《His Private Chef》 Chef Novel 1 : 288 iVouchers Chapter 1 I was getting ready to resume my new summer job today. Technically, It wasn¡¯t mine to begin with. My mom was the one who signed the six¨Cweek contract. I was just standing in for her. I hade home to spend myst college summer with her. Senior year was just around the corner, and honestly, I couldn¡¯t wait to get that degree in culinary arts. My love for cooking, I inherited from my mom. A renowned chef in Los Angeles. My father, God rest his soul, died when I was just four. Since then it¡¯s been my mom and I. She¡¯s all I got. So, when I returned home and found her looking pale. I knew there was no way I was letting her take on a job, no matter the personality involved. She did try her best to persuade me otherwise. ¡°I have already signed the contract¡± she said But I stood my ground. Her health was more crucial than anything. No way she is working in this condition. You should see her. She looked unwell. ¡°It is the ck family Emily. You know how powerful they are. Just let me do it. I¡¯ll rest after this job, i promise¡± She had pleaded with me. No matter how heartfelt her plea, I won¡¯t budge. I offered to do the job myself instead. I grew up in the kitchens, assisting her through events. This won¡¯t be 0.00% 08:18 difficult for me to handle. 288 iVouchers She needs to rest. So, I sent her to Houston to recover at my aunt¡¯s ce. Far away from the temptation of taking up a new job. I may or may not have threatened to nevere home again if she refused. Funny how the roles reversed. I am now parenting her. She left yesterday evening, and the house has been too quiet. When I was done getting ready, I checked myself in the mirror. ck pants, a white top tucked in neatly, and my long ck hair pulled into a ponytail. I looked the part. I nodded to my reflection, grabbed my keys, and headed out. The address led me to one of those neighborhoods that are reserved only for the rich, powerful and Influential. Wide streets, well manicuredwns. Everything screams money. I am not surprised, it is the ck family. They dominate the business world. Real estate, IT, Hospitality. You named it. Their surname opens doors in this city. I was granted ess after I disyed my gate pass, drove along a breathtaking driveway leading to the main entrance. Get full chapters from fin?novel Holy moly A gigantic building was standing in front. I muttered under my breath, ¡°This money we¡¯re working for, some people really have too much of it.¡± 19.51% 08:18 I parked, took a breath, and stepped out. : 288 Vouchers The number of cars in the garage is insane. My little car looked painfully out of ce. Thendscape is breathtaking. Arge well¨Cmaintainedwn. A fountain at the center. An borate garden. I walked to the front door and rang the bell. A man in his early fifties opened the door. ¡°Hello, I am Emily, the new Chef.¡± I said. He nodded, ¡°Okay,e on in. Mr Liam will be down shortly. Wait in the kitchen¡± I followed him through a foyer that belonged in the pce. This ce is huge. Larger than a typical home. A grand foyer with high ceilings wees you. A sophisticated living room,refined furnishing and attention to details in every aspect of the design. Every detail in this house contributes to the overall sense of luxury. When we reached the kitchen, he left. Wow This kitchen is Pinterest worthy. High end appliances. Ample counter space and a spacious ind. Gosh! I am in love. I was still admiring the space when a voice broke the silence, 38.49% 08:180 ¡°Well, who do we have here?¡± I turned around, clutching my chest. ¡°Oh my God, you startled me!¡± 288 Vouchers There he stood. The famous Jason ck. The award winning singer. Dressed so casual in a gray tracksuit, looking like a walking billboard. Short brown hair, kind brown eyes thatpliment it. With a captivating smile. ¡°You look even better in real life,¡± I blurted, then immediately regretted it. Heughed, loud and genuine. ¡°It feels different when you get apliment from a beautiful woman. ¡°I looked down, trying to hide my flushed cheeks. He walked over to the fridge, grabbed a water bottle, and took a seat at the ind. I joined him. ¡°So,¡± he asked, ¡°what brings you here?¡± ¡°Work. I¡¯m the new chef,¡± I replied. He gave me a curious look. ¡°You look young.¡± 54.67% 1 08:18 : 288 Vouchers ¡°I¡¯m filling in for my mom. She¡¯s ill. Trust me, I¡¯m qualified. Grew up in kitchens, studying culinary arts. I know my stuff.¡± His eyes softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that. Is she okay?¡± ¡°She¡¯s getting better. Thanks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really chill for a superstar,¡± I added, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m a fan.¡± He chuckled and took a sip from the bottle. ¡°What¡¯s ¡°Emily.¡± ¡°Well, Emily, you¡¯re cool too.¡± your name?¡± I liked him. He is easygoing, fun and humble. Not your typical spoiled celebrity stereotype. ¡°But you know who¡¯s not so cool?¡± he asked, raising a brow I tilted my head. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°My brother. Your new boss. Liam ck. He can be intense. Don¡¯t take everything he says or does personally¡± 67.24% 08:18 Why did that feel more like a warning than advice? ¡°Got it,¡± I said. 288 iVouchers We started chatting about music, and I asked about the inspiration behind his song ¡®To All the Memories¡®. He was in the middle of exining when footsteps echoed in the hallway. He nced up. ¡°Speak of the devil.¡± I turned. Dayum! His is a masterpiece. Liam ck had entered the room. He is quite tall and muscr. Wearing a ck three¨Cpiece Armani suit that looks like it was designed specifically for him. You could tell he frequented the gym. Chiseled jawline. Brown eyes. Perfectly carved nose. Hair slicked back with just enough curls. He smelled like wood and mint. Sophisticated. Intimidating. Its evident beauty runs in the blood. I understand why he is the most sought after bachelor in this City. The man is a sight for sore eyes. He didn¡¯t spare us a nce. Just walked straight to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and drank. ¡°He¡¯s rude,¡± I whispered to Jason. Jason stifled augh. 78.49% 08:18 ¡°Good morning, dear brother,¡± Jason said. ¡°Your chef is here.¡± Liam finished his water, turned slightly, and nodded once at his brother ¡°Jay.¡± Then those eyes fell on me. 1288 Vouchers He didn¡¯t say a word. Just stared. I couldn¡¯t read his expression. Disapproval? Curiosity? Annoyance? One thing was clear. This summer just got a whole lot moreplicated¡­ :. Chef Novel 2 :. I inhaled sharply under his cold, scrutinizing gaze. ¡°You¡¯re definitely not who I was expecting,¡± he said finally, his voice was cold. 288 iVouchers I straightened my shoulders. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. You were supposed to meet my mom, Mrs. Davis. I¡¯m her daughter, Emily. I¡¯m filling in for her. She¡¯s unwell.¡± I saw the flicker of disbelief behind his nk expression. ¡°This,¡± he gestured vaguely at me with his left hand, ¡°is the best recement she could find?¡± His tone was a mixture of rudeness and disapproval. He added in a condescending manner ¡°Can you even hold a knife properly?¡± Checktest chapters at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Thatst question did it. My blood was boiling. First, he insulted my mom, indirectly calling her judgment poor. And then he had the temerity to question my skills after barely meeting me? This bastard. How dare he? 0.00% 08:18 I stepped forward, eyes narrowing. : 288 iVouchers ¡°With all due respect, Mr. ck, I¡¯d appreciate it if you spoke to me with basic decency,¡± I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to work here, that¡¯s okay. But I won¡¯t stand here and be insulted or have my abilities belittled. I won¡¯t tolerate it.¡± For a brief moment, something flickered across his face. Surprise, maybe? But it vanished quickly, reced by a dark gloomy look. ¡°Oh, feisty,¡± Jason murmured from behind, clearly amused. He shot him a re but said nothing. The air grew thick with tension. You don¡¯t know tension if you¡¯re not in this room. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He asked, his tone curt. ¡°Emily,¡± I replied simply. He pulled out his phone, tapped a response to a message, then paused again. 12.68% 08:18 ¡°Why should I let you cook in my kitchen?¡± His tone was cool, almost haughty. 288 iVouchers I bit the inside of my cheek and stopped myself from saying something rude. What is this, an interview? ¡°Because I¡¯m capable,¡± I replied, matching his calm with my own. He raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. Clenching his jaw, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± I gave a small shrug. ¡°You¡¯ve already made up your mind about me. I¡¯m not here to win you over with fancy words. I know my abilities. If you¡¯re not willing to take my word for it,it¡¯s up to you.¡± There was a long silence. Then he asked, ¡°I assume you¡¯ve read the instructions? The rules? There are no second chances here. Any mistake and you¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°Crystal clear,¡± I replied without hesitation. He held my gaze for a moment longer, then turned and left the kitchen without another word. The second he disappeared from view, Jason exhaled loudly, ¡°That was intense,¡± he said. 25.07% 08:18 ¡°Intense?¡± I scoffed. ¡°I am sorry he¡¯s your brother. He¡¯s a jerk.¡± 288 Vouchers Heughed. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Don¡¯t worry about it. I have heard worse trust me. Liam can be uncouth sometimes¡± Uncouth is putting it mildly. ¡°Seriously, who insults someone within five minutes of meeting them?¡± He chuckled again. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to him. Or not. Either way, you hold your ground, and that¡¯s more than most people manage on their first day.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not most people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bing pretty obvious,¡± he grinned. I turned my attention back to the kitchen, opening cabs and checking the pantry. ¡°I needed to take inventory. Make a list of things I¡¯ll need while I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Want somepany?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± 39.31% 08:18 1288 iVouchers ¡°Yep. I don¡¯t have much going on today. I actually came to annoy Liam. But I ended up meeting you instead.¡± I gave him a sideways nce. ¡°Lucky me.¡± He smiled, unabashed. ¡°So, how often are you going to be working here?¡± ¡°Mondays and Fridays. Why?¡± He tapped his fingers on the ind counter. ¡°I¡¯m shooting a music video soon. I think I just found my vixen.¡± I paused, eyebrows raised. ¡°You gotta be kidding.¡± ¡°Nope. As serious as a heart attack?¡± ¡°Jason, I cook. I don¡¯t do vixens.¡± ¡°Ouch¡± he clutched his chest. ¡°The first favor I asked from my new friend and she refused me¡± He gave me a fake wounded look, bottom lip poked out. 51.15% 08:18 Iughed. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re not ying fair¡± ¡°Never have.¡± : I sighed. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll think about it. Here I was thinking I¡¯ll be the one using you.¡± He leaned forward, eyes twinkling. ¡°You¡¯re still free to take advantage of me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insufferable,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°You have no idea.¡± 1 288 iVouchers He stood up, pulling out his phone. ¡°I need to call my manager. I¡¯ll be right back.¡® I watched him leave the kitchen and exhaled. What did I just agree to? ¡°1 Once I was done checking the inventory, he returned, a grin stered on his face. He handed me his phone. ¡°Type in your number.¡± I hesitated, then took the phone and entered it. I called myself so I¡¯d have his number too, then handed it back. 61.48% 08:18 ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± he said, slipping it into his pocket. : 1288 Vouchers I turned my focus back to the stove, chopping onions and prepping ingredients for dinner. Jason remained, sitting and watching me with mild fascination. ¡°You don¡¯t have anything better to do today?¡± I asked, ncing at him. ¡°Nope. Today is for bothering Liam and watching you cook.¡± I smirked. ¡°Well, mission aplished.¡± He leaned back in his chair. ¡°How old are you, by the way?¡± ¡°Twenty¨Ctwo. You?¡± ¡°Twenty¨Csix.¡± ¡°So, Em¡­wait, can I call you that?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah, sure¡± ¡°Call me Jay,¡± I nodded 72.68% 1 08:18 ¡°Tell me, when you are not helping your mom. What do you do?¡± ¡°I am still in college. Culinary arts¡± ¡°Hmm, nice. You know, I studied engineering, believe it or not.¡± That got my attention. I paused. ¡°Seriously? You did?¡± 288 Vouchers ¡°I know, I know. Everyone expects me to be some airhead singer. But yeah. Graduated with honors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually impressive. Famous and smart huh.¡± He shrugged. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how manyyers people have.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± I admitted. He kept mepany until I was done for the day. I packed up my things and nced at the time. ¡°Well, Jay, this was unexpected.¡± 81.86% 1 08:18 ¡°In a good way, I hope?¡± I smiled. ¡°Yeah. Surprisingly, yes.¡± His brown eyes followed me to the door. 288 Vouchers ¡°Goodnight, Em,¡± he said, a yful glint in his gaze. ¡°Get ready your summer is about to get lit.¡± Iughed softly, shaking my head. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± As I stepped out of the ck mansion, the warm evening breeze brushed against my skin. A strange flutter danced in my stomach. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was excitement. Whatever it was, I had a feeling this summer was about to change everything. 91.69% Chef Novel 3 Chapter 3 The moment I walked through the door, I didn¡¯t bother taking off my shoes. I went straight to my room, threw my bag in a corner, and copsed on my bed. I was knackered. Out of all the people in Los Angeles. Millions, by the way, it just had to be him who ended up as my new boss. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel Liam freaking ck. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be Jay. Jay is kind, humble, and charming. There¡¯s no arrogant celebrity air around him, no ¡°I¡¯m better than you¡± vibe. He¡¯s easy to talk to, If only his arrogant brother could emte him. I let out a sigh and shut my eyes. Sleep took me almost instantly. My phone¡¯s ringtone dragged me out of my dreams. I groaned, blindly reaching for it on my nightstand. Lisa. I answered, voice raspy. ¡°Hey, girly.¡± 0.00% 08:19 288 (Vouchers ¡°How was your first day?¡± Her voice was bright, chirpy and far too energetic for how I was feeling. I rolled to the side. ¡°It was okay. My new boss is a jerk. It is a pity that he is so handsome. Honestly, I wish he was old, bald, lonely and ugly.¡± She burst outughing. I could picture her holding her tummy, in amusement. She always did that when something cracked her up. ¡°How cute is he though?¡± she asked with curiosity. I groaned. ¡°Painfully. You should see the man. He looks like he was sculpted by the gods. It¡¯s unfair for one person to look that good.¡± She screamed loud enough to rupture my eardrum. I winced and removed the phone from my ear. ¡°Jesus, Lisa!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it! I badly wanna be you right now. At least you are having a swell summer holiday. Meanwhile, I¡¯m stuck here with these tiny demons, climbing all over me like I¡¯m a seesaw. ¡± 13.17% 1 08:19 288 (Vouchers That¡¯s one of the things I love about her. Like me, she¡¯s a family girl through and through. She flew to Florida to help her sister with the kids. The third baby was on the way, and she didn¡¯t hesitate for a second before offering to help. ¡°I remember how excited you were before leaving,¡± I teased, mimicking her voice. ¡°I miss my babies so much. I can¡¯t wait to see them!¡± She giggled. ¡°I did miss them! They¡¯re adorable on FaceTime. But now that I¡¯m here, all I want is to lock myself in a room and pretend I don¡¯t exist. They¡¯re like cute mini¨Cterrorists.¡± Iughed softly. ¡°You¡¯re so dramatic.¡± Her tone shifted to something more curious. ¡°So, besides Mr. Greek God Boss, did anything else happen?¡± I paused for effect. ¡°Spill it already Em!¡± I grinned. She is always impatient when ites to gist. ¡°I might have possibly agreed to be a video vixen for Jason ck, the singer.¡± 28.51% 08:19 She screams on the other end of the line. Damn it! Have mercy on my ears girl. I braced myself, already regretting this. 288 (Vouchers ¡°You did what?! That¡¯s so freaking cool! You¡¯re going to be in a music video with Jason ck! Girl, you are lucky! Do you know how many people would kill for that opportunity?¡± I remained silent. She picked up on it instantly. Her voice softened. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not excited? What is the problem Em?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t know if it is a good idea. It felt like a decision I made on impulse.¡± ¡°Crap!¡± she snapped. ¡°You¡¯re stunning, Em. You¡¯ll be amazing on camera. Plus, it¡¯s Jason we¡® re talking about. It¡¯ll be an adventure! Who knows this could be good for you?¡± I smiled faintly. ¡°You are more excited than I am.¡± ¡°Someone has to be! Okay, fine. I¡¯ll let you go since you¡¯re all moody and tired. But we¡¯re talking more about this tomorrow.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± I ended the call before she couldunch into another one of her rants. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I love her. She¡¯s my best friend. But when she starts talking sometimes, she does not stop. And tonight? I don¡¯t have the energy to keep up. 44.28% 08:19 : 288 ?Vouchers I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I fixed dinner. Chicken pasta. The nose blinding aroma filled the kitchen. Mom and I used to sit down for meals together, talking about everything and nothing. Gossip, work, what shows we were watching. There was alwaysughter. Now, the silence felt louder than ever. After eating, I cleaned up, and just as I was about to head back to my room, my phone buzzed Jay: Hey, Vixen! Any ns for tomorrow? Me: Nope. Why? Jay: Wannae to the studio with me? Me: Hmm. Depends. What¡¯s in it for me? Jay: You get to see where the magic happens. And, you get to hang out with me. What could be better Me: Not good enough. I¡¯ll pass. Jay: Ouch. Harsh. Okay, name your price. 63.46% 08:19 I stared at the screen, amused. Then typed: Me: Offer me something I can¡¯t say no to. His typing bubble appeared¡­ then disappeared. Then reappeared. Then stopped again. I was curious. What the heck is he typing? Finally, his message came through: 288 Vouchers Jay: There¡¯s this famous Italian chef in LA. You might¡¯ve heard of him. His name starts with M and ends in O. My heart skipped. Me: Marco Russo? Jay: Bingo. I told him I might stop by tomorrow with a friend. Me: You¡¯re evil!. Jay: Haha I¡¯m surrounded by business people. I learned from the best. So, Em¡­ you in or out? 76.94% 08:19 Me: Ugh. Fine. You win. You got yourself a deal. Jay: Excellent choice. Now send me your address. I¡¯ll pick you up at 9 a.m. I sent him my location, a grin stretching across my face. Marco Russo. In the culinary world, he¡¯s what Beyonc¨¦ is to music. He only cooks for VIPS, A¨Clisters, royalty, billionaires. And tomorrow, I get to meet him. Jay: Goodnight, Em. See you tomorrow. Me: Goodnight, Jay. Sleep tight. I dashed to my closet and started rummaging through it. I need to arrange my outfit for tomorrow. I know I¡¯m acting like a kid promised a trip to Disnend, but excuse me this is my Disnend. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll sleep tonight. But one thing¡¯s for sure¡­ I can¡¯t wait for tomorrow. 87.44% 1 288 Vouchers Chef Novel 4 At exactly 9:00a.m., my phone buzzed. Jay: Outside. Come out, Vixen. 288 iVouchers I¡¯d been up since six, way thrilled to sleep. I raced to the door, nerves and excitement tangling in my chest. Outside, a sleek ck Range Rover parked on the street. Jay lowered the window and gave a small wave. ¡°Hop in,¡± he said with a grin. He seems like a morning person. His face was bright and cheerful. I slipped into the passenger seat. ¡°Morning,¡± I greeted both Jay and the driver, who looked more like a bodyguard than a chauffeur. ck suit, dark shades,a ck ink tattoo ran down his shoulder. He gave a stiff nod and started the engine. The car goes into motion. I was bouncing my legs in excitement. Today is like Christmasing early for me. He chuckled ¡°You¡¯re awfully giddy for someone who needed heavy bribery to be here.¡± 1 I rolled my eyes. ¡°Shut up before I change my mind.¡± 0.00% 08:19 ¡°Please. We both know you wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± he said, smirking. 288 Vouchers And damn it, he was right. If he bailed on me now, I¡¯d genuinely cry. Not that he needed to know that. He¡¯d never let me hear the end of it. The studio wasn¡¯t far. We arrived within twenty minutes, and Jay guided us inside like he owned the ce. Which, honestly, he probably did in some way. The air smelled like leather and polished wood. There are a bunch of recording equipment here. A microphone, audio interface, headphones, studio monitors and the rest I can¡¯t identify. ¡°This is where magic happens,¡± he said dramatically. I smiled as he introduced me as his friend to the crew. That word warmed something in my chest. He vanished into the vocal booth, headphones on, fully in his element. I took a seat in the cozy waiting area, scrolling through my phone to kill time. Then, someone sat beside me. 15.97% 08:19 I nced up and froze. Mason Jacob. 1288 Vouchers The Grammy¨Cwinning, chart¨Ctopping, sinfully good looking Mason Jacob. I once had a massive crush on him. This had to be a dream. I discreetly pinched my arm. ¡°Ow!¡± He let out a heartyugh, ¡°Careful now. You¡¯re not hallucinating.¡± I blinked. ¡°Wait.. was that an ent?¡± He smiled, amused. ¡°Yup. Grew up in London. Moved back here when I was neen. It slips out now and then.¡± God. His voice is smooth. I palmed my eyes. ¡°Did I just say that out loud?¡± 32.02% 1 08:19 Chapter ¡°You did. And it was adorable.¡± He leaned back. ¡°I¡¯m Mason, by the way.¡± ¡°As if I didn¡¯t know,¡± I muttered, embarrassed. ¡°Emily.¡± ¡°Emily¡± he tasted my name in his lips ¡°Pretty name for a beautifuldy¡± I blushed ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± he asked, eyes scanning the studio. ¡°I am here with Jay. More like he bribed me intoing with him¡± I snorted He raised a brow. ¡°Jason ck¡± I rified. He chuckled, ¡°That makes sense. He always strikes a hard deal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me.¡± Mason tilted his head. ¡°Are you his girlfriend?¡± 41.61% 08:19 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel My eyes widened. ¡°God, no. He¡¯s just a friend.¡± 1288 Vouchers Introducing myself as a friend is better than admitting to working for the egotistical brother.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± his hazel eyes lingering. ¡°I see.¡± I was dying to ask what brought him here, but I didn¡¯t want to cross boundaries. I guess my face gave it away anyway. ¡°I am here to see Jay. Finalizing details for my uing tour. ¡± I tried not to squeal. ¡°That¡¯s so cool.¡± He paused, then looked me dead in the eye. ¡°Wannae?¡± Was that a trick question? ¡°Hell yes!¡± I said, too fast. Heughed. ¡°Noted. I¡¯ll talk to Jay and get your number before I leave.¡± 51.87% 08:19 I watched him disappear down the hallway. Did that just happen? I quickly texted Lisa: Guess who I just met? 288 (Vouchers I bet she will blow up my phone once she receives the text. She dislikes me when I do this. By 12:45, Jay emerged, all smiles, with Mason trailing behind him. My brain had been slowly melting in boredom. ¡°Emily,¡± Mason said, stopping in front of me. ¡°Almost forgot.¡± He handed me his phone, and I punched in my number. ¡°Bye, beautiful,¡± he said with a wink. My cheeks flushed. I was still recovering when Jay leaned in with a mischievous smile. ¡°Em Em.. Emily?¡± he said, tapping my cheek lightly. ¡°I was right about you.¡± I blinked. ¡°What are you even talking about?¡± 1 63.28% 08:19 288 iVouchers He didn¡¯t answer, rather he just wrapped a hand around my arm. ¡°Come on, Vixen. You¡¯re in for a long ride.¡± Outside, the serious driver was already waiting. He gave him the next destination. He typed on his phone, nced my way and continued. There¡¯s mischief written all over his face. I shot him a suspicious look. your eye. What did you do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a sparkle in your eye. He just smiled. After a 35¨Cminute drive, the car pulled up in front of Marco Russo¡¯s restaurant. The ambience is breathtaking, elegant and sophisticated. Soft lighting. Tables are well spaced to provide privacy. Crips linens, exquisite tableware and cutlery. Luxurious designs. The architecture screamed money. The reviews were honest, this ce was jaw¨Cdroppingly beautiful. Jay walked in like he owned the ce, clearly a regr. Perks of being rich and famous. I followed, eyes wide. And then, I saw him. 76.07% 08:19 At a reserved table, cool andposed, eyes on his phone, was Mr. Liam ck. My boss. The walking embodiment of bad moods and brooding stares. I froze. Jay? He was smiling. ¡°You didn¡¯t¡± I whispered. ¡°Oh, but I did,¡± he whispered back, nudging me forward. Someone please give me a tangible reason why I shouldn¡¯t strangle him. And yet,I walked forward. Argh!!! Let the drama begin¡­. 92.25% Chef Novel 5 Liam ck was thest person I imagined seeing at Marco Russo¡¯s restaurant. His bratty attitude is thest thing I needed. I was already having an awesome day. He will just ruin it all. Yet there he was, sitting in his full glory, wearing a three piece navy blue suit and looking insanely attractive. Tapping furiously on his phone. Whoever that is at the other end, I kinda pity. He has this scowl on his face. He was pissed. Jay, grinned beside me. ¡°Brother!¡± he announced cheerfully. He nced up and noticed my presence. He inhaled a sharp breath, a muscle ticking on his jaw. ¡°If I remember correctly, you said you wanted to have lunch with me¡± his eyes held my gaze ¡°You failed to mention we¡¯d havepany.¡± Jay feigned innocence. ¡°You know me. Must¡¯ve slipped my mind.¡± I shifted ufortably, feeling the weight of Liam¡¯s scrutiny. His eyes, sharp and assessing, lingered on me. 0.00% 08:20 ¡°Hello Mr Liam¡± I greeted awkwardly with a polite smile. His attention went back to his phone. He didn¡¯t acknowledge my greetings. Gosh 1288 ?Vouchers Can we skip this lunch? Wait no! That means I won¡¯t meet Marcus. I will just ignore him. He can¡¯t ruin this for me. Jay pulled out a chair for me. ¡°Come on, Em Sit, let¡¯s have lunch. Ignore him¡± he whispered thest part in my ear. Reluctantly, I took the seat between the two brothers. The tension was palpable, a silent battle of wills ying out over crisp linen and polished silverware. Momentster, Marcus, with his salt and pepper hair, approached our table. A warm smile on his face. He wore a chef¡¯s jacket embroidered with a gold M.R His presence wasmanding, yet inviting. ¡°Gentlemen, Miss,¡± he greeted us with a slight bow. ¡°Wee¡± Jay¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Marcus! my Man¡± he stood and gave him a side hug. 14.55% 08:20 : ¡°Emily, meet Marcus Russo. The best in town¡± 288 Vouchers My heart skipped a beat. Marcus Russo, the culinary genius I¡¯d admired from afar, was standing before me. ¡°It¡¯s an honor meeting you,¡± I managed, extending my hand. He took it gently. ¡°The pleasure is mine, Emily. Jay said something about culinary arts¡± I shot Jay a surprised nce, he winked. Okay, I forgive him for this stunt he pulled today. ¡°Yes. I would be rounding up in a year¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. You are free to contact me whenever you need my help. Any friend of the ck¡¯s is a friend¡± he stated with a gracious smile Holy cow I was restraining myself from squealing. Did Marcus Russo just give me free ess to him? Readplete version only at find~novel ¡°Thank you so much. You¡¯re far too kind¡± 28.65% 1 08:20 Liam cleared his throat. Argh!! This man. Of course he would interrupt now. He finally found his voice. I mentally rolled my eyes. Sadist. ¡°Marcus, we will trust your judgement as always.¡± He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have your courses out shortly.¡± 288 (Vouchers As he left, I couldn¡¯t contain my excitement. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I just met Marcus Russo!. Thank you so much Jay. I appreciate this.¡± Liam snorted. ¡°He is just a guy. Stop being overly dramatic.¡± If I murder this guy won¡¯t it be cruel if they send me to jail? What An obnoxious fellow. ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide what he is to me.I don¡¯t remember asking for your opinion¡± I red at him. ¡°It¡¯s actually better when your mouths are shut¡± I muttered under my breath. Jay chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, Em. He¡¯s just jealous. He desperately wanna be Marcus right now¡± He shot his brother a re. ¡°Quit talking rubbish. You know I don¡¯t give a shit.¡± 40.56% 08:20 ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide for the rest of us¡± I counter 288 ?Vouchers Our appetizers arrived, a delicate arrangement of vors and colors. I took a bite, savoring the explosion of taste. ¡°This is incredible,¡± I murmured. Liam smirked. ¡°Like you were expecting less.¡± I met his gaze, determined not to let him intimidate me. ¡°Jeez, can you pretend like I am not here?.¡± Jay leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°Isn¡¯t this fun? Good food, greatpany. What more can I ask for?¡± Liam¡¯s expression remained stoic. The main course arrived, each dish more exquisite than thest. Despite the underlying tension, I couldn¡¯t help but be swept up in the culinary experience. As dessert was served, a decadent chocte creation, Marcus returned to our table. ¡°I hope everything met your expectations,¡± he said. 55.00% 08:20 Jay raised his ss. ¡°Exceeded them, as always.¡± I nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Truly unforgettable.¡± Marcus smiled. ¡°I¡¯m d. Enjoy the rest of your evening. 288 (Vouchera ¡°When he left, I turned to Jay. ¡°I know I sound like a broken record right but thank you really. He grinned. ¡°Anything for you, Vixen.¡± ¡°This will be a perfect ce for a date don¡¯t you think Em?¡± He asked. ¡°Yeah, I guess¡± ¡°Do you have a boyfriend¡± Why do I feel like this more of a trap than a question. What¡¯s Jay up to again? ¡°No I answered¡± 68.19% 08:20 ¡°Do you believe in love¡± I paused. I didn¡¯t expect that question. I can feel Liam¡¯s eyes on me. ¡°Sure. Love is a Beautiful thing. Better experience with the right person¡± Liam snorted ¡°Rubbish. That is what they all say like they mean it.¡± ¡°Well, with a smelly attitude like yours, I bet no one will put up with you for long¡± I fired back ¡°Oopsie,¡± Jay said, casually drinking from his ss. I observe as Liam¡¯s demeanor changes. A dark look brewing in his eyes. I must have struck a nerve. He stood, adjusting his jacket. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Jay raised an eyebrow. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± 77.01% 08:20 : His gaze lingered on me. ¡°You know I am a busy man. Without another word, he left. I sighed, the weight of the encounter settling over me. 288 ?Vouchers Jay reached across the table, squeezing my hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let him get to you. He¡¯s a great guy when he¡¯s not putting up the fa?ade.¡± I offered a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± As we finished our dessert, the atmosphere lightened. Despite the earlier tension, the evening had been a memorable one. He leaned in, his eyes twinkling. ¡°So, ready for our next adventure?¡± Iughed, the sound easing thest of my nerves. ¡°Like I have a say in whatever you are plotting.¡± As we left the restaurant, the night air was cool and refreshing. I nced back at the building, a sense of anticipation bubbling within me. 87.06% 08.20 Whatevery ahead, I was ready. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chef Novel 6 Chapter 6 The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. Warm, intrusive, and far too enthusiastic for how I felt. I stirred under the covers, my head foggy but my heart strangely full. Yesterday felt like a dream. Marcus Russo¡¯s restaurant. That unforgettable meal. Mason. Was that even real? I stretchedzily, a slow smile tugging at my lips. Reaching for my phone, I scrolled through messages, half expecting it all to disappear like some figment of my imagination. But then, a new message shed across my screen. Unknown number. Mason: Hey Emily, hope you¡¯re doing great this morning? Would you be interested in grabbing lunch with me? Nothing fancy, just a friendly hangout. Do tell if you¡¯re free.¡± I blinked. 0.00% 1 08:20 298 Vouchers My heart did a quite little somersault. I pretended not to notice. I saved his number before my brain could debate it. It was just lunch. Nothing serious. No need to overthink it right? Still, I hesitated. Fingers hovered above the screen. ept? Decline? Before I could decide, my phone rang. Lisa. I sighed and picked up. If I didn¡¯t, she¡¯d just keep calling. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Em!¡± Her voice burst through, loud and radiant. ¡°Give me the rundown on yesterday.¡± Iughed, sitting upright. ¡°Oh, it was amazing.¡± ¡°Spill. Everything. Who did you meet?¡± ¡°Slow down,¡± I teased. ¡°I met Marcus Russo. ¡± Lisa shrieked. ¡°Marcus freaking Russo?! No way!¡± 1 ¡°It was surreal,¡± I admitted. ¡°I had the best meal of my life in his restaurant¡± 9.44% 08:20 ¡°Wait a second.¡± Her voice dropped, low and sharp ¡°Who took you there?¡± 288 (Vouchers ¡°Jay. Liam was there as well,¡± I said, leaning against my pillows. ¡°He was his usual self, annoying and rude.¡± ¡°Ugh, men,¡± she huffed. ¡°Ignore him. You¡¯re living a dream. Focus on that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what his problem is with me,¡± I groaned. ¡°From the moment he saw me he has been on attack mode. He¡¯s got this weird way of acting, it¡¯s like I personally offended him.¡± I paused, chewing my bottom lip. ¡°I met Mason Jacobs at the studio.¡± I said in a rush. ¡°He texted now, asking if I was free to hangout. I don¡¯t know if I should.¡± Dead silence. ¡°You WHAT?! Emily!,¡± she screamed. ¡°You¡¯re officially the queen of casual encounters.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to seem like some overexcited fangirl,¡± I said, my voice low and uncertain. ¡°Then don¡¯t. Be yourself. You¡¯re amazing. And he texted you, remember?¡± I sighed, her words were starting to nt a seed. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± 18.97% 08:20 ¡°You better. Call me after, I want the full tea. I¡¯ll be living vicariously through you.¡± 1288 Vouchers Laughing, I ended the call and stared at Mason¡¯s message again. It didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. Just lunch. Before I could change my mind. I typed: Me: Good morning. Lunch sounds perfect. Where are we going? His reply was instant. Like he was waiting for my message. Mason: One of my favorite ces. Quiet, cozy, exclusive. You¡¯ll love it. I¡¯ll pick you up at 12? Me: Alright, see you soon. I texted him my address and jumped out of bed, fully awake. 31.17% 08:20 288 Vouchers I decided to keep things casual. I slipped into a fitted beige T¨Cshirt paired with high¨Cwaist denim jeans and a crips white sneaker. Just a swipe of red lipstick for confidence. My hair pulled into a messy bun, and I was ready. At exactly noon, Mason pulled up in a sleek ck Mercedes. He stepped out, looking effortlessly stylish in a white shirt and dark jeans. Sunsses. His hair was slightly tousled, like he¡¯d run his fingers through it on the way over. The faint scent of wood and cedar lingered in the air as he leaned in for a casual side hug. ¡°Emily,¡± he said warmly. ¡°You look stunning.¡± The source of th?s content is FindN()vel ¡°Thank you. You look good, like always,¡± I said, sliding into the passenger seat. ¡°You drive yourself,?¡± I asked, genuinely surprised. People with his level of fame and fortune rarely got behind the wheel. He grinned. ¡°Yeah, sometimes. It helps me clear my head. The drive was smooth, filled with soft music and light conversation. He was funny and surprisingly easy to talk to. For a minute, I forgot how famous he was. The restaurant was a beautiful blend of vintage and modern¡¯elegance. Marble floors and warm lighting. The walls were decorated with ck and white photos in sleek dark wood frames. 38.56% 08:20 1 288 ?Vouchers Mason led me to a corner table beside the window, offering a quite view of the street outside. The host greeted him with familiarity. ¡°You really like it here, don¡¯t you?¡± I teased. He grinned. ¡°Guilty.¡± I ordered for grilled chicken sandwich. He went with steak and roasted veggies. A bottle of wine and sparkling water for us. ¡°So,¡± I said, between sips of water. ¡°Tell me a secret¡± He cocked his head, a yful smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°I hate horror movies.¡± I burst outughing. ¡°Seriously? The super star is afraid of the dark and ghosts? I feel like I should update your fans of this new discovery¡± ¡°Hey,¡± he chuckled, ¡°I said hate. I didn¡¯t say afraid. Huge difference.¡± I was about to respond when something shifted in the air. I can feel someone¡¯s gaze. Mason gaze flickered over my shoulder. ¡°Why is Liam ck looking at you like that?¡± 53.92% 08:21 Chapter 6 My stomach flipped. ¡°What¡± He leaned back casually, taking a sip from the ss of water. Vouchers ¡°Over your right shoulder. Two tables down. Dark gray suit. Brooding, like you just ran over his dog.¡± I turned, slow and subtle. There he was. Liam ck. Sitting across from a man in an expensive ck suit. His jaw clenched, fingers wrapped around an untouched drink. His eyes locked on mine, sharp and unwavering. My throat tightened. What was he doing here? Of all ces he had to be here. He raised a brow. ¡°Friend of yours?¡± 1 ¡°Boss,¡± I said quietly, turning back to face Mason. ¡°Technically.¡± 65.07% 08:21 288 Vouchers ¡°Interesting,¡± he said, swirling his drink. ¡°There¡¯s a possesive edge to his expression. He looks territorial.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not,¡± I replied too quickly. He smirked. ¡°Emily, I know that look. He is either deeply confused or deeply annoyed. Possibly both.¡± I didn¡¯t respond. My heart was beating erratically. Why did it feel like I¡¯d been caught doing something wrong? ¡°Ignore him,¡± he said with an easy grin. ¡°I¡¯m the one lucky enough to be in thepany of a stunningdy.¡± I managed augh. But my palms had gone sweaty, and suddenly, the food lost its vor. I could still feel the weight of Liam¡¯s gaze lingering on me. Mason sensed the tension and shifted the mood effortlessly. He told a story about an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction during a live performance in Canada. Iughed, genuinely this time. But when I dared to nce again, he was still watching. 73.00% 08:21 What was that look? Irritation? Disapproval? Why did it matter so much? 288 (Vouchers. When the check arrived, Mason paid without hesitation, then stood and offered me his hand. ¡°Shall we?¡± As we walked past Liam¡¯s table, I caught the flicker of movement. He stood up abruptly, startling hispanion. He said something too low to hear. ¡°Emily.¡± His voice. Low and controlled. Mason stopped beside me. Liam took a single step forward. ¡°A word, please.¡± 84.29% 1 08:21 I nodded, unsure of what else to do. ¡°Can youe over tomorrow? I need to speak to you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I said, confused. 288 Vouchers He gave a curt tilt of his head and turned back toward his table. He slipped into his seat with the sameposed elegance, as if nothing had happened. I stood there for a moment, blinking. That was it? Confusion swirled in my chest. What could possibly be so urgent that it couldn¡¯t wait. Why pull me aside in the middle of lunch? I nced back at him. He was already engaged in light conversation. I hated that he could unravel me like this 90.46% 1 08:21 1289 (Vouchers Back in the car, I didn¡¯t speak. I kept ncing at the restaurant behind us, heart unsettled. I was now stuck wondering what Liam ck wanted. Chef Novel 7 The car came to a stop in front of my house. ¡°I had fun today,¡± Mason said, a smile ying on his lips. ¡°Thank you for lunch. I had a good time,¡± I replied softly. 288 (Vouchers He stepped out, crossed to the passenger side, and opened the door for me. Such a gentleman. Leaning in just close enough to quicken my pulse, he murmured, ¡°We could do this again. Maybe?¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea,¡± I managed, heart racing. He was too close to think straight. He smiled softly. ¡°Awesome.¡± His eyes flickered to my lips, lingering longer than necessary. It felt like he wanted to kiss me. But then, suddenly, he stepped back, as if I¡¯d burned him. 0.00% 08:21 ¡°Goodnight, Emily. See you around.¡± : ¡°Goodnight.¡± I gave him a bright smile before stepping inside. Once the door clicked shut behind me, I leaned against it and exhaled deeply. What a day. 288 iVouchers I headed straight to the living room and copsed onto the couch. My fingers moved almost instinctively to my phone. I hadn¡¯t checked in on my mom for a while, so I decided to FaceTime her. She answered after the fourth ring. ¡°Hey, Emily.