everything I had been through, after all the ways I had been silenced, this was my fight now. And I was done being passive.“Eric,” I called out, stepping toward the door, my voice firm. “You’re not going to tell my story. I’m going
The chef and The charmer chapter 70
Evelyn povThe penthouse felt quieter tonight, the dim light from the chandelier casting soft shadows on the sleek walls. The city buzzed below, but up here, it felt like a world apart—one that was just mine and Damian’s. The kind of space where, for once, everything else could fade away. The soft clinking of glasses, the hum of the stove, and the sizzle of food in the pan were the only sounds filling the room, and even they felt like they were part of a private rhythm we’d only just begun to understand.I moved in a fluid motion as I sautéed the vegetables in olive oil, a simple but comforting dish that had come to be my way of showing Damian I cared. After everything that had happened, after the tension and misunderstandings, there was something about cooking for him that made me feel like I could finally breathe again. It was the first time in so long that I didn’t feel like I was just pretending to be something I wasn’t. Cooking for Damian was different. It was honest, like the fo
The chef and The charmer chapter 69
Evelyn povThe restaurant was one of those places you don’t find unless someone wants you to. Tucked between rows of elite boutiques and imported wine bars, it was all low lighting, pressed linens, and whispering waiters. I should’ve felt proud. Accomplished, even. Instead, my skin buzzed with an unease I couldn’t quite name.Damian had surprised me at the mentorship kitchen that evening, walking in like he belonged in every room—even the ones meant for me. I didn’t mind, not really. At first, I thought he came to support me. But over dinner, I started to wonder if he came to stake a claim.He’d been quiet since we sat down. Not in the way people are when they’re tired or content. It was the kind of silence that hangs off every movement. His eyes darted between me and my phone, lingered too long on my wrist where Chef Marcellus had also my complimented bracelet and of my dishes. Pride lingered in his gaze, but so did something sharper.I tried to laugh it off. “You’re quiet tonight. D
The chef and The charmer chapter 68
POV: Evelyn They say healing comes in waves. Mine came in chaos—cryptic messages, my ex boyfriend lies, and a man I never meant to fall for.It started with a trap. Damian and I, cornered by secrets and shadows, devised a plan to catch the ghost who had been haunting me—“E.”Even now, the memory makes my chest tighten. We whispered code words in hushed voices, mapped out decoy routes, and layered truth with just enough fiction to bait someone clever enough to stay hidden for weeks I remember how shaky my hands felt as I tied my shoelaces the morning it all began. I remember the taste of fear on my tongue, bitter and stubborn.I never expected the enemy to come from my past… from Cold Spring, where I’d spent my life trying to be invisible. E was someone I barely remembered—a former coworker from the diner. She always had something in her eyes when she looked at me. Envy, maybe. Or hatred. Maybe both. Apparently, I’d shined too quietly for her liking.just few days before we caught her
The chef and The charmer chapter 67
Damien povThe morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Montgomery estate, casting a golden hue over the manicured gardens. I stood on the balcony, my gaze fixed on the figure below. Evelyn was in the garden, her hands gently tending to the roses, her movements deliberate yet distant.I watched as she paused, her shoulders slumping slightly, a silent sigh escaping her lips. The weight of recent events was evident in her posture. The anonymous notes, the public scrutiny, and the complexities of our arrangement were taking a toll on her.Descending the staircase, I made my way to the garden. The scent of blooming flowers greeted me, a stark contrast to the tension that lingered in the air.“Evelyn,” I called softly.She turned, her eyes meeting mine. There was a vulnerability in her gaze that I hadn’t seen before.“I thought some time in the garden might help clear my mind,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, stepping closer. “It’s a beautiful morning.”Sh
The chef and The charmer chapter 66
Evelyn povThe night air at the Montgomery estate was cool, but it did nothing to settle the heat rising in my chest.The engagement party was over. The guests had filtered out, their designer perfumes lingering in the air like ghosts of expectations. But my thoughts were louder than any violin melody we’d faked smiles to during the evening.The massive oak doors to the ballroom shut behind us with a soft, resounding thud, but the silence between me and Damian? That was deafening.I stood at the foot of the grand staircase, clutching my clutch too tightly as I turned to him. “Are we going to talk about this?”His eyes flickered to me for a split second, then away again. “About what?”“About us, Damian.”He loosened his bow tie with one hand and sighed as though I’d just asked him to solve global warming with a toothpick. “Evelyn, we’ve had a long night.”I stepped in front of him, blocking his path toward the hallway. “Exactly. A long night of pretending to be engaged. A long night of
The chef and The charmer chapter 65
(Damien’s POV)The Montgomery estate loomed ahead, a testament to centuries of wealth and power. Nestled amidst rolling vineyards and ancient oaks, the mansion was a harmonious blend of medieval fortitude and refined luxury. Its stone turrets reached skyward, while ivy-clad walls whispered tales of generations past. The estate’s grandeur was both awe-inspiring and suffocating—a perfect stage for the spectacle my mother had orchestrated.Evelyn sat beside me in the car, her gaze fixed on the winding driveway. She wore a navy-blue dress that complemented her complexion, but her posture was tense, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The recent anonymous messages had unsettled her, and the impending engagement announcement only added to her unease.As we stepped out, the estate’s staff lined the entrance, their expressions a practiced blend of warmth and deference. Leading the welcoming committee was Uncle Anthony, whose leering smile made my skin crawl. Beside him stood Cousin Miranda
The chef and The charmer chapter 64
“This just came for Evelyn,” the man said, handing the bouquet over with a forced smile before leaving just as quickly.My stomach twisted. Damien reached for the envelope tucked among the stems and handed it to me wordlessly. I opened it with trembling fingers.The card was plain. No logo. No handwriting I recognized.Just three words, elegantly scripted in dark ink:From yours, beloved E.I stared at the words, a cold shiver running down my spine.“They know,” I whispered. “Whoever this is… they’re watching me. Us.”I expected Damien to explode. To start pacing or pointing fingers or getting angry all over again. But he didn’t. Not this time.Instead, he stepped closer and gently took the card from my hand. He looked at it once, jaw tight, then looked at me. But his eyes held something softer than fear.“I won’t let anything happen to you, Evelyn,” he said, voice steady. “Whoever this is—whatever they’re trying to do—we’ll face it together.”I blinked, surprised by the calm in his t
The chef and The charmer chapter 63
The kitchen was unusually quiet. Even the familiar hum of the refrigerator sounded louder than usual, filling the silence left behind by the conversations I didn’t want to have. I stood at the marble counter, carefully arranging the last of the mini pastries I’d baked for the catering contract Damien had helped me land.The client had been thrilled—effusive with praise and delighted by the presentation. She’d even mentioned wanting to recommend me to a few corporate clients. On any other day, I’d have been ecstatic. I should have been celebrating. But instead, a hollow ache curled itself around my ribs, tugging with every breath.I tried not to let it show. I busied myself by fixing a ribbon around one of the platters, smoothing out the creases like it was the only thing that needed fixing.Since that night, since the argument that left me emotionally shredded, Damien had been… different. Not cold exactly. Just restrained. His usual warmth, the sly glint in his eyes, the playful touch
