๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
chapter 73
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-04-30 04:42:52
๊ด๋ จ ์ฑํฐ
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 74
evelyn povDamian and I eventually reached the center of the room, where a small gathering of powerful figures stood, engaging in animated conversation. But I felt the heat of Ericโs gaze on me before I saw him move.And then, it happened.Ericโs eyes locked onto mine, and everything around me seemed to blur into a hazy, distant noise. My heart stopped for a beat, my breath caught in my throat.โYouโre here,โ he said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he approached us, completely disregarding the woman on his arm.Damian stepped in front of me, his posture protective but calm, a silent warning in his stance. โShe doesnโt owe you anything, Eric,โ he said, his tone even but firm.Eric shot Damian a look of disdain but didnโt say anything to him. Instead, his gaze stayed locked on me. โI thought I might get a word with you. You know, for old timeโs sake.โI resisted the urge to recoil at the way he said it. His smile was still that charming one, the one that had once made my heart race,
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-30The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 1
one year agoIโve always had faith in loveโs 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 โopposites attractโ 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 lifeโs 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: โDonโt worryโฆ everything will be fine. Iโm here for you.โAs I snap out of my thoughts, my gaze drops t
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-12The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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.Itโs been a year since that fateful dayโsince the screech of tires and the violent crash catapulted me into a nightmare I canโt escape. Waking up in the sterile whiteness of the hospital room, disoriented and in pain, was only the beginning. The doctorsโ words had shattered my already fragile world.โThe injuries were severe,โ one of them explained gently, though his voice echoed with finality. โIโm so sorry, but the damage to your womb was extensive. You wonโt be able to have children.โI barely registered the words at first, numb to their weight until laterโwhen the sterile quiet of the hospital room was replaced by the suffocating silence of my thoughts
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-14The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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 didnโt 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.โAre you sure about this?โ my mom asked, her hands pausing mid-fold over one of my sweaters. Her eyes were soft, concerned.โI have to do this, Mom,โ I said, my voice steady but tin
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-16The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 4
I woke up early in the morning, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the big dayโthe 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 didnโt have the means to break into the culinary world. There was no discriminationโanyone with skill and passion was welcome.Arriving at the gran
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-25The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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... donโt 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 werenโt 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 wasnโt pounding, but I could feel the weight of the previous nightโcocktails, laughter, pleasure, detachmentโall part of a well-rehearsed cycle."Where are you goin
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-19The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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 chefโs knife. The weight grounded me, dragging me back into the present.But Damian Blackstoneโs gaze lingered in my mind like the shadow of smokeโsharp, invasive, impossible to ignore. Just another obstacle. Another judge who had seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of competitors pass through this very station. He was nothingโhe 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 shouldnโt care what he thought. I was here to winโnot to unravel the enigma behind those dark, knowing eyes.My teeth clenched as I set th
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-01The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 7
The door clicked shut behind me, the faint hum of the city seeping through the cracked window. The distant horns and muffled conversations from the streets below were familiarโwhite noise that usually soothed me after a long day. But they only seemed to amplify the storm churning beneath my ribs tonight.I carefully set my knives on the counter, the blades catching the dim glow from the kitchen light. My fingers lingered on the worn leather of the roll, tracing each handle like a ritual. The weight of the contest hung heavy in the room, pressing against my chestโone more night until everything was decided.One more night to prove I belonged.The memory of Damian Blackstoneโs smirk flickered behind my eyes, sharp and intrusive. I could still hear his voiceโsmooth, low, laced with that effortless arrogance he wore like a second skin.โโWeโll see about that.โI had replayed those words a hundred times on the walk home, each repetition digging deeper beneath my skin. He was testing me. Mea
์ต์ ์
๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-04
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 74
evelyn povDamian and I eventually reached the center of the room, where a small gathering of powerful figures stood, engaging in animated conversation. But I felt the heat of Ericโs gaze on me before I saw him move.And then, it happened.Ericโs eyes locked onto mine, and everything around me seemed to blur into a hazy, distant noise. My heart stopped for a beat, my breath caught in my throat.โYouโre here,โ he said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he approached us, completely disregarding the woman on his arm.Damian stepped in front of me, his posture protective but calm, a silent warning in his stance. โShe doesnโt owe you anything, Eric,โ he said, his tone even but firm.Eric shot Damian a look of disdain but didnโt say anything to him. Instead, his gaze stayed locked on me. โI thought I might get a word with you. You know, for old timeโs sake.โI resisted the urge to recoil at the way he said it. His smile was still that charming one, the one that had once made my heart race,
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 73
evelyn povThe city lights shimmered through the tinted glass as the Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through Manhattanโs evening traffic. Rain had left the roads slick, reflecting bursts of gold, red, and sapphire from traffic signals and store signs. Inside the car, the world outside barely touched them. There was only the hush of leather seats, the faint hum of tires, and the palpable energy between us.Damianโs hand rested on my thigh, warm and grounding. He hadnโt spoken in a few minutes, just looked at me like he was memorizing everythingโmy curls cascading over my shoulders, the sheen on my collarbone, the curve of my lips still stained with his kiss from earlier.Then, as if unable to hold it in any longer, he turned slightly in his seat.โI have something for you.โI blinked, my heart hiccupping. โWhat is it?โHe reached into the inner pocket of his tailored jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.My breath caught.He opened it slowly, revealing a ring so intricate it almost didn
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 72
(Evelynโs POV)If someone had told me a few months ago that I would be wrapped up in a whirlwind with Damian Blackwellโthe Damian BlackwellโI wouldโve laughed them out of the room. Yet here we were. Caught in a strange kind of bubble, floating somewhere between reality and something that felt too good to be real.After that night with Eric, after the investigation plans and the rush of tension, something shifted between us. It was subtle, but it was there, threading through our days like silk ribbons. A look that lasted too long. A brush of fingers that lingered. A softness in Damianโs voice when he said my name.The next morning, I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.Then I walked into the kitchen and found Damian standing thereโshirtless, wearing only a pair of soft gray sweatpants, his hair deliciously messy, stirring something in a pan like heโd done it a hundred times.He turned when he heard me, a boyish grin stretching acro
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 71
Damian stepped forward, his presence imposing as always. โIโm warning you, Eric. You donโt want to go down this path.โafter I stood up then and walk toward Damien and now am face to face with Eric, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasnโt going to let Ericโmy ex, the man who had betrayed me with my best friendโcontrol the narrative of my life anymore. He didnโt get to decide what people knew about me, what I owed anyone. And certainly not after everything I had fought through to get here.โDamian, stop,โ I said, my voice steady despite the rising tension. โIโll handle this.โDamian looked at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I could see the conflict in his eyesโhe 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.โEric,โ I called out, stepping toward the door, my voice firm. โYouโre not going to tell my story. Iโm going
The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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 apartโone that was just mine and Damianโs. 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 weโd only just begun to understand.I moved in a fluid motion as I sautรฉed 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 didnโt feel like I was just pretending to be something I wasnโt. Cooking for Damian was different. It was honest, like the fo
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 69
Evelyn povThe restaurant was one of those places you donโt 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 shouldโve felt proud. Accomplished, even. Instead, my skin buzzed with an unease I couldnโt quite name.Damian had surprised me at the mentorship kitchen that evening, walking in like he belonged in every roomโeven the ones meant for me. I didnโt 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.Heโd been quiet since we sat down. Not in the way people are when theyโre 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. โYouโre quiet tonight. D
The chef and The charmerย ย ย chapter 68
POV: Evelyn They say healing comes in waves. Mine came in chaosโcryptic 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 meโโE.โEven 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 pastโฆ from Cold Spring, where Iโd spent my life trying to be invisible. E was someone I barely rememberedโa former coworker from the diner. She always had something in her eyes when she looked at me. Envy, maybe. Or hatred. Maybe both. Apparently, Iโd shined too quietly for her liking.just few days before we caught her
The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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.โEvelyn,โ I called softly.She turned, her eyes meeting mine. There was a vulnerability in her gaze that I hadnโt seen before.โI thought some time in the garden might help clear my mind,โ she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, stepping closer. โItโs a beautiful morning.โSh
The chef and The charmerย ย ย 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 weโd 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. โAre we going to talk about this?โHis eyes flickered to me for a split second, then away again. โAbout what?โโAbout us, Damian.โHe loosened his bow tie with one hand and sighed as though Iโd just asked him to solve global warming with a toothpick. โEvelyn, weโve had a long night.โI stepped in front of him, blocking his path toward the hallway. โExactly. A long night of pretending to be engaged. A long night of