¡± Her warm smile filled the screen. She looked rested, propped up in bed with a cozy nket wrapped around her shoulders. ¡°Hi, Mama.¡± I smiled back. ¡°How are you today?¡± ¡°Better,¡± she said. ¡°The weather¡¯s lovely. How¡¯s everything over there?¡± 1 ¡°Pretty good, but I miss you terribly.¡± I made a sad face. ¡°The house feels so empty without you.¡± 11.72% 08:21 O Come and im today¡¯s surprise. now Don¡¯t forget to check in daily for great rewards! ¡°That¡¯s what you get for sending me away,¡± she muttered. ¡°I miss you, yes. But I don¡¯t regret it, Mama. You needed a break.¡± 288 Vouchers She squinted at me like she was seeing me for the first time. ¡°You¡¯re all dressed up. Going somewhere?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m justing home. Went out with a friend.¡± ¡°Which friend?¡± she asked, eyebrows raised. ¡°You don¡¯t know him, Mama.¡± Suspicion flickered in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about himter.¡± ¡°Well, you better tell me everythingter. Now go get some rest. You look like you¡¯ve had quite the day.¡± 25.65% 08:21 We exchanged a few more words before I ended the call. Staring up at the ceiling, my mind buzzed. Liam ck. What could he possibly want to discuss? He better have a good reason for that stunt at the restaurant. I was anxious about tomorrow. I stood outside the entrance of Liam¡¯s mansion, clutching my bag tightly. I drew in a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever awaited inside. The front door swung open before I could ring the bell. There he was. Liam, in all his imposing glory. Dressed in a dark suit, his expression cold and unreadable. 35.59% Follow current nov?ls on fin?novel 08:21 ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± he said, striding past me into the house. ¡°Good morning to you too.¡± I rolled my eyes and followed him inside. The house was cold and silent, its stillness heavy and unweing. ¡°I have a private business meeting tomorrow,¡± he said without looking back. ¡°Lunch is responsibility.¡± your I rolled my eyes again. ¡°You could¡¯ve just texted.¡± ¡°If only I had your number. That¡¯s how it works.¡± He was right. Still didn¡¯t excuse the drama yesterday. He turned, sliding a piece of paper across the table. ¡°The menu.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± I snapped. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s my day off.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°I intend to pay generously for the extra hours. 45.90% ¡± 08:21 288 Vouchers ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± I raised a brow. ¡°You can¡¯t just give orders because you have money to throw around. What if I already have ns?¡± His expression hardened. ¡°Are you busy tomorrow?¡± ¡°It depends,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°I could be free. If you ask nicely.¡± He stepped closer. ¡°Finding someone else won¡¯t be hard.¡± God, he was infuriating. ¡°Well then, I guess I¡¯ll see you Friday. Bye.¡± I turned to leave. Two stepster, his voice stopped me. ¡°Wait.¡± I turned slowly to face him. Our eyes locked. His expression unreadable, mine burning with defiance. 58.01% 08:21 Chapter 7 He broke the silence first. ¡°Emily, I¡¯m asking nicely. Be avable tomorrow.¡® ¡± I exhaled sharply, biting down the pride screaming at me to walk away. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡± I extended my hand, taking the sheet of paper. It was a carefully detailed draft listing guests, allergies, menu, and timing, penned in elegant handwriting. Most likely his. ¡°I¡¯ll need to pick up some ingredients,¡± I said. Without a word, he pulled out a sleek ck card and handed it to me. ¡°Budget?¡± I asked, eyeing him. ¡°Buy whatever you need,¡± he replied smoothly. ¡°Okay, then.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He turned and headed for the door. ¡°Wait. Are youing with me?¡± I called, folding my arms. 68.65% 08:21 He didn¡¯t spare me a nce. ¡°Join me in the car. Don¡¯t keep me waiting.¡± Without another word, he opened the door and walked out. I didn¡¯t want to stay near him for even a moment longer, but still, I followed. The ride was unbearably quiet, the silence tick and heavy between us. 288 ?Vouchers He kept his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. I sat in the passenger seat of the ck Aston Martin, arms crossed. The interior glowed with polished leather, immacte and luxuriously refined. When we pulled into the grocery store parking lot, I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll try to be fast,¡± I said, ncing his way. One foot touched the ground. 80.83% 1 08:21 ¡°Yesterday, you seemed thrilled to be seen with him.¡± I paused, turning halfway toward him. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°You have a thing for famous singers,¡± he added tly. What the heck? Heat flushed my face in fury. I stared at him, stunned speechless. ¡°Fuck you!¡± I snapped. 288 Vouchers mming the car door hard enough to shake the hinges, I marched into the store without looking back. 93.05% Chef Novel 8 Chapter 8 The sun had started setting, casting golden streaks across the grocery store parking lot when I stepped outside. Anger simmered beneath the surface as I clutched the neatly packed paper bags in both arms. And then I stopped dead in my tracks. The ck Aston Martin was gone. My jaw dropped slightly. I spun in a slow, disbelieving circle. Maybe. Just maybe, he was parked in a different spot. He wasn¡¯t. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± I muttered. A sharp breeze tugged at my dress as I stood frozen, overwhelmed by disbelief. I took a deep breath. Calm down, I whispered to myself. With trembling fingers, I pulled my phone from my pocket and ordered a ride back to his house. 1 By the time I reached the estate and walked through the kitchen entrance with the groceries, I was heartbeat away from exploding. 0.00% 08:22 1 288 (Vouchers Liam sat at kitchen ind, eyes glued to his phone,pletely unfazed by the fact that he¡¯d left me behind at the store. ¡°You left me,¡± I said, mming the bags onto the counter. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find?Novel He didn¡¯t look up. ¡°You walked off. I figured you needed space.¡± ¡°You left me stranded,¡± I snapped. ¡°And you knew my car was here!¡± ¡°I had somewhere to be.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I huffed, pulling things from the bags more aggressively than necessary. ¡°Of course. God forbid Liam ck bete for his business meetings.¡± He finally set the phone down. ¡°You made it back.¡± ¡°Thanks to Uber,¡± I fired back. ¡°But yeah, I made it.¡± We stared at each other in silence, like we were locked in a staring contest. Something thick and unfamiliar stirred between us. 14.06% 08:22 I looked away first. ¡°Your guests will get their precious meal tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry.¡± He nodded once. ¡°Good.¡± 288 Vouchers Byte morning the next day, the scent of garlic, white wine, and rosemary filled the kitchen. My ylist hummed quietly in the background as I ted the main course. Everything was perfect. Or close enough. I wiped my hands on a linen towel, double¨Cchecked the order of service on the counter, and reached for the final garnish when Liam stepped into the kitchen. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± He said, his voice low, unreadable. I didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Almost done. Five guests, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± A pause. ¡°First course in ten.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± 27.02% 08:22 : 288 Vouchers The next twenty minutes passed in a quiet rhythm. First the soup, then the sd, then the main course. Delivered like clockwork to Liam¡¯s elite business circle. All men. All steel eyes, tight smiles, and suit that screamed power. As I stepped into the study to serve the third course, I could feel the tension in the room. Could¡¯ve been business negotiations. Or maybe just the sh of too many over inted egos tailored in suits. I moved quietly, cing the tes down with precision. One of them, probably in his forties, an expensive silver watch and eyes full of entitlement, gave me a slow, deliberate look as I ced his te in front of him. ¡°Looks even better up close,¡± he murmured, eyes sliding down my neckline. I gave a tight smile and turned to leave. But as I passed him, he reached out. And smacked my ass. Hard. 38.52% 1 08:22 The sound was obscene. The sting was worse. My breath hitched. I froze. 289 (Vouchers It was like time paused. Theughter around the table faltered. One of the men cleared his throat. ¡°Rx, sweetheart,¡± he said with a greasy grin. ¡°It was apliment.¡± I turned slowly, rage boiling in my chest, my cheeks ming. I didn¡¯t care who he was. I didn¡¯t care how rich or important he thought he was. But before I could say a word. Liam¡¯s voice cut through the room like a de. ¡°What exactly do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± All heads turned. 53.22% 08:22 : 288 Vouchers Liam stood, every inch of himposed, his expression hard as granite. Cold. Controlled. Deadly. The man let out an uneasyugh. ¡°Come on, Liam. I was only joking. ¡± ¡°Touch her again,¡± Liam said, voice low and terrifying, ¡°i¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s thest thing you ever do.¡± Silence. The entire room seemed to shrink. Liam crossed the floor in a sh, his hand resting lightly on my lower back. Then he turned, gaze locking onto the room like a silent threat. ¡°She¡¯s a chef. Not your entertainment. If anyone has a problem with that, there¡¯s the door. Nobody moved. Not a sound. Liam¡¯s voice dropped even lower. ¡°I said out.¡± Chairs scraped. 62.93% ¡°1 08:22 One by one, the men rose, murmuring stiff apologies, some not daring to meet my eyes. 288 (Vouchers Thest to leave was the one who touched me. Liam held the door open for him with a look that promised consequences far beyond the estate walls. When the door finally closed, the house was silent again. And I was still standing there, stunned, breathless, unsure whether I was angry or grateful. Liam turned to me. His eyes, now softer. Still intense. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I let out a shaky breath. ¡°No.¡± His jaw tightened. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to deal with that,¡± ¡°This is your world, that¡¯s how they see me,¡± I snapped. ¡°And honestly? I¡¯m not even sure how you see me half the time.¡± The silence stretched. 1 Then he asked, quieter now, ¡°Is there anything I can do to fix this?¡± 74.48% 08:23 I stared at him. 288 Vouchers For a moment, I wanted to yell at him. To release the anger that has been piling up inside me. But he had defended me, and that counted for something. But instead, I shook my head. ¡°No. There¡¯s nothing.¡± I turned and headed to the kitchen. Grabbed my bag. My hands trembled slightly as I slung it over my shoulder, but I held my head high. When I passed him again on my way to the door, I didn¡¯t stop. Didn¡¯t nce back. Didn¡¯t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. He didn¡¯t call after me. But I could feel his gaze burn into my back 87.94% 08:23 And as the front door mmed shut behind me, the tears finally came. I hated how vulnerable I felt. Chef Novel 9 Boom. Boom. Boom. The knock startled me awake. Disoriented, I sat up in bed, squinting at the dim light filtering through my blinds. My mouth was dry, my limbs heavy. It took me a second to remember where I was. Home. After everything that happened at Liam¡¯s ce yesterday, I hade home, turned my phone off, and dropped into bed like the world didn¡¯t exist. I didn¡¯t want to cry. I didn¡¯t want to scream. I didn¡¯t want to feel anything. The knocking came again, louder this time. ¡°Emily! Open up before I drag you out in your pajamas!¡± That voice. Familiar. Dramatic. Jay?? 1 I dragged myself out of the bed and walked barefoot to the door, tugging my robe tighter around my waist. When I opened it, Jay was standing there in all glory. Messy hair, sunsses on, despite it barely being morning and two coffees in hand like he was saving the 0.00% 08:23 day. ¡°Good morning, Vixen.¡± I blinked. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± 288 Vouchers You disappeared off the face of the earth. Phone dead. No replies. So I thought I¡¯d swung by and check on you,¡± he said, raising an eyebrow ¡°Now get ready, we¡¯ve got work¡± I stared at him, confused. ¡°What work?¡± ¡°The shoot?¡± he said, as if it were obvious. ¡°The one you agreed to? You, me, and a bunch of lights, cameras, and vibes?¡± Oh. Right. His new music video. The one he tricked me into saying yes to. Now, today of all days, it was happening. I groaned. ¡°Jay, I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± ¡°Exactly why I came in person.¡± His grin softened a little. ¡°I figured something was off when your phone was off. Now go shower and wear something nice.¡± 13.72% 08:23 288 iVouchers He shoved a coffee into my hand and walked into the apartment like he owned the ce. I sighed. So much for sulking. Before I could protest again, he was already sprawled on the living room couch. ¡°You¡¯ve got twenty minutes,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°Chop chop.¡± The rooftop set was pure L.A. chaos. Dancers in mesh tops and silver boots rehearsed near a glitter¨Cwrapped sports car. A camera rig hovered midair like a robotic crane. Smoke machines puffed clouds into the sky while a stylist shrieked at some over a missing essory like it was the end of the world. Jay thrived in the mess. He greeted crew members with handshakes and hugs like he was the city¡¯s mayor, even pausing to pose for selfies. Meanwhile, they dressed me in a strappy ck outfit and boots that made me nearly six feet tall. As the cameras rolled and Jay lip¨Csynced his lyrics in front of a convertible, I tried my best to channel confidence. The director barked cues. Backup dancers spun and flipped like it was an Olympic trial. Every now and then, someone shouted ¡°touch¨Cup!¡± and I was pulled aside to reapply lipstick or powder. I moved when they told me to. Smiled when the camera hovered near. But the spark wasn¡¯t there. Not really. 25.42% 08:23 Someone noticed. ¡°Thought I¡¯d find you here,¡± came a voice behind me. I turned and there he was Mason. 288 Vouchers Sunsses, hoodie, and that calm grin. Casual, effortless, and somehow still impossibly handsome. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you wereing,¡± I said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t. Jay texted me. He said you looked like your soul had left the building.¡± I chuckled, faintly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He studied me for a second, then offered his hand. ¡°Wanna get out of here?¡± ¡°What?¡± I hesitated, ¡°You just got here.¡± ¡°No cameras. No rooftop theatrics. Just a ce I think you¡¯d like.¡± I raised an eyebrow. Jay caught my eye from across the set, gave me a wink and a thumbs¨Cup like a proud dad. That look on his face? He definitely had something up his sleeve. 44.71% 08:23 288 Vouchers ¡°Fine,¡± I sighed. ¡°But if this turns out to be some creepy Hollywood thing. I¡¯m fighting you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less.¡± The drive was quiet. Not awkward. Just peaceful. Mason didn¡¯t press for answers, and I was grateful. We drove out of the city into the hills, winding roads nked by trees and cliffs. Eventually, he parked beside a hidden path, and we hiked the rest of the way on foot. The view that met me at the top stole my breath. The skyline stretched endlessly beneath us. Los Angeles. Distant, golden, and almost small from up here. The air was still, the silence broken only by the asional rustle of leaves. ¡°Ie here when I need to scream,¡± Mason said, sitting on a t rock and stretching his legs. ¡°Sometimes I actually do scream. I sat beside him. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Not always out loud. But sometimes yeah.¡± Iughed, softly. We sat in silence for a moment, the breeze tugging at strands of my hair. It was peaceful. And real. 1 ¡°Do you ever regret it?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°Being famous?¡± 56.60% 08:23 Chapter 9 Read full story at F¦ÉndNovel He took a while to answer. :. 1288 iVouchers ¡°Some days I do. Most days I don¡¯t. But the hardest part is knowing everyone thinks they know you. Even when they don¡¯t.¡± I turned to look at him. He looked away, jaw tight. ¡°There¡¯s a version of me out there I don¡¯t even recognize. Magazine covers. Rumors. Comments. It¡¯s like¡­ they take pieces of you and build a version you don¡¯t even recognize.¡± He took a long deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve read things about myself that made me question who I even am.¡± I swallowed. ¡°That sounds awful.¡± ¡°It is. Sometimes.¡± A long silence passed between us. Then he smiled faintly. ¡°But right now? Sitting here with you? Not so much.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say, so I offered a soft smile. I looked out at the horizon, the sky painted in oranges and purples. 72.76% 08:23 Neither of us said anything for a while. And maybe that was okay. : ¡°You looked beautiful today,¡± Mason said quietly, breaking the silence. I turned to him, surprised. 288 ?Vouchers ¡°At the shoot,¡± he added, his gaze lingering. ¡°That outfit¡­ the way you moved. It was hot.¡± I felt my cheeks warm, and for the first time in days, it wasn¡¯t out of anger or frustration. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world fell away. away. He looked like he wanted to say something more. Maybe reach for my hand. Maybe close the space between us. But his phone buzzed. He checked it, and his rxed expression shifted. I noticed the way his fingers tightened slightly around the device. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He looked at me. 85.20% 08:23 : And for the first time that day, his smile disappeared. 288 iVouchers ¡°Emily, we need to leave. ASAP,¡± he said, rising to his feet. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong and I need to fix it.¡± 97.46% 08:23 Chef Novel 10 The ride back was quiet, but not the good kind. It wasn¡¯t peaceful or reflective. Mason¡¯s jaw was tight, his eyes flicking from the road to his phone like he was trying to solve a puzzle mid¨Cdrive. ¡°Sorry for that,¡± he muttered, breaking the silence. For original chapters go to f?ndnovel ¡°For what?¡± ¡°The mood shift. I didn¡¯t mean to react like that. I just¡­can¡¯t help it sometimes.¡± I nced at him. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± He hesitated. ¡°Someone¡¯s trying to leak one of my songs. An unreleased track I nned to surprise fans with on tour.¡± My brows lifted. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah. My manager just called. He got tipped off by a music blogger.¡± His hand flexed around the wheel. ¡°We¡¯re trying to figure out how to stop it. That song¡­it¡¯s personal.¡± I reached out and gently touched his arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mason.¡± He offered a tight smile. ¡°Thank you. This kind of thing happens now and then. ?¡± We didn¡¯t say much after that. The silence lingered, stretching between us. 0.00% 08:23 288 iVouchers He pulled to a smooth stop in front of my building, the hum of the engine low beneath the tension. ¡°I¡¯ll get out here,¡± I said, reaching for the door. He nced over, his expression softer now. ¡°Thanks for today. I know it got a little weird, but I¡¯m d you came with me.¡± I gave him a small, sincere smile. ¡°Me too.¡± He nodded once, then shifted into drive. ¡°Take care, Emily.¡± ¡°Everything will be fine. Good luck.¡± He gave me azy smile, then pulled away into the dusky street, his taillights disappearing around the corner. I let out a breath and turned toward the building. And that¡¯s when I saw it. A glossy ck Bentley parked directly in my driveway. I¡¯d seen the exact car in Liam¡¯s garage before. My stomach tightened. What was he doing here? As if on cue, the driver¡¯s side door opened and he stepped out. Perfectly dressed as handsome as always. But his expression was stoic. 15.78% 08:23 He looked furious. : 288 iVouchers Then again, when was Liam ck not? He walked toward me, one hand casually in his pocket, the other holding a matte ck gift box tied with a silver ribbon. ¡°For yesterday,¡± he said curtly, holding it out. I blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°A gift,¡± he repeated, his voice cool. ¡°Apology, if you want to call it that.¡± I stared at the box, unmoving. ¡°It¡¯s really not necessary,¡± I said quietly. His jaw tightened. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just take it.¡± I took the box, not out of gratitude but because it felt like the fastest way to end the conversation. He turned without another word, slid back into the Bentley, and the engine roared to life, and secondster, he was gone. I stood there for a moment, the box heavy in my hands, chest tangled in a mess of confusion. Back inside, after settling in, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the unopened box like it might explode. Eventually, I opened it. 30.86% 08:24 288 Vouchers The ne gleamed beneath the soft lights. White gold and sapphires, arranged in an elegant arc of ridiculous value. One nce told me it was custom. Not something you picked up from a store shelf. This piece must have cost a fortune. I almostughed. Then I closed the box gently and set it aside. There was no question in my mind. It was going back. And I had a pretty good idea who gave him my address. ¡°Jason,¡± I muttered. ¡°That traitor.¡± The next morning, I drove to Liam¡¯s estate with the box quietly tucked away in the back seat. When I arrived, I turned off the engine and stepped out. The box cradled in my hands, I approached the front entrance and rang the bell. The door opened almost instantly. And standing there, barefoot and breathtaking was a girl. Young. Stunning. The kind of beauty that made you blink She had big eyes, wless skin, and legs for days. She wore one of those expensive silk lounge sets that rich girls treat like pajamas. 46.35% 08:24 She smiled like we¡¯d met before. : ¡°Oh,¡± she said brightly. ¡°You must be Emily.¡± I blinked. ¡°Uh, yes. I¡¯m¡­¡± Before I could finish, she stepped aside and motioned for me toe in. ¡°Come on in! I¡¯ve heard about you.¡± 288 iVouchers I hesitated for half a second before stepping into the house, the box still cradled in my arms. The warmth of her energy caught me off guard, so different from the polished coldness of elite socialites. She had the same easygoing charm as Jay. Warm, disarming, and impossible not to like. y. Warm, disarming, and impossible not to like. Are you sure Liam wasn¡¯t adopted? ¡°I¡¯m Sophia, by the way,¡± she said, walking ahead with a light bounce in her step. ¡°Liam¡¯s only sister. And thest child of the ck family.¡± I stopped in my tracks. ¡°Wait¡­ Liam has a sister?¡± She turned back and gave me a yful look. ¡°Shocking, right?¡± ¡°I just haven¡¯t seen you in the media or anything.¡± ¡°On purpose,¡± she said, flopping effortlessly onto the edge of one of the plush armchairs like 62.67% 08:24 288 Vouchers she owned the house. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what fame does to people. Paparazzi twisting stories, fake friends, fans thinking they know everything about you based on headlines.¡± She waved a hand. ¡°Not for me. I want my life to be private. Only a few people can actually put a face to my name.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile. There was something refreshingly real about her. ¡°I just got back from Spain,¡± she continued, tucking a leg under herself. ¡°One of my best friends got married in this gorgeous vineyard outside Madrid. I almost didn¡¯te back.¡± ¡°Sounds like a dream.¡± ¡°It was. But I had to return back home eventually. And apparently just in time to meet the girl my brother¡¯s have been¡­¡± She stopped herself, lips twitching. I raised a brow. ¡°Been what?¡± She grinned. ¡°Never mind, top secret. I¡¯ll let him dig his own grave.¡± Before I could reply, the air in the room shifted. It was suddenly thick and tense. Footsteps echoed across the marble. Then Liam walked in. Sharp suit. Sharper stare. 78.65% 08:24 1288 Vouchers And when his eyesnded on me, holding that box, sitting beside his sister. You could practically feel the temperature drop. He didn¡¯t speak at first. Neither did I. The silence stretched. Tight and crackling. Then, finally, his voice pierced through the silence. ¡°Emily?¡± Chef Novel 11 Liam¡¯s eyes locked onto mine like a target. The tension in the room thickened, heavy enough to touch. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, his voice clipped. ¡°I¡¯m here to see you,¡± I replied calmly, clutching the ck box a little tighter. ¡°I came to return this.¡± I extended it toward him. ¡°I can¡¯t keep it. It¡¯s too much.¡± He didn¡¯t move. ¡°You don¡¯t have to really,¡± I added, more gently this time. ¡°And I don¡¯t feel right epting something so¡­ expensive.¡± He stared at the box like it offended him. ¡°I gave it to you. That¡¯s the point,¡± he said finally. ¡°You don¡¯t return a gift.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have to this time. It¡¯s way too expensive.¡± ¡°Keep it.¡± 0.00% 08:24 ¡°No.¡± : He muttered curses under his breath. ¡°Let¡¯s not do this¡± 288 Vouchers We went back and forth, me trying to hand it over, him refusing with rising frustration, until Sophia let out a softugh from the couch. ¡°Oh my God,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Now I get what Jay meant.¡® ¡°Remind me to smack him when i see him,¡± I groaned. ¡°What has he been telling you?¡± She widened her eyes innocently. ¡°Huh? Nothing. Ignore me.¡± ¡°1 Liam shot her a look that could¡¯ve turned water to steam. ¡°Sophia, I¡¯ve warned you to stop listening to Jay¡¯s gossip.¡± Sophia just sipped her iced coffee clearly thriving on the chaos. Finally, she stood and walked over, gently resting a hand on my arm. ¡°Emily, listen. You didn¡¯t ask for that piece. You didn¡¯t beg for it or scheme to get it. He gave it freely, right?¡± I hesitated. ¡°Yes¡­¡± 8.87% 08:24 : 288 Vouchers ¡°Then there¡¯s no harm in keeping it. It doesn¡¯t make you obligated or owned. If anything, you¡® re doing both of you a favor by not wasting the gesture.¡± I nced between her and Liam. He stayed silent, tension written in the set of his jaws and the weight in his eyes. I exhaled. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll keep it.¡¯ ¡± Sophia smiled like she¡¯d just settled a trade war. ¡°There we go. You owe me one brother dearest.¡± Liam nced at his watch. ¡°I have to go. Meetings.¡± He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Sophia¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll be backte. No funny business. You¡¯re not allowed to throw any parties.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± He turned to me, said nothing, just gave a curt nod, then disappeared through the hallway and out the door. The silence he left behind felt less suffocating. Sophia flopped back onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. ¡°That was entertaining. Ten out of ten for tension. You guys really go at it.¡± 19.58% 08:24 : I sat beside her, still a little dazed. ¡°You two are close.¡± ¡°Liam and I? Yeah. He¡¯s one of my favorite brothers.¡± ¡°You only have two.¡± She grinned. ¡°Still counts.¡± I hesitated, then added quietly, ¡°He treats you differently. Softer. Kinder.¡± Sheughed. ¡°He is kind, I promise.¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me.¡± 288 (Vouchers Sophia nudged me yfully. ¡°He¡¯s not as cold as he seems. He just doesn¡¯t trust easily. But once you get past the wall, he¡¯s actually a softic.¡± I arched a brow. ¡°I¡¯m not seeing it.¡± ¡°You will,¡± she said, suddenly serious. ¡°There¡¯s a reason he acts like that with you. You throw him off his rhythm.¡± 31.46% 08:24 : I opened my mouth to ask more, but she changed the subject. This text is hosted at F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°So, do you have anything going on tonight?¡± I blinked. ¡°Tonight? No. Just a quiet evening at home, probably.¡± ¡°Boring,¡± she dered instantly. ¡°You¡¯reing out with me.¡± Iughed. ¡°What?¡± 288 iVouchers ¡°I need to dance, drink overpriced cocktails, and yell at a DJ. We¡¯re going clubbing.¡± ¡°I see why he warned you not to throw a party now,¡± I said,ughing. ¡°I don¡¯t even have anything to wear. ¡°1 ¡°I have a closet that would make your jaw drop. Trust me.¡± ¡°I am not sure about this¡­¡± She looked at me, eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°Please say yes.¡± I tried to resist it. But there was something about her energy that pulled me in. 39.75% 08:24 ¡°Okay,¡± I said finally, praying I wouldn¡¯t regret it. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± 288 Vouchers Sophia did more than just convince me to go clubbing, she made me spend the entire day in Liam¡¯s house. And honestly? It wasn¡¯t half bad. With Liam away for work, the mansion felt lighter. Less cold. Sophia kept meughing, dragging me around the house like a hyper tour guide. We explored everything, including the indoor cinema. When it was time to get ready, she led me upstairs to her room. And wow. It was massive. Just like something out of a luxury fashion spread. Cream walls with blush undertones, high ceilings with soft golden lights dripping from a modern chandelier. One wall was all windows, casting sunset across the plush ivory rug. Her bed was king¨Csized, canopied in gauzy silk with a rose¨Cgold frame. There was an entire corner dedicated to vanity and makeup, and another wall held her walk¨Cin closet,plete with sliding ss doors and color¨Ccoded racks of heels and designer dresses. ¡°This space is huge. Do you like¡­live here permanently?¡± I asked, still spinning slowly as I took everything in. 49.02% 08:24 1 288 Vouchers Sophia flopped dramatically onto her bed. ¡°Ugh, no. I still live with our parents. Can¡¯t move out. Last¨Cborn curse.¡± I smiled. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°They¡¯d be miserable without me¡± She said with a wink. ¡°They¡¯re away on summer vacation. Family tradition. They still go every year, even though the rest of us are too busy.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t go with them?¡± ¡°Sometimes. This year I had weddings. I was in Spain for one and just never flew back.¡± She pped her hands. ¡°Enough family talk. We have a mission.¡± ¡± I barely had time to react before she pulled me into her closet like a girl on a mission. The next thirty minutes were a blur ofughter, trial outfits, near wardrobe malfunctions, and a full face beat so precise it could be on a red carpet. By the time she was done, I barely recognize myself in the mirror. My skin glowed. My cheekbones popped. My lips were a glossy, dangerous red. And the dress she gave me? A little outside myfort zone. Midnight ck. Body¨Chugging. Backless. With a thigh¨Chigh slit and a neckline that made my reflection blush. 63.21% 08:24 I turned, tugging at the hem. ¡°Sophia, I cannot wear this. She arched a brow. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I feel so exposed.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s the whole point.¡± ¡°Sophia, please. Something more appropriate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a club, babe. Not Sunday school. Show them what mama gave you.¡± I rolled my eyes but finally gave in. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Yeahhhh.¡± 1 288 Vouchers A ck car waited outside, the driver already holding the door open. I barely had time to catch my breath before Sophia shoved me in. The ride was just as wild as the girl beside me, She turned up the music and danced in the back seat like it was a moving club. She sang loud, off¨Ckey, and every exaggerated move had meughing until my stomach hurt. 76.87% 08.24 288 (Vouchers It was impossible not to smile around her. Her energy was electric, infectious, like she didn¡¯t carry a single ounce of shame. By the time the car pulled up to the front of the club, my cheeks ached fromughing. Then I looked out the window and my heart skipped. The building towered above us in moody blue lighting, its exterior lined with velvet ropes, a minimalist gold sign glowing like a secret. ck SUVS and high¨Cend cars pulled up one after another. Cameras shed. Security scanned faces. No lines, no crowds. Just exclusivity. I¡¯d heard about this ce. The kind of club that catered to the 1% of the 1%. Celebrities, CEOS, heirs, the kind of people you read about on headlines, not stand next to in line. Sophia noticed the shift in my face and smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she whispered, slipping her arm through mine. ¡°You¡¯re going to have fun. Trust me.¡± I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, heels clicking softly against the pavement. I decided to let my guard down tonight to have fun, just once. 85.99% 08:24 Let tomorrow deal with the consequences. Chef Novel 12 The club doors opened like the gates to another world. The moment we stepped in, the bass mmed into my chest. Deep, pulsing, alive. Everything glittered. From the walls textured in gold to the crystal¨Cbeaded chandeliers hanging low and moody over the crowd. VIP booths lined the elevated edges, roped off with sleek velvet. Tables shimmered under soft spotlights, and dancers moved on elevated stages with practiced, hypnotic confidence, every movement sharp, fluid and impossible to look away. In this space, status faded. What mattered was rhythm, confidence, and how well keep up with the beat. you could Everyone here was someone And no one cared. Sophia shed the bouncer a smile and led me up to the VIP section like she owned it. I hadn¡¯t even settled into the luxe seating and or taken in the glowing tray of champagne when I heard my name. ¡°Emily!¡± 0.00% 08:25 288 Vouchers Jay threw his arms open in exaggerated excitement, as if I¡¯d just returned from a decade-long disappearance. ¡°Look at you,¡± he said, spinning me once. ¡°You look absolutely stunning.¡± ¡°She said she¡¯d spank you,¡± Sophia added, smirking over the rim of her drink as she took a slow sip. ¡°Oh right,¡± I grinned. ¡°Come here.¡± I smacked his butt lightly, and he jumped in mock offense. ¡°You¡¯ve been hanging out with Sophia too long. Bad influence,¡± he teased. ¡°And you,¡± I said, squinting at him with a grin. ¡°Who says you¡¯re a good influence?¡± ¡°Gossiping about me, were you?¡± he asked, sliding back into his seat. ¡°Of course,¡± I replied with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one with a mouth, you know.¡± Sophia snorted and wandered off to request something from the DJ. 13.07% 08:25 Jay leaned forward, lowering his voice. ¡°Seriously though. Are you good? The other day, your vibe was way off.¡± I hesitated. ¡°It was nothing, really.¡± He raised a brow. I countered, ¡°Why did you call Mason?¡± His grin turned wolfish. ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ve got my reasons.¡® ¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re avoiding the question.¡± He pointed at me. ¡°But I¡¯m not done.¡± I sighed. ¡°Fine. Why did you give Liam my address?¡± He winced, dramatically. ¡°What could I do? He threatened, bribed, practically drafted a contract. I was cornered.¡± 24.79% 08:25 Iughed. ¡°Cut the act. We both know it was the bribe that sold you.¡± ¡°Oh, I can neither confirm nor deny,¡± he said, shing a grin before taking a slow sip. 288 Vouchers I shook my head. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± He leaned closer, practically buzzing with curiosity. ¡°So¡­ what happened? Give me the full story. No skipping details.¡± I took a long sip of champagne. ¡°You¡¯ll die of curiosity, then.¡± ¡°Ouch. Harsh. And here I thought we were friends.¡± Sophia returned just in time for the music to switch. A bold, high¨Cenergy beat dropped and the crowd responded instantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the dance floor. I didn¡¯t fight it. The lights pulsed, the energy soared, and the air crackled with life. We moved with the music, letting everything else fall away. I didn¡¯t overanalyze. I just danced. 33.20% 08:25 Until I felt it. That prickle on the back of my neck. Someone was watching me. I turned slowly and there he was. Liam. Standing by the bar, mid¨Cconversation with Jay, but his gaze was on me. Piercing. Steady. Undeniably intense. What the hell was he doing here? 288 iVouchers Sophia and I pulled off the dance floor a whileter to rehydrate. The servers brought over chilled sses, but I barely tasted mine. I couldn¡¯t ignore the way Liam¡¯s eyes followed me. Even as he sipped his drink, even while Jay spoke to him, his attention kept drifting back. 45.74% 08:25 Find the newest release on Find~Novel : Sophia caught it too. Her eyes met Jay¡¯s. They shared a mischievous nce. I took another sip. Or two. By the time we returned to the dance floor, I was more than tipsy. And I needed to escape Liam ck¡¯s scorching stare before I did something stupid. So I dragged Sophia with me. This time, I let go. Truly let go. 288 Vouchers The music pulsed through me, and I moved with it. Wild. Loose. Free. The alcohol hummed in my veins, blurring caution and turning up the volume on confidence. Sophia eventually excused herself to grab water, leaving me dancing alone. That was when some random guy slid up behind me, clearly drunk and very bold. 54.28% 08:25 ¡°Hey gorgeous,¡± he said, cing a hand on my waist. I turned sharply. ¡°Back off.¡± He didn¡¯t listen. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that.¡± ¡°I said no.¡± 11:288 Wouchers He leaned in anyway, and I was two seconds from walking off when a voice cut through the noise. ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± Liam. The guy took one look at him and disappeared into the crowd. I stared at him, still catching my breath. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to¡­but thanks anyway.¡± 64.19% 08.25 He didn¡¯t respond right away. Just extended his hand, eyes locked on mine. ¡°Dance with me.¡± Before I could think, the DJ shifted tracks and Rihanna¡¯s ¡°Work¡± exploded through the speakers. Oh no, that¡¯s my jam! The music hit, the alcohol kicked in and my body knew exactly what to do. And I started dancing. Like, really dancing. My back against him. Twerking. Moving in ways I¡¯d normally never dare. Liam wentpletely still. Then I heard him swear under his breath 70.92% 288 Vouchers 08:25 ¡°Fuck.¡± His hands hovered at my waist, not quite touching. 1288 Vouchers ¡°This dress,¡± he murmured, his voice raw in my ear. ¡°is driving me insane. Every man in here has eyes on you. Do you have any idea what you do to people?¡± I didn¡¯t reply. I couldn¡¯t. I noticed Jay and Sophia watching us from across the VIP section, Sophia fanning herself, both of themughing and clearly very entertained. I panicked. ¡°I need to use the restroom,¡± I blurted, breaking free and weaving through the crowd. The cool air in the hallway calmed me. I sshed water on my face, trying to sober up just a little. The moment I stepped out, I stopped in my tracks. 78.45% 08:25 Liam was right there. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me like I was the dessert he didn¡¯t know he wanted. ¡°You don¡¯t start something like that,¡± he said, gaze locked on mine, ¡°and walk away halfway through.¡± My pulse skipped. ¡°What are you¡­¡± He pushed off the wall and closed the space between us in two slow, deliberate steps. Then he kissed me. There was nothing polite about it. It was intense. Demanding. Devouring. And I kissed him back. 88.38% 08:25 Hard. I was kissing Liam ck. My boss. A man I was supposed to avoid. :. But in the moment, with my heart racing and his hands in my hair, I didn¡¯t care. Because I wanted this. It shouldn¡¯t have felt this good. But it did. God, it did and that was the problem. 288 Vouchers 95.78% Chef Novel 13 I woke up with the kind of headache that felt like karma punching me square in the skull. Ugh. Never drinking again. Ever. The room was spinning just a little, my mouth was dry, and my stomach churned in protest. I pulled the covers over my face and groaned, as if hiding could undo the mess of the night before. What even happenedst night? How did I even get home? I tried to think, but the memories came in tangled knots, impossible to unravel. Music. Laughter. Sophia. Jay. Dancing. And then¡­ Oh no. No, no, no. The kiss. That stupid, heart¨Cthudding,pletely inappropriate kiss. 0.00% 08.25 Oh God. I kissed Liam ck. I kissed my boss. : What was I thinking? I groaned, rolling onto my side. Please let that be a dream. Or a hallucination. Or some kind of ckout fantasy. 288 ?Vouchers I buried my face into the pillow, wishing it could smother the memory from existence. Maybe the alcohol messed with my brain. Maybe it didn¡¯t happen at all. Maybe I imagined the whole thing. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me out of the storm in my head. I reached for it, still tangled in the sheets. An unknown number lit up the screen. Unknown Number: Hey sleepyhead! It¡¯s Sophia. Jay and I dropped you offst night. I saw that kiss! We¡¯ll gist properly when I¡¯m back in two days. Behave until then. Or don¡¯t. I groaned again, this time louder. 10.79% 08:25 So it did happen. 11 288 (Vouchers That text just made it real. Sophia saw it. She witnessed it. And worse, she was enjoying this way too much. I tossed the phone across the bed and flopped onto my back. My heart was still beating too fast, my face on fire. Great. Just great. I sank deeper into the mattress, eyes shut, vowing not to rise again for at least ten years. When I finally opened my eyes again, it was just shy of 1 PM. I dragged myself out of bed, the hangover slowly giving way to exhaustion. I spent the afternoon doing what I call ¡°productiveziness.