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chapter 69
Huling Na-update:
2025-04-25 05:08:32
Kaugnay na kabanata
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-26The chef and The charmer chapter 71
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
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-26The chef and The charmer chapter 1
one year agoI’ve always had faith in love’s capacity for life. Growing up in a small town where hope did not often reach the horizon, I thought that love could solve everything. And for several years, I believe it has worked out.My fiance was my compass and phonograph in a busy world. We had met in high school where the saying ‘opposites attract’ came to life: I was a timid girl whose fantasies were entirely consumed by becoming a chef, while he was a goal-oriented teenage boy infused with technology and looking far outside the locality.Eric has been my anchor through life’s most turbulent storms. He held me when my grandma died, comforting me as I drowned in grief. He stayed by my side when my parents lost our home and I sank into depression, unable to afford college and settling instead for a small culinary school. Through it all, Eric was there, always saying reassuring words: “Don’t worry… everything will be fine. I’m here for you.”As I snap out of my thoughts, my gaze drops t
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-12The chef and The charmer chapter 2
present dayI stood silently in front of the full-length mirror, my eyes fixed on the faint scar etched across my abdomen. The pale line, a constant reminder of the accident that forever altered my life, glinted softly in the morning light. My fingertips hovered over it, tracing its length as unbidden memories surged to the surface.It’s been a year since that fateful day—since the screech of tires and the violent crash catapulted me into a nightmare I can’t escape. Waking up in the sterile whiteness of the hospital room, disoriented and in pain, was only the beginning. The doctors’ words had shattered my already fragile world.“The injuries were severe,” one of them explained gently, though his voice echoed with finality. “I’m so sorry, but the damage to your womb was extensive. You won’t be able to have children.”I barely registered the words at first, numb to their weight until later—when the sterile quiet of the hospital room was replaced by the suffocating silence of my thoughts
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-14The chef and The charmer chapter 3
The days seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, a month had passed since I told my parents about moving to New York. Now, I had just arrived a day before the competition.The city buzzed around me, alive with the sounds of car horns, chatter, and the rhythmic click of heels on the pavement. My new apartment was a far cry from the sprawling familiarity of my hometown, but it felt right. The space was small, a single room with a kitchenette tucked into one corner and a bed that folded out from the wall, but it was mine. The peeling wallpaper and creaky floorboards didn’t bother me. They were marks of character, not flaws. The night before my move, my parents had insisted on helping me pack. As we folded clothes and boxed up my life, the living room filled with a mix of nervous energy and bittersweet smiles.“Are you sure about this?” my mom asked, her hands pausing mid-fold over one of my sweaters. Her eyes were soft, concerned.“I have to do this, Mom,” I said, my voice steady but tin
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-16The chef and The charmer chapter 4
I woke up early in the morning, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the big day—the cooking competition that could change my life. I had been preparing for weeks, perfecting my dishes and honing my skills. This was more than just a contest; it was an opportunity to prove myself.Organized by three prominent hotel industry leaders which is stonehaven hotel and onyx resturants and resort , including the renowned Blackstone Grand Hotel & Resort as powerful and influential as its owner and CEO, Damien Blackstone , the competition was designed to scout talent and give underprivileged aspiring chefs a chance to shine. The ultimate prize? A position at one of Damien Hotel's prestigious kitchens, working under some of the finest chefs in the industry. Their goal was to scout talents and give opportunities to those who didn’t have the means to break into the culinary world. There was no discrimination—anyone with skill and passion was welcome.Arriving at the gran
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25The chef and The charmer chapter 5
pov damienThe scent of expensive perfume clung to my sheets, mixing with the lingering traces of whiskey and something undeniably feminine. Sunlight sliced through the penthouse windows, casting golden streaks across the silk bedding.Beside me, a warm body stirred."Mmm... don’t leave yet," a soft, sleepy voice murmured against my shoulder.I smirked, tilting my head slightly to glance at the woman draped over me. Her red hair spilled over the pillow, a sharp contrast against my crisp white sheets. Legs as long as sin. Green eyes that had been hazy with pleasure the night before. I searched my memory for her name but came up empty. Not that it mattered. Names weren’t important in nights like these.Carefully, I shifted out from under her arm and swung my legs over the side of the bed, rubbing the back of my neck. My head wasn’t pounding, but I could feel the weight of the previous night—cocktails, laughter, pleasure, detachment—all part of a well-rehearsed cycle."Where are you goin
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-19The chef and The charmer chapter 6
evelyn povMy hands trembled as I returned to my station, the pristine knives and fresh ingredients laid out before me suddenly feeling distant, irrelevant. The heat from the overhead lights pressed down, but it was nothing compared to the flush burning across my cheeks.Get it together. I exhaled sharply, wrapping my fingers around the cool steel handle of the chef’s knife. The weight grounded me, dragging me back into the present.But Damian Blackstone’s gaze lingered in my mind like the shadow of smoke—sharp, invasive, impossible to ignore. Just another obstacle. Another judge who had seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of competitors pass through this very station. He was nothing—he should be nothing.So why did his attention feel so heavy?I sliced through a ripe tomato, each cut clean and precise, despite the chaos churning beneath the surface. I shouldn’t care what he thought. I was here to win—not to unravel the enigma behind those dark, knowing eyes.My teeth clenched as I set th
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-01
Pinakabagong kabanata
The chef and The charmer chapter 71
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