¡± Cleaned. Didundry. sted music to drown my thoughts. Basically, anything to avoid thinking about Liam ck and the fact that my lips had touched his. By evening, I was in the kitchen, prepping dinner and pretending like my world wasn¡¯t on the verge of exploding. And then it hit me. 24.09% 08:25 Tomorrow. : Tomorrow I was supposed to go to his house and cook. My stomach turned. 289 Vouchers For the first time in my life, I didn¡¯t want to cook. I didn¡¯t want to see him. I didn¡¯t want to talk about it. I didn¡¯t even want to think about him. But I couldn¡¯t just not go. This was work. My job. I had to suck it up and show up. But I could stall for a bit. Yeah. I¡¯d go a littleter in the morning. He usually wasn¡¯t around by then. If I timed it right, I could slip in, do what I needed to do, and leave without ever bumping into him. No awkward eye contact. No ¡°aboutst night¡± conversation. Just food and silence. That was the n. Avoid Liam ck at all costs. 39.04% 08:26 The morning came too quickly. The inevitable day. 288 Vouchers I got ready slower than ever, dragging out every step like it might somehow change the fact that I had to face him again. Showering, dressing, fixing my hair. Anything to buy a little more time. But time didn¡¯t stop just because I wanted it to. Eventually, I forced myself out the door. Still, I wasn¡¯t ready. So I made a detour. I stopped by the little coffee shop down the street. The one with mismatched chairs and the best cinnamon rolls in the city. My official excuse? I needed caffeine to kick start my day. The real reason? Dy. Pure, calcted dy. The longer I stayed out, the slimmer the chance of running into him. 51.04% 08:26 288 Vouchers I ordered my coffee, found a quiet corner table, and pulled out that novel I¡¯d been trying to finish for the past three months. A romance, ironically. One of those slow burns that reminded me a little too much of my current reality. I read a few pages, sipping slowly. The coffee was good. Too good. I considered ordering a second cup. Then the sky shifted. The wind picked up. The clouds turned that heavy gray that always meant trouble. A storm wasing. Ugh. I packed up my things and made my way to Liam¡¯s house before the sky cracked open. Thest thing I needed was to show up soaked and dripping all over his perfectly polished floors. To my relief, the driveway was empty. He wasn¡¯t home. Mission: Avoid Liam ck? Aplished. I let myself in using the fingerprint he added to the system, humming with satisfaction. I set down my bag, tied my apron, and connected my phone to the kitchen speaker. Music filled the room, and with it, my tension started to melt. I chopped vegetables in rhythm. Stirred sauce while swaying my hips. Sang off¨Ckey at the top of my lungs. It felt good. Normal. Likest night never happened. : 1288 Vouchers I scrolled through my phone until I found the perfect ylist. The beat dropped, and I felt it. My hips swayed as I moved from counter to stove, dancing like no one was watching. Because no one was watching. At least, not yet. Get full chapters from find?novel Just one more song, one moreugh, and I¡¯d be out of here. Or so I thought. When Cardi B came on, I didn¡¯t even think. One hand on the countertop, the other waving above my head, I started twerking like the kitchen was my stage. Laughing. Free. Unfiltered. 82.38% 08:26 And that was when it happened. ¡°Enjoying yourself?¡± I froze. Like a statue mid¨Cperformance. No. No. No. No. I turned slowly, dread crawling up my spine. And there he was. Liam ck. In all his sharp¨Csuited glory, leaning against the kitchen doorway like he had all the time in the world. His arms crossed. His eyes were very much not on my face. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. Chef Novel 14 He stood there, his gaze trailing slowly from head to toe. His face gave nothing away, but something fierce flickered behind his eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning on interrupting,¡± he said finally, ¡°but I couldn¡¯t ignore the live performance.¡± I cleared my throat, my face flushed. ¡°I was just¡­cooking.¡± ¡°Right. Is that what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± He stepped further into the kitchen, still watching me. I turned back to the stove like nothing happened, even though my heart was doing somersaults. ¡°Do you always put on a show in the kitchen, or am I just lucky? he asked, his tone low and teasing ¡°Only when the lyrics demand it,¡± I muttered. ¡°Then remind me to add more Cardi B to your work ylist.¡± I didn¡¯t have to look to know he was smirking. 0.00% 08:26 And for some reason, that made it worse. I risked a quick nce in his direction. Liam was clearly amused. He didn¡¯t even try to hide his amusement. It was infuriating. 288 ?Vouchers His mouth twitched like he was fighting back a grin, and his eyes sparkled in that rare, dangerous way. I seriously considered crawling into the oven just to escape the moment. ¡°Why are you back so early?¡± I asked, turning away from the stove, trying to salvage whatever dignity I had left. ¡°Am I not allowed toe back to my own house?¡± I opened my mouth. Closed it. Point taken. He moved closer to the kitchen ind, ced his phone on the counter with quiet precision, and then said casually, ¡°Have you checked the news?¡± I frowned. ¡°No. Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a sh flood warning across most of the city. Highways are shut down, streets are a mess. It¡¯s expected to worsen by evening.¡± 12.85% ?????? ???? find?novel 08:26 288 Vouchers ¡°What?¡± I grabbed my phone and scanned the notifications I¡¯d ignored all day. Sure enough, emergency alerts, road closures, sh flood watches, and warnings urging residents to stay indoors unless you had a death wish. Great. Just what I needed. I looked out the window and realized the sky had darkened. Rainshed the ss like angry hands. Thunder rolled in the distance. ¡°So,¡± I said, blinking. ¡°You¡¯re telling me I¡¯m stuck here?¡± Liam leaned against the counter, still way too calm. ¡°Unless you want to risk driving into a river, yeah.¡± I swallowed hard. Three days. I remembered Sophia casually saying yesterday she was flying to France for a quick shopping trip. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few days,¡± she chirped. I hadn¡¯t thought much of it then. 27.51% 08:26 But now? I was going to be alone. With Liam ck. In this massive mansion. No escape and a whole lot of unresolved chemistry. God, help me. ¡°I suggest you finish cooking,¡± Liam added, checking his watch. ¡°We¡¯re officially in lockdown.¡± And with that, he disappeared down the hallway. 288 Vouchers I stood there for a beat, bundled in nerves and doom, my wooden spoon halfway out of the pan. I am not surviving this.. He came back twenty minutester, just as the silence started to settle. 40.49% 08:26 And for a second, my brain just¡­stopped working. No tailored suit. No tie. No sleek leather shoes. Liam ck in casual wear should be a crime. 288 Vouchers Gray sweatpants. A fitted ck T¨Cshirt. Hair slightly tousled like he¡¯d run a hand through it. He looked infuriatingly human. Rxed, effortless, and somehow ten times more attractive. I nced at him. Okay, maybe it was a little more than a nce Fine, I stared. Do you me me? The man is a walking god. Like some rare breed of perfection with a passport. He raised a brow, clearly enjoying himself. ¡°Trying to burn the food, or just distracted by the view?¡± My cheeks burned. ¡°I was just surprised to see you without a suit. I could¡¯ve sworn it was the only thing in your wardrobe.¡± 49.10% 08:26 288 ?Vouchers ¡°Right,¡± he replied, smirking. ¡°From the way you were ogling me, it¡¯s obvious you wouldn¡¯t mind seeing less of the suits.¡± ¡± ¡°Inted ego,¡± I murmured. ¡°Should¡¯ve seen thating.¡± I turned back to the stove, gripping the spoon like it was thest weapon in a war. He opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and was halfway to leaving again when he halted mid¨Cstep and turned back. He sat on the ind, calm as ever. Great. What now? Why was he even here? Didn¡¯t this massive house have other rooms he could haunt? He didn¡¯t say anything. Just scrolled through his phone, rxed, like this was perfectly normal. Ugh, he looked so good doing absolutely nothing. Silence wrapped around the room, dense and suffocating. I stirred the sauce with slightly more force than necessary. 61.81% 08:26 Finally, he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the room you¡¯ll be staying in. When you¡¯re done.¡± I blinked. ¡°Okay.¡± 288 Vouchers He didn¡¯t move. Just stayed there, thumb tapping the screen, until I finished preparing the meal. Then he led me upstairs. The room he showed me was stunning. Not in that cold, intimidating way like the rest of the house. This room was warm. Cozy. Inviting, even. Soft beige walls with gold ents, a king¨Csized bed with a tufted headboard, thick velvet curtains, a fluffy rug, and a firece. There was even a small reading nook near the window. ¡°This is Sophia¡¯s favorite guest room,¡± he said, hands in his pockets. ¡°She re¨Cdecorated it recently.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I murmured, taking it all in. ¡°You can wear some of Sophia¡¯s clothes while you¡¯re here. She won¡¯t mind. She clearly likes you.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said quietly. 75.36% 08:26 He hesitated, then smirked. ¡°I considered offering you mine. But after what you did in that dress earlier¡­¡± He raised a brow. ¡°I don¡¯t want you twerking in my sweatshirt. That image might haunt me¡­.in the best way.¡± I growled, ¡°Am I ever going to hear the end of this?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that,¡± he said, turning to leave. ¡°Get yourselffortable, Emily.¡± And just like that, he walked off,pletely unfazed. I just stood there, stunned, with nothing but my racing thoughts forpany. Wait. Did Liam ck just flirt with me? What was happening? This was going to be the longest three days of my life, 89.52% Chef Novel 15 The silence in Liam¡¯s mansion was starting to mess with my brain. Without Sophia around, the house felt too big, too quiet, and way too full of thoughts I was trying not to have. Like the fact that Liam had walked in on me dancing. No twerking. On his kitchen counter. Of all the things I could¡¯ve done hours ago. Or the reality that I was now stuck here for three full days. Three long, slow, stormy days with Liam ck. The rain hadn¡¯t let up once. Water streamed down the towering windows like a slow¨Cmotion film reel, and thunder rumbled now and then as if the sky were clearing its throat. I curled into one of the lounge chairs by the reading nook, flipping aimlessly through a book I wasn¡¯t actually reading. My eyes were locked on my weather app instead. Still bad. No end in sight. I groaned and tapped on Lisa¡¯s contact. If anyone could talk me down from this emotional ledge, it was her. 0.00% 08:27 288 Vouchers She answered on the second ring, already loud and buzzing. ¡°Girl! You¡¯re alive! I saw the flood alert.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I muttered. ¡°Sort of. Emotionally drowning, but physically dry.¡± ¡°That sounds very you. Spill.¡± I hesitated. Then before I could stop myself, ¡°I kissed Liam ck.¡± The line went silent for a beat too long. Then she shrieked so loud I nearly drop my phone. ¡°WHAT?!¡± You kissed your boss?! How did that happen?!¡± ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± I groaned. ¡°There was dancing. Alcohol. Rihanna. I twerked. Then he kissed me.¡± ¡°Hold up. Alcohol and dancing? where was this?!¡± 15.08% 08:27 1288 iVouchers ¡°The club. Liam¡¯s sister dragged me out. And then Liam showed up. Things got blurry.¡± ¡°Wait, seriously. Liam has a sister?¡± ¡°Apparently,¡± I said slowly. ¡°She likes to stay out of the spotlight.¡± Lisa gasped. ¡°Wow. And now what? Just awkward vibes and deep regret?¡± ¡°Oh no. That¡¯s not even half of it.¡± I inhaled sharply. ¡°I¡¯m currently stuck in his house.¡± ¡°You¡¯re WHAT?!¡± ¡°The storm got worse,¡± I said quickly. ¡°I came here to cook. The roads flooded. I can¡¯t leave. I¡® m stuck here. With him. For three whole days.¡± ¡°YOU¡¯RE STUCK WITH LIAM BLACK IN HIS HOUSE FOR THREE DAYS?¡± she practically screamed. ¡°I¡¯m not being held hostage. Just trapped by the weather.¡± ¡°Oh my God,¡± she gasped. ¡°This is a disaster. How are you even going to survive that?¡± 25.16% 08:27 I groaned and flopped back on the bed. 288 ?Vouchers ¡°Okay, calm down,¡± she said, lowering her voice. ¡°It¡¯s three days, not three years. You¡¯ll survive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping.¡± ¡°I am helping. You¡¯re spiraling. So stop. Just go with the flow. Flirt a little. Eat well. Pretend you¡¯re the lead in some steamy Netflix series and act ordingly.¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a genius. Keep your cool. And if he takes off his tie, I want hourly updates. Got it?¡± I hung up smiling, like that would magically prepare me for the chaos ahead. The rest of the day passed in strange, uneven waves of awkward tension and idental proximity. We ran into each other too frequently for it to be idental. Passing in the hallway, Reaching for the same mug. Ilim catching me humming and rummaging through the pantry 37.89% 08:27 for chocte. Each moment hung heavier than thest. 0:0 By dinner, I¡¯d just finished setting the table when Liam appeared in the doorway. ¡°I can serve yours in the study,¡± I said quickly, eyes fixed on the silverware. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary,¡± he said, stepping in. ¡°We can share a table. It won¡¯t kill us.¡± 288 Vouchers I nodded slowly, taking the seat opposite him. The space between us felt too wide and not wide enough all at once. We ate in silence. Not angry exactly, just loaded. Like we were both teetering on the edge of a conversation neither of us was ready to have. No one brought up the kiss. Not yet. Midway through the meal, my phone buzzed. 51.64% 08:27 A text from Sophia popped up my screen. 288 iVouchers Sophia: Hey babe! Feel free to raid my closet. Especially the sexy stuff. The house deserves a little heat while I¡¯m gone. Don¡¯t forget to write down the juicy details. I choked on my water so hard I nearly baptized my phone. ¡°Everything okay?¡± Liam asked, ncing up. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, coughing into my napkin. ¡°Just a funny text.¡± His brow lifted slightly. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± I blinked. ¡°What? No. I don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I gave him a look. ¡°Excuse me?¡± He shrugged, casual as anything. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. I just assumed.¡± My stomach did a weird somersault. ¡°Did you just call me beautiful?¡± 62 61% N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel 08-27 He didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Even the blind could tell. So what¡¯s your reason?¡± My voice dropped slightly. ¡°School. Life. I¡¯ve just been busy.¡± He nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± I studied him for a second. ¡°What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?¡± He scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t do girlfriends.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± 288 Vouchers ¡°Love. Labels. All of that. It¡¯s a distraction. Romance is for people who haven¡¯t figured out how fake it is.¡± ¡°1 I set down my fork. ¡°That¡¯s a little cynical.¡± ¡°It¡¯s realistic.¡± ¡°No,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s sad.¡± He looked at me, like he was trying to solve a puzzle he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted the answer to. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough to know love is an illusion. People cling to it because they¡¯re afraid of 08:271 being alone. They romanticize pain and call it passion.¡± I stared. ¡°Wow. ¡± Then he added, almost casually, ¡°Romance is for na?ve girls.¡± 1288 Vouchers I sat up straighter. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a generalization. And kind of sexist, don¡¯t you think?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sexist?¡± ¡°You said romance is for na?ve girls. Like women are the only fools buying into it.¡± He didn¡¯t answer. The silence between us stretched, sharper now. Brittle. He stood, pushed his chair back, slow and deliberate. ¡°Goodnight, Emily.¡± He turned to leave, then halted like he¡¯d thought better of it. ¡°Oh, and by the way¡­¡± His eyes flicked over the oversized T¨Cshirt I¡¯d changed into after cooking. ¡°That shirt? Kind of distracting.¡± Before I could even process what he¡¯d said, he walked away just like that. Leaving me sitting there stunned Heart racing. Mind spinning. And very, very awake. 288 Vouchers Chef Novel 16 The tension from dinner still clung to me as I made my way back to the guest room and copsed onto the bed. The rain still hadn¡¯t let up. It pelted the windows like pebbles, an endless hiss against ss that felt louder in the stillness. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason I was awake. Dinner had left a taste in my mouth that wasn¡¯t from the food. Every wall seemed to hum with silent tension. Sharp, and impossible to ignore. I tossed. I turned. Then I gave up. Midnight, the clock blinked back at me. Hot chocte. That might help. I wrapped my arms around myself and padded down the hallway, barefoot, quiet. The flickering wall sconces stretched shadows across the corridor like ghostly fingers. I just wanted to pour a drink without making a sound, without waking him. But fate had other ns. Liam was already in the kitchen. Dark slippers. A in white T¨Cshirt. Grey joggers. His hair was slightly mussed, like he¡¯d just rolled out of bed. His back was to me, but I recognized that broad frame instantly. I stopped in my tracks, debating whether to turn back. This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°You don¡¯t have to run,¡± he said without looking. 0.00% 08:27 Busted. 11 288 (Vouchers I cleared my throat and stepped in. ¡°I wasn¡¯t running.¡± He nced over his shoulder, smirk tugging at his mouth. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go with that.¡± I lifted my chin. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to intrude.¡± ¡°You live here too, remember?¡± He leaned against the ind. ¡°At least for the next few days.¡± I shrugged and opened a cab, pretending to search for a mug. His voice lost its edge. ¡°Look, we¡¯re both stuck. It doesn¡¯t have to be whatever this is.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°You tell me..what is this?¡± He exhaled. ¡°Awkward. Tense. Weird.¡± ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s great with adjectives.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Alright. A truce, then. For the next three days, I¡¯m not your boss, and you¡¯re not my chef.¡± I raised a skeptical brow. ¡°And what are we, then?¡± ¡°Two people trapped in a house during a freak summer storm.¡± He reached behind him and grabbed a second mug. ¡°Just friends.¡± ¡°Friends?¡± I echoed, the word foreign in my mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the ¡®let¡¯s be friends¡® type.¡± 15.43% 08.28 : 1 288 ?Vouchers He gave a crooked grin. ¡°Then consider this character development.¡± Laughter slipped out before I could stop it. To my surprise, he quietly handed me a mug. We sipped inpanionable silence for a while. The kitchen felt warmer now. Softer. Like the storm had blown some of the edge out of him. Then he asked a question I never expected. ¡°Got time to kill. How about a movie?¡± I blinked. ¡°Like¡­ together?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how friends do it, right?¡± He led the way to the home theater like it wasn¡¯t a big deal. But it was. He flopped onto the couch with ease. I hovered, not quite sure if I should sit or sprint. ¡°Come on,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll even let you pick.¡± ¡°No documentaries,¡± I warned. ¡°I don¡¯t do roms.¡± ¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Then tonight¡¯s your first. Lucky you.¡± We spent ten full minutes debating genres like our lives depended on it. I called him a cinematic snob. He said I had the taste of a teenage girl. Eventually, I wore him down. We settled on a gloriously ridiculous romanticedy with far¨Cfetched meet¨Ccutes, wedding hijinks, and the cheesiest slow¨Cmotion kiss I¡¯d ever seen. 28.70% 08:28 Liam had something to say about almost every scene. ¡°No one forgives cheating at the altar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how airports work.¡± ¡°Why is everyone always running in the rain?¡± I wasughing so hard I nearly dropped my hot chocte. ¡°You¡¯re a menace,¡± I wheezed. ¡°And you have zero standards,¡± he shot back. Half an hourter, we weren¡¯t arguing anymore. 11 288 (Vouchers When I woke up, the screen was dark and the only light came from the faint glow of the hallway spilling in through the cracked door. Liam was still asleep next to me. Correction: under me. Somehow, in the middle of the night, I¡¯d curled into him like a human ko. His arm was slung over my waist. Our legs were tangled. His breathing was deep, steady, peaceful. I stared at him,pletely in awe. 43.69% 08:28 Up close, without the usual scowl and sharp retorts, he looked almost boyish. Peaceful. Vulnerable. 288 (Vouchers My chest tightened, and before I could think better of it, I reached up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. He stirred, and I jolted upright, nerves snapping like a whip. ¡°God, please don¡¯t open your eyes. Please. Not now,¡± I muttered like a mantra, barely breathing. I inched back slowly, careful not to wake him. Toote. His eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep, pupils slow to focus. ¡°Sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to, uh¡­ curl up next to you like that.¡¯ ¡°1 He blinked once. Then smirked. ¡°You¡¯re a very aggressive sleeper.¡± I was off the couch before he could finish the sentence, practically sprinting upstairs. I didn¡¯t stop until I face¨Cnted into the guest bed and buried myself under the covers. What. Just. Happened? By the time I returned to the kitchen, sunlight was creeping through the windows, still filtered through sheets of summer rain. Liam was already there, phone in hand, sipping from a mug like he hadn¡¯t been my mattress three hours ago. 288 iVouchers ¡°Sleep well?¡± he asked, eyes still on his screen. I cleared my throat. ¡°Fine. You?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Would¡¯ve been better if my pillow hadn¡¯t run off without warning.¡± I winced. ¡°Right. Sorry about that.¡± He finally looked at me, something unreadable in his expression. ¡°Thought we had a truce. ¡°We do,¡± I said. ¡°But you never specified terms about¡­ nap entanglement.¡± He chuckled under his breath. ¡°Noted. Next time, I¡¯ll draft clearer policies.¡± I pulled ingredients from the fridge. ¡°Hungry?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re cooking?¡± ¡°Yup. I¡¯m off¨Cduty. So you¡¯re helping.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t cook.¡± ¡°You do now. Friends cook together.¡± I tossed him an apron. He caught it like it was a live grenade. ¡°I feel threatened,¡± he muttered, tying it around his waist with a frown. ¡°You should.¡± 68.94% 08:28 ¡°1 288 Vouchers Watching Liam ck try to flip a pancake was better than therapy. He poked at the batter like it owed him money, muttered under his breath, and recoiled every time the oil sizzled too loud. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this way too much,¡± he grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m not even pretending not to.¡± The first pancake folded in half like a sad taco. The second stuck. The third was slightly burned. But he looked so genuinely annoyed that I couldn¡¯t stopughing. ¡°Perhaps we should return to our original roles, where you¡¯re the chef, and me your employer,¡± he suggested. ¡°Toote. The deal¡¯s done. No take¨Cbacks,¡± I said, eyes sparkling. Right then, my phone buzzed loudly from the counter. Mason: Good Morning, sunshine. How¡¯s lockdown treating you? Hope you¡¯re not going stir- crazy. Let me know when you¡¯re free to chat. I smiled instinctively. But I didn¡¯t miss the way Liam¡¯s entire demeanor shifted. One nce at the screen and the light in his eyes dimmed. He didn¡¯t say anything. Just turned away and started wiping the counter with unnecessary force. 80.02% 08:28 ¡°Hey,¡± I said carefully. ¡°You okay?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. 1288 ?Vouchers Instead, he muttered something about cleaning and moved to the sink like the conversation hadn¡¯t happened. The air thickened with silence. I stared at his back, confused, irritated, and weirdly disappointed. What was that? How could someone flip like that in seconds? This man was going to give me emotional whish. Or maybe he already had. Chef Novel 17 Chapter 17 I stirred the pancake batter onest time, pretending the air in the room hadn¡¯t just shifted. Like Liam hadn¡¯t gone quiet the second Mason¡¯s name lit up my screen. Like he hadn¡¯t stiffened and disappeared behind that carefully built wall of his. We ate together anyway, side by side at the long kitchen ind, with nothing but the soft clink of forks and the hum of silence stretching between us. It wasn¡¯t angry silence. Just loaded. Awkward. Like we were both aware we¡¯d crossed some line and weren¡¯t sure if we wanted to step back or keep walking. Afterward, I offered to clean, He didn¡¯t argue. By the time I dried thest dish, the silence between us had calcified into something I didn¡¯t know how to fix. So I said the safest thing I could. ¡°I think I¡¯ll head upstairs for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± he replied without looking up. And just like that, I was back in the guest room. So much for friendship. It felt like we¡¯d taken one shaky step forward, only to fall back into that gray space where we pretended nothing mattered. As if pancakes and jokes and the warmth between us hadn¡¯t happened. I threw myself on the bed, sighing into theforter. The house was too quiet again. The rain is still tapping its nervous rhythm against the 0.00% 08:28 1288 Vouchers windows. I flipped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, boredom crawling over me like ivy. No phone service. No texts. No streaming. Just my overactive brain and the ghost of that look in Liam¡¯s eyes when he saw Mason¡¯s name. I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d drifted into a daze until I heard a knock at the door. I sat up. ¡°Yeah?¡± When I opened it, Liam was standing there, one hand against the frame, the other stuffed in his pocket. Except this time, he looked different. Rxed. Maybe even yful. ¡°Just checking to make sure you¡¯re still breathing,¡± he said. ¡°You disappeared.¡± I blinked. ¡°I figured you wanted space.¡± He shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re stuck in the same house. Space is a luxury we don¡¯t have. Might as well keep each otherpany.¡± I hesitated. ¡°You sure? You were kind of ice¨Ccold earlier.¡± His brow arched with amusement. ¡°Was I?¡± ¡°You tell me,¡± I said. ¡°One minute we¡¯re flipping pancakes, the next you¡¯re acting like I poisoned your coffee.¡± He gave a small, lopsided simle. ¡°Just mood swings. Side effect of being held hostage by the 18.27% 08:28 weather.¡± I studied him. He looked sincere enough. Still, it was jarring. This version of him. A little less guarded. A little more human. He stepped back. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s find a way to not die of boredom.¡± I followed him back to the living room. The rain outside had turned steady, sheets of water cascading down the ss like liquid curtains. We sat on opposite ends of the couch again. No movie. No phones. Just the storm outside and the unspoken question: Now what? ¡°You any good at games?¡± Liam asked suddenly. ¡°Define good.¡± ¡°I was thinking of something simple. Truth or dare. Or maybe twenty questions.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°What are we, teenagers?¡± ¡°Better than watching the paint peel.¡± I sighed. ¡°Fine. You go first.¡± He leaned back into the couch cushions. ¡°Okay. What¡¯s the weirdest thing you¡¯ve ever cooked?¡± Iughed. ¡°Frog Legs. In France. Long story.¡± He winced. ¡°Gross. Okay, your turn.¡± 33.68% 08:28 ¡°What do you actually do, Liam? Besides intimidate staff and wear tailored suits?¡± He smirked. ¡°I manage investments. Build portfolios. IT. Destroy overpriced contracts. asionally fire someone who deserves it.¡® ¡°Wow. Sound like so much fun.¡± 288 Vouchers ¡°You¡¯re mocking me.¡® ¡°Maybe a little.¡± We went back and forth, each answer peeling back ayer neither of us realized we¡¯d been hiding. Somewhere in between ¡°favorite pizza topping¡± and ¡°worst childhood haircut,¡± we startedughing more than we were questioning. Then everything went dark. The power cut out with a sudden, breathless snap. The TV screen cked. The fridge gave a dying whir. Even the lights flickered once before surrendering. A beat of silence. Then the rain outside howled. ¡°Seriously?¡± I muttered. ¡°Now?¡± Liam was already moving, calm and unbothered as he grabbed a small shlight from a drawer and lit a candle from the dining table centerpiece. 47.19% 08:28 288 (Vouchers ¡°They said on the news earlier this was all thanks to Tropical Storm Delh,¡± he said, cing the candle on the coffee table. ¡°Remnant moisture rolling in from Baja. sh flood warnings, power outages, whole deal.¡± ¡°In summer?¡± He nodded. ¡°Apparently thest time something like this hit LA this hard was back in ¡¯97.¡± I pulled my knees up under my chin. ¡°Figures. I pick the one summer LA gets biblical weather.¡± ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. I hesitated. ¡°Storms freak me out.¡± His voice softened. ¡°Why?¡± I looked down. ¡°The night my dad died, it rained like this. We left New York right after. Mom said it hardly ever rain. In LA. Guess she was wrong.¡± There was a pause. Then I felt him shift closer. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. It was cautious, like he wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d allow it. Then it settled, solid and warm. I didn¡¯t resist. I leaned in, letting my head rest against his chest. His heartbeat was calm. Measured. Like a steady rhythm against the storm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. 60.86% 08:28 1288 iVouchers ¡°It was a long time ago,¡± I murmured. ¡°But storms still get in my head.¡± He started talking. Nothing heavy. Just small things. Silly things. Bad jokes and worse impressions. Something about two employees caught locking lips mid¨Cconference call. Iughed. Loud, shameless and maybe a little too hard. The kind ofugh that sneaks up on you. Uninvited. Uncontrolled. And desperately needed. He looked pleased with himself. ¡°You¡¯re not half bad at cheering people up,¡± I said. ¡°Shhh, don¡¯t tell anyone. I¡¯ve got a reputation to protect.¡± Somehow, we ended up ying Truth or Dare. Because what else do you do in a ckout? We stuck to light dares at first. Singing off¨Ckey, trying to do pushups with one arm. Then truths that brushed against personal. ¡°Have you ever fallen in love?¡± I asked him. He looked at me for a beat too long before shaking his head. ¡°Not really.¡± It felt honest. And then it was my turn 75.55% 08:28 ¡°Dare,¡± I said, trying to lighten the mood. His eyes locked on mine. ¡°I dare you to kiss me.¡± I froze. 0:0 Official source is find¡¤novel 288 iVouchers The words hung between us like the final note of a song. Soft. Clear. I could¡¯veughed. Could¡¯ve teased him. Could¡¯ve run. But I didn¡¯t. Instead, 1 closed the gap between us. The kiss started slow. Gentle. Then deepened as his hand slid to the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. My fingers curled into his shirt. Every second was warm. Real. Addictive. When it started to feel like falling, I pulled away. Breathless. Shaky. Andpletely aware of what we¡¯d just done. ¡°Friends don¡¯t kiss,¡± I whispered. His eyes searched mine, something unreadable swimming there. 89.24% 08:28 ¡°No,¡± he said softly. ¡°They don¡¯t.¡± Chef Novel 18 : 288 Vouchers Chapter 18 Storm fading to a distant murmur, hours passed in restless wakefulness as one memory refused to let go. The kiss. It had started as a dare. A joke between two people trying to survive the weirdest three days of their lives. But it hadn¡¯t felt like a joke when his mouth touched mine. It felt¡­ real. Like something we weren¡¯t supposed to want, but did anyway. And I had been the one to pull back. I said the words I thought I was supposed to say. ¡°Friends don¡¯t kiss.¡± Liam neither protested nor pulled me in. He just stayed there, as though I¡¯d be a puzzle he couldn¡¯t solve. Eventually, my thoughts blurred, and I must¡¯ve dozed off because the next time I opened my eyes, golden light filtered through the windows. The storm had stopped, and the electricity was back. I blinked as the hum of appliances returned, and my phone buzzed with missed messages and dyed alerts. My signal bar finally lit up. One alert stood out: Roads clearing. Storm cleanup underway. Normal traffic expected by morning. 0.00% 08:29 Tomorrow. I¡¯d be going home tomorrow. I should¡¯ve felt relieved. Instead, there was this strange, hollow feeling in my chest. 288 Vouchers This mansion had felt like a cage at first. A luxurious one, but a cage nheless. Now, weirdly, it felt like a cocoon I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to leave. Downstairs, Liam was already awake. He looked like he hadn¡¯t slept either. ¡°Morning,¡± I said, voice a little too quiet. He handed me a cup of coffee wordlessly. I nodded and wrapped both hands around the warm mug. ¡°They say the roads will be cleared by morning,¡± I offered, trying to keep things casual. ¡°I saw,¡± he replied, eyes fixed on his own cup. I waited for him to say something else. I¡¯ll miss you, stay another day, I had fun with you around the house, please don¡¯t go. But nothing came, he didn¡¯t even look at me when he spoke. No joke. Noment. Just silence. But I saw it in the line of his shoulders, the hesitation in his voice, He felt it as much as I did, but he wasn¡¯t about to let that get in the way of his image. 17.73% 08:29 288 Vouchers We spent the morning avoiding the topic of goodbye. Instead, we yed chess. It started as a joke. I teased that he probably gambled portfolios on every move. ¡°You¡¯re not entirely wrong,¡± he said, smirking. We sat in the sunroom, light dancing on the board. I lost the first game badly. Barely won the second. used him of letting me win the third. ¡°I would never go easy on you,¡± he insisted. ¡°Liar,¡± I grinned. ¡°Brat,¡± he countered, moving his knight. Our banter filled the room, easing the tightness around my ribs. But with every checkmate I suffered, I felt the clock ticking on ourst hours together. By afternoon, I couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. ¡°I need something chaotic,¡± I dered. ¡°Let¡¯s do karaoke.¡± He blinked. ¡°Karaoke?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t have it.¡± He stood and strolled to a corner console, pulling apact mic system and touchscreen into the room. 35.66% 08:29 Get full chapters from Find[?]ovel : 288 ?Vouchers Iughed. ¡°You actually have a karaoke setup?¡± ¡°Sophia¡¯s doing,¡± he said, voice light. ¡°She loves hosting parties.¡± ¡°Believe me, I noticed,¡± I said, shing a grin. He ignored me and powered it on. I scrolled through the options and dared to pick the most dramatic early¨C2000s power bad. He perched on an armchair, arms crossed, ncing between me and the screen. I threw myself into the chorus, off¨Ckey and overdramatic. He winced so hard I thought his ears might bleed. ¡°Okay,¡± he said, hands over his ears. ¡°That¡¯s enough. My eardrums are begging for mercy. ¡± ¡°Rude!¡± ¡°Wrap it up.¡± He swiped the mic away and synced his phone instead, cueing up a mellow jazz ylist. I rolled my eyes. ¡°Wow. Okay, ¡®Gentleman Liam.¡® ¡°You have the worst taste,¡± he quipped. ¡°You have no soul.¡± I crossed my arms, pouting dramatically. Then he surprised me. He tapped his phone, recing the jazz with a familiar beat. The first notes of the Rihanna song I¡¯d danced to on his kitchen counter filled the room. 51.22% 08:29 : 288 iVouchers My heart lurched. I stared at him. He raised a brow. ¡°Thought I¡¯d y something¡­ familiar. I couldn¡¯t help it. I burst outughing. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± He sipped his coffee, unfazed. The beat dropped again, and I stood. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. ¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends now, right? Friends dance in front of friends.¡± He looked like he might actually explode. I broke into a wild, unselfconscious dance, carried wholly by the beat and the moment. gaze followed His every move, slow and appreciative. My blood buzzed. Because something in his eyes had changed: no more walls, just¡­ interest. I held out a hand. ¡°Dance with me. ¡°} He hesitated, then took it. We moved together, clumsy at first, then with growing confidence, as if we¡¯d always known this rhythm. The space between us melted. His hands settled on my waist. Mine slid up his chest. The world narrowed to the music and our breath. When the chorus hit, he leaned in and kissed me. 68.85% 08:29 Chapter 18 This time, there was no bravado or dare. No yful banter. Just pure, intense want. His hand tangled in my hair. Mine fisted the front of his shirt. The room spun. Then he pulled back, eyes dark and unreadable. He muttered, ¡°Goddamn it.¡± ¡°Liam¡­¡± H288 ?Vouchers He shushed me with a finger. ¡°Goodnight, Emily.¡± Before I could respond, he turned and walked towards the hallway. I stood in the middle of the living room, heart pounding, breath stolen, body humming with heat. ¡°Seriously?¡± I whispered to the empty space. The lights flickered once and then settled into brightness. And I realized, this was it. Tomorrow I¡¯ll leave. But tonight, everything had changed. The night wasn¡¯t about goodbyes or regrets. It was about the truth we both couldn¡¯t deny any longer. The fire we¡¯d ignited in each other, a spark too dangerous to ignore. 85.36% Chef Novel 19 Chapter 19 The sheets were soft, the room quiet, but my thoughts kept circling back to his mouth on mine. The way his hands had held my waist, like he needed to feel something real. That kiss. Our third kiss wasn¡¯t about heat or curiosity anymore. It was desire, raw and undeniable and neither of us was brave enough to ask out loud. And every time, we acted like nothing happened. No conversation. No closure. Just silence. I stood by the window now, wrapped in one of Sophia¡¯s oversized sweaters. I hadn¡¯t seen my own clothes in three days. I felt like a stranger in my own skin, as if I¡¯d stepped into someone else¡¯s life. Someone reckless enough to let Liam kiss her, and foolish enough to think she¡¯d leave without consequence. This job wasn¡¯t supposed to getplicated. I was filling in for Mom, not falling apart under the weight of every nce, every almost¨Ctouch. I had lines. Boundaries. I used to be good at keeping them. But Liam ck¡­ he blurred things I thought were concrete. By the time I made it downstairs, Liam was already in the kitchen, standing by the espresso machine like he hadn¡¯t shattered me the night before. His sleeves were rolled, his expression unreadable. Not cold, exactly. Just¡­controlled. He nced up. ¡°Morning.¡± 0.00% 08:29 : 288 Vouchers ¡°Morning,¡± I replied, hugging the sweater tighter. He didn¡¯t say anything else. Just slid a cup of coffee across the counter without meeting my eyes. I stared at it for a second before wrapping my fingers around it, grateful for something warm. Something easy. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now,¡± I said, breaking the silence. Liam didn¡¯t look at me. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. My car¡¯s just outside.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask if it was. All I want is for you to get home safely.¡± I exhaled. Of course. Cold, withdrawn Liam decided to show up ¡°Fine,¡± I said. ¡°Let me change first.¡® ¡°1 this morning. I headed upstairs and peeled off Sophia¡¯s clothes like they didn¡¯t belong to me anymore. Because they didn¡¯t. None of this did. I threw on my jeans and wrinkled blouse from Friday. The same outfit I¡¯d worn when I arrived, expecting to just cook and go home. Not fall into a mess of feelings I wasn¡¯t equipped to manage. I lingered for a second before leaving the room, just looking around. The little vase by the nightstand. The faint scent of Liam¡¯s cologne lingering in the hallway. I wanted to remember it, even if I told myself not to. Ten minutester, we were in his car, pulling out of the driveway. The city felt too bright, too fast. People were out again like the storm had never happened. But in that car, the silence was louder than anything outside, 19.71% 08:29 288 Vouchers I stared out the window, pretending not to care. Pretending I hadn¡¯t reyed the kiss a dozen times in my headst night. Pretending I wasn¡¯t sitting inches from a man who could undo me with one touch. He didn¡¯t say a word the whole ride. I didn¡¯t break the silence either. When we reached my street, I recognized the familiar row of buildings and the creaky white gate out front. Home. Back to my reality. My life. The one without stolen nces and impossible feelings. Liam pulled up to the curb and parked. I opened the door but didn¡¯t move. ¡°I guess the truce is over,¡± I said, still staring straight ahead. ¡°We¡¯re back to being boss and employee. Nothing more.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. I stepped out and pulled the door shut behind me, the sound settling like a full stop at the end of something I wasn¡¯t ready to name One step up the porch. Then another. I reached into my bag for my keys. Behind me, I heard the sound of the window rolling down. ¡°Emily,¡± he called. I slowly turned to face him, not trusting what I might see in his eyes. He was watching me, one arm resting casually on the steering wheel like this was any other moment. 40.92% 08:29 But it wasn¡¯t. : ¡°You really think that¡¯s all we are?¡± he asked. I blinked, my fingers frozen on the key. He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. 288 Vouchers The window rolled back up, and the car pulled away, disappearing down the street. I let out a slow breath and opened the door. I wasn¡¯t going to let him get under my skin this early. Home sweet home. It felt like forever since I¡¯d been here, but everything was exactly where I left it. The slightly crooked photo frame in the hallway, the faint smell ofvender detergent clinging to the air. Familiar. Safe. I dropped my bag on the couch and sank into it. Three days. That¡¯s all it had been. Three days locked away in a mansion with Liam ck, and somehow, it felt like a lifetime. This summer was supposed to be quiet. Simple. I came back to LA hoping to rest, breathe, and stay out of everyone¡¯s way until school resumed. But instead¡­ I got entangled with the ck family. With Liam. 59.00% 08:29 288 (Vouchers Jay, always scheming, always up to something. And Sophia, who despite her fiery personality and blunt words, had started to grow on me like a weed I didn¡¯t want to pull. I didn¡¯t ask for any of this. But maybe life didn¡¯t care what I asked for. I pulled the hair tie off my wrist and let my curls fall freely. I needed to get back to being me, if I didn¡¯t want to lose myselfpletely, I had to get grounded. Fast. Maybe I¡¯d take up a few short¨Cterm catering gigs. Try volunteering again. Anything to keep my mind busy. Anything to keep me from thinking about him. Because clearly, nothing good came from allowing my thoughts linger too long on Liam ck. And yet, I couldn¡¯t help it. I stared up at the ceiling and whispered to no one in particr. ¡°How did I get here?¡± My phone buzzed on the coffee table. I leaned over, still moulded into the couch, and picked it up. Sophia: Come open your door. I have a surprise for you. I blinked at the message. Seriously? So much for needing a break from the ck family. 73.83% 08:29 288 iVouchers Content originallyes from F?ndNovel Dragging myself up, I padded barefoot to the door, my body still sore from the emotional whish of thest three days. I unlocked the bolt and pulled it open. There she was. Sophia ck, in full glory. Red jumpsuit, sunsses on her head despite zero sun, and a grin so wide it practically split her face. ¡°Surprise!¡± she beamed, arms flung open like I¡¯d won a game I didn¡¯t know I was ying. My jaw dropped. ¡°How¡­ what are you doing here?¡± She held up a garment bag in one hand and a box of pastries in the other. ¡°Oh, honey,¡± she purred, waltzing past me like she owned the ce, ¡°I¡¯m here for the exclusive scoop.¡± 90.09% Chef Novel 20 Sophia dropped the bags with a dramatic thud in the middle of the living room and kicked off her heels like she was home. ¡°Liam mentioned he dropped you off at home,¡± she added, tossing her hair as she made a beeline for the couch. I blinked at her, barefoot, still very much unprepared for the storm of her energy taking over my apartment. ¡°When did you even get back?¡± ¡°This morning,¡± she replied, pulling the band from her hair as she made herselffortable on my couch. ¡°Didn¡¯t even unpack. Dropped my suitcase at the house and headed straight here.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± she said, already rummaging through one of the shopping bags like it owed her secrets. A momentter, she pulled out a glossy white pastry box and opened it like it was sacred. ¡°Liam¡¯s marinating in one of those moods. Grumpy. Quiet. Barely speaking. I asked what happened, and he acted like I wasn¡¯t sitting two feet away. So¡­¡± She shed me a bright grin. ¡°I figured I¡¯d get the gist from you.¡± I folded my arms. ¡°There¡¯s no gist.¡± She looked at me slowly over the rim of her sunsses. ¡°Emily.¡± ¡°Nothing happened.¡± Sophia let out a snort as she retrieved a chocte croissant, holding it like a mic. ¡°Really? You expect me to believe that? After the kiss I walked in on? Try again.¡± 0.00% 08:29 I walked over and sat beside her, arms still folded. ¡°It was a heat¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment thing.¡± Her grin turned mischievous. ¡°Oh really? So we are getting somewhere.¡± ¡°There was alcohol involved,¡± I added, tly. 288 Vouchers She took a bite, chewed slowly, then pointed the croissant at me like it was a weapon of truth. ¡°Sweet denial. You taste just like ky pastry and lies.¡± I sighed and slumped into the couch. ¡°Whatever it was, it doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°Why not?¡± I hugged a throw pillow to my chest. ¡°Because I work for your brother.¡± ¡°1 Sophia rolled her eyes so hard I was mildly concerned she¡¯d pull something. ¡°Ugh, that is such ame excuse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an excuse. ¡°1 ¡°It is,¡± she countered, standing and pacing in front of me like awyer building a case. ¡°Emily,e on. Liam looks at you like you¡¯re the only person keeping him grounded. He hasn¡¯t looked at anyone like that in years.¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°You clearly haven¡¯t been looking closely enough.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said gently, her voice softening, ¡°I looked very closely. And what I saw was a man trying not to fall too fast¡­ because for once, someone made him feel something real.¡± Silence felt easier than anything I could¡¯ve said. She sat back down beside me, her energy quieter now. ¡°Liam wasn¡¯t always like this. He 21.09% 08:29 288 Vouchers used to be fun and easy to talk to. But life happened, people left, trust got burned. And he just¡­ closed up.¡± ¡°And now he¡¯s hot and cold every five seconds,¡± I muttered. ¡°One minute, he¡¯s kissing me like I¡¯m air. Then next, he¡¯s shutting down like I¡¯m invisible.¡± She gave a soft shrug ¡°He¡¯s scared.¡± I scoffed. ¡°Well, he needs to work on that. Because even if I wanted something to happen, and I¡¯m not saying I do. I can¡¯t do this whish behavior. I don¡¯t chase mixed signals.¡± There was a beat of silence before she smiled again. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll drop it. For now. But be patient with him, okay?¡± ¡°Not making promises,¡± I muttered. She pped her hands suddenly, like the air needed shaking up. ¡°Enough about tortured almost¨Cromances. I didn¡¯te here solely for that.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I came for two very important reasons,¡± she announced, standing like a general about to brief her troops. ¡°One: for the gist. Which, by the way, was tragically censored.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°And two¡­¡± She reached for one of the shopping bags, pulled out a sleek ck garment bag, and held it up with the ir of a magician about to reveal her final trick. ¡°To give you this.¡± I blinked. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Your official invitation.¡± 41.81% 08:29 ¡°To what?¡± 288 ?Vouchers ¡°My birthday, duh. Three days from now. Keep up, woman.¡® ¡°You flew out just to shop for your own party?¡± ¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said like it was the most logical thing in the world. ¡°And while I was at it, I saw this dress and thought of you.¡± I gave her a look. ¡°You could¡¯ve just texted like a normal person.¡± She beamed. ¡°Have you met me? Babe, nothing about me is normal.¡± With a dramatic zip, she opened the garment bag. My breath hitched, sharp and sudden. The most stunning, breathtaking gown I¡¯d ever seen. Royal blue satin. Floor¨Clength. A sculpted bodice that looked like it had been tailored by angles. An open back. The kind of dress that made your breath catch and your confidence grow two inches just by looking at it. Readplete version only at find?novel ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t wear that,¡± I said. ¡°Yes, you can.¡± ¡°Sophia, this looks like it belongs to someone walking a red carpet.¡± ¡°Exactly. And you, darling, are about to be the main event.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I mean it. It must¡¯ve cost a fortune.¡± 61.92% 08:29 288 ?Vouchers She waved me off. ¡°It¡¯s a gift. And before you get all weird and sentimental, no, you can¡¯t return it, and you don¡¯t get to say no. So that leaves one option: say thank you and go try it on.¡± I ran my hand over the satin. Cool. Smooth. Unreal. ¡°This is beautiful,¡± I murmured She winked. ¡°Happy birthday to me. Now go try it on. I need to confirm my fashion instincts are still wless.¡± I emerged from my bedroom ten minutester, the dress hugging every curve like it had been made for me. I felt taller, bolder, like I could walk into a ballroom and own the room without saying a word Sophia¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Okay, shut up,¡± she breathed. ¡°You look illegal.¡± I smoothed the sides awkwardly. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m about to ept an Oscar. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to reject one because the afterparty¡¯s more important,¡± she said, circling me with slow, dramatic steps like a fashion judge on a mission. ¡°I knew this dress was yours the second I saw it. It was practically screaming your name.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m right,¡± she corrected. ¡°Which is even better.¡± 78.04% 08:30 1288 Vouchers I looked at her, touched in a way I didn¡¯t expect. ¡°Thank you. Really.¡± She waved it off like it was nothing. ¡°Don¡¯t get all sappy on me now. We¡¯re not done.¡± I groaned. ¡°What now?¡± Sophia grinned wide enough to be dangerous. ¡°Go get dressed. We¡¯re going out Chef Novel 21 Chapter 21 288 Vouchers ¡°Where are we going? Unless you tell me right now, I¡¯m not moving an inch,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at Sophia and folding my arms in mock protest. I squinted harder, mimicking that intense stare you give someone when you want to pry the truth out of them. She grinned like the devil had just given her a good idea. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise.¡± ¡°That smile is suspicious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re definitely going to love where I¡¯m taking you.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Does this surprise include your brother?¡± ¡°If it did?¡± ¡°Then I decline.¡± Sophia rolled her eyes. ¡°No, drama queen. Liam is not involved. Now will Still skeptical, I stood up slowly. ¡°If you¡¯re lying to me¡­¡± you move?¡± ¡°I would never,¡± she said, holding out her little finger with dramatic ir. ¡°Pinky swear.¡® I looked at her like she¡¯d lost it. ¡°Are we five?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, pointing a finger. ¡°But if I see so much as a shadow that remotely looks. like Liam. I¡¯m running.¡± 0.00% 08:30 ¡°Noted. Now go put on something soft. Comfy.¡± 1288 Vouchers Twenty¨Cfive minutester, I was dressed in denim jeans and a clean tee, my hair swept into azy bun. I slid into the passenger seat of Sophia¡¯s convertible, unsure whether I was being kidnapped, pampered, or shoved into a spontaneous PR stunt. Newest update provided by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Turns out it was kind of all three. We pulled up to a discreet, ss¨Cwalled building nestled off Sunset Boulevard. The valet opened our doors like we were royalty. I looked up at the shimmering signage. ¡°Sophia¡­ what is this?¡± She stepped out like she was arriving at a red carpet event. ¡°Wee to La Zeeron Wellness Spa,¡± she announced dramatically. ¡°Only the best in all of L.A., if I say so myself.¡± ¡°You brought me to a spa?¡± I blinked at the name again. ¡°Isn¡¯t this that ce for, like, A¨Clist celebrities? Strictly by reservation?¡± ¡°My birthday officially begins now,¡± she said, throwing her arms out like a magician finishing a trick. ¡°And I¡¯m starting it with you.¡± Iughed softly, feeling a weird flutter in my chest. ¡°Why me? You could¡¯vee alone or picked someone else.¡± As we followed the hostess down a softly lit hallway that smelled like coconut water and five kinds ofvender, I half¨Cexpected someone to hand me a silk robe stitched with gold thread. Sophia nced sideways at me. ¡°Because you¡¯re not just anyone, Emily.¡± I shot her a questioning look. 13.68% 08:30 : 288 Vouchers She smiled softly. ¡°Being the only girl in the ck family has always been kind of lonely. I mean, I love my mom. We do stuff together when she¡¯s not traveling, but I¡¯ve always wanted a sister. Someone to gossip with. To book spontaneous spa days with. Travel. Rant about men. Steal outfits from. She paused as we stepped into a private treatment suite. ¡°And for once.¡± she continued, voice dipping, ¡°I found someone who¡¯s not trying to use me You¡¯re not a leech. You¡¯re real. And I love that about you.¡± I stared at her, unsure how to process the warmth her words stirred in me. ¡°Well¡­ I do have a hidden agenda,¡± I teased. ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for the right moment to strike.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to see you try,¡± she grinned, unbothered, and peeled off her topyer. Slipping into the plush robe an attendant handed her, she added, ¡°You¡¯re stuck with me now. I officially im you as my new sister. No take¨Cbacks.¡± A real smile tugged at my lips. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± ¡°And you,¡± she said, grabbing my wrist, ¡°are long overdue for a steam facial. The next two hours passed in pure bliss. We were scrubbed, steamed, massaged, wrapped, and treated like royalty. The scent of crushed mint and cucumber lingered under the warm towels. The attendants were kind, skilled, and impossibly calm. Sophia cracked jokes during her foot massage, and I lost count of how many times weughed. For once, I let myself just be. Just me, and this unexpected bubble of joy As we lounged in the recovery room, sipping detox tea in white robes, Sophia tilted her head thoughtfully. 33.26% 08:30 ¡°We¡¯re not done,¡± she said, eyes sparkling. I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Sophia¡­ it better top this.¡± She smirked. ¡°We¡¯ll see. It¡¯s a jewelry stop actually. Quick one.¡± 288 iVouchers The drive to the jewelry store was short. Sophia imed it wasn¡¯t just any store. It was one of those appointment¨Conly ces tucked away behind neutral doors, known only to people with names on exclusive guest lists. Apparently, she needed to pick up a custom piece for her birthday outfit. ¡°I need your opinion,¡± she said, parking the car. ¡°And your wrist. Might make you model one or two.¡± I eyed her. ¡°So the spa was a bribe for this, wasn¡¯t it?¡± She grinned. ¡°A very expensive one. Worth it, though.¡± Inside, the space was sleek, gold¨Ctoned, and absurdly quiet. The walls were lined with velvet cases, each holding a piece so elegant it felt like even looking too hard might trigger a security rm I stood by as Sophia tried on a vintage diamond choker, exuding confidence under the lighting. It was kind of hard not to admire how she glowed when she wasn¡¯t busy stirring chaos. Eventually, she made her choice and asked them to wrap it up 55.28% 08.30 Just as we were about to leave, the door opened behind us. And in walked Mason. 1288 (Vouchers He hadn¡¯t seen me yet. He was speaking to one of the sales clerks in his smooth, low voice, button¨Cup sleeves rolled just enough to look effortless. When his eyes finallynded on me, his expression shifted, surprise first, then unmistakable warmth. ¡°Emily,¡± he said, his voice edged with curiosity and something else I couldn¡¯t ce. I straightened. ¡°Mason.¡± Sophia turned, clocking the exchange instantly. ¡°Mason!¡± she said brightly. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been forever.¡± He leaned in and gave her a friendly hug. ¡°Good to see you too.¡± I blinked. ¡°You two know each other?¡± ¡°Mason¡¯s an old friend,¡± Sophia said breezily, like they ran into each other all the time. ¡°He once refused to feature me in one of his songs.¡± Masonughed, ncing at her. ¡°You were singing off¨Ckey, Soph.¡± ¡°I was experimental,¡± she retorted with a wink I stood between them, unsure if I was watching a si or being dragged into one. But then, I noticed it Sophia¡¯s smile stretched just a little too wide. Her eyes flicked back to me. She had that look. That plotting, sparkle¨Ceyed look And then it came. 71.28% 08:30 : 288 iVouchers ¡°You shoulde to my birthday party,¡± she said, casually. Mason raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± Sophia shot me a sneaky side nce. ¡°Yes. Emily will be there.¡± I gave her a slow, warning re. But the wheels were already turning in her mind. I could see it. The idea hadtched onto her, and now it was growing. I had never wished to read someone¡¯s thoughts so badly in my life. Sophia and Jay were alike in that way. Both natural¨Cborn schemers. Speaking of Jay¡­ I hadn¡¯t heard from him since that night at the club. I made a mental note to check in with himter. Still, even as Mason smiled and said he¡¯d think about it, I could feel something shifting. And as I stood there, surrounded by velvet trays and vintage diamonds, I realized something very clearly: Sophia ck was about to start a fire. And I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to burn. 87.87% Chef Novel 22 Sophia dropped me off just past sunset, still buzzing from our spa day and jewelry hunt like someone born with caffeine in her veins. ¡°Get some sleep,¡± she said, waving as I stepped out of the car. ¡°You¡¯ll need it for the chaos that¡¯s brewing.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Should I be scared?¡± She winked. ¡°Terrified.¡± I rolled my eyes,ughing as I walked toward my building, muscles sore in the best possible way. After a warm shower and copsing into bed, I reached for my phone and fired off a quick text. Emily: Are you still alive or out there scheming as usual? Jay¡¯s reply came within seconds. Jay: Thank God. I thought you forgot who I was. I was already lighting candles for our broken friendship. Emily: I¡¯ve been kidnapped by Sophia. It¡¯s a long story. Jay: She¡¯s trying to steal you. And it¡¯s working. I¡¯m offended Emily: Dramatic much? 0.00% 08.30 288 iVouchers Jay: I¡¯m re¨Cstrategizing. Operation Steal Emily Back is officially underway. Iughed into my pillow. Emily: Goodnight, Jay. Jay: Dream of me. I¡¯m way better for your blood pressure than Sophia. Iughed and turned off my screen, finally feeling ready to sleep. But it felt like I had just closed my eyes when my phone started buzzing like it had a personal vendetta. Groggy and half¨Cblind, I reached over. ¡°This better be a national emergency.¡± ¡°EMILY!¡± Lisa¡¯s voice exploded through the speaker. I jolted upright, heart pounding. ¡°What?! What happened?!¡± ¡°Check the gossip site. Now. Like right now!¡± I squinted at the screen. ¡°Lisa, it¡¯s not even 8 a.m¡­¡± ¡°Just check it!¡± She sent a link, and I clicked it with the kind of dread usually reserved for horror movies. And there it was, staring me in the face. A blurry photo of Mason and me from the night of Jay¡¯s video shoot. The angle wasn¡¯t perfect, but you could see me reaching out,forting him after that call that changed his whole energy. My face was turned away, but anyone who knew me would know. 14.77% 08:31 ¡°Oh my God,¡± I whispered. ¡°They¡¯re calling you ¡®the mystery woman,¡± Lisa said, breathless. ¡°You¡¯ve I stared at the screen. ¡°How did this even happen?¡± ¡°No clue. But that¡¯s not even the big part. Go check Mason¡¯s Instagram.¡± gone viral.¡± My small drop twisted in my stomach. I opened his profile, unsure what I was hoping to find. A brand¨Cnew post. Just a moody, ck¨Cand¨Cwhite shot of him in the studio. But the caption in the corner? She could be the one. Thement section was wildfire. ¡°Is this a new song?¡± ¡°Publicity stunt?¡± ¡°Mystery girl revealing soon???¡± ¡°Please be about love. We need hope.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so lucky. WHO IS SHE?¡± ¡°Someone find this girl. I have questions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to pass out,¡± I muttered. 33.07% This update is avable on find[?]ovel 288 ?Vouchers 08:31 : 288 iVouchers ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± Lisa said. ¡°Your face isn¡¯t clear. You¡¯re still anonymous.¡± I groaned. ¡°You recognized me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your best friend. Of course, I would.¡± I exhaled, but the panic was still buzzing beneath my skin. ¡°I can¡¯t sit here. I¡¯ll go nuts.¡± ¡°Go get air. Grab a coffee. Breathe. You¡¯re not trending yet. I mean¡­the real you.¡± Following Lisa¡¯s advice, I headed to a nearby coffee shop. In hindsight, I shouldn¡¯t have. Every time someone nced at me, I felt like my cover was blown. Like they knew. The barista. The guy by the window. Even the toddler smearing banana on his mom¡¯sptop. Two girls at the corner were whispering loudly about Mason. ¡°I bet she¡¯s a model,¡± one said. ¡°Or some secret actress,¡± the other replied. ¡°He always goes for mysterious.¡± I slipped out before they could finish guessing. The universe clearly wanted me humbled today. Eventually, I ended up at the park. Watching families walk their dogs, kids yell over melted ice cream, and couples stroll hand¨Cin¨Chand like a Nichs Sparks movie. A few feet away, a dad was helping his daughter ride a pink bicycle with training wheels. 45.69% 08:31 My chest ached. I pulled out my phone and called my mom. She picked up on the second ring. ¡°Sweetheart?¡± ¡°Hey, Mom.¡± ¡°You sound off. Is everything alright?¡± 288 Vouchers Her voice was exactly what I needed to hear. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just¡­ wanted to hear from you.¡± We talked for a while. About nothing and everything. Her vacation. Her boredom. How much she missed LA and work. ¡°I miss you,¡± she said softly. I can¡¯t wait to be home again.¡± ¡°I miss you too,¡± I whispered. After we hung up, I remembered my car was still parked at Liam¡¯s. He¡¯d dropped me off after the lockdown, and I hadn¡¯t bothered to get it since. It was finally time to go get it. When I arrived, the car was right where I left it. Slightly dusty, but untouched. 64.83% 08:31 288 iVouchers I slid into the driver¡¯s seat and debated stepping inside to say hi to Sophia. But knowing her, she was off finalizing party chaos. I reached for the ignition. Then froze. There was a shadow by my window. I nced up. Liam. He tapped on the ss. I rolled it down, heart kicking a little too hard. ¡°You scared me. I thought you¡¯d be at work.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better,¡± he said coolly, ¡°I¡¯d think being in my own house is a crime now. ¡± His voice was calm. Too calm. ¡°I work from home sometimes,¡± he added, sliding his hands into his pockets. ¡°Oh.¡± I nodded. ¡°Right.¡± Silence. Sharp and tense. ¡°So¡­ Mason, huh?¡± His tone was deceptively casual. ¡°You two a thing now?¡± I blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you kept up with celebrity gossip.¡± 77.50% 08:31 1288 iVouchers ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°Unless it¡¯s the first thing Sophia shoves in my face this morning before I¡¯ve had coffee.¡± Of course. Sophia. I tightened my grip on the wheel. ¡°I don¡¯t owe you an exnation.¡± He stepped closer, voice lowering just enough to shift the air. ¡°No. You don¡¯t.¡± Our eyes locked. That was the moment I knew deep down, without question. This wasn¡¯t about Mason. This was about us. Everything we hadn¡¯t said, all the tension we kept ignoring, hung there between us like an unlit fuse. And something told me¡­ It was about to blow. 90.41% Chef Novel 23 I barely parked when I saw a familiar figure lounging by my front steps, hands in his pockets, wearing that signature smirk that always meant trouble. ¡°Jay?¡± I stepped out of the car, eyebrows raised. He straightened, smug as ever. ¡°Good. You¡¯re home. For a minute, I thought I¡¯d have to break in through the window.¡± I gave him a t look. ¡°At the rate things are going, maybe I should just give you and Sophia spare keys. Save everyone the hassle.¡± Jay grinned. ¡°Not a bad idea. We¡¯re basically unofficial tenants at this point.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°What are you doing here? What are you up to now?¡± ¡°Sophia sent me to fetch you,¡± he said dramatically. ¡°Tonight¡¯s the pre¨Cbirthday¨Cslumber- bash¨Cextravaganza. Her words, not mine.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel I blinked. ¡°Wait. I¡¯m sleeping at Liam¡¯s again?¡± Jay burst intoughter. ¡°You wish. No, the pre¨Cbash is at my ce this time. Liam banned Sophia from throwing any more parties at his house after the Great Pool Party Disaster.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Disaster?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°There was fire. And cops. And an intable swan that mysteriously exploded. Trust me. It¡¯s a long story.¡± I stared. ¡°Why does that somehow sound believable?¡± 0.00% 08:31 288 iVouchers ¡°Because it is. Now, pack your things. Sophia said if I return without you, I¡¯m officially the worst brother in the whole world.¡± ¡°Wow. Tragic,¡± I teased. ¡°Give me five minutes.¡± Jay¡¯s house was tucked in a gated LA neighborhood that looked straight out of a billionaire real estate magazine. Tall hedges, pristine stone paths, a view of the hills, and a home made almost entirely of ss and modern steel. Sleek. Artistic. Totally him. Inside, the prep for Sophia¡¯s pre¨Cbirthday bash was already in motion. Lights being tested. Velvet ropes arranged. Elegant tters of hors d¡¯oeuvres on disy. A ylist thumping softly from invisible speakers in the walls. Staff moved with quiet precision like this was a red¨Ccarpet g and not just a ¡°casual¡± party. ¡°This is not the main party?¡± I asked Jay as I stepped inside. He smirked. ¡°Wait till tomorrow. Sophia came running like a five¨Cyear¨Cold on sugar andunched herself into a hug. ¡°Finally! I¡¯ve been waiting for hours!¡± ¡°I had to pack, you maniac.¡± ¡°Let me guess¡­ while you were at it, you looked for the perfect excuse not to show up.¡± I stayed quiet. Which said enough. Sophia dragged me upstairs to one of Jay¡¯s extravagant guest rooms. Within minutes, she had makeup spread out like a Sephora showroom and two garment bags lined up. ¡°Tonight¡¯s dress is a surprise,¡± she said, unzipping one with ir. 20.31% 08:31 0:0 1298 Vouchers It was deep crimson. Satin. A thigh¨Chigh slit. Straps so thin they looked like whispers. ¡°Don¡¯t argue. You¡¯re wearing this.¡± I blinked. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure how to sit in that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sit. You float. You glide.¡± ¡°With what? Confidence?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± With the help of her makeup artist and enough hair spray to hold up a chandelier, I was transformed. The mirror showed a version of me that looked expensive, sleek, and a little dangerous. ¡°You¡¯re scary hot,¡± Sophia said, beaming. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize myself.¡± ¡°Great. Time to join the party.¡± Downstairs, the party was already in full swing. The bass pulsed through the floor. People danced beneath strobing lights. Someone bnced champagne flutes on a tray while swaying to the music. There was glitter,ughter, mini photo ops, and people I swore I¡¯d seen on magazine covers. I scanned the room, taking in every face. 43.73% 08:31 No Liam. : 288 iVouchers Jay caught me looking. ¡°You can rx. He neveres to this part. He¡¯ll show up tomorrow for the main event.¡± I exhaled, finally easing into the energy of the room. I hadn¡¯t even taken a full sip of champagne before Mason walked in. Tall,posed, effortlessly polished, and undeniably present. I turned immediately to Sophia, who stood beside me like an angel with horns. ¡°You invited him,¡± I used. She batted hershes. ¡°Guilty.¡± Mason made his way over, smiling softly. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Hi,¡± I said, trying to sound casual. ¡°About the photo¡­¡± ¡°I had no idea someone snapped us. If I had, I¡¯d have done something.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said. ¡°My face wasn¡¯t clear. Nobody knows it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that,¡± he said gently. ¡°Still. It shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± I nodded. ¡°Thanks. But really, it¡¯s fine.¡± The awkwardness melted into something easier. Mason had that way of making conversation feel effortless. Then the lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the wild part of the night began. 59.02% 08:31 288 iVouchers Someone started a dance circle. There were shots passed around. People kicked off their heels and climbed onto low tables. It was the kind of freedom you could only find at a party where everyone was too rich to care and too tipsy to judge. ¡°Come dance with me,¡± Mason said. I hesitated for a second. Then gave in and let him pull me towards him. The beat dropped. The room faded. It was just music and rhythm and limbs andughter. We danced like old friends who didn¡¯t care what came next. His hands stayed respectful but close. Mine wandered freely. It felt like being young and wild and consequence¨Cfree. Then Cardi B came on, and the whole vibe shifted. Something in me snapped. Maybe it was the music. Maybe it was the champagne. Or the way Mason was smiling at me like I was the only person left in the room. I turned around, started dancing harder, bolder and feeling the rush of being unrecognizable for once. Twerking against Mason, whoughed and yed along, hands on my waist but never crossing a line. I threw my head back andughed, totally alive in that moment. Until I saw him. Standing at the doorway. Liam Expression unreadable. Hands clenched at his sides. 76.29% 08:31 Eyes locked on mine. The room didn¡¯t dim, but it might as well have. Because suddenly, I couldn¡¯t hear the music anymore. And the only thing louder than the bass was the storm in his stare. Chef Novel 24 Liam¡¯s gaze hit me like a p. Read full story at F¦ÉndNovel Sharp. Cold. Furious. For a second, I forgot how to move, and how to breathe. I was still bent slightly forward, Mason¡¯s hands on my waist, my body caught in the rhythm¡­ until It wasn¡¯t. I straightened so fast I nearly stumbled, heat rushing to my face as I pulled away like I¡¯d been caught stealing. But it was toote. Liam had seen everything. His jaw ticked once. His eyes zed through me, as if I¡¯d betrayed him. Which was absurd. We weren¡¯t together. He wasn¡¯t mine. So why did I feel like a wife caught cheating? My pulse thudded hard in my ears. Mason, ever smooth, didn¡¯t make it awkward. If he noticed the sudden change in the air, he gave no sign. He just leaned in and whispered near my ear, ¡°You good?¡± I nodded quickly. A lie. ¡°I need some water,¡± I muttered, ducking away before I did something stupid. Like screaming. I spotted Jay holding court near the bar, looking as calm as ever. Like he hadn¡¯t just witnessed my slow descent into emotional chaos. 0.00% 08:31 288 Vouchers ¡°You said Liam neveres to these,¡± I hissed, brushing damp hair from my forehead, still dizzy from adrenaline. Jay raised a brow, swirling his drink with a smirk. ¡°He doesn¡¯t. But clearly, the twerking signal was too strong to ignore.¡± ¡°Jay.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just the messenger,¡± he said with a mock bow. ¡°Or maybe your seductive dance moves summoned him. Who¡¯s to say?¡± I smacked his arm. ¡°You¡¯re insufferable.¡± He grinned. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Liam didn¡¯t stay. He scanned the room onest time, his eyesnding on me with that same furious storm and then he turned around and walked out without a word. No exnation. No goodbye. Just gone. Like smoke slipping out of a room. As the night wore on, the glitter began to fade. People filtered out in clusters,ughing, tripping, dragging their heels along the marble floors. The wild energy that had once filled the air now hung heavy and slow. Eventually, it was just us. Jay. Sophia. Me. 16.13% 08:31 : 288 ?Vouchers And a sea of half¨Cfinished drinks and party confetti. I copsed onto the plush rug near the coffee table, clutching a solo cup filled with something pink and dangerous. My limbs felt like jelly, and my brain¡­ well, that was still trying to catch up with the rest of me. Jay tossed a pillow in my direction. ¡°You okay, Mystery Girl?¡± I groaned. ¡°I swear if you call me that one more time¡­¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s your official name now. Has a nice ring to it. Kinda poetic.¡± Sophia, still radiant even with glitter in her hair and eyeliner smudged under her eyes, chimed in, ¡°Emily, please tell me you at least had fun. That booty didn¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°Oh, she put in work,¡± Jay added. ¡°I thought we were gonna have to throw money.¡± ¡°You both need help,¡± I mumbled, dropping my head into the pillow. Sophiaughed, curling up on the chaise. ¡°Okay, but real question. What was that with Liam? He came in, stared you down like you stole from him, and dipped.¡± I sighed, rolling onto my back. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t care.¡± Jay raised a brow. ¡°Biggest lie I¡¯ve heard all night.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± I said, too quickly. ¡°We¡¯re nothing. You know how he can be when he¡¯s in one of his moods.¡± Sophia propped herself up on one elbow. ¡°Then why did he look like he wanted to punch Mason and lock you in a tower?¡± 31.27% 08:31 288 (Vouchers ¡°Jealousy,¡± Jay sing¨Csonged. ¡°Jealousy is stupid,¡± I muttered. ¡°I¡¯m not his.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point,¡± Sophia said softly. ¡°That¡¯s why it hurts.¡± I grabbed the nearest throw pillow andunched it at Jay, who caught it without flinching. Silence fell again, easy, warm, a little sad. I stared at the ceiling. ¡°Do you ever feel like you¡¯re trapped in a game you didn¡¯t sign up for?¡± Jay draped a nket over me. ¡°All the time.¡± Sophia stretched, her crown of curls catching the low light. ¡°Get some sleep, Em. Tomorrow¡® s the main event. You¡¯ll need all the energy you can get.¡± ¡°Yay,¡± I muttered, half-hearted. But my mind wasn¡¯t on the party. It was on Liam. And that look¡­like I¡¯d crossed a line we never defined but both knew existed. The early morning sun cut into the room like a de, dragging me out of sleep. I groaned, curling deeper into the unfamiliar sheets. My mouth tasted like regret and something vaguely strawberry¨Cvored. My head throbbed in a steady, angry rhythm. 51.61% 08:31 F Everything hurts. From the floor beside me, I heard a faint snore, followed by the rustle of sheets. ¡°Sophia,¡± I croaked, pushing myself up slowly. ¡°Tell me we hallucinated Liamst night.¡± Her voice came muffled from under a nket. ¡°Nope. That man saw your booty do unspeakable things. Sorry.¡± I buried my face in my hands. ¡°I need a priest.¡± ¡°Mm¨Cmm. Not on my birthday.¡± A knock came at the door, followed by Jay¡¯s chipper voice. ¡°Rise and shine, sinners. Breakfast is in the courtyard. Bring your hangovers.¡± ¡°I¡¯m never drinking again,¡± I mumbled. Sophia sat up, glitter still sparkling on her shoulder. ¡°I bet you said that thest time.¡± ¡°Yeah, but this time I mean it.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± she said, climbing out of bed. ¡°Pancakes fix everything.¡± Jay¡¯s courtyard looked like it belonged on the cover of a lifestyle magazine. Everything was filtered sunlight and elegant florals. The table was already set with fresh fruit, omelets, mini pancakes stacked high, and mimosas glistening in chilled sses. Jay sat at the head of the table like a smug, hungover king. ¡°Morning, my queens.¡± 67.47% 08:32 ¡°Shut up,¡± Sophia said sweetly, sliding into a seat. ¡°You¡¯re too loud.¡± I sat across from them, reaching for a mimosa like it was medicine. ¡°You lied,¡± I said to Jay. ¡°You said Liam never shows up to these things.¡± Jay smirked. ¡°He usually doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°But I had a feeling,¡± he said, unbothered. 288 (Vouchers I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What kind of feeling?¡± ¡°Call it intuition,¡± he said, popping a grape in his mouth. ¡°Or maybe Sophia texted him a picture of you looking good.¡± ¡°Sophia!¡± She gasped. ¡°He¡¯s lying! Mostly.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± She raised her hands. ¡°Okay, I sent him one selfie. Just to show him you were in good hands!¡± ¡°I hate both of you,¡± I muttered. Jay leaned forward, suddenly serious. ¡°Listen, Em. Liam doesn¡¯t crash parties. If he showed up, it¡¯s because something got to him. And I think we all know what that something was.¡± 84.87% 11 08:31T My stomach did a slow, awful flip. Sophia gave me a knowing smile. ¡°You got under his skin, babe. DEEP Chef Novel 25 288 Vouchers Chapter 25 Geting ready for Sophia¡¯s main birthday party felt like prepping for a red carpet event. I sat before a massive vanity mirror in our suite at the Le Tonne Hotel. A luxury hotel so pricey, a single night could empty your bank ount. Everything was velvet and gold, and the whole ce smelled like rose water and old money. Sophia¡¯s m team moved with the precision of stylists and the energy of fairy godparents high on espresso. One curled my hair into glossy waves, another dusted gold shimmer on my eyelids, and thest one worked on contouring cheekbones I didn¡¯t even know I had. ¡°You¡¯re going to murder someone tonight,¡± Sophia said, lounging in her robe behind me while scrolling through her phone. ¡°Just wait till Liam sees you.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not the goal.¡± ¡°Maybe not yours,¡± she replied, eyes still on the phone. ¡°But mine? Absolutely.¡± Words hovered on the tip of my tongue, but the mirror stole them. One look at my reflection, and I went quiet. The dress was a showstopper. Jaw¨Cdropping. Dangerous. Lethal. Silky ck, off¨Cshoulder, hugging every inch of me like it had been stitched on my body. A thigh¨Chigh slit danced dangerously with every breath, paired with strappy heels and a delicate diamond ne Sophia insisted I borrow. ¡°Oof. Someone¡¯s out for blood tonight,¡± Jay said as he popped into the room. ¡°Solid 10/10.¡± I smiled. ¡°Careful. I might get used to all this ttery.¡± 0.00% 08:32 288 (Vouchers ¡°Ready to party?¡± he asked. ¡°Born for it,¡± Sophia replied, standing with dramatic ir. Read full story at find{n}ovel We descended to the grand ballroom, where the event was already pulsing with life. Chandeliers sparkled over a sea of designers, influencers, executives, and the kind of celebrities you only ever see in filtered Instagram posts. The air buzzed with champagne and expensive perfume. A jazz band yed in the background. It wasvish but intimate. A perfect blend of cozy and extravagant. The moment Sophia entered the venue, the lights dimmed and the crowd burst into song. ¡°Happy Birthday¡± echoed around the room as she cut her cake, all eyes on her. It was beautiful to watch. And yet, my eyes moved on their own, still searching the room for him. Liam ck. He wasn¡¯t there. Not yet, anyway. And I told myself it didn¡¯t matter. I really tried to believe that. Then something shifted. The kind of shift you don¡¯t see, but feel in your bones. The crowd seemed to part, or maybe it was just my mind making room for what it already sensed. The doors opened, and I didn¡¯t need to look to know who had just arrived. I felt him. 23.35% 08:32 Liam. 288 Vouchers Goosebumps crawled up my arms. He wore a burgundy tux that fit too well. Clean¨Ccut, calm, and cold. But what made my breath catch wasn¡¯t just him. It was the woman on his arm. Tall. Honey¨Cblonde. Wrapped in red satin and glowing with confidence. She looked like she belonged on the cover of Vogue. Poised, elegant, and terrifyinglyfortable next to him. Sophia let out a low whistle beside me. ¡°This might be my best birthday yet.¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± I asked before I could stop myself. ¡°ra Denise,¡± Jay answered, suddenly serious. ¡°Heiress to Denise Media. Family friends.¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ beautiful,¡± I muttered. Sophia¡¯s grin widened knowingly. ¡°You sound threatened. Are you?¡± I forced a smile and grabbed a ss of champagne. ¡°I¡¯m here to have fun. That¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do.¡± And I tried. God knows, I tried. I danced with Jay. Laughed with Sophia. Took selfies with strangers. I even caught Mason across the room and gave him a casual wave. 41.80% 08:32 But Liam was everywhere. :.. 288 iVouchers Even when he wasn¡¯t near me, I could feel his eyes. Watching. Measuring. Burning. At one point, I saw him say something to ra that made herugh loud and carefree. Something inside me cracked. And suddenly, holding it all together felt imposible. I needed to breathe. I slipped away from the chaos, heels clicking against marble, and found my way to the rooftop terrace. The air hit my skin like a balm, cool and still, the city stretched out like a secret below. I leaned against the railing, trying to steady my heartbeat. Just breathe. That¡¯s all I needed to
  1. do.
Then I heard the door behind me open. Footsteps. I didn¡¯t have to turn. I already knew. His scent gave him away. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be entertaining your date?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°That¡¯s my decision to make,¡± Liam replied. I closed my eyes. ¡°Right. None of my business.¡± 57.68% 08:32 Silence stretched, thick and taut. : Then his voice again, lower this time. ¡°You looked like you were having fun tonight.¡± I turned, he was closer now. Too close. Hands in his pockets. Jaw clenched. Like he was holding something back. Like I was the reason he couldn¡¯t let it
  1. go.
¡°I was,¡± I said. A lie. ¡°Sure? Because you looked like you wanted to be anywhere else.¡± I folded my arms. ¡°Why does it matter to you?¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°Does Mason excite you that much?¡± ¡°What?¡± 288 ?Vouchers ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You know exactly what I¡¯m asking.¡± I scoffed. ¡°Well, I guess I learned from the best how to avoid conversations I¡¯m not interested in.¡± His flinch was small, but I saw it. ¡°I came out here for peace,¡± I said. ¡°So if you¡¯re done questioning me, you can leave.¡± He stepped forward. ¡°What are you running from, Emily? Does seeing me with her bother you that much?¡± 72.10% 08:32 288 iVouchers I snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I don¡¯t care who you¡¯re with.¡± He came even closer, dangerously so. ¡°Then what are you doing out here?¡± His voice dropped, deep and sharp. ¡°Does Mason make your heart beat like this? Does he make you shake when he gets too close?¡± ¡°Liam¡­¡± His eyes burned. ¡°Stay away from Mason.¡± I stared at him, stunned. And then Iughed. Bitter, quiet. Because if I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d scream. ¡°You don¡¯t get to control me. Not when you won¡¯t even admit what this is.¡± ¡°Emily¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± I stepped back. ¡°You don¡¯t get tomand me. I may work for you, but I¡¯m not yours to order around.¡± I turned and walked away, heels striking the rooftop tiles, each step louder than thest. But I could feel him watching me leave. And for the first time, I think he realized¡­ He wasn¡¯t the only one who could. 86.40% Chef Novel 26 When I stepped back into the ballroom, I pretended like nothing had changed. But inside me, everything had. Sophia caught my eye immediately, her look brimming with curiosity and teasing smirks. I gave her a nk expression, silently begging her not to say a word. She didn¡¯t. And I was grateful. She only raised a brow like a cat who knew too much, then turned back to her champagne. The party was still alive, louder than ever. The music had shifted to a seductive beat that made people cling closer on the dance floor. Laughter floated over the pulsing bass. And yet, I felt like I was walking on ss. From the corner of my eye, I saw Liam. Or rather, I felt him. Our nces collided, sharp and fleeting. I could feel the tension radiating off him. ¡°So,¡± a voice said beside me, breaking the moment. Mason. He smiled, easy and warm, theplete opposite of the storm Liam carried. ¡°Stilling on tour with me? Or have you changed your mind?¡± I didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I¡¯m more than excited. Do I need to sign something? Bring snacks? What¡¯s the protocol for tagging along with a rockstar?¡± Heughed, eyes crinkling with amusement. ¡°You just need to be there. That¡¯s more than 0.00% 19:00 288 (Vouchers enough.¡± I could feel Liam watching, probably imagining a thousand ways to murder Mason with his stare. Good. I looked back at Liam briefly. ra was talking to someone else now, but she had one hand curled possessively around Liam¡¯s arm. I took a sip of champagne and tried not to re. Eventually, I excused myself to the restroom. The hallway was quieter, the music a distant thump now. I washed my hands, stared at myself in the mirror. Deep breath. Lipstick check. When I stepped out, ra was waiting for me. Her eyes raked over me like I was something on clearance. ¡°You know,¡± she began, her voice calm butced with venom, ¡°Liam is very important to me. He doesn¡¯t need distractions. Especially not from someone who clearly doesn¡¯t belong in his world.¡± I blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying, if you¡¯re one of those girls,¡± she looked at me condescendingly. ¡°You know, gold diggers or opportunists. It¡¯s better to quit now before you embarrass yourself.¡± Who is this bitch? Who sent her? I tilted my head. ¡°You have no idea who I am, and I have no idea what makes you think you can talk to me like that. But I¡¯m going to let that slide. Just this once. Next time, not so much.¡± And with that, I stormed out, anger burning a trail behind me. 19.40% 19:00 288 Vouchers Back inside the ballroom, Sophia intercepted me with a smirk. ¡°Okay,¡± she said, ¡°what was that face about? You look like someone threatened to kill your puppy.¡± ¡°ra is an absolute delight.¡± ¡°Oh God, what did she do?¡± I gave her a look. ¡°Just tell me. What exactly is she to Liam?¡± Sophia sipped her champagne, clearly amused. ¡°Why ask? I thought you didn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Sophia.¡± ¡°Okay, fine. They¡¯re childhood friends. Family friends, whatever. She¡¯s been into him since the first time she swiped on lip gloss.¡± ¡°Great. That exins everything¡­and nothing.¡± She grinned. ¡°Still don¡¯t care though, right?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The DJ shifted gears again, ying something upbeat and sexy. Sophia grabbed my hand. ¡°Let¡¯s dance. Come on.¡± We started together,ughing and spinning. Then Jay joined. Then one of his friends, some cheeky guy named Lucas who made meugh so hard I nearly spilled my drink. Finally, Mason cut in with his signature smirk. 39.81% 19:00 288 Vouchers He pulled me close, and we danced like old friends. Comfortable. yful. Harmless fun. Everything was under control. Until it wasn¡¯t. Liam stepped in like a storm I hadn¡¯t prepared for. ¡°May I?¡± he asked Mason. It wasn¡¯t a question. Mason looked at me, and I nodded. He gave a slight bow and walked away. Now it was Liam and me. And it was nothing like before. His hand gripped my waist, his other catching mine. We moved in slow, sultry rhythm, the room falling away. Everything narrowed to heat and silence between us. He leaned in, and suddenly the air between us felt charged. ¡°You¡¯re driving me insane tonight.¡± I didn¡¯t answer. I wasn¡¯t sure I could trust my voice. ¡°That dress,¡± he murmured, lips near my ear, ¡°should be illegal. I haven¡¯t been able to think straight since I saw you.¡± My breath caught in my throat, sharp and sudden. ¡°Every curve, every move¡­ it¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to ruin me.¡± ¡°Liam¡­¡± 55.33% 19:00 288 Vouchers. His voice dropped lower. ¡°Do you know what I¡¯ve been imagining all night? You, out of this dress. On your knees. Moaning my name.¡± My heart thudded. My skin felt too tight. ¡°You¡¯re sweating,¡± he whispered with a grin. ¡°What, is the room not cold enough for you?¡± I shot him a re. He answered with a wicked, all¨Ctoo¨Cknowing smile. ¡°I want to kiss you so badly right now,¡± he said. ¡°But I want you to ask for it.¡± My mouth went dry. Every part of me screamed yes, but my pride was louder. ¡°Keep dreaming,¡± I whispered. He chuckled. ¡°Oh, I will.¡± We were still dancing, still moving, but I could barely feel my legs. Because right now, Liam ck was setting fire to my sanity. And I didn¡¯t know how much longer I could resist the burn. His fingers syed a little wider at my waist, possessive. I was hyper aware of every point where our bodies touched, every inch of heat sparking between us. He pulled me in closer. Our foreheads nearly brushed. ¡°Tell me the truth,¡± he said, voice a low rasp. ¡°Are you still pretending you don¡¯t want me?¡± I looked away. My lips parted, but the words wouldn¡¯te. 70.53% 19:00 288 (Vouchers ¡°Because I¡¯m done pretending,¡± he added. My pulse hammered as I looked into his eyes, dark, intense, almost desperate. The music swelled around us, people moved like shadows, and still it felt like we were standing in a bubble. I could¡¯ve said something reckless. But instead, I stepped back. He let me go, reluctantly. ¡°I should get another drink,¡± I said, barely recognizing my own voice. ¡°Emily,¡± he said again, almost like a warning. ¡°Don¡¯t run. Not from this.¡± But I already had. I turned, forcing my feet to walk away away before my resolve melted entirely. And even as I moved through the crowd, the feel of his hands stayed imprinted on my skin. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find~novel This night wasn¡¯t over. Not even close. 88.68% 19:00 Chef Novel 27 : 288 iVouchers eyes After I walked away from Liam on the rooftop, I didn¡¯t look back. But God, I felt his burning holes into my back until the elevator doors closed. The music, the lights, the people, they all blurred into static noise. Inside, I was a tangled mess of want, fury, and confusion. For more chapters visit F?nd-Novel I didn¡¯t even notice when Liam left the party. Somehow, in the chaos of the night, Jay, Sophia, and I ended up at a club downtown. It wasn¡¯t nned. One second we were in the ballroom, the next, we were spilling out of a ck SUV,ughing like lunatics and high on champagne. The club pulsed with neon lights and heavy bass. Jay was already dragging me to the dance floor before I could take in the ce. Sophia ordered shots like she owned the bar. We danced. We sang. We acted like heartbreak and jealousy didn¡¯t exist. But I wasn¡¯t okay. Not even close. Even through the haze of tequ, I kept reying Liam¡¯s words, his touch, his voice saying things no man had ever dared say to me before. It was like he¡¯d reached inside my head, found every forbidden thought I tried to bury, and whispered them back to me in the most dangerous voice imaginable. Eventually, I hit my limit. The room tilted, my knees gave out, and the world blurred around
  1. me.
I vaguely remember someone lifting me, arms strong and familiar. Liam. 0.00% 19:01 298 Vouchers He didn¡¯t say anything. He just carried me out like I weighed nothing, like it wasn¡¯t a big deal that I was clinging to his shirt and whispering his name in half¨Cbaked sentences. Back at the house, Jay passed out on the velvet couch the moment his head hit the cushions. Sophia, giggling and humming some Taylor Swift song, disappeared into her room. Me? I tried to make it to the guest room. I really did. But my bnce had a different n. I nearly fell over my heels until Liam caught me again. ¡°You¡¯re going to break something,¡± he muttered, slipping one arm under my legs, the other around my back, and lifting me bridal style. ¡°I was just¡­going to bed,¡± I slurred, smiling up at him, half¨Cdelirious. He didn¡¯t smile back. His jaw was tight. His eyes unreadable. In the hallway, just outside the guest room, I did something incredibly stupid. I leaned up and kissed him. Soft. Hesitant. Just a brush. But it ignited something in both of us. His hands tightened around me. My heart pounded. His lips hovered over mine, just long enough to make me forget how to breathe. Then he pulled away like he¡¯d been electrocuted. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said, voice rough. ¡°Not like this.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I whispered. 22.43% 19.01 : 288 iVouchers He shook his head. ¡°Because you¡¯re drunk, Emily. And trust me, I want this more than know. But I won¡¯t touch you unless you¡¯re sober enough to mean it.¡± you Tears stung my eyes for reasons I don¡¯t understand. Maybe it was the alcohol. Or maybe it was him saying no when part of me wanted him to, and part of me didn¡¯t. He opened the guest room door and gentlyid me on the bed. ¡°Sleep it off,¡± he said, brushing hair from my face. I didn¡¯t know when he left. I only knew I woke up the next morning wrapped in a nket, head pounding, mascara smudged, and shame clinging to me like a second skin. Groaning, I stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom. Cold water, mouthwash, and twenty minutester, I emerged somewhat human. Downstairs, I followed the smell of something divine. Eggs. Coffee. Toast. In the kitchen, Sophia was perched on a stool in a silk robe, sipping orange juice like she hadn¡¯t downed ten shotsst night. ¡°You look like you kissed a truck,¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°I feel like I did more than that,¡± I mumbled. Jay grunted from the couch, a pillow over his head. Sophia patted the seat next to her. ¡°Come join thend of the living.¡± I sat, carefully, my skull still echoing the aftermath of too many shots. The moment I picked up a piece of toast, her phone buzzed. 43.04% 19:01 ¡°Oh, perfect timing,¡± she said, answering the call. ¡°Hi, Mommy!¡± Oh no. I started to slide off the stool, but Sophia reached out and grabbed my arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move. She wants to say hi.¡± ¡°What? No, I..¡± ¡°Emily¡¯s here,¡± Sophia chirped, turning the screen to me. Mrs. ck. 288 (Vouchers The woman was stunning. Elegant and radiant even over FaceTime. Her dark curls were pinned back, her smile wide and warm. ¡°Emily! I¡¯ve heard so much about you. It¡¯s lovely to finally see the face behind the name. ¡°Hi, Mrs. ck,¡± I said awkwardly, brushing imaginary lint off my shirt. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you too.¡± ¡°Please, call me Laura. You really are such a beautiful girl. Soph, I get it now.¡± Sheughed, and it was the kind ofugh that made you want to be in on the joke. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said softly. Sophia winked at me. ¡°Told you she was cool.¡± They went on to talk about how Sophia¡¯s parents¡® vacation was going, how her birthday party turned out. Typical mother and daughter catch¨Cup chatter, light and familiar. 65.24% 19:01 288 Vouchers When the call ended, I slumped back. ¡°Why is everyone in this family so damn charming?¡± ¡°It skips Liam,¡± Sophia said without missing a beat. Speak of the devil. Liam appeared at the kitchen entrance, dressed sharply for work, crisp white shirt rolled up at the sleeves, jaw clean¨Cshaven, and hair still damp from the shower. ¡°Morning,¡± he said. ¡°Good morning brother,¡± Sophia replied, her voice light and bright. I looked away before the emotion in my eyes could give me away. ¡°Thanks forst night,¡± I said calmly, not sure if I was thanking him for the ride home or for not kissing me back. He gave a small nod. Then, just before walking out, he paused. ¡°Emily, please wait until I return. I need to speak with you.¡± My heart did that stupid leap thing again. ¡°Okay,¡± I said. 82.53% 19:01 He left. 1 288 Vouchers Sophia cleared her throat quietly beside me, a not¨Cso¨Csubtle reminder she was still there. And I was left at the breakfast table, wondering if that conversation would finally be the moment everything changed. 288 iVouchers Ch Chef Novel 28 apter 28 After Liam left for work that morning, Jay followed shortly after, muttering something about hangovers and early meetings not being best friends. Just like that, it was thedies left alone in the house. I couldn¡¯t sit still, not with Liam¡¯s final words echoing in my head. ¡°Don¡¯t leave. I want to talk to you when I get back.¡± Talk about what, exactly? My brain had been running a mental highlight reel on repeat sincest night. From the kiss I shamelessly initiated (kill me now), to the way he touched my waist, to the silence in his gaze that said more than words ever could. It was driving me insane. I needed a distraction. A fun one. ¡°Sophia,¡± I said, walking into the living room where she was curled up with her phone, ¡°how about I teach you how to cook something simple? Pancakes, pasta, grilled steak?¡± She looked up like I¡¯d just spoken anothernguage. ¡°You mean, me? In the kitchen? Touching actual ingredients? Girl, I burn water.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°That¡¯s not even scientifically possible.¡± ¡°With me? Anything is possible,¡± she said, grinning. ¡°You¡¯ve been warned.¡± Despite her protests, she agreed. And twenty minutester, I regretted everything. Sophia was a beautiful disaster in the kitchen. She cracked an egg directly into a cold pan. 0.00% 19:01 1288 Vouchers She used salt instead of sugar. And when the pancake batter started to bubble, she screamed like it was alive. ¡°This is so much fun!¡± she squealed, pping her flour¨Ccovered hands. I wasughing so hard I had to sit on the floor, tears rolling down my cheeks. Find the newest release on fin?novel ¡°You¡¯re the worst student ever.¡± ¡°I told you!¡± she pouted, sticking her tongue out at me. We made aplete mess, flour on her silk robe, egg yolk streaking my ponytail. But somehow, miraculously, we ended up with a few edible pancakes. Slightly burnt, sure, but they held their shape. We high¨Cfived with sticky fingers and copsed into kitchen chairs, breathing like we just ran a marathon. ¡°It actually tastes¡­ okay,¡± Sophia said between chews. ¡°It¡¯s edible. Let¡¯s not jinx it.¡® ¡± We cleaned the kitchen together, scrubbing every surface until it looked just like before, only now it held the memory ofughter and the chaos we created. After rinsing off thest of the batter from the countertops, Sophia yawned and stretched. ¡°That was something. We deserve a reward. Pool time?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± She dragged me to her room and we spent the next thirty minutes agonizing over what bikini to wear. You¡¯d think we were heading to a luxury beach resort, not Liam¡¯s backyard pool. Sheid out at least seven options across her bed like a fashion show runway Sophia finally settled on a firetruck red bikini with gold rings at the sides, and she picked a 19.40% 19:01 288 iVouchers royal blue one¨Cpiece for me. Simple, sleek, and somehow still made me feel exposed. Sunlight spilled across the pool deck, bathing everything in a soft, golden glow. The water sparkled like liquid crystal. I slipped into a lounger, towel around my waist, sunsses perched on my nose, hair still damp from the quick shower I¡¯d taken. Sophia floatedzily in the pool, her arms stretched like a starfish. She paddled to the edge and rested her chin on her arms. ¡°So,¡± she said, her voice casual but sharp with curiosity, ¡°what do you think Liam wants to talk about?¡± I let out a long breath. ¡°Honestly? No clue. Maybe he wants to talk about us kissing. Or about me dancing with Mason. Or maybe I breathed too close to his ego and now he¡¯s offended.¡± Sheughed, eyes twinkling. ¡°He likes you, Em. He¡¯s just scared. That boy¡¯s got walls taller than most buildings in LA.¡± ¡°Scared of what? I haven¡¯t done anything.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she said, pulling herself out of the pool. Water glistened on her tanned skin as she grabbed a towel. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to impress him. You¡¯re not after his money or fame. You see him. And trust me, Liam hasn¡¯t had much of that. People usually want something.¡± I sat up straighter. ¡°He confuses me. Hot and cold. Push and pull. It messes with my head.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t make it easy for him,¡± Sophia said, squeezing the water from her hair. ¡°Make him earn it. Make him show up. If he wants you, really wants you, he¡¯ll step up. That¡¯s how you¡¯ll know it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°You make it sound so simple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. But it¡¯s worth it. You¡¯re worth it.¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Because deep down, I wasn¡¯t sure if I believed that yet. 288 Vouchers Eventually, the warmth and the gentle breeze lulled me into a nap. I wasn¡¯t sure how long I slept, but it couldn¡¯t have been too long before I felt a hand gently tap my shoulder. ¡°Emily.¡± My eyes fluttered open. Liam. He was standing above me, his jacket gone, shirt sleeves rolled up, tie hanging loose. His hair looked like he¡¯d run his fingers through it a hundred times. His expression was unreadable. ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting,¡± he said quietly, his voice low and rough. ¡°Work dragged longer than I nned.¡± I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I taught Sophia how not to destroy pancakes.¡± A faint smile tugged at his lips, but he wasn¡¯t really looking at my face. His eyes dropped briefly, involuntarily. To my bikini. To my legs. To ces his gaze had no business lingering He muttered something under his breath. A curse, maybe. ¡°Liam?¡± 65.86% 19:01 : 289 Vouchers He cleared his throat and quickly looked away. ¡°Can we talk? Inside.¡± I grabbed my robe, heart thudding in my chest, and followed him inside the house. The air was cooler, quieter. Every footstep felt louder than necessary. In the sitting room, he stopped and turned to face me. ¡°I¡¯m not going to y games,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m attracted to you. Deeply.¡± My breath hitched. My fingers twisted the edge of my robe. He ran a hand through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is yet. I don¡¯t have answers. But the pull I feel toward you¡­ it¡¯s insane. I think about you when I shouldn¡¯t. I rey the kiss. Every time I try to pretend like none of it matters, I feel like I¡¯m lying to myself.¡± ¡°Then why pretend at all?¡± I asked, voice soft. His jaw flexed. ¡°Because it scares the hell out of me. ¡°1 Raw. Unfiltered. Liam ck without the armor. ¡°So where does that leave us?¡± He met my gaze, and for once, didn¡¯t look away. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I want to figure it out.¡± I stepped back slightly, blinking away the sting behind my eyes. ¡°Then figure it out, Liam. Because I can¡¯t be caught in the crossfire of your confusion.¡± He nodded slowly, as if the words hit him harder than expected. ¡°I understand.¡± I turned away, trying to steady the chaos in my chest. 79.26% 1901 288 Vouchers But just before I stepped out of the room, I swear I heard him whisper, ¡°I¡¯m trying, Emily. I really am.¡± Chef Novel 29 After that conversation with Liam, things between us shifted. Not dramatically. There was no fight. No awkward silence. Just space. Days passed. Then a week. And slowly, summer settled in like azy guest who refused to leave. The weather turned warmer, the streets busier, and I was back to doing things on my own, just the way I liked it. Or so I told myself. I spent more time at my house, cooking in the kitchen with the windows open and jazz music humming in the background. I cleaned out my spice cab, tried out new recipes, rearranged furniture for no reason, and even took solo walks through the Sunday farmer¡¯s market. I went to brunch spots alone with a book in hand and didn¡¯t mind the stares. No drama. No ck family tension. No Liam. Just me. It was surprisingly peaceful. Lonely, yes, but peaceful. And I needed that quiet to think. I didn¡¯t hear from Liam, nor did I see him, except when I talked to Sophia, who would tease me with, ¡°Liam¡¯s fine, thanks for asking.¡± Sophia¡¯s advice kept echoing in my mind: Make him work for it. So, I decided that was exactly what I¡¯d do. If anything were to happen between us, he needed to make it clear. No mixed signals. No confusing push and pull. I let the silence between us speak louder than anything I could¡¯ve said. If he wanted me, really wanted me. It was on him now. He knew where to find me. That Friday, I returned to Liam¡¯s house to cook. I figured I might as well fulfill my job while pretending not to notice how empty the ce felt without his unpredictable energy haunting the halls. 0.00% 19.01 288 Vouchers When I stepped inside, Sophia was already there. She greeted me with a smile so suspicious, I nearly backed out the front door. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯ve had three cups of coffee and a guilty conscience?¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes. She blinked innocently. ¡°What? Nothing! I¡¯m just energized.¡± Mhm. Sure. I brushed it off and made my way to the kitchen, slipping on an apron and mentally running through my meal n for the day. Sophia trailed behind, pretending to scroll through her phone, but I caught her sneaking nces at me more than once. She was definitely hiding something. I decided to see how long she could keep it in. Knowing Sophia, I wouldn¡¯t have to wait long. I was halfway through chopping herbs when Jay walked in, looking like he¡¯d just stepped out of a yachtmercial. Sunsses perched on his head, linen shirts unbuttoned a little too low, rxed like he hadn¡¯t dealt with LA traffic a day in his life. ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± Sophia said pointedly. Jay sighed. ¡°Traffic.¡± And then it began. I noticed Sophia giving Jay a very specific look. He returned it with a shrug. She pinched his thigh under the ind counter, and he nearly dropped the protein bar he was holding. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. 24.10% 19:01 288 Vouchers. They continued with their silent performance. Sophia ring, Jay whispering, ¡°You say it,¡± and Sophia elbowing him like a five¨Cyear¨Cold trying to get her brother to ask for dessert. I was more entertained than annoyed. I diced tomatoes and watched their scene unfold like a liveedy sketch. ¡°Okay, seriously,¡± I said, not even ncing up. ¡°Are you two possessed, or just plotting something ridiculous again?¡± They both froze like kids caught stealing cookies. Jay looked at Sophia. Sophia looked at Jay. Then she dropped it. Boom. ¡°Emily,¡± Sophia said dramatically, ¡°we want you toe with us on a little trip.¡± I blinked. ¡°A trip?¡± Jay jumped in, clearly relieved she¡¯d finally said it. ¡°To St. Barts. Our parents are already there.¡± I set the knife down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few days,¡± Sophia added quickly. ¡°Maybe a week. We¡¯ll be staying at our family¡¯s summer vi. Pool, beach, shopping. You¡¯ll love it.¡± I stared at them like they¡¯d grown second heads. ¡°Are you both okay? Do I need to drive you to the ER for a full¨Cbody checkup?¡± Chapter 29 1288 Vouchers Jay chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not that deep, Em. It¡¯s just our uncle, dad¡¯s brother. He and his family moved to Ennd years ago. They¡¯re flying in. It¡¯s their 40th anniversary, and one of our cousins is proposing to his long¨Ctime girlfriend. Big deal. Family bonding and all.¡± Sophia beamed. ¡°And we want you there.¡± Iughed, a little too loudly. ¡°Yeah, no. This sounds like a family event. I¡¯m not crashing your cousin¡¯s engagement or your uncle¡¯s anniversary party. I¡¯m not even technically part of the family.¡± Sophia waved her hand. ¡°Oh, please. My mom¡¯s been asking about you nonstop. She¡¯s actually excited you¡¯reing. It¡¯ll break her heart if we show up without you.¡± That made me pause. Thest time someone¡¯s mom was excited to meet me, I was fifteen, and it ended in a two- hour lecture about skirt lengths and purity pledges. I wasn¡¯t eager to relive that. Still, something in Sophia¡¯s voice made me hesitate. ¡°Even if I wanted to go,¡± I said slowly, ¡°what about Liam? I¡¯m not sure he¡¯d befortable with me tagging along to your family¡¯s private getaway.¡± At that, both of them burst intoughter. Sophia pped the counter. ¡°Oh my God, Emily. Liam is literally thest person we¡¯re worried about.¡± Jay nodded. ¡°He doesn¡¯t run the family. You¡¯reing for us, not him.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°This is sweet. Really. But it still feels¡­ weird. What if I¡¯m intruding?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± Sophia said gently. ¡°Honestly? It would mean a lot if you came. You could use 59.86% 19.02 288 Vouchers the break. Plus, have you seen yourselftely? You¡¯ve been walking around like a zombie in an apron.¡± Jay snorted. ¡°A very talented zombie, though.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°You two are relentless.¡± ¡°Remember, you¡¯re my sister now,¡± Sophia added, jutting her bottom lip out. ¡°And sisters don¡¯t abandon each other.¡± Here ites, ssic Sophia and Jay. Stage Two: Emotional ckmail. I was torn. A part of me wanted to say yes. I mean, it sounded like an adventure, a new experience, something I¡¯d never had growing up. But the practical side of me was screaming
  1. no.
I wasn¡¯t used to being included in things like this. I didn¡¯t grow up with sunny vacations, matching family outfits, or cousins proposing on private inds. It was foreign. And a little terrifying. Follow current nov?ls on find{n}ovel I stared down at the pan, pretending to check the heat. ¡°Just think about it, okay?¡± Jay said. ¡°We leave in three days. You don¡¯t even have to pack much. We have everything there.¡± ¡°We can go shopping,¡± Sophia added with a spark in her eyes. I mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± not quite meeting their gaze. Sophia smiled knowingly. ¡°Good. That¡¯s all we ask.¡± 82.59% Chef Novel 30 Chapter 30 The idea of traveling to St. Barts should¡¯ve excited me. Sun. Sand. A private ind vi. Sophia and Jay practically begged me toe. But instead of excitement, all I felt was a tight knot in my chest. I couldn¡¯t ignore it. I couldn¡® t say yes without checking in with the one person who had always helped me sort through the noise, my mom. I curled up on the couch with a warm mug of tea, took a deep breath, and dialed her number. She picked up on the second ring. ¡°Emily? Hope you¡¯re doing alright?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I mean, mostly. Can we talk for a bit?¡± ¡°Of course, honey. Talk to me.¡± So I did. I told her everything. Started from the day I stepped into Liam ck¡¯s mansion, to our tension¨Cfilled working rtionship, the rooftop moments, the kiss, and the confusing silence that followed. Then, this spontaneous invite to St. Barts with his family. She was quiet for a moment. I could hear her steady breathing, like she was mentally lining everything up, processing it all one piece at a time. ¡°So¡­¡± she said finally, ¡°you kissed him?¡± 0.00% 19:02 1 288 (Vouchers I groaned. ¡°Yes. And I may have started it. She chuckled softly. ¡°Oh, Em.¡± ¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s messy. But it wasn¡¯t just the kiss. It¡¯s the whole¡­ energy. He¡¯s hot and cold. And now I¡¯ve been invited to a tropical family getaway with people I barely know. I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m walking into. It feels like a lot.¡± She didn¡¯t respond immediately. Then, with calm wisdom in her voice, she said, ¡°Emily, you¡¯re grown. I raised you to think for yourself, to protect your heart, and trust your instincts. If going makes you happy, go. If it doesn¡¯t, then don¡¯t. But don¡¯t let fear make the choice for you.¡± I nodded, even though she couldn¡¯t see me. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± ¡°And whatever you decide, let me know. And send pictures if you end up surrounded by palm trees and gorgeous chaos. I smiled, eyes pricking with unexpected tears. ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡± Sheughed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± After I hung up, I just sat there, staring at the ceiling, letting it all settle. Then I texted Lisa. Get full chapters from Find[?]ovel Me: Thinking of going to St. Barts with Sophia and Jay. Her response came five secondster. Lisa: GIRL, DON¡¯T THINK, GO. It¡¯s freaking St. Barts. Don¡¯t y. Book your sexy ind 14.65% 19:02 self in. Iughed out loud. Leave it to Lisa to hype me into anything. Decision made, I grabbed my phone again and texted Sophia. Me: I¡¯m in. St. Barts, here Ie. 288 Vouchers I didn¡¯t even have time to set my phone down before the doorbell rang. Sophia stood there with oversized sunsses, bright pink lip gloss, and a grin that screamed mischief. ¡°I knew you¡¯d say yes!¡± she squealed, pulling me into a tight hug. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping!¡± ¡°Shopping?¡± I blinked. ¡°Obviously. You¡¯re not showing up on an ind full of hot cousins and m moms in your sad little sneakers and sensible chef shorts.¡± I gave her a look. ¡°Wow. Thanks.¡± ¡°Love you too. Now grab your purse. We have a wardrobe emergency to fix. She was already halfway to the car. As we pulled out of my street, she added casually, ¡°Quick stop before the mall. Liam left some documents at home. We¡¯re dropping them at his office.¡± I tried not to react. 30.71% 19:02 288 Vouchers But my stomach did that annoying little flip anyway. I hadn¡¯t seen him since ourst conversation. He told me he was confused, and I told him I wouldn¡¯t be part of the emotional tug¨Cof¨Cwar. Now I was headed straight into his space. Just perfect. Liam¡¯spany headquarters was exactly what I imagined it would. Sleek, imposing, and unapologetically masculine. A towering ck ss skyscraper that shimmered beneath the California sun, with the words ck Industries in silver across the entrance like it belonged in a movie trailer. Security waved us through the private lot, and we entered through a side entrance meant for executives. The elevator was silent and polished, with mirrored walls and soft gold lighting. Sophia hummed a tune like this was just another normal day, while I tried not to hyperventte beside her. When the elevator doors opened, we stepped into a top¨Cfloor reception that looked more like an art gallery than an office. White marble floors. Panoramic views of downtown LA. Sculptures and wall art so abstract I was afraid to even nce at them too long. Sophia floated through the space like she owned it. ¡°Hey Monica! Love the new bangs. Kyle! Finally trimmed that beard?¡± Everyone smiled and waved back. She was clearly the office darling. I, on the other hand, stayed quiet trying to blend into the backdrop while knowing I very much didn¡¯t. 43.48% 19:02 : We reached the ck double doorsbeled CEO ¨C Liam ck. Sophia opened them without knocking. And there he was. 1288 Vouchers Liam stood behind his desk, sleeves rolled, posture rigid, focus sharp. His phone was pressed to his car until he looked up and saw me. For half a second, his eyes locked on mine. Steady. Unblinking. He hadn¡¯t expected me. Something subtle shifted in his expression. A flicker of surprise and something else he carefully concealed. If he felt anything seeing me, he didn¡¯t show it, not obviously. But I felt it in the slight shift of his stance, the pause before he spoke. His office was a physical extension of him. Minimalist, masculine, deliberate. te gray walls. Clean lines. ck shelves filled with curated books, sleek awards, and framed ck- and¨Cwhite photographs. A floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window behind his desk showcased the entire city skyline. A ss bar glinted in the corner, untouched. He ended the call without a goodbye, set the phone down, and stepped around the desk. ¡°You brought them,¡± he said to Sophia. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m your favorite sibling, remember?¡± she grinned. Liam¡¯s eyes returned to me. ¡°Emily.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I said softly, adjusting the strap of my bag. 62.55% 19:02 His gaze dipped briefly down my frame, followed by a quiet smile. Small. Genuine. ¡°You look good,¡± he said. ¡°As always.¡± My face heated instantly. Sophia, of course, was living for it. She smirked behind me like she was watching her favorite soap opera unfold in real time. ¡°Thanks,¡± I mumbled. Liam cleared his throat and turned to Sophia. ¡°Where are you both off to?¡± ¡°Shopping,¡± she said brightly. ¡°We need to get Emily ready for the trip.¡± He nodded slowly, like he was still wrapping his head around the fact that I was going. Then, without a word, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a sleek ck card. He handed it to Sophia. ¡°Get anything and everything you need. But his eyes never left me. ¡°That¡¯s really not¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue,¡± Sophia interrupted, grabbing the card like a trophy. ¡°We¡¯ll bring her back upgraded.¡± He still didn¡¯t speak. Just looked at me like he wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know how. The silence stretched. 79.14% 19:02 My heart thudded. : Sophia nudged me. ¡°Come on, Em. The mall waits for no one.¡± I turned toward the door. 288 Vouchers And just as I stepped through it, Liam¡¯s voice came again, low and unreadable. ¡°Emily.¡± I stopped, hand on the edge of the doorway. Slowly, I turned back. His eyes met mine, cool, calm, and hiding something I couldn¡¯t name. ¡°I hope you enjoy the trip.¡± Something in the way he said it made my chest ache. And for a moment, I started to wonder if I¡¯d made the right decisioning on this trip at all. Chef Novel 31 Chapter 31 You need at least five bikinis,¡± Sophia dered dramatically, tossing a tiny yellow one onto my growing pile of clothes. ¡°One for the pool, one for the beach, one for walking around like you¡¯re not trying to seduce anyone, but totally are. One for posing. One for backup.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to seduce anyone. Sophia, quit being extra,¡± I muttered, already overwhelmed by the mountain of silk and spandex building beside me. Get full chapters from findnovel She flipped her hair over her shoulder. ¡°Oh, but I have ns, Emily. I need you to seduce someone for me. Don¡¯t ruin my carefully curated vision.¡± I groaned, picking up a neon green bikini that looked like it belonged in a music video and holding it at arm¡¯s length. ¡°This is half a napkin.¡± ¡°That napkin is $890 and made in Italy,¡± Sophia whispered reverently. ¡°Put it in the pile.¡± We were inside Braq&ir, a boutique so luxurious it didn¡¯t bother listing prices on most of the tags. They just handed you champagne and gave you a look that said if you had to ask, you didn¡¯t belong. The ce smelled like white roses, crisp air conditioning, and credit limits. The floors were gleaming white marble. Gold¨Cented mirrors lined the walls. The lighting was soft and ttering, and a well¨Cdressed attendant hovered nearby, nodding approvingly at every item Sophia flung over my arm. Which, by the way, was a lot. I was surrounded by racks of silk maxi dresses, barely¨Cthere swimsuits, sheer kaftans, metallic sandals, floppy hats, and sunsses sorge I could hide from the paparazzi I didn¡¯t have. Sophia held up a pale blue wrap dress that shimmered under the spotlights. ¡°You need this. For sunset dinners. Preferably barefoot on the beach. Preferably with Liam.¡± ¡°Sunset dinners where?¡± I asked, exasperated. ¡°On the edge of the world?¡± 0.00% 15:39 : 288 Vouchers She didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Yes. With a mojito in hand, hair blowing in the ocean wind, and Liam ck low¨Ckey undressing you with his eyes.¡± I choked on the sparkling water I was sipping. ¡°Sophia!¡± ¡°What?¡± she grinned. ¡°Am I lying?¡± I tried topose myself, checking the tag on the dress. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ¡°Sophia. This dress is $4,800.¡± ¡°And worth every single penny of my brother¡¯s bottomless bank ount,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°Soph¡­¡± She cut me off with a flourish of her manicured hand. ¡°Rx. The man is loaded, Emily. Billionaire. With a capital B. I could buy this boutique and throw a themed party in it and he¡® d barely blink. The bank app won¡¯t even send him a notification.¡± ¡°1 Iughed under my breath, shaking my head. ¡°Still. I feel guilty. This is¡­ a lot.¡± ¡°And yet,¡± she said, lifting an eyebrow, ¡°not nearly enough. You¡¯re going to St. Barts, not brunch in Santa Monica. You need to look like someone who belongs on a yacht making problematic decisions in designer sandals.¡± I sighed and let her take over my financial destiny. By the time we were done, I had seven swimsuits, three flowy sundresses, two slinky nightgowns that screamed oops, did I just drop my towel?, a beach tote, tform sandals, a ck jumpsuit with a plunging neckline, oversized sunsses, and a tiny be of designer sunscreen that cost more than my phone bill. ¡°Oh,¡± Sophia added as the clerk boxed everything in chic matte ck bags, ¡°and don¡¯t forget the gold anklet. Ind vibes.¡± I stared at the receipt as the cashier tucked it away like it was state secrets. I wasn¡¯t sure if I shouldugh, scream, or faint. ¡°Don¡¯t look at it,¡± Sophia whispered. ¡°Let Liam¡¯s wallet deal with the trauma. Not you.¡± She was impossible. And also kind of wonderful. 38.89% 15:39 Chapter 31 : 288 (Vouchers Three days passed in a blur of packing, mani¨Cpedis, and chaotic list¨Cmaking. It was finally the day we would fly out to St. Barts. Sophia texted me first thing in the morning, practically vibrating through the screen. Sophia: Wake upppp! We leave in a few hours. I¡¯m so excited I could explode. Me: It¡¯s an evening flight and you¡¯re already up and bubbly? I want your energy in pill form. Sophia: Just making sure you don¡¯t bail on us. You¡¯re locked in. Me: Like I could. If I tried, you and Jay would show up at my door with matching crowbars. Sophia: Correct. We don¡¯t y about luxury vacations. Me: Okay, bye. Lemme sleep a little more before the jet ride. Sophia: Be ready at 5. Don¡¯t disappoint me. Later that evening, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection for the fifth time. My bags were packed and lined neatly by the door. I¡¯d triple¨Cchecked my passport, charged e, and still felt like I was forgetting something. sanity. aybe a warningbel for my heart. Chef Novel 32 You¡¯re going on vacation. With a billionaire family. On a private jet. No big deal. Sure. The knock on the door pulled me out of my spiral. Sophia and Jay stood there like they were starring in an airport fashion editorial. Casual airport chic, designer sunsses, glowing skin, and the kind of confidence that came from knowing your seat was nowhere near economy. ¡°Ready?¡± Sophia beamed, her ponytail swinging. The source of th?s content is fin?novel ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be,¡± I muttered, grabbing my carry¨Con. We loaded everything into the car and drove toward a private terminal tucked away from the chaos of LAX. As the gates opened, I spotted a sleek, white jet gleaming under the sunset sky, the ck Industries logo glinting near the tail. ¡°I¡¯m really doing this,¡± I whispered. Inside, the jet was a whole other world. Cream leather seats arranged in cozy clusters, gold- ted finishes, subtle lighting, and windows that framed the sky like art. ull¨Cservice bar sat near the front. The air smelled faintly of citrus and something expensive I couldn¡¯t name. And then¡­ Liam. He was lounging in one of the wide seats, scrolling through his phone like he didn¡¯t just trigger minor heart palpitations. Gone was the CEO armor. No suit. No tie. Just a gray henley that hugged his torso unfairly, ck joggers, and clean white sneakers. His hair was slightly tousled, and his sleeves pushed up, revealing forearms that needed a warningbel. He looked¡­ edible. The second his eyes lifted and locked onto mine, something shifted. His gaze lingered. 0.00% 15:39 288 iVouchers Then he tapped the empty seat beside him, a barely¨Cthere smile pulling at his lips. I hesitated. My feet didn¡¯t. I slid into the seat next to him, nerves buzzing through my fingers as Sophia and Jay disappeared to the other side of the cabin with zero shame. Clearly orchestrated. Silence settled between us for a beat. I caught the faint scent of his cologne, clean, musky, dangerously familiar. Then I blurted, ¡°You look good. I mean¡­ casually. You should ditch the suits more often.¡± A grin broke across his face. Not smug. Not rehearsed. Unguarded and real. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Because you¡¯re going to be seeing a lot more of me without one over the next few days.¡± I blinked. My brain short¨Ccircuited. And then he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to set my skin on fire. ¡°Hope you can handle the yumness.¡± I choked. ¡°That¡¯s not a real word.¡± He shrugged, eyes glinting. ¡°Maybe not. But it fits the mood, don¡¯t you think?¡± I looked away, heat crawling up my neck. ¡°You¡¯re really full of yourself.¡± ¡°Not full. Just honest.¡± His voice wrapped around me like a silk robe. Warm, teasing, impossible to ignore. And sitting next to him, inches from his sun¨Cwarmed skin and killer smile, I suddenly understood exactly what Sophia meant when she said ind Emily needed a glow¨Cup. Because Liam ck in vacation mode? Might just be the most dangerous version yet. The jet¡¯s engines rumbled softly beneath us, a low hum vibrating through the plush floor as we taxied down the private runway. I sank back into the wide leather seat, the kind that reclined like a throne, while the flight attendant moved with practiced grace. 32.44% 15:39 288 Vouchery She checked seatbelts, offeredst¨Cminute sses of champagne, and secured the crystal flutes with polished efficiency. Everything felt smooth. Effortless. Intimate. Liam reached over, fingers brushing my waist with maddening case, and adjusted my seatbelt without asking. ¡°You were buckled in wrong,¡± he murmured, his voice low and smooth as silk. ¡°Can¡¯t have you flying out of your seat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I had it right,¡± I replied, though the sound of my voice betrayed me. Unsteady. Light. His closeness did strange things to my lungs, like making them forget how to function. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± He leaned back, clearly satisfied with himself, just as the captain¡¯s voice crackled through the inte, announcing our altitude clearance and expected arrival in St. Barts. The jet lifted from the tarmac, and a subtle pull held me in my seat as the city below began to disappear. Skyscrapers shrinking to scattered lights, then fading altogether behind clouds. Once we leveled out, the seatbelt sign clicked off with a gentle ding. Liam looked utterly at ease, his long legs stretched out, one arm draped across the armrest between us. His fingers tapped an idle rhythm on the soft leather, and I wondered if he was even aware of how effortless he made tension feel. ¡°You don¡¯t strike me as the vacation type,¡± I said, ncing sideways at h have yourptop out, scolding someone over a missed email.¡± He smiled without looking at me. ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to realize that.¡± Chef Novel 33 Chapter 33 ¡°I work hard,¡± he said, ¡°but I y hard too. There areyers to me, Emily. You¡¯ve barely scratched the surface.¡± The way he slowly said my name, made my stomach tighten in the most inconvenient way. ¡°So, what¡¯s vacation in St. Barts like for someone like you?¡± ¡°Private beaches. No noise. Good food. Betterpany. I smirked. ¡°That sounds¡­ very curated.¡± He shrugged, unapologetic. ¡°I don¡¯t do chaos on vacation.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your favorite ce to travel?¡± He hesitated for a second too long. ¡°I¡¯ll show you someday.¡± It wasn¡¯t a flirt. It was something heavier. A promise. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one allowed to ask questions, you know,¡± he added, turning to face me fully. Follow current nov?ls on find?novel ¡°Fine. Ask away.¡± He asked about my favorite meals to cook, my worst client disaster, and the first dish I ever burned so badly it set off a smoke rm. Then he tilted his head and said, ¡°I¡¯d also like to know if you snore in your sleep. Because if you do, I might need to switch seats.¡® ¡± ¡°I do not snore,¡± I said, mock¨Coffended. He grinned. ¡°No one ever admits it.¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. The tension softened into something warmer. Safer. For a moment, it felt like we were just two people in the sky, away from reality. ¡°You¡¯re different up here,¡± I said softly. ¡°Not your usual uptight self.¡± 0.00% 15:39 ¡°I¡¯m off¨Cduty,¡± he replied. ¡°And I like seeing you rx.¡± My breath caught at the way he looked at me then, like he wasn¡¯t just talking about small talk and softughter. Like he wanted to see what I looked likepletely undone. I shifted in my seat, trying to steady my voice. ¡°So what do you actually enjoy doing on vacation?¡± ¡°Swimming. Hiking. Night drives through quiet towns. Chartering boats. Stargazing. And games.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± I blinked. ¡°You? Stargazing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot you didn¡¯t picture.¡± His gaze drifted down my body in a way that made my skin warm beneath the silk of my dress. I pressed my thighs together on instinct, pulse skipping wildly. He leaned closer, voice low. ¡°The trip¡¯s just getting started. And there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been thinking about since we boarded.¡± I narrowed my eyes, teasing. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Can I show you?¡± The way he said it, soft, deliberate, with that slow burn behind his words, made hitch. ¡°This feels like a trap,¡± I muttered. He didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Say no, and I¡¯ll stop.¡± my breath Every rational part of me screamed to back away, to say something clever and cautious. Instead, I nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Without warning, his hand slid onto my thigh. Warm. Slow. Unapologetic. My breath faltered as his fingers tracedzy circles along the hem of my dress. He leaned in again, his mouth brushing the edge of my ear. ¡°You¡¯re shaking,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I lied. 28.47% 15:39 288 IVouchers He smirked, clearly enjoying every second. ¡°You are. I like that.¡± I clenched the armrest, struggling not to move as his fingers slid higher beneath the nket he casually tossed over ourps. It was reckless. Stupid. Sophia and Jay were just a few feet away,ughing and sipping their wine, probably plotting their next chaos¨Cfilled game night. We could get caught. At any moment. The thought only made it worse. Or better. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this,¡± I hissed under my breath. He tilted his head. ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Say the word,¡± he said, ¡°and I¡¯ll stop.¡± I turned to meet his eyes, barely breathing. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Slow and victorious smile spread across his face as his fingers slipped beneath thece of my panties. I almost bit down on my lip too hard. He was slow. Skilled. Devastating in the best way. His fingers moved with precision, curling inside me, coaxing pleasure with every stroke, every twist. He knew what he was doing. And I was unraveling. My thighs trembled. My breath came in uneven bursts. I clenched the seat, trying not to make a sound, not to give us away, even as I shattered inplete silence. I came hard, my eyes fluttering closed, his name caught like a secret on my tongue. He slowly pulled his fingers out and brought them to his lips. ¡°Sweet,¡± he murmured. I looked at him, dazed, still pulsing with the aftershock. My body wanted more. My mind had stopped caring. Liam stood. ¡°Follow me. 59.55% 15:39 I didn¡¯t hesitate. My legs were wobbly as I followed him past the ambient glow of sconces and leather walls, into the private suite at the back of the jet. Everything was soft light and polished edges, luxury wrapped in intimacy. I don¡¯t know where I found the courage. Maybe I didn¡¯t. Maybe my body made the decision for me. Either way, I walked in knowing full well I might regret thister. Chef Novel 34 The door clicked shut behind us. He turned, his gaze molten. ¡°Sit,¡± he said, his voice smooth butmanding. I obeyed. ¡°Spread your legs.¡± I did. Breathless. Burning. My panties were soaked, clinging to me. He knelt between my thighs like it was instinct, his hands slow as they dragged my underwear down my legs. Then he paused. And stared. The way he looked at me, at that part of me, nearly made mee again. There was hunger in his eyes. Worship. When his mouth finally touched me, I whimpered. Hot. Open. Addicted. He licked and sucked like I belonged to him. Like tasting me wasn¡¯t just a de e but his right. His tongue moved in maddening rhythm, building me up again, only to slow and then pull me further until I broke, loud this time, his name spilling from my lips in a trembling moan. Updates are released by find~novel He didn¡¯t stop until I was begging. Even then, he only pulled back to lick his lips, dark eyes locked with mine. ¡°Go to sleep now,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you before wend.¡± He pulled me up beside him, tucked the soft nket around me, and kissed my temple. Thirty thousand feet in the air, and somehow, Liam ck managed to wreck my carefully guarded heart. ¡°Emily.¡± 0.00% 15:40 Chapter 34 1288 ?Vouchers His voice was low. Gentle. Too gentle for someone who had ruined me just hours ago. I stirred beneath the soft weight of the nket, blinking up into Liam¡¯s face. His expression was calm, but there was something behind his eyes, a flicker ofst night¡¯s hunger, now buried beneath polished restraint. ¡°We¡¯re about tond,¡± he said. ¡°You should get back to your seat.¡± Right. The jet. The others. Reality. I sat up slowly, my body still humming from everything we¡¯d done in this private room that had no business being sofortable at thirty thousand feet. My dress had twisted around my thighs, my mouth was dry, and my heart had the audacity to skip at the sight of him. He was fully dressed, perfectlyposed, like he hadn¡¯t kissed me breathless and undone me with his mouth somewhere over the Antic. Wordlessly, I rose and slipped past him into the softly lit corridor, making my way back to my seat like I wasn¡¯t carrying the memory of him between my legs. Sophia shot me a look as I approached. Sharp, teasing, and just curious enough to make me want to disappear. ¡°Sleep well?¡± she asked, sipping from a delicate white mug. Her smile was far too knowing. ¡°Fine,¡± I said, easing into the seat across from her. Jay raised a brow. ¡°Pretty sure we heard some turbulence that wasn¡¯t on the flight path.¡± I rolled my eyes and pretended to check my phone. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a glitch in the cabin pressure.¡± Sophiaughed under her breath, but thankfully, didn¡¯t push further. ¡± Liam returned a few momentster, quiet and calm. He took his seat beside me with the elegance of someone who hadn¡¯t just wrecked a woman in a private cabin and walked away like a saint. Not a single nce in my direction. The man could be stone when he wanted to be. And right now? He was marble. The captain¡¯s voice crackled through the cabin speakers. 26.31% 15:40 ¡°Good morning,dies and gentlemen. We¡¯ve begun our descent into St. Barts. Local time is 6:18 AM, skies are clear, and the temperature is a pleasant twenty¨Csix degrees Celsius. Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened. We¡¯ll bending shortly.¡± The jet tilted gently as we began our descent. Through the window, the ind rose from the mist. Sapphire waves curling around white¨Csand beaches, green hills glowing in the early light. It was breathtaking. St. Barts. The approach was famously dramatic, and they weren¡¯t exaggerating. The runway was short, the descent steep. I clutched the armrest as we glided just above a hillside, the sea and sun rushing up to greet us. The wheels touched the tarmac with a soft bounce, the jet coasting onto a private strip tucked between cliffs and coconut palms. We¡¯d made it. ¨C Stepping off the jet was like stepping into another world, one soaked in salt air and soft heat. Sunlight kissed my skin. A line of ck SUVs waited nearby, polished and purring. Staff in crisp uniforms moved efficiently, handling luggage, greeting Liam by name. Liam walked ahead, speaking quietly with one of the drivers, his sleeves rolled, his demeanor unreadable. I lingered back with Sophia and Jay. ¡°Ready to meet the rest of the ck dynasty?¡± Sophia asked, tossing her sunsses on with a grin. ¡°Wait, they¡¯re already here?¡± ¡°They flew in two days ago, parents, uncles, cousins. Pretty much the entire family. We¡¯re thest to join.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not meeting us here?¡± 66.92% Chef Novel 35 Chapter 35 ¡°Nope. We¡¯re heading to the private cabin first. We¡¯ll jThe door clicked shut behind us. He turned, his gaze molten. ¡°Sit,¡± he said, his voice smooth butmanding. I obeyed. ¡°Spread your legs.¡± I did. Breathless. Burning. My panties were soaked, clinging to me. He knelt between my thighs like it was instinct, his hands slow as they dragged my underwear down my legs. Then he paused. And stared. For original chapters go to fin?novel The way he looked at me, at that part of me, nearly made mee again. There was hunger in his eyes. Worship. When his mouth finally touched me, I whimpered. Hot. Open. Addicted. He licked and sucked like I belonged to him. Like tasting me wasn¡¯t just a de e but his right. His tongue moved in maddening rhythm, building me up again, only to slow and then pull me further until I broke, loud this time, his name spilling from my lips in a trembling moan. He didn¡¯t stop until I was begging. Even then, he only pulled back to lick his lips, dark eyes locked with mine. ¡°Go to sleep now,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you before wend.¡± He pulled me up beside him, tucked the soft nket around me, and kissed my temple. Thirty thousand feet in the air, and somehow, Liam ck managed to wreck my carefully guarded heart. ¡°Emily.¡± 0.00% 15:40 Chapter 34 1288 ?Vouchers His voice was low. Gentle. Too gentle for someone who had ruined me just hours ago. I stirred beneath the soft weight of the nket, blinking up into Liam¡¯s face. His expression was calm, but there was something behind his eyes, a flicker ofst night¡¯s hunger, now buried beneath polished restraint. ¡°We¡¯re about tond,¡± he said. ¡°You should get back to your seat.¡± Right. The jet. The others. Reality. I sat up slowly, my body still humming from everything we¡¯d done in this private room that had no business being sofortable at thirty thousand feet. My dress had twisted around my thighs, my mouth was dry, and my heart had the audacity to skip at the sight of him. He was fully dressed, perfectlyposed, like he hadn¡¯t kissed me breathless and undone me with his mouth somewhere over the Antic. Wordlessly, I rose and slipped past him into the softly lit corridor, making my way back to my seat like I wasn¡¯t carrying the memory of him between my legs. Sophia shot me a look as I approached. Sharp, teasing, and just curious enough to make me want to disappear. ¡°Sleep well?¡± she asked, sipping from a delicate white mug. Her smile was far too knowing. ¡°Fine,¡± I said, easing into the seat across from her. Jay raised a brow. ¡°Pretty sure we heard some turbulence that wasn¡¯t on the flight path.¡± I rolled my eyes and pretended to check my phone. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a glitch in the cabin pressure.¡± Sophiaughed under her breath, but thankfully, didn¡¯t push further. ¡± Liam returned a few momentster, quiet and calm. He took his seat beside me with the elegance of someone who hadn¡¯t just wrecked a woman in a private cabin and walked away like a saint. Not a single nce in my direction. The man could be stone when he wanted to be. And right now? He was marble. The captain¡¯s voice crackled through the cabin speakers. 26.31% 15:40 ¡°Good morning,dies and gentlemen. We¡¯ve begun our descent into St. Barts. Local time is 6:18 AM, skies are clear, and the temperature is a pleasant twenty¨Csix degrees Celsius. Please ensure your seatbelts are fastened. We¡¯ll bending shortly.¡± The jet tilted gently as we began our descent. Through the window, the ind rose from the mist. Sapphire waves curling around white¨Csand beaches, green hills glowing in the early light. It was breathtaking. St. Barts. The approach was famously dramatic, and they weren¡¯t exaggerating. The runway was short, the descent steep. I clutched the armrest as we glided just above a hillside, the sea and sun rushing up to greet us. The wheels touched the tarmac with a soft bounce, the jet coasting onto a private strip tucked between cliffs and coconut palms. We¡¯d made it. ¨C Stepping off the jet was like stepping into another world, one soaked in salt air and soft heat. Sunlight kissed my skin. A line of ck SUVs waited nearby, polished and purring. Staff in crisp uniforms moved efficiently, handling luggage, greeting Liam by name. Liam walked ahead, speaking quietly with one of the drivers, his sleeves rolled, his demeanor unreadable. I lingered back with Sophia and Jay. ¡°Ready to meet the rest of the ck dynasty?¡± Sophia asked, tossing her sunsses on with a grin. ¡°Wait, they¡¯re already here?¡± ¡°They flew in two days ago, parents, uncles, cousins. Pretty much the entire family. We¡¯re thest to join.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not meeting us here?¡± 66.92% oin the others at the main estate this evening.¡± I exhaled. A little breathing room. Thank God. The drive from the airport was cinematic. Cliffside roads hugging the ind, turquoise waters stretching into the horizon, vis tucked into the hills like secrets. Then we arrived. The ck family¡¯s retreat wasn¡¯t a house. It was a statement. Carved into the cliffside, the estate blended sleek modernism with effortless ind charm. Whitewashed stone, ss walls, lush palms, and a panoramic ocean view that looked like it had been painted for the gods. A house manager greeted us at the entryway, bowing slightly. ¡°Wee back, Mr. ck. Everything has been prepared as requested. Your rooms are ready. Breakfast will be served on the west terrace.¡± Liam nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Inside, I tried not to gawk. The open¨Cconcept living space flowed seamlessly into the horizon. Breezes slipped through floor¨Clength curtains. There were pool. A sunken fire pit. A spa tucked behind bamboo screens. And a kitchen that practically begged me to touch it. A small envelope was handed to Sophia. Room assignments. She grinned. ¡°We¡¯re rooming like royalty.¡± Jay leaned in. ¡°I better not be near the gym again. I¡¯m not waking up to Liam doing push¨Cups at 6 AM.¡± Sophia tossed him a card. ¡°Garden suite. You¡¯re safe.¡± 0.00% 15:40 ¡°I¡¯m above the pool,¡± she added. ¡°Liam has the master. Obviously.¡± Then her eyes found mine, glittering with something wicked. ¡°And Emily¡­ gets the sunrise suite.¡± ¡°The what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s got the best view. Next to the library. Closest to the kitchen. Liam picked it himself.¡± My gaze snapped to him, but he didn¡¯t look my way. Didn¡¯t say a word. Of course he didn¡¯t. We were just about to head toward our rooms when we heard/footsteps approaching. A tall guy jogged up the driveway, shirt half¨Cunbuttoned, ck curls tousled from the breeze. He looked like he belonged in a magazine shoot: lean, sun¨Cbronzed, confident to the point of cocky. ¡°Liam,¡± he said, pausing on the steps. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually show.¡± Liam¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Kelvin.¡± Kelvin smiled wider, ignoring the chill in Liam¡¯s voice. His eyes flicked to me. Lingering. Assessing. His interest was immediate and unapologetic. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡± he asked, gaze never leaving mine. Sophia stepped in. ¡°Emily. She¡¯s ¡®s my Kelvin held out a hand. ¡°Pleasure.¡± friend.¡± ¡°Likewise,¡± I said, shaking it. His grip was firm, a little too familiar. The look he gave me sent a ripple down my spine. A silent promise. Or a challenge. Liam didn¡¯t say a word, but I could feel the tension building beside me. It coiled in the space between them like smoke. ¡°Uncle and the rest are up at the main house,¡± Kelvin said casually, finally turning back to Liam. ¡°They¡¯re expecting you before lunch.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be there,¡± Liam replied coolly. 29.52% 15:40 Kelvin¡¯s eyes flicked to me onest time. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around, Emily.¡± He left just as quickly as he came. Sophia exhaled. ¡°And it begins.¡± Jay chuckled. ¡°This trip¡¯s going to be fun.¡± I wasn¡¯t so sure. I opened the balcony doors to my suite and stepped into the morning light. The sun had just broken through the clouds, casting a golden glow across the endless stretch of blue below. The sea shimmered like liquid ss, soft waves brushing the distant shore. The air smelled like salt and hibiscus. The kind of air that told you to slow down, take your time, forget the rest of the world. But forgetting wasn¡¯t so easy when your brain kept reyingst night in crisp, high- definition detail. Liam¡¯s hands. His mouth. The way he looked at me after. The way he didn¡¯t say a word about it this morning. I pressed my hands to the railing and exhaled. I should¡¯ve known better. Should¡¯ve set boundaries. Should¡¯ve reminded myself that he was technically my boss, and whatever this thing brewing between us wasn¡¯t clear, and it wasn¡¯t safe. But knowing something didn¡¯t always stop you from wanting it. Or doing it. I turned away from the view and padded barefoot down the quiet hallway. The vi was still mostly asleep. Sophia had gone back to bed after ming the jetg for her morning grogginess, and Jay was probably still passed out in whatever ridiculous room he picked for himself. I found the kitchen and smiled at the sheer size of it. A chef¡¯s dream. Wide white marble countertops, built¨Cin espresso machines, ss doors that opened to a herb garden, and natural light pouring in from the wall of windows facing the sea. I tied my hair up into azy knot and started making coffee. Just something simple. Something normal. Something to keep my hands busy while my head refused to shut up. 61.35% Chef Novel 36 I didn¡¯t hear the footsteps behind me until it was toote. ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡± I jumped, my heart doing an Olympic¨Clevel somersault in my chest. I turned, and there he was. Kelvin. Still shirtless. He stood near the entrance, tall and barefoot, dark curls damp from a shower, a towel draped casually around his neck like he¡¯d just strolled out of a magazine shoot. There was a silver chain resting on his corbone, a faint scar under his rib, and a knowing smirk on his lips. His eyes traveled slowly over me. I was wearing an oversized T¨Cshirt I¡¯d borrowed from Sophia¡¯s suitcase and a pair of sleep shorts I hadn¡¯t realized were so thin until right that moment. ¡°I needed caffeine,¡± I said, turning back to the counter like it would shield me from the heat rising in my face. He stepped closer, voice like velvet. ¡°Mind if I join you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your family¡¯s house. I¡¯d be rude to say no.¡± He chuckled, deep, smooth, and just a little too amused. ¡°Technically, it¡¯s all of ours. But this ce has always been Liam¡¯s favorite. Which is probably why he brought you here first.¡± I nced at him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that.¡± He raised a brow, intrigued. ¡°No? You mean you¡¯re not his new¡­ hobby?¡± The way he said it, casual, sharp, and lightly mocking, made something in my chest twist. I straightened. ¡°Not that it¡¯s your business, but I actually work for him.¡± 0.00% 15:40 288 Vouchers ¡°Of course you do,¡± he said, circling toward the barstool like a lion gettingfortable in the shade. ¡°I just wonder how many employees fly private and sleep in ocean¨Cview suites with their boss.¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Mostly because I didn¡¯t like where that truthnded. He stepped even closer, his presence pressing in. ¡°He does this, you know. Liam. Pulls people in. Makes them feel seen. Wanted. Needed. And then¡­¡± ¡°You sound like you speak from experience.¡± His jaw twitched. A sh of something darker crossed his face before he forced another easy smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say we¡¯ve crossed wires before.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°What happened between you two?¡± §à He stared at me for a moment too long. Then he smiled again, but the warmth was gone. ¡°Ancient history.¡± Before I could push further, I heard footsteps. Heavy. Measured. Liam. He walked into the kitchen like he owned the air in it, fully dressed in a white linen shirt, sleeves rolled to the forearms, navy cks tailored to perfection. The scent trailed after him, expensive and maddening. His gaze flicked to Kelvin first. Then to me. Then back to Kelvin. fresh cologne ¡°Didn¡¯t realize we were hosting a breakfast club,¡± Liam said, voice smooth but cool. Kelvin grinned. ¡°Just catching up. Emily makes great coffee.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Liam said, voice t. ¡°She¡¯s not here to make it for you.¡± The air between them thickened like cream in heat. I cleared my throat and stepped back from the counter. ¡°I was just heading out.¡± 29.92% 15:40 E Updates are released by Find~Novel Liam caught my wrist gently. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His grip tightened slightly, just enough to make me pause. ¡°Stay.¡± I nced between them. Two men who shared ast name, a past, and a simmering tension I was now standing directly between. One had just cornered me with questions he had no right to ask. The other had touched me in ways that still echoed across my skin. I stayed. Kelvin leaned against the counter, arms folded across his chest. ¡°Still as territorial as ever, cousin?¡± ¡°Only when it matters,¡± Liam replied, calm but sharp. ¡°Good to know.¡± A beat passed, long enough to make it awkward. Long enough to make me regret not grabbing my coffee and locking myself in the pantry. Then Sophia appeared, hair up in a messy bun, oversized sunsses already on despite the indoor lighting. ¡°God,¡± she groaned. ¡°The testosterone in here could choke a goat.¡± Jay followed her in with a sleepy yawn. ¡°Let me guess. Someone marked a at? Or a girl?¡± ¡°Both,¡± Sophia said tly, shooting Liam and Kelvin twin nces. I pretended to look very busy with a spoon. Sophia sighed dramatically. ¡°Anyway, can we all pretend we¡¯re not drama and get moving? We¡¯re due at the estate in twenty. Dad wants a full brunch with the family. You know how he is about punctuality. Show upte, and suddenly he¡¯s revoking your family privileges.¡± Jay groaned. ¡°Not again.¡± Sophia tossed a set of keys to Liam. ¡°You¡¯re driving the lead car. Try not to kill anyone.¡± Liam looked at me. ¡°You riding with me?¡± I hesitated. I could feel Kelvin¡¯s gaze, Sophia¡¯s smirk, Jay¡¯s amusement. 62.37% 15:40 I swallowed and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Liam said. Just like that, like it was final. He turned and walked out, his expression unreadable. 96.95% Chef Novel 37 Kelvin¡¯s voice followed behind me, quieter now. ¡°Be careful, Emily. With him, the stakes alwayse high.¡± I didn¡¯t look back. I just followed Liam out into the golden morning light, my stomach twisting with something I couldn¡¯t name. My thoughts were loud, my pulse louder. It wasn¡¯t fear. It wasn¡¯t guilt. It was the feeling of being pulled in two very different directions, by two men who hadn¡¯t even begun to y fair. And the game hadn¡¯t even started. The car slowed as we approached the main estate, and suddenly the ocean breeze felt heavier. It was like it carried expectations instead of salt. Through the tinted window, I caught my first glimpse of the ce Sophia had referred to as ¡°the real ckpound.¡± This wasn¡¯t just apound. It was a pce. The estate rose from the cliffside like it had been carved out of light and old money. White stone walls, clean¨Ccut terraces, endless balconies draped in bougainvillea, and ss windows that reflected every inch of paradise. Security gates slid open as our convoy rolled in, and staff in crisp white linen waited at the entrance like we were royalty returning home. When I stepped out, my sandals touched cool marble. I adjusted my sunsses, pretending not to gawk, but the way the estate shimmered in the sun made it impossible not to stare. Sophia leaned in. ¡°Don¡¯t let it scare you,¡± she whispered. ¡°All bark, all noise. That¡¯s this family¡¯s specialty.¡± ¡°But they still bite?¡± She smirked. ¡°Oh, absolutely.¡± 0.00% 15:40 We climbed the steps, the group slowly spreading out as attendants offered refreshments and warm towels. Liam walked a few paces ahead, calm and self¨Cassured. Kelvin lingered just behind, casually charming a staff member with a crooked smile. Then the front doors swung open, and with them, the entire mood transformed. ¡°Emily!¡± A woman with sun¨Ckissed skin and warm chestnut curls came gliding out like joy in motion, arms wide, a smile even wider. I blinked. ¡°Oh..¡± Before I could fully react, she pulled me into a hug that smelled like jasmine and lemon blossoms. ¡°I¡¯m so thrilled to finally meet you!¡± she gushed, holding me at arm¡¯s length to take a good look. ¡°You¡¯re even more gorgeous than Sophia said. And she usually undersells.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ Mrs. ck?¡± I managed, cheeks warming. ¡°You¡¯re incredibly beautiful, truly.¡± ¡°Oh, no. Please. Laura.¡± She waved a hand. ¡°Calling me Mrs. ck makes it sound like we¡® re at a shareholders meeting. We¡¯re on vacation, sweetheart!¡± Liam stepped forward, visibly ufortable. ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± she said, feigning innocence. ¡°You won¡¯t answer a single question a1 ut her, and now I¡¯m not allowed to be excited?¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel Heat rushed to my face. Sophia covered her mouth, barely holding back augh. Jay muttered, ¡°This is the best day of my life.¡± Laura linked her arm through mine. ¡°Come on, sweetheart. You¡¯re one of us now. You can¡¯t feed this zoo for ten days and not be inducted.¡± I let her guide me through a grand foyer, past impossibly tall ceilings and corridors that belonged in design magazines. The house smelled like orchids, citrus, and polished wood. The sunroom had been transformed into a brunch haven. Towers of fresh fruit, chef¨Cmanned omelet stations, rows of golden pastries, and champagne chilled in crystal flutes. Soft piano 31.41% 15:40 music floated through the room. Everything glittered. Everything felt surreal. Kelvin was already there, casually pulling out the seat beside me before I could choose one. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Figured you could use a familiar face.¡± I sat, trying to y it cool. ¡°Thanks.¡± Sophia took a seat across from us, amusement all over her face. Liam sat diagonally across, his expression unreadable. His eyes rarely left me, 1 felt them more than I saw them. Family members trickled in one by one, each introduction more dazzling than thest. Liam¡¯s father, Henry, sat at the head of the table¨Cquiet, sharp¨Ceyed, and still as a storm before rain. Then came Uncle Oliver,manding and charming, the man who ran the family¡¯s international investments. His handshake felt like a deal being made. Kelvin¡¯s brothers followed. Four in total. One carried a camera, one read a newspaper like we were background noise, one gave me a once¨Cover like I was wall art, and one nodded politely and said, ¡°Wee.¡± I liked that one. The conversation was warm on the surface butced with questions. I could feel it. The subtle curiosity, the assessments. I was being sorted, weighed, filed away. Except by Laura, who never stopped gushing. ¡°She¡¯s a delight,¡± she said cheerfully to the table. ¡°And she makes chocteva cakes from scratch. I¡¯ve decided we¡¯re keeping her.¡± Liam nced down at his te. Kelvin chuckled. ¡°Guess we¡¯re not the only ones under her spell.¡± 68.94% Chef Novel 38 Chapter 38 I stiffened. My mimosa nearly toppled. Sophia coughed into her hand. ¡°Pineapple skewers, anyone?¡± Kelvin leaned closer, his elbow brushing mine. ¡°Just being honest.¡± Jay sipped his drink. ¡°Brunch has never been this fun.¡± I tried to stay calm. Pretend I wasn¡¯t burning under Liam¡¯s stare. Or noticing the Kelvin way kept angling his chair a little closer. It was subtle, but deliberate. Then Uncle Oliver cleared his throat. ¡°One quick announcement before we all scatter,¡± he said, folding his hands. ¡°The vi is ready. Starting tonight, we¡¯ll all be staying here at the estate. Luggage will be moved this afternoon.¡± The table quieted. Oliver continued, calm and methodical. ¡°Room assignments are done. Liam, you¡¯re in the east wing suite. Emily, the sunrise room, just across the hall. Sophia, you¡¯re back in the garden suite.¡± I blinked. Across from Liam? Kelvin raised a brow. ¡°Interesting pairing.¡± Liam didn¡¯t respond. Sophia leaned forward, grinning. ¡°This just keeps getting better.¡± Laura pped. ¡°Perfect! That way, Emily can pop over anytime for snacks or chats. Liam won¡¯t mind.¡± I wanted to crawl under the table. 0.00% 15:40 Oliver, oblivious or indifferent, simply nodded. ¡°Sorted. Now, let¡¯s enjoy the rest of breakfast.¡± Kelvin leaned toward me, voice low and teasing. ¡°I¡¯ll help you get settledter. Make sure they don¡¯t put you in a room with weird humming walls. There¡¯s one like that.¡± I opened my mouth to respond, but Liam jumped in before I could get a word out. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± He stood, tall and sure, napkin set firmly on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t raised. But it was final. He wasn¡¯t looking at Kelvin. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN()vel He was looking at me. And just like that, the air in the room changed. Every nce shifted. Every breath felt sharp. I nodded, unable to speak. Kelvin didn¡¯t press, but the slight twitch in his jaw gave him Sophia looked like she was about to explode with glee. away. Jay raised his champagne ss. ¡°Now this¡­ this is entertainment.¡± Day one in paradise, and the battle lines were already drawn. Wee to St. Barts. The brunch buzz had barely faded when I realized I¡¯d left my purse back at the sunroom. Typical. I had been too flustered during brunch, trying not to pass out under Liam¡¯s gaze or get caught in Kelvin¡¯s orbit, to remember something as basic as a handbag. I sighed and turned back toward the estate. The walk through the tiled corridors was quiet. Most of the family had scattered, some retreating to their rooms, others lounging by the pool. The silence stretched around me like a 24.39% 15:40 288 Vouchers velvet curtain, the kind that made your own thoughts louder. My heels clicked lightly against the marble as I moved quickly, hoping no one would notice me retracing my steps like a confused guest in a luxury showroom. Just as I neared the hallway leading to the sunroom, a voice stopped me in my tracks. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t say that. You¡¯re twisting my words again, Linda.¡± It was sharp. Frustrated. Familiar. I paused, half¨Cshielded behind one of the massive columns. My eyes caught the edge of the veranda where Noah, Liam¡¯s cousin, stood with his phone pressed to his ear, pacing like a storm trapped in a bottle. ¡°You don¡¯t get to disappear for two days and then call me like nothing happened,¡± he snapped. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time, and I¡¯m tired of pretending I¡¯m the only one trying.¡± He stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. I shouldn¡¯t be listening. But there was something raw about his voice. Something that made walking away feel wrong. His tone softened, just barely. ¡°I love you, okay? That¡¯s not the issue. But I can¡¯t propose to someone who vanishes every time we have a real conversation.¡± Proposal? So this was the girlfriend. The one he was supposed to propose to during the trip. The one that hadn¡¯t shown up yet. He exhaled, the sound heavy. ¡°You know what, Linda? Just¡­ figure yourself out. I¡¯ll be here when you do.¡± The call ended. He stood still, phone dangling loosely in his hand, shoulders hunched. Then he turned and saw me. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, not startled. Just resigned. ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, stepping fully into view. ¡°I was just¡­ heading back. Forgot my purse.¡± He gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°This house cats belongings. Happens to the best of us. I hesitated. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop.¡± ¡°No one ever does,¡± he said, slipping his phone into his pocket. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t stop it from 54.71% 15:40 1 288 ?Vouchertt happening.¡± A pause passed. Then, unexpectedly, he tilted his head, eyes narrowing just a little. ¡°Why are women soplicated?¡± I blinked. ¡°Loaded question.¡± He chuckled quietly. ¡°Yeah, I guess. You just seem like someone who¡¯d actually give me a real answer. And you¡¯re not emotionally invested in my chaos, so¡­ feels safe.¡± §° 92.97% Chef Novel 39 I leaned casually against the archway. ¡°Maybe women aren¡¯tplicated. Maybe men just don¡¯t listen enough.¡± He winced. ¡°Touch¨¦.¡± ¡°Hey, you asked.¡± Heughed again. This time it reached his eyes. ¡°Fair.¡± We stood there, both of us a little more rxed. ¡°She seemed important to you,¡± I said softly. ¡°She is,¡± he replied. ¡°But I think I¡¯m holding on to the version of her I met years ago. Not the one she¡¯s bing.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°That happens more than people admit.¡± He looked at me then, something honest and grateful in his expression. ¡°You¡¯re good at this. Listening.¡± ¡°upational hazard. People spill their guts when you feed them.¡± ¡°Well¡­ thanks,¡± he said. ¡°For not pretending you didn¡¯t hear anything. Or bolting.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± I smiled. ¡°But if anyone asks, I was absolutely here for my purse.¡± He grinned wider. ¡°Deal.¡± We parted at the stairwell. My purse was right where I left it, tucked beneath the brunch table, hiding in in sight like some metaphor I wasn¡¯t ready to unpack. As I made my way back toward my room, Noah¡¯s words yed over in my mind. Love changes. Or maybe people do. Either way, nothing about rtionships is ever simple. I should know better by now. I reached my room, shut the door quietly behind me, and leaned back against it, exhaling 0.00% 15:40 Chapter 39 288 Vouchers hard. Finally, alone. Or so I thought. A knock came barely five secondster. I cracked the door open an inch. Liam. He stood there like he had all the time in the world, sleeves rolled up, one hand in his pocket. That maddening mix of salt air and cologne clung to him like a dare. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± he asked, tone deceptively casual. I stepped aside without saying a word. ed in slowly, his gaze flicking across the room beforending on me. on¡¯t listen to Kelvin,¡± he said quietly. I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh really? And why should I listen to you?¡± ¡°You know why.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Maybe enlighten me.¡± He took a step closer. Just one. But it was enough. ¡°Because he¡¯s not the one who makes your heart race like this,¡± Liam said, his voice low and unflinching. ¡°He¡¯s not the one your eyes keep searching for in a room. He¡¯s not the one your mouth parts for¡­ like it¡¯s waiting for something only I can give.¡± My breath stalled. Everything inside me went still. He leaned in. Closer now. ¡°I¡¯d bet anything your panties are soaked right now. I shook my head, Weak. Reflex more than conviction. His head tilted, lips brushing dangerously close to mine. 28.35% 15:40 288 (Vouchers ¡°Want me to confirm that?¡± His hand brushed against my hip, fingers sliding just under the hem of my dress. Just enough to make me forget how to breathe. But before he could go any further¡­.. ¡°Emily!¡± Sophia¡¯s voice rang out like a fire rm from down the hallway. ¡°You are not skipping family cocktails! Move your ass!¡± We both froze. He pulled back slowly, running a hand through his hair with a dryugh. ¡°Well,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°Guess it¡¯s your lucky day.¡® ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel I smirked. ¡°You look heartbroken.¡± ¡± He gave me a look that should¡¯vee with a warningbel. ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t over.¡± And then he was gone. Calm. Controlled. Like he hadn¡¯t just shattered me with a few words and one almost¨Ctouch. I stared at the door long after it closed. Sophia really had the worst timing. I didn¡¯t know whether to thank her or strangle her. Ugh. The estate looked like something out of a luxury magazine that evening. The back patio had been transformed. Fairy lights twisted around palm trunks, gold¨Crimmed champagne flutes glinting under softnterns, and the gentle hum of jazz from a live trio tucked near the fountain. Ocean breeze, scented candles, and too many beautiful people in one ce. It was almost annoying how rich the air felt. I arrivedte with Sophia. She¡¯d made me change twice before letting me out the door. She mentioned something about ¡°vacation fabulous, not wedding guest desperate.¡± I didn¡¯t even argue. I needed the distraction. The cousins were already gathering when we got there. Jay held court in the center of a circr lounge setup, sprawled across a curved couch like it was built just for him. Kelvin, 53.96% 15:41 288 iVouchers stunning in a dark short¨Csleeve button¨Cup that showed off his arms, wasughing with Leo and Owen near the bar. Leo looked like he walked off the cover of Vogue, and Owen had the unmistakable presence of someone who lived in deadlines and boardrooms. I spotted Liam instantly. He was seated on the low couch near Jay, one arm slung casually across the backrest. Next to him was an open space. As soon as he saw me, he tapped the seat beside him without saying a word. 89.82% 15:41 Chef Novel 40 The ne incident shed through my mind instantly. I shouldn¡¯t have obeyed as easily as I did. The second I sat, he leaned slightly into me. His cologne hit first. Fresh, woody, and far too addictive. He didn¡¯t say anything at first. Just sat back, sipping whiskey like the world owed him nothing and he had everything. Laughter echoed as cousins teased one another, trading old stories like priceless currency. The conversation moved around us like a breeze. I tried to focus on Jay¡¯s animated retelling of the time he and Sophia got grounded for sneaking out to a party and ended up crashing their father¡¯s favorite car. Then I felt it. Liam¡¯s fingers casually slid onto my thigh under the table. A quick squeeze. He didn¡¯t look at me. Didn¡¯t smirk. Just kept sipping his drink like he wasn¡¯t currently setting my nerve endings on fire. I bit the inside of my cheek and stared at Jay¡¯s gesturing hands. Breathe, Emil, You are not the type to fall apart over a thigh squeeze. And yet¡­ Another squeeze. Firmer this time. Still no expression from him. The game he was ying? Completely silent. Wickedly effective. ¡°I hate you,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°Do you?¡± he said, barely audible, not even turning his head. Before I could respond, Sophia nudged me. ¡°Oh look, Aunt Mel finally made it.¡± I turned just in time to see Oliver¡¯s wife, Melissa, glide in with the kind of grace only CEOs and ice queens seem to possess. Her white jumpsuit hugged her tall frame, hair slicked back, red lips sharp enough to cut ss. 0.00% 15:41 288 iVouchers ¡°Sorry, darlings,¡± she announced to no one in particr. ¡°Board meeting ran long.¡± ¡°Priorities,¡± Jay teased. ¡°We forgive you.¡± The parents didn¡¯t linger. As if on cue, they raised their sses, made vague jokes about ¡°letting the young ones have their fun,¡± and disappeared deeper into the estate. ?????? ???? FindN0vel ¡°Finally,¡± Sophia whispered beside me. ¡°Now we can actually be ourselves.¡± I leaned in. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Her brows lifted. ¡°When you ask like that, how can I say no?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up with Liam and Kelvin? I mean, the tension¡­¡± She sighed. ¡°Ugh. That old drama. It was about a girl. Or girls. I never got the full story. They had been inseparable once, until Uncle Oliver moved to the London office. After that, things were never quite the same. ¡°Did they fight?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Not a screaming match. More like a silent fracture. You know the type. No one talks about it, but it¡¯s always there.¡± I nced toward the two of them. Kelvin was now seated,ughing with Owen, while Liam remained cool beside me, expression unreadable. A part of me itched to dig deeper, but the look on Sophia¡¯s face said: Drop it. For now. Jay suddenly stood and raised his ss. ¡°Alright, people. Enough sipping and sulking. We¡¯re ying a game. Truth or Dare: Cousins Edition.¡± A few groans. Moreughter. Someone muttered, ¡°This won¡¯t end well.¡± We pushed the coffee tables aside to form a loose circle. Sophia plopped on the floor, dragging me down with her. Liam followed, of course, because of course he did. The questions started light. Leo admitted he¡¯d kissed two different bridesmaids at the same wedding. Owen confessed he once forged a doctor¡¯s note to skip Christmas dinner with an ex. Kelvin dared Jay to jump in the pool fully clothed. Jay looked ready to go for it, but Melissa¡¯s sharp warning from the balcony grounded him fast. I wasughing. Genuinely. Liam still had his hand on my thigh, but I¡¯d stopped trying to make sense of it. Let him y. I¡¯d y too. 33.93% 15:41 mind before you sleptst night?¡± I stiffened. Liam sipped from his ss, eyes fixed on me. ¡°You already know the answer.¡± A few chuckles. Sophia smirked. My heart? mmed into my ribs. I looked away before anyone could read my face. Across the circle, Noah had remained mostly quiet, nursing a drink and watching the game with half¨Cinterest. I remembered that phone call earlier. The way his voice cracked. The way he tried to pretend he wasn¡¯t unraveling. Just as he startedughing at one of Jay¡¯s dares, looking like he might finally be letting go, a buzz sounded at the main gate. All heads snapped in the direction of the gate. A secondter, the vi staff opened the front doors. And she walked in. Linda. She was exactly what I expected. Tall, elegant, impossibly put together in a cream dress that looked like it belonged on a Mn runway. ¡°LINDA!¡± Sophia jumped up with a squeal, arms outstretched. ¡°You made it!¡± 77.41% Chef Novel 41 Linda smiled, poised and perfect. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡± Jay gave a low whistle. ¡°Fashionablyte, huh?¡± As everyone rushed to greet her, I didn¡¯t look at Linda. I looked at Noah. He hadn¡¯t moved. Not even an inch. His eyes were locked on her, but there was no joy. No softness. Just that tight jaw, that still body, that internal war barely hidden under the surface. Sophia turned to me, whispering as Linda got swept into hugs, ¡°Well¡­ game night just got a sequel.¡± I nodded slowly, watching Noah fake a smile while his fingers clenched his ss like it might shatter. Love. It¡¯s crazy how something so beautiful can sometimes hurt so badly. After Linda¡¯s arrival, it was strangely calm for a few minutes. Maybe everyone noticed the not¨Cso¨Cwarm wee from Noah. But trust the ck kids never to let anything kill the vibe, especially on vacation. Sophia, Linda, and I naturally gravitated toward each other, three women in a sea of testosterone. We lounged on daybeds by the infinity pool, sipping from pineapple coconuts like we weren¡¯t mentally calcting everyone¡¯s emotional damage. Linda, to her credit, was charming. A little too polished, but still likable. Sheplimented my nails, asked Sophia for skincare tips, and recounted heryover disaster in Paris like it was a scene out of a rom. But even with all the effort, I couldn¡¯t ignore how still Noah had been since she showed up. Aloof. Quiet. Almost¡­ removed. Sophia noticed too. 0.00% 07:08 288 (Vouchers ¡°Alright, spill,¡± she said, setting her drink aside and turning to Linda. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel and Noah? That wee? The tension? Off the charts.¡± you Linda¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°It¡¯splicated.¡± Sophia didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Try me.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been¡­ off. For a while,¡± Linda admitted, her voice softer now. ¡°I thought this trip would fix things.¡± ¡°And?¡± I asked gently. She exhaled. ¡°He¡¯s not talking to me unless he has to. And even when he does, it¡¯s like I¡¯m a stranger.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything, but I nced across the patio. Noah was seated alone on the balcony above, staring out at the ocean with a half¨Cempty ss in his hand. He looked like a man trying to remember why he came. By dusk, the mood lightened. Leo, who I¡¯de to learn was the mischievous one among his brothers, decided to host a ¡°Couples¨CIn¨CCrime¡± mystery game: a chaotic mashup of charades, lies, and solving made¨Cup scandals. Way more fun than I expected. Sophia and I were used of smuggling diamonds in coconuts. Owen turned out to be the ¡°informant.¡± Jay faked his own ¡°death.¡± And Liam, of course, yed the poker¨Cfaced detective who arrested half of us just for fun. Liam and I kept our distance. No more secret thigh squeezes. But he kept ncing at me, his gaze sharp, unreadable. Kelvin, meanwhile, hovered nearby. Offering drinks. Making cheekyments. Iughed a little too hard at one of them, and I didn¡¯t miss the way Liam¡¯s expression changed. Later, I stepped out for air. I wasn¡¯t surprised to find Noah already outside, standing near the edge of the garden where the path dipped toward the beach. ¡°Hey,¡± I said softly, stepping beside him. ¡°Hey,¡± he replied without turning. ¡°I¡¯m guessing games aren¡¯t your thing.¡± 31 80% 07:08 : 288 (Vouchers He gave a hollow chuckle. ¡°Not the ones where I have to pretend everything¡¯s fine.¡± I paused. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± He hesitated. ¡°Do you always offer yourself to broken people?¡± ¡°Just the ones who sit alone at parties.¡± He finally looked at me. His eyes were tired. ¡°We used to be good. Linda and I. But now I don¡¯t even recognize what we¡¯re doing anymore.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been there,¡± I admitted. ¡°I thought proposing might fix it.¡± He shook his head with a dryugh. ¡°Stupid, right?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said gently. ¡°Hope isn¡¯t stupid. It just hurts when it falls apart.¡± He stared at me for a long moment, like he wanted to say more but didn¡¯t know how. Then he gave a small, grateful smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± Back at the patio, the game had fizzled out. People drifted off in twos and threes. Some to the hot tub, some toward the kitchen, others straight to bed. Liam stood across the space, his jaw tight as he watched meugh at something Kelvin said. I hadn¡¯t meant to push a button¡­ but part of me had. Just a little. He caught my eyes once, held them, then turned and walked off without a word. Sophia raised a brow. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I said. Though my pulse disagreed. Eventually, everyone called it a night. Everyone except Kelvin and me. We stayed outside. The night air had turned cool, thest of the candles flickering in the wind. I curled my legs under me on the lounge chair, sipping from a half¨Cmelted mojito. 07:08 Chef Novel 42 ¡°You really know how to get under his skin,¡± Kelvin said, smiling faintly. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the n.¡± ¡°Sure it wasn¡¯t.¡± I turned to him. ¡°What is it between you two, really?¡± His smile faded. He leaned back, eyes scanning the stars. ¡°Once upon a time,¡± he said, ¡°Liam and I were inseparable. Probably because we¡¯re close in age. I was the wild one, always up to something. But Liam? Liam was my shield. My ride¨Cor- die.¡± He paused, as if sifting through a memory he didn¡¯t quite want to touch. Then continued. ¡°In senior high, there was this girl. I was crazy about her. I thought it was obvious. I didn¡¯t think I had to spell it out. I assumed Liam knew. Assumed he¡¯d never cross that line.¡± My stomach tensed. ¡°She liked him,¡± Kelvin said tly. ¡°And he liked her back. They started dating eventually. I found out a weekter.¡± I said nothing. The pain in his voice said enough. ¡°I was livid. Felt betrayed. So¡­ I turned to Mia.¡± ¡°Mia?¡± I asked gently. ¡°His best friend. Basically his sister. Sweet. Na?ve. She always had a thing for me. I knew it. I used it. Started a fling, not because I liked her, but because I wanted Liam to feel what I felt.¡± I swallowed. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We slept together. She thought it meant something. I let her believe it. Then pushed her away when she got too close.¡± 0.00%%% 07:08 288 (Vouchers My heart sank. ¡°She was devastated. Her parents moved after that. Liam¡­ he never looked at me the same again.¡± ¡°And the girl who started it all?¡± I asked. Kelvin gave a bitter chuckle. ¡°A gold¨Cdigger. Liam overheard her telling friends she finally bagged the ¡®richer and cuter ck cousin.¡°¡± ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°Yeah. We left for Ennd shortly after. There was never a chance to really fix it. I don¡¯t think he will ever forgive me.¡± I let the silence stretch. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± He took a long breath. ¡°Yeah. I do. But regret doesn¡¯t erase the damage.¡± Discover more novels at find?novel ¡°Do you want to fix it?¡± Kelvin looked at me, his eyes clear, but tired. ¡°It¡¯s not happening on this trip.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± He studied me for a second, then spoke, voice low. ¡°Because it¡¯s d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Only this time¡­ we both have eyes on the same woman. Air stalled in my lungs. And for once, I had nothing clever to say. ¡± Kelvin¡¯s confession brought our conversation to an abrupt halt. I offered him a quick goodnight and practically fled, my brain still doing cartwheels. ¡°Only this time¡­ we both have eyes on the same woman. God help me return to L.A. as a sane woman after this vacation. I shut the door to my room gently, already reaching for themp switch, when a voice in the dark stole the breath right out of me. 07:08 11 288 Nouchers ¡°Did you enjoy yourself?¡± I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. ¡°Jesus, Liam, what the hell?!¡± He was seated in the corner, arms crossed, his face shadowed in the faint moonlight slipping through the balcony curtains. Still, that sharp edge in his voice cut clear. ¡°Answer the question.¡± I steadied my breath. ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± ¡°I could ask you the same thing,¡± he said, standing now. ¡°What were you doing with Kelvin for that long?¡± I blinked, caught between disbelief and irritation. ¡°Is it a crime to talk to people now?¡± He took a slow, deliberate step toward me. ¡°I remember telling you to stay away from him.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide who I talk to,¡± I snapped. ¡°I¡¯m a grown woman, Liam. Not your property.¡± He stopped a few feet away, his jaw tightening. ¡°You don¡¯t know him like I do.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not asking to,¡± I bit back. ¡°Whatever happened between you two? That¡¯s your baggage. Don¡¯t drag me into it.¡± Silence stretched between us, taut and heavy. The kind that choked more than it cleared. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± he muttered, shaking his head. ¡°You really don¡¯t see it, do you?¡± ¡°See what?¡± His lips pressed together like he was holding back something dangerous. But instead of saying it, he turned, yanked the door open, and looked over his shoulder. ¡°Goodnight, Emily.¡± The door mmed shut. I stared at the empty space where he stood, chest rising and falling in the quiet aftermath. I was too exhausted to chase storms tonight. He could take his fury and bottle it. I was done trying to read the clouds. 07:08 18 288 Wouchers The next morning, the sunshine was almost mocking in how bright it was, like the universe itself had no clue someone had emotionally sucker¨Cpunched me the night before. I joined the others for breakfast on the cast patio, hiding behind oversized sunsses and a breezy cover¨Cup. My soul still worest night¡¯s bruises. 07.08 Chef Novel 43 Liam was already there, reading something on his phone like he hadn¡¯t shattered the air in my room less than ten hours ago. Sunsses on, face nk. He didn¡¯t nce at me. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment. Fine. Kelvin, of course, was all sunshine and mischief. He was teasing Sophia, stealing fruit from Jay¡¯s te, cracking jokes like he was auditioning for his own Netflix special. Owen and Leo looked thoroughly entertained. I noticed Noah and Linda were missing, which didn¡¯t surprise me. Whatever was happening, or not happening between them wasn¡¯t over. Liam¡¯s father and his brother were deep in a conversation that had the air of business strategy, seemingly oblivious to the family fireworks happening around them. Meanwhile, Laura and Melissa sat sipping coffee at the far end of the table, whispering with matching mischievous expressions. They reminded me of Sophia and Jay when they were plotting something ridiculous. They¡¯re only older, sharper, and probably far more dangerous. ¡°Morning,¡± I mumbled, sliding into a seat beside Sophia. She gave me a pointed look over the rim of her ss. We¡¯re talkingter kind of look. Kelvin leaned over from the other side. ¡°Rough night?¡± I smirked. ¡°You have no idea.¡± Liam¡¯s ss met the table with a little too much force. He didn¡¯t look up. I chose to ignore the theatrics. Too early. Too tired. I just wanted to finish my juice and survive the next few hours without bursting into mes. Sophia stretchedzily. ¡°By the way, we¡¯re doing a boat cruise today. Uncle Oliver¡¯s idea of letting us enjoy the ind.¡± Jay perked up. ¡°Please tell me there¡¯ll be a ylist. I¡¯m bringing the speaker.¡± 07:09 Sophia winked. ¡°Already loaded with heat.¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving in two hours,¡± she added. ¡°So bring sunscreen¡­ and drama.¡± Drama? Already packed and strapped to my back. The yacht waiting at the private dock was the kind of thing people charter once in their lifetime and post about for the rest of it. Sleek, white, with polished decks that gleamed under the Caribbean sun. It looked like it belonged in a music video¡­ or on Jay¡¯s Instagram, not mine. Discover more novels at findnovel I¡¯d changed into a white two¨Cpiece bikiniyered under a sheer, gold¨Ctoned beach dress. Not trying to prove anything. But I didn¡¯t exactly mind the effect either. Liam noticed. He didn¡¯t say anything, but his gaze dragged across me once, and it lingered. Slow. Assessing. Kelvin whistled low. ¡°Remind me again. How are you still single?¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just picky.¡± ¡°I like that in a woman.¡®¡± Jay was already in party mode, calling for drinks and setting up the speaker. Sophia dragged Linda into a mini selfie shoot. I snapped a few pictures myself and sent them to my mom and Lisa, proof that I was still breathing. Noah sat beneath the canopy, beer in hand, eyes shaded and distant. Still not smiling. The water sparkled like shattered diamonds. Laughter floated through the breeze. For a second, it all felt normal. Like maybe we were just a rich, happy family and not a ticking bomb of resentment and secrets. Later, while most of the others moved below deck for snacks, Kelvin and I lingered on the side of the boat, leaning over the rail. The wind whipped through my hair, and I tilted my head toward the sun, soaking in the warmth. Kelvin nudged me. ¡°You know what would make this trip legendary?¡± 07:09 1288 (Vouchers ¡°Oh no,¡± I said immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t even finish that thought.¡± ¡°Just a little ssh,¡± he teased. ¡°Nothing crazy.¡± ¡± He stepped closer, hands raised in mock menace. ¡°Kelvin!¡± Iughed, backing away. ¡°I swear, if you throw me overboard¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll say you slipped,¡± he grinned. ¡°identally. On purpose.¡± ¡°I will drag you down with me.¡± We were bothughing now. Loud, stupid and carefree. For a brief second, the world didn¡¯t feel like it was bncing on a knife¡¯s edge. Then I felt it. A hand gripped my arm, firm and possessive. ¡°Fun¡¯s over.¡± Liam. His voice wasn¡¯t raised, but it didn¡¯t need to be. There was steel in it. Kelvin straightened immediately, a flicker of tension crossing his face before he masked it with a smirk. ¡°Rx, cousin,¡± he said, tone breezy. ¡°We were just messing around.¡± Liam didn¡¯t even look at him. His eyes were locked on me. ¡°We need to talk.¡± I blinked. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for agreement. Just took my wrist, firm but not hurting, and led me across the deck, away from the rail, away from Kelvin, away from everything. I could feel Kelvin¡¯s stare burning into my back as we walked. 07:09 288 Vouchers Is it even possible to get through one day without chaos knocking on my door? Liam didn¡¯t say a word as he pulled me away from the side deck, gripping my wrist like I was some object he could just relocate when I annoyed him. 07.09 Chef Novel 44 We stopped near the bow of the boat, where the rest of the world felt miles away. The music was a faint hum now. All I could hear was my heartbeat, and his silence. He finally turned to face me. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he asked, voice low but tight. ¡°What was what?¡± I snapped, folding my arms. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, Emily. You know exactly what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°Do you mean the part where I wasughing? Or where I was having a good time, before you stormed in like a thundercloud?¡± His expression hardened. ¡°You know what Kelvin¡¯s doing. He¡¯s using you to get under my skin.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°So now I¡¯m a pawn? You don¡¯t get to y possessive one minute and then ice me out the next. It¡¯s exhausting, Liam.¡± He ran a hand through his hair, muttering curses under his breath. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t get it¡­ or are you just pretending not to?¡± ¡°God, no, I don¡¯t get anything!¡± I snapped. ¡°Because you¡¯re the one messing with my head! And I¡¯m tired, Liam. Tired of this game.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel I turned before he could reply, marching away toward the others with my head held high and my pulse screaming. I spent the next half hour avoiding Liam like he was andmine. One wrong step, and I¡¯d explode again. I stood by the railing, soaking in the sea breeze, trying to convince myself everything was fine. It wasn¡¯t. Not even close. Linda appeared beside me, holding out two sses of something fizzy. ¡°Drink this,¡± she said dryly. ¡°You look like you just fought off a shark,¡± 07.09 288 Vouchers I took one without hesitation and sipped. ¡°He¡¯s messing with my head,¡± I muttered. ¡°Liam. One minute he¡¯s all intense and the next he¡¯s acting like Imitted treason forughing.¡± Linda chuckled. ¡°Wee to the world of ck men. Emotional whish is their lovenguage.¡± I managed a small smile. ¡°He¡¯s driving me insane.¡± Linda gave me a sidelong nce. ¡°You think you¡¯ve got it bad? Noah and I¡­ we¡¯ve been coasting for months. Years, maybe. I don¡¯t even know when we stopped being us. I met her eyes, my voice low. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± She took a slow sip from her ss, then nodded. ¡°Sure. It¡¯s always work. Meetings. Travel. I talk, and he listens¡­sort of. But he never really hears me. After a while, I just felt like background noise.¡± ¡°Have you told him that?¡± She scoffed. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t?¡± I looked back at the ocean. ¡°Then maybe it¡¯s time you both start from scratch. Relearn each other. Communicate better. Speak the love n Linda went quiet, then smiled. ¡°You sound like someone who¡¯s figured that out. Iughed. ¡°Please. Look at the mess I¡¯m in. ¡± ¡°To rity,¡± she said, lifting her ss with a wry smile. We clinked lightly. After we docked, I tried sneaking off to my room, but Jay had other ns. He spotted me and immediately grabbed my hand. ¡°Nope. That look on your face? Uneptable. Come on.¡± 07:09 798 Vouchers ¡°Jay¡­¡± ¡°Nope,¡± he said cheerfully. ¡°You¡¯reing with me. You need to loosen up, drink something cold, and remember that you¡¯re on a damn ind vacation.¡± Before I could argue, he whisked me off to a cozy beach setup: throw nkets, soft lights, a portable speaker humming R&B, a mini firepit crackling in a steel bowl. A few cousins lounged barefoot with wine and beers. The air smelled like salt and citrus. I sighed, giving in, and sat down slowly. Jay handed me a cup. ¡°Now tell me I¡¯m not your favorite person here.¡± ¡°You were my first friend,¡± I said, smiling. ¡°Even though Sophia¡¯s officially snatched me ¡°She¡¯s evil like that,¡± he grinned. ¡°But I¡¯ll allow it.¡± He draped an arm around my shoulder dramatically. ¡°Now drink,ugh, and don¡¯t let the brooding storm cloud ruin your night.¡± ¡°} ¡°Toote.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t let Liam get in your head, Em. He¡¯s wired like a mystery novel written in reverse. And also? You¡¯re too cute to be this stressed.¡± I couldn¡¯t help theugh that slipped out. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± ¡°Exactly why I¡¯m valuable.¡± More cousins trickled in. The music got louder. Laughter flowed like the drinks. The mood lifted. Sophia danced barefoot with Leo. Linda sat close to the fire, watching it like it held answers. And just like that, it started to feel¡­ warm again. Then Kelvin dropped beside me with a teasing grin. ¡°Looks like someone found her spark again.¡± ¡°Might be the tequ,¡± I said. ¡°Nope. That was all me,¡± Jay chimed in. Kelvinunched into stories about Jay¡¯s teenage obsession with velvet tracksuits and how he once tried to teach a parrot to swear. Iughed until my face hurt. 07:09 Chef Novel 45 At some point, I leaned against Kelvin¡¯s shoulder without thinking. It felt natural. Not romantic, just¡­grounding. He pulled out his phone. ¡°We need photo proof. Come on, funny face.¡± I puffed my cheeks like a chipmunk while he crossed his eyes. We took two hideous selfies andughed. ¡°Now one where I kiss your cheek,¡± Kelvin said yfully. ¡°Just for the drama.¡± I rolled my eyes, still smiling. ¡°Fine. Make it fast.¡± But just as he leaned in, lips barely inches away, I was lifted. ¡°What the hell, Liam?!¡± My feet were off the ground. Arms under my knees and back. Bridal style. Kelvin¡¯s phone tumbled into the nket. Leo shouted something that sounded like ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Put me down!¡± I yelled. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± he said calmly, walking away from the group with me in his arms like I weighed nothing. ¡°Put me down!¡± ¡°No.¡± Laughter and noise swirled behind us, but the fire in my chest was louder. His arms were solid. His grip was firm. And his jaw was clenched like he was trying not to lose it. ¡°Put me down right now!¡± He didn¡¯t answer. Just kept walking through the vi like a man with one goal: istion. And apparently, that istion required me. I was fuming. I kicked once, pointlessly. His grip didn¡¯t even flinch. 07:09 288 Vouchers He pushed open a door with his foot. It swung open smoothly, and I realized we weren¡¯t just heading anywhere. We were in his room. He set me down on my feet, finally, and closed the door behind us with a soft click. His room was¡­ immacte. Sparkling clean. Dark wood floors, white linen sheets perfectly smoothed. A tray of untouched bottled water sat on the nightstand, beside a leather¨Cbound notebook and a digital clock that blinked softly. ¡°Really?¡± I snapped. ¡°You¡¯re dragging me to your room like I¡¯m some¡­¡± ¡°Stop.¡± His voice was low. Rough. I blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Stop,¡± he repeated, stepping closer. ¡°Whatever game you¡¯re ying¡­ you¡¯ve won. Okay?¡± I stared at him. ¡°What game?!¡± He ran a hand through his hair, pacing. ¡°Laughing with Kelvin. The damn selfies. Letting him touch you like that. It¡¯s messing with my head, Emily.¡® ¡± ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t ying any game,¡± I shot back. ¡°Maybe I was just trying to enjoy a night you already ruined.¡± He turned to me sharply. ¡°You think I wanted to ruin it?¡± ¡°You think you get to decide what I do, who I talk to, and how I should behave?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know what else to do!¡± he snapped. ¡°I saw you with him and I just..¡± ¡°What? Got jealous?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. His hands curled into fists. Jaw locked. Chest heaving. I stepped closer. ¡°You don¡¯t get to ice me out and then go caveman when someone else gives me attention.¡± ¡°I know that,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°But it still drives me insane. Silence stretched between us. Taut. Loaded. 07:09 11 224 Voucherd One heartbeat. Then another. And suddenly, we collided. His mouth crashed into mine like it had been waiting all day for this exact explosion. No soft build¨Cup. Just heat. Need. Fire. I kissed him back, hands gripping his shirt, dragging him closer. He pressed me into the door, lips hot on my neck. I clung to him, breathless. Wanting more His hands slid under the hem of my beach cover¨Cup, finding bare skin. Clothes shifted. Breathing turned ragged. He kissed down my neck, and my knees almost gave out. ¡°Emily,¡± he breathed. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± My hands gripped the edge of his shirt, about to lift it, when¡­ Beep. We both froze. My phone buzzed again. Liam pulled back, reluctantly. I fished out my phone. A text from Sophia. Sophia: Just sleep with him already and stop torturing each other. The whole vi can feel the sexual tension. I blinked. ¡°Sophia sent a message,¡± I muttered. His lips curved, just slightly. ¡°She¡¯s got impable timing.¡± I exhaled, still breathless. ¡°I need new friends.¡± He stared at me a second longer, then whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not sorry.¡± ¡± 07:09 11 248 wher Neither was I But I stepped back anyway, heart still pounding. ¡°I should go.¡± He didn¡¯t stop me this time. Just watched as I slipped out, my heartbeat still pounding in my cars and Sophia¡¯s text still lit up on my screen like a neon sign I couldn¡¯t unread When I finally made it back to my room after the whirlwind that was Liam ck, I copsed onto the bed like a sack of emotional chaos. My lips still tingled from the kiss, and my heart hadn¡¯t gotten the memo that the moment was over. I flung one arm over my face and groaned into the air. Then my phone buzzed again. Sophia: ¡°Don¡¯t forget to use protection. Goodnight, lovebirds.¡± I dropped my phone face down on the bed and groaned louder. 07:09 Chef Novel 46 I was a mess, emotionally, mentally, and maybe even hormonally. A part of me wished things had gone further. Another part, probably the more rational one, was grateful Sophia¡¯s message came when it did. If Liam had pulled away the next day, or worse, acted like nothing happened¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have survived the humiliation. Not while we were still stuck in each other¡¯s space on this ind. I sighed, picked up my phone again, and scrolled aimlessly until Lisa¡¯s name popped up with a row of heart¨Ceyed emojis and voice notes reacting to the yacht pictures I¡¯d sent earlier. Lisa: ¡°Girl. Are you in a MOVIE? That view?? That bikini??¡± Lisa: ¡°Who is that tall ss of melted chocte behind you? Please tell me he¡¯s single.¡± Lisa: ¡°If you don¡¯t FaceTime me in the next ten minutes, we¡¯re fighting.¡± Iughed, my heart already a little lighter. I tapped the video icon and propped the phone against my water bottle. Lisa¡¯s face lit up my screen, her wild curls in a pineapple bun and her bedroom a chaotic mess behind her. ¡°There she is!¡± she squealed. ¡°Miss Tropics herself. Girl, you¡¯re glowing. Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s just salt air and pineapple juice.¡± I snorted. ¡°Hi to you too.¡± She narrowed her eyes, like she could read my entire life through the screen. ¡°Now spill. You look like you justmitted a sin or came close to one.¡± So, I told her everything. The flirting, the tension, the kiss, the almost¨Csex. Her eyes widened by the second. ¡°We almost did it,¡± I admitted. ¡°Like¡­ it was close. Scary close. And honestly? I wanted it.¡± Lisa blinked once. Then grinned. ¡°My baby¡¯s finally living.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± I muttered, grabbing a pillow. 07:09 ¡°I¡¯m serious. You¡¯ve been giving me crumbs about this Liam guy for days. And now you¡¯re talking yachts, kisses, and emotional wreckage?Em, I¡¯m proud.¡± I sighed, weary to my bones. ¡°I¡¯m scared it¡¯ll ruin everything. We¡¯ve still got days left here. What if it gets awkward?¡± Lisa leaned into the camera. ¡°Sweetheart. It¡¯s already awkward. Just have sex with him and stop letting your anxiety make the rules.¡± I nearly choked, ¡°Wow¡­ not even a little sugarcoating?¡± ¡°You¡¯re spending all this energy thinking about what could go wrong. What if it goes right? I hesitated. ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then you move on knowing you lived. But right now, you¡¯re ying mental gymnastics with someone you obviously want. Just go with the flow. Enjoy the moment. Worry about consequences if theye.¡± I smiled and touched the screen. ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I know. Now go sleep. You need your beauty rest if you¡¯re going to be wrestling billionaire guilt tomorrow. We said goodnight, and I curled into bed. Sleep came quickly, dragging me under like a tide. For more chapters visit FindN()vel It felt like I had just closed my eyes when I sensed someone hovering. Too close. Too smiley. I yelped and sat up. ¡°Jesus, Sophia!¡± She beamed down at me like the ghost of sleepovers past. ¡°You¡¯re alive. Thank God. I was starting to think Liam killed you with pleasure.¡± I grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked her. ¡°Don¡¯t ever wake me like that again. You nearly gave me a stroke.¡± ¡°Come on. Spill. Did it happen?¡± 07:09 288 Vouchers I squinted. ¡°Why are you asking like it¡¯s a gossip column and not your brother?¡± ¡°Because I have no shame and I live for the thrill.¡± ¡°Well, sorry to disappoint. Nothing happened.¡± She groaned. ¡°Ugh. You two are dragging this like it¡¯s a slow¨Cburn novel.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re reading too fast.¡± Sophia stood and stretched dramatically. ¡°Fine. Get up, sleeping beauty. We¡¯re doing girls¡® day out. You, me, Linda, Mom, and Melissa.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Your mother and Melissa areing?¡± ¡°Yes. They asked to join. Shocking, I know. Don¡¯t stress, they¡¯re actually fun. Reluctantly, I got up, showered, curled my hair, and slid into a soft floral sundress. By the time I met the girls downstairs, I was d I came. The energy was¡­ light. Easy. Even with Laura and Melissa. We piled into a luxury van and headed into Gustavia. The town was stunning, sun¨Csoaked streets, designer boutiques by the marina, soft breeze scented with sea salt and high¨Cend perfume. And surprisingly, Laura and Melissa were down to earth. They teased each other like sisters and gave brutally honest opinions about handbags. Sophia tried on every hat in one boutique. Linda vanished into racks of pastel dresses. Laura and Melissa kept cracking jokes and grabbing iced teas like it was any random afternoon in
  1. LA.
At one point, while Sophia was busyparing sandals, Laura leaned closer. ¡°You seem distracted.¡± Melissa joined in. ¡°She¡¯s thinking about him.¡± I froze. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Oh please,¡± Laura said, sipping her drink. ¡°Sweetheart, we¡¯re not blind. Liam¡¯s been on edge since day one. And you? You¡¯re the reason.¡± Chef Novel 47 ¡°You should see your face,¡± Melissa teased. ¡°You go red every time he so much as nces your way.¡± ¡°I do not.¡± ¡°You so do.¡± Before I could say anything else, Sophia reappeared waving a shoe like a trophy. ¡°Emergency! I need a vote.¡± We all cracked up. After a few more stores, we ducked into a quieter shop lined with handmade jewelry and small leather goods. That¡¯s when I saw it, a simple leather bracelet, sleek and understated. with a small silverpass charm. Something about it screamed Liam. Sharp. Refined. Quietly powerful. Before I could talk myself out of it, I bought it. Wrapped it discreetly and tucked it in the bottom of my tote. I told myself I wasn¡¯t being obvious. I was wrong. As we were leaving the store, Laura slowed her pace to walk beside me. She gave me a knowing look and spoke softly. ¡°You should give it to him.¡± I blinked, ¡°Give what?¡± She raised a brow. ¡°Emily.¡± I groaned. ¡°Was I that obvious?¡± 07:09 Chapter 47 Readplete version only at find¡¤novel 11 288 Vouchers Laura just smiled. ¡°Not to everyone. But¡­ maybe just enough.¡± Then she winked and strolled ahead like she hadn¡¯t just ruined my whole stealth operation. So much for being discreet. When we got back to the vi, everyone slowly disappeared, either to their rooms or to unwind in their own corners. I made it almost all the way to my door before I paused. The bracelet. Still tucked at the bottom of my tote bag, hidden like a secret I wasn¡¯t sure I should share. If I didn¡¯t give it to him now, I probably never would. I could already hear Lisa in my head yelling at me to grow a pair. So, instead of turning right to my room, I turned left and made my way to Liam¡¯s. I was halfway there when Leo stepped out of Liam¡¯s door, phone in hand. He spotted me and smirked. ¡°Delivering a love letter or sneaking in for a little action?¡± he teased. I rolled my eyes, heat creeping up my neck. ¡°Neither. Just minding my business. You should try it sometime.¡± He gave me a mock bow and sauntered off, humming something off¨Ckey. I knocked lightly before pushing the door open. Liam was inside, seatedfortably on the edge of his couch. He wore a loose ck tee that hugged his arms just enough to be distracting, and a pair of gray joggers that rested low on his hips. His hair was slightly tousled, like he¡¯d run his fingers through it one too many times, and the soft golden light spilling from the sidemp made him look¡­ almost unreal. Casual. Masculine. Effortlessly hot. He was on the phone, but the moment he saw me, his eyes locked in like I was the only thing that mattered. Surprise flickered in his gaze, followed by something warmer, deeper. I hesitated. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were on a call. I cane back.¡± He raised one hand, motioning me to stay, then pointed to the bed. I obeyed, slipping inside quietly and sitting down. His gaze tracked my every movement. 07:09 11 Then, still watching me, he ended the call ¡°I have to call you bank Sonoething uns important just came up.¡± The way he said it made my chest flutter like I¡¯d swallowed batterthes He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. ¡°To what do one this surprise I reached into my tote bag, my fingers brushing the will wrap of the tiny box ¡°I saw thes today¡­ and you came to mind. So I bought it for you.¡± He raised an eyebrow and took the box from my hand, undoing the ribbon with deliberae slowness. When he opened it and saw the bracelet, his expression shifted. Something softened behind those sharp eyes. ¡°You thought about me,¡± he said, not a question. I fumbled. ¡°I mean, not in a weird way, Just¡­ it reminded me of you. Rugged, Quiet. Kinda moody,¡± That made himugh. A real, low, throatyugh that curled its way through my bloodstream ¡°You¡¯re terrible atpliments,¡± he said, still smiling. ¡°But I love it.¡± He looked back at the bracelet, brushing his thumb over thepass charm. ¡°It¡¯s perfect Thank you.¡± Then, softly, ¡°Will you? Put it on me?¡± I blinked, ¡°You want me to¡­?¡± He lifted his wrist toward me, eyes steady. My fingers shook a little as I fastened the leather around his wrist. His skin was warm. And he didn¡¯t take his eyes off me once. When it was done, I let go too quickly, trying to get some air back into my lungs. ¡°Okay That¡¯s it. I¡¯ll let you get back to work or whatever.¡± He stood with me. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± 07.09 Chef Novel 48 I shrugged. ¡°Long day. I¡¯m tired. Sunshine. Shopping. Your sister¡¯s version of cardio He walked to his dresser and pulled out a folded tee and soft ck shorts. He walked back and handed them to me. ¡°Change into this. Sleep here.¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re tired. You should rest. ¡± I stared at him. ¡°My room is literally across the hall.¡± Find the newest release on FindN0vel ¡°I know,¡± he said, like it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°But I want you here.¡± Oh. I took the clothes and ducked into his bathroom before I could say anything embarrassing. When I stepped out again, his shirt swallowed me. The scent that clung to the fabric was unmistakably his: clean, spicy, and fresh. I wasn¡¯t prepared for what it did to me. Liam looked up from where he was straightening the sheets. His gaze moved slowly down my body, then back up again. ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± I said. ¡°I know,¡± he said, not even pretending otherwise. ¡°Come lie down.¡± I slid under the covers. He flipped off the lights and settled beside me. His arm brushed mine, but he didn¡¯t push further. ¡°Go to sleep, Emily,¡± he whispered. And somehow, with his warmth beside me, his scent wrapped around me, I did. 07:10 Chapter 48 Zna fruthay I woke to a gentle tap on my shoulder. ¡°Emily. Wake up.¡± Liam¡¯s voice. Soft. Teasing. I blinked up at him, bleary¨Ceyed. He was already dressed, hair a little messier than earlier, but somehow still effortlessly put together. ¡°Sophia¡¯s on a hunt,¡± he said, amused. ¡°She¡¯s already calling your name. If she finds you in my bed, you¡¯ll never hear the end of it.¡± I groaned. ¡°Oh god.¡± We stepped out just in time. By the time we made it to the vi¡¯s backyard, it had transformed. A white screen stretched between two palm trees. Lanterns and fairy lights twinkled in the trees above. Plush floor cushions and throws were scattered around a low wooden table stacked with snacks and drinks. Sophia spotted us and grinned wide. Leo¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°Well, well. Is that Emily in Liam¡¯s shirt? Should we p or respectfully mind our business?¡± Kelvin looked up from his seat, a drink in hand. His jaw ticked, just slightly, before he masked it with a sip of wine. I slid in beside Sophia, who leaned in, eyes sparkling. ¡°So¡­ did you finally take the ride, or are we still pretending you¡¯re innocent?¡± I elbowed her. ¡°Shut up. We just slept.¡± ¡°In his shirt though? That¡¯s more intimate than sex. ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡± Kelvin eventually made his way to my side and dropped onto the cushion next to me. Without asking, he ced a nket over my legs and handed me a bowl of popcorn. ¡°Sharing is caring, remember?¡± he said with a small smile. Before I could respond, a shadow fell over us. 07:10 11 296 Mauchers Liam. He said nothing at first, just stared. Kelvin met his gaze coolly. ¡°Problem?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sitting with me.¡± Kelvin raised a brow. ¡°Last I checked, she¡¯s single. That means she gets to decide where she sits.¡± ¡°Guys,¡± I tried. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Liam stepped closer. ¡°I¡¯m not arguing with you.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kelvin said, rising, ¡°you¡¯re trying to control what isn¡¯t yours.¡± Jay raised a finger like a referee. ¡°Wait, hold on. I need to write this down. This could be my next single.¡± Leo added, ¡°Seriously. Who needs a movie when the drama¡¯s unfolding right in front of us?¡± Sophia stood between them. ¡°Okay. diators. Sit your fine asses down.¡± I reached for Liam¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Come on. He let me pull him aside to a quiet spot near the edge of the setup. We sat, the flicker of movie light dancing across our skin. He leaned in, mouth brushing my ear. ¡°You don¡¯t get to wear my clothes, look like that, and sit next to another man. I shivered. ¡°You belong here,¡± he murmured. ¡°With me.¡± My heart? Yeah. Definitely exploded. ¡± The morning sunlight poured in through the massive windows of the vi, wrapping the breakfast table in a soft,zy glow. tes clinked, forks scraped against omelets, and a gentle breeze rustled the linen curtains. I was stirring my tea absentmindedly when Liam walked in. He looked like sin, dressed in white shirt casually unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up to 07:10 724 Mouchers reveal strong forearms, and damp hair tousled from the shower. But that wasn¡¯t what caught everyone¡¯s attention. It was the bracelet. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Sophia said, eyes narrowing. She leaned forward, squinting like she was solving a crime. ¡°Is that¡­ the bracelet from Gustavia? Emily, didn¡¯t you buy that yesterday?¡± I nearly dropped my spoon. All eyes turned to me. Across the table, Laura raised a perfectly sculpted brow and took a slow sip of her coffee. Her smirk said it all: Well, I¡¯m not the only one who noticed. Chef Novel 49 I tried tough it off, reaching for my juice. ¡°Must be a coincidence.¡± Liam,pletely unfazed, slid into the seat beside me and rested an arm behind my chair ¡°Or maybe the real problem is what your mind wants you to believe,¡± Jay let out augh. ¡°Sure, bro. That bracelet just magically appeared on your wrist overnight Right.¡± ¡°Magic exists,¡± Leo added, grinning. I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. After breakfast, I tried to slip away unnoticed, but Kelvin appeared beside me like a shadow ¡°So¡­ gifts now? Where¡¯s mine?¡± he asked, smirking. I groaned, rolling my eyes. ¡°When I see something that screams ¡®Kelvin,¡® I¡¯ll think about it. He clutched his chest like I¡¯d wounded him. ¡°You wound me. You give Liam the rugged- leather treatment, and I get crumbs? Harsh.¡± I nudged him yfully. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± Liam had been nearby the whole time, we just didn¡¯t know it. As Kelvin walked off, Liam stepped behind me and gently pulled me back against his chest. I shot him a questioning look. He leaned in, voice low. ¡°You don¡¯t need to think about anyone else. The only man you¡¯re meant to buy gifts for is me.¡± Then he turned and walked away. How did buying a simple bracelet spiral into¡­ whatever this is? Somehow, we all ended up at the beach. The sun was high, the sand hot under our feet, and the moodpetitive in the best way. 07:10 11 206 Vabelian Someone set up a volleyball right in front of the vi, and before we knew it, teams were forming, Leo dered himself referee plete with a whistle and a ridiculous straw hat), and the game was on. Melissa and Laura opted out, choosing instead to sunbathe nearby with cocktails and offer loudmentary like overenthusiastic ser moms. The team selection? Hrious. Liam wanted me on his team. Kelvin also wanted me. Owen loudly insisted he¡¯d rather y barefoot on hot coals than be on Jay¡¯s team again. Apparently, Jay had some infamous volleyball disaster history. So we drew cards. Team 1: Sophia, Jay, Kelvin, and me. Team 2: Liam, Owen, Linda, and Noah. Kelvin grinned like he¡¯d won a prize. Liam¡­ not so much. ¡°Let¡¯s crush them!¡± Sophia shouted, pulling her hair into a messy bun. ¡°Try not to eat sand when we win,¡± Linda shot back. Kelvin served first, and nearly took Noah¡¯s head off. ¡°Dude!¡± Noah flinched. ¡°This isn¡¯t dodgeball!¡± The game turned into glorious chaos. Sophia was unexpectedly vicious, diving like a pro. Liam was annoyingly good, gliding across the sand with ease. Jay¡­ well, he mostly danced in ce and shouted encouragement like a motivational speaker. I held my own, got a few good serves in, managed a surprise spike that made Liam¡¯s jaw twitch. But then came my big moment¡­ or rather, my big fall. I lunged for a save, missed, and tumbled straight into the shallow end of the water with a dramatic ssh. Everyone burst intoughter. ¡°I¡¯ve seen dolphins dive better!¡± Kelvin hollered. I sat up,ughing and soaked. But then I noticed something. My anklet. 07:10 288 Vouchers The delicate chain Sophia bought me during our holiday shopping, gone. My smile faded. Sophia jogged over. ¡°Em, you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I just lost the anklet.¡± Her face fell. ¡°Oh no. That looked perfect on you.¡± I nodded, brushing wet hair from my face. I tried not to let it ruin the moment, but a quiet sadness settled in my chest. Later, after a hot shower and fresh clothes, I was towel¨Cdrying my hair when there was a knock on my door. Liam. He leaned against the doorframe, sleeves rolled, a few top buttons undone. He looked so casually hot it should be illegal. ¡°Get dressed,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯reing with me.¡± I blinked. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Private dinner. My way of saying thank you, for the bracelet.¡± My heart did an embarrassing little leap. When I joined him outside, the sky was streaked with soft hues of gold andvender. Liam led me down a path lit with flickering garden lights to a quiet edge of the vi¡¯s beach, where a table for two had been set. Candles danced in the ocean breeze, and soft jazz yed somewhere in the background. ¡°This is beautiful,¡± I said, sitting down. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it,¡± he replied, sliding into the seat across from me. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what you¡¯d love. Took a wild guess.¡± He paused. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to get me anything. But you did. And this bracelet¡­¡± He nced down at his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s the first gift I¡¯ve ever really liked. Because it came from you.¡± Original content can be found at find(?)ovel I smiled, cheeks warming. We ate slowly, the conversation flowing effortlessly, jokes, childhood stories, random things like our favorite ice cream vors. He asked me if I was still upset about the anklet. 07:10 : 1 288 Chef Novel 50 ¡°I am,¡± I admitted. ¡°But I¡¯ll survive.¡± He looked like he wanted to say something, then stopped. Just nodded. By the time dinner ended, the stars were out. He walked me back to the vi, his hand warm and low on my back. My thoughts were swimming. Just before we reached my door, he stopped. His gaze held mine. Serious. Intense. ¡°When we get back to L.A.,¡± he said slowly, ¡°I want to do a lot of things to you¡­ and with you. If you¡¯ll let me.¡® ¡°1 Then his fingers brushed my lips, featherlight. ¡°Would you let me, Emily?¡± I nodded, too affected to speak. His eyes dragged over me onest time. ¡°Goodnight.¡± And just like that, I knew sleep wouldn¡¯te easy tonight. The breeze slipping through my window carried that ocean¨Csalt scent I was slowly getting addicted to. The morning felt quieter than usual, almost like even the ind knew we needed azy start. I stretched on the bed, not ready to face the world yet, but too awake to drift back to sleep. A soft knock eventually stirred me, followed by Sophia¡¯s voice through the door. ¡°Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. We¡¯re hiking today! You have ten minutes to look hot and functional. Move!¡± I groaned but smiled. Functional and hot? Challenge epted. Minutester, we were all gathered outside the vi, kitted up for a trek. The path we took wound through lush trails, asionally offering postcard¨Cworthy views of cliffs meeting turquoise water. 07:10 285 (Vouchers Jay stood in front, dramatically tying a bandana around his head like he was about to lead a jungle expedition. ¡°Alright team, today¡¯s mission: survival, style, and sass.¡± Sophia rolled her eyes. ¡°Jay, it¡¯s a hike, not a documentary.¡± Leo nudged me. ¡°Is Liam carrying your water bottle? Honestly, just date already.¡± Before I could respond, he chimed in, ¡°The sexual tension is exhausting to watch.¡± I blushed and mumbled something unintelligible, eyes fixed on the horizon. Liam, who had just slung his bag over his shoulder, caught the exchange and smirked, saying nothing. The bickering started early, but so did theughter. Jay had brought a Bluetooth speaker and insisted on narrating our hike like we were in an action film. Sophia was yelling at him to shut up five minutes in. Liam stuck beside me the entire time. He carried my water, offered his hand when the path got steep, and threw subtlements about how I needed to start working out more, which I countered with a well¨Caimed elbow to his ribs. ¡°Are you always like this?¡± I teased. ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Gentle. Protective. Sweet.¡± He gave a one¨Cshouldered shrug. ¡°Only when I care.¡± The way he said it made something warm curl up in my chest. Noah and Linda trailed behind us, their conversation low but increasingly tense. I kept ncing back, and by the time we hit the midpoint rest stop, their voices were no longer low. Raised voices sliced through the buzz of birds and wind. ¡°You don¡¯t listen, Noah. You never have,¡± Linda snapped. ¡°That¡¯s riching from someone who shuts down every time something real happens,¡± he bit back. Sophia gave me a look. Jay quietly mouthed, ¡°Iing drama.¡± 07:10 The argument escted fast. Harsh words. usations. And then Linda walked off 123 Wouchers Leo and Owen jumped into action. ¡°We¡¯ll take Noah back,¡± Leo said, clearly trying to keep the energy from sinking. Sophia grabbed Linda and started walking her in the opposite direction,forting her Content originallyes from F?ndNovel We stood there awkwardly for a second until Jay broke the silence. ¡°So¡­ are we still hiking, or is it downhill from here, literally and emotionally?¡± We made it to the end of the trail with fewer people but slightly lighter energy. Someone suggested we go jet skiing to lift the mood. Liam handed me a life vest with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re with me. Non¨Cnegotiable.¡± didn¡¯t argue. When the engine roared to life and we skidded over the waves, I clutched him tightly from behind, myughter swallowed by the wind. ¡°Scared?¡± he shouted. ¡°Of you? Always.¡± Heughed and sped up. I leaned into him, cheek against his back. It was wild, freeing, and stupidly romantic. At some point, he slowed down and turned us toward a more private cove. He turned off the engine and let the jet ski rock gently in the waves. ¡°I wish time would just freeze,¡± I said softly. ¡°That makes the both of us,¡± he murmured, ncing back at me over his shoulder. He reached up and gently brushed a wet strand of hair off my check, his fingers trailing just a second too long. The wind, the waves, the way he was looking at me, it all slowed, like we were hovering in a bubble outside of time. My heart mmed against my ribs. 07.10 Chef Novel 51 288 Vouchers Chapter 51 It was overwhelming, intense in all the ways that made it unforgettable. Magical, even. I leaned forward and sshed water up at him, smirking. ¡°Eyes on the water, Captain.¡± He sputtered, wiping his face with the back of his hand. ¡°Seriously? You just assaulted your pilot!¡± Iughed, gripping tighter to his waist as the jet ski bobbed beneath us. ¡°Consider it a course correction.¡± He shook his head, chuckling, then powered the engine again, sending us skimming across the ocean, water misting around us like confetti. The tension slipped away, reced by wind¨Cwhippedughter, yful bumps of our shoulders, and easy joy. For the rest of the ride, it was just us, sunlight, saltwater, and something unspoken lingering between every smile. Back at the vi, I changed into somethingfortable, ready to crash. But something caught my eye. A tiny box sat on my table. Another one waited neatly on my bed. I opened them. Two anklets. Both delicate and beautiful. One with a charm shaped like a tiny shell. The other had a single gem embedded in gold. ¡°Liam,¡± I whispered, smiling. One anklet had me giddy. Two? Now he was just messing with my emotions. But maybe he was just showing off. ssic Liam. I paced for a second, debating. Should I leave it? Say nothing? I turned toward the hallway before I could overthink. 13:35 CD Chapter 51 Discover more novels at FindN0vel 288 Voucher He opened the door and leaned against the frame. ¡°In that nightie? You sure you¡¯re not here to start trouble?¡± ¡°I came to say thank you,¡± I said, holding up the boxes. ¡°But why two?¡± His expression shifted. ¡°Two? I only got you one.¡± My stomach dropped. ¡°Wait. You didn¡¯t get both?¡± ¡°No. I had one delivered. Which means someone else¡­¡± His voice trailed off. Then his jaw clenched. ¡°Kelvin.¡± He ran a hand through his hair and turned away from me like he needed a second to reel it in ¡°Give it back,¡± he said finally. I blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Return it to him. Now.¡± ¡°Liam, it¡¯s just a gift. He probably noticed I lost the one Sophia gave me and tried to make me feel better. That¡¯s all.¡± He faced me fully now. ¡°He has an ulterior motive. Don¡¯t be naive.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°And you didn¡¯t have a motive when you gave me yours?¡± ¡°Of course I did. I like you. I care about you. I¡­¡± ¡°Then maybe Kelvin does too. Doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m picking sides.¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°You not picking is picking.¡± The words hit harder than they should have. I turned to leave. ¡°Thanks for ruining an almost perfect day. Again.¡± I mmed the door behind me, but the sound didn¡¯t echo nearly as loud as the confusion in my chest. One step forward. Three steps back. And why did it always feel like with Liam, the more I let him in, the more the universe reminded me it was dangerous? 13:34 288 Vouchere The stars were the only ones still awake. Sleep had long abandoned me. Not after the way Liam shut me down. The vi was still, lit only by the asional flicker of outdoornterns. Everyone else was tucked away in their corners of dreams, or drama. Wrapped in a throw nket, I padded out barefoot on the patio. The tiles were cool beneath my feet. Above me, the velvet sky stretched wide and endless, stars scattered like secrets too stubborn to stay hidden. They blinked back like they knew too much. ¡°You too, huh?¡± I turned to the voice. Noah sat on one of the loungers a few feet away, a bottle of water in his hand, his eyes also locked on the sky. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said softly, curling into the lounger beside him. The breeze caught the fringe of my nket, tugging gently like a silent question I didn¡¯t know how to answer. We were quiet for a while. Then he let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Funniest vacation ever,¡± he said. ¡°Supposed to be all yachts and cocktails. Beautiful memories. New beginnings. Instead? Fights, silence, and an almost wrecked rtionship.¡± I nced at him. ¡°Still rough between you and Linda?¡± He exhaled deeply. ¡°Honestly? I¡¯m tired. We keep having the same argument, looping like a broken record. But I miss her. I miss when things were easy. When just having her around made everything lighter.¡± ¡°You still love her?¡± I asked. He didn¡¯t answer right away. His gaze remained on the stars. ¡°That¡¯s the only thing I never question,¡± he said finally. ¡°That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m still here. Enduring the silence. The mood swings. The distance. Because I love her.¡± I nodded slowly, hugging the nket tighter. ¡°Why does love always hurt this bad?¡± His chuckle was low, tired. ¡°Because we always fall hardest for the people who can hurt us the most.¡± 13:35 288 (Vo Chef Novel 52 We sat in silence again. It wasn¡¯t awkward. Just¡­ quiet. Ele didn¡¯t try to fill the space, and I didn¡¯t feel the need to either. Somehow, that made it better. ¡°I saw you and Liam earlier,¡± he said after a while. I stiffened slightly. ¡°He looked¡­ off.¡± I gave a bitter smile. ¡°Liam is always off. We kinda fought again.¡± ¡°Shocker.¡± That made meugh. A soft, sadugh. ¡°Why are we like this?¡± I asked. ¡°Because we¡¯re all damaged in our own little ways,¡± he said. ¡°And because the people we want the most usuallye with the sharpest edges.¡± ¡°1 I stared back at the sky. I didn¡¯t know if I felt better, but at least I didn¡¯t feel alone. Eventually, I stood. ¡°Thanks, Noah.¡® He raised his bottle in azy toast. ¡°Here¡¯s to the drama.¡± I slipped back inside and finally slept. The next day passed in a blur. I stayed holed up in my room, ignoring the buzz of the vi. Skipped breakfast. Slept through lunch. I didn¡¯t feel like being seen. Didn¡¯t want to run into Liam with his polite indifference and unreadable eyes. By evening, I still hadn¡¯t decided if I¡¯d attend the anniversary dinner. The ck family was throwing a celebration for Oliver and Melissa¡¯s thirty¨Cfive years of marriage. Downstairs, I could hear the rustle of preparations, the murmur of staff, the clink of sses. The air was thick with celebration. 13:35 Chapter 52 288 (Vouchers Then came the knock. I expected Sophia. I¡¯d already rehearsed a gentle excuse to stay in. But it was Kelvin. He leaned against the doorframe, one hand tucked into his pocket, casual as ever. ¡°Hey.¡± I blinked. ¡°Kelvin. I wasn¡¯t expecting you.¡± He gave me a look. ¡°You had someone else in mind?¡± I smirked. ¡°No. I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone at all. I got your gift, by the way. Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± he said. ¡°Actually¡­ I came with an offer. Are you up for a little escape?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Escape?¡± ¡°Private helicopter ride. Just around the ind. Fifteen minutes of pure freedom. Thought you could use a view that doesn¡¯te with family tension.¡± Iughed. And it felt good. ¡°Give me two minutes to grab my shoes.¡± The ride was breathtaking. We lifted off from a private helipad near the edge of the cliffs. The ind unfurled beneath us, all sparkling coastlines, emerald canopies, and crashing waves. The wind teased my hair, and for the first time in days, I forgot the drama. Kelvin narrated the ride like a slightly drunk tour guide, peppering hismentary with exaggerated stories that made meugh more than I expected to. When wended, he didn¡¯t take me back to the vi. Instead, we stopped by a quiet boutique tucked into a hidden street. He handed me a wrapped box. ¡°What is this?¡± I asked warily. ¡°A little thank¨Cyou gift for saying yes to hanging out with me,¡± he said. ¡°Also, I want you to 13:35 288 Vouchers Read full story at fin?novel wear it tonight.¡± I opened it slowly. Inside was a gown¨Csleek, elegant, undeniably beautiful. ¡°Kelvin¡­¡± ¡°Before you protest, just say thank you,¡± he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. ¡°You¡® re going to look like a dream in it. I hesitated. Then smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± When we returned, I caught Liam on the upper balcony, watching us. His expression was unreadable, his arms folded. I didn¡¯t break eye contact, and neither did he. But he didn¡¯t say a word. The anniversary dinner was straight out of a billionaire¡¯s fantasy. Held on a terrace overlooking the ocean, the entire space shimmered under strings of golden lights and flickeringnterns. A live quartet yed soft, elegant music near the pool. The scent of roses floated in the warm air. Guests mingled in designer gowns and tailored tuxedos, wine sses in hand,ughter spilling gently into the evening. Melissa looked ethereal in a champagne sequin gown. Oliver couldn¡¯t stop smiling. I sat beside Kelvin, wearing the dress he¡¯d gifted, trying my hardest not to look at Liam. But I could feel his gaze. ¡°Tonight feels unreal,¡± Sophia whispered beside me. ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± I whispered back, letting myself get lost in the atmosphere. Then Oliver stood for a toast. He held Melissa¡¯s hand as he spoke, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°These past thirty¨Cfive years,¡± he began, ¡°have been the best years of my life. Melissa gave me my greatest joys¨Cour children, our home, and the kind of love I didn¡¯t know I deserved. She¡¯s been my partner, my anchor, my best friend. If I had another life to live, I¡¯d find her again. And I¡¯d marry her sooner.¡± 13:35 Melissa¡¯s eyes glistened. The crowd sighed. Apuse followed, soft and warm, I blinked away the tears forming at the corners of my eyes. But then Noah stood. 13:35 Chef Novel 53 He tapped a ss gently, drawing attention. Linda stiffened across from him. ¡°I was saving this,¡± he began, ¡°but maybe now¡¯s the time.¡± He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. My stomach dropped. ¡°Linda,¡± he said, steady and heartfelt, ¡°I know this vacation hasn¡¯t gone the way we imagined. But through everything, my feelings haven¡¯t changed. I love you. I want a future with you. Will you marry me?¡± The terrace fell silent. Linda rose slowly. Then: ¡°No.¡± The wordnded like a punch. She held his gaze, her voice soft but unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t. Not yet.¡± Then she turned and walked away. Noah sat frozen, the ring still in his hand. The music didn¡¯t resume. The candles still flickered. But something in the air had changed. And none of us could pretend we hadn¡¯t felt it. After Linda walked away from the proposal, the dinner continued, but nothing felt the same. Conversations turned shallow. Theughter was hollow. Even the string quartet yed like they were counting the minutes. Eventually, people began to retreat one by one, whispering farewells, clutching half¨Cfinished sses of champagne as if the evening hadn¡¯t cracked in half. Liam disappeared before most of them. I didn¡¯t even see when he left, but his absence settled over the terrace like fog. A nce at 13:35 228 Vouchers the far end of the table confirmed it, his seat was empty. No goodbyes. No confrontation. Just¡­ gone. I stayed behind. Not because I was having the best time, but because leaving meant facing silence and the questions waiting in my head. Tonight, silence was louder than anything. Kelvin and I nursed a half¨Cdrunk bottle of wine on the lounge chairs. The stars blinked above us like they pitied the mess below. We talked about everything and nothing. Melissa¡¯s sparkly gown, Oliver¡¯s tearful speech, Linda¡¯s boldness. Our feet brushed now and then, but neither of us made a thing of it. I tilted my sszily and asked, ¡°You think Noah will be okay?¡± Kelvin¡¯s fingers tapped rhythmically against his bottle. ¡°Yeah. He¡¯ll be fine. They both will. Might take time, but they¡¯ll figure it out.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°You always sound so sure.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(. He grinned. ¡°That¡¯s because I usually am. ¡°1 ¡± Iughed. And for a few minutes, I forgot about Liam. About the heat in his eyes. About how he made everything feel too big, too intense. Then Kelvin shifted, looking more serious. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to tell you.¡± I nced at him. ¡°Oh no. Should I be worried?¡± He leaned in slightly. ¡°I¡¯m moving back to the States.¡± My eyebrows lifted. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yep. Moving back for good.¡± A smile tugged at my lips. ¡°Wee back, then. But please don¡¯t bring your troubles with you.¡± He smirked. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m bringing trouble. In fact¡­ I¡¯ming to woo you.¡± I blinked, thrown off guard,pletely speechless Maybe it was the wine. Or how he casually said it, not joking. Maybe it was the ache in my 13:35 288 iVouchers chest from being ignored all night by Liam. Maybe I just wanted to feel wanted. Whatever it was, Kelvin leaned in¡­ and kissed me. His lips were warm, steady. He smelled like expensive cologne and good decisions. But nothing in me stirred. No sparks. No butterflies. No internal chaos. My heart didn¡¯t skip. My fingers didn¡¯t tingle. Instead, I felt¡­ nk. Like I was trying to pretend a melody existed when the room was quiet. All I could think of was how different it felt from Liam. How Liam¡¯s kiss had left me dizzy, breathless, like I¡¯d been standing too close to fire. And this? This felt like warm water on a closed tap. Gentle. Predictable. Safe. Too safe. I pulled away gently, cing my hand on his chest. ¡°Kelvin¡­ no,¡± I said quietly. He didn¡¯t argue. Just looked at me, like he already knew. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered. ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t feel that way.¡± He gave a soft, one¨Csided smile. ¡°I figured.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Kelvin.¡± I turned toward the vi, heart confused and heavy. But I didn¡¯t even make it two steps. He was there. Liam. Leaning against the stone pir near the stairs, arms crossed, face carved in shadow. I hadn¡¯t even seen him step outside. His eyes were locked on me, and he didn¡¯t blink. The anger in his stare wasn¡¯t loud. It was quiet. Controlled. But deadly. I¡¯d never seen him 13:35 252 19uchets like that. Not when we argued. Not when I challenged him. This was different. This was something cold and dangerous, simmering just beneath the surface. He stepped forward once, then stopped. Like he was about to say something, but caught himself. And in that hesitation, I saw something worse than fury. I saw pain. ¡°Liam¡­¡± I started. But he turned and walked off. Chef Novel 54 No words. No look back. Nothing. 288 Vouchers The next morning, the mood in the vi was suffocating. I barely left my room. The ocean didn¡¯t call to me. The pool felt pointless. Even Sophia¡¯s soft knock went unanswered. By the time I dragged myself downstairs, most people had vanished. Noah was already gone. Flew back to Ennd at sunrise. Linda had packed up and vanished like a ghost in the night. No announcement. No goodbyes. And Liam? He showed upte to breakfast, sunsses indoors, jaw tense. Then, in the middle of pouring coffee, he announced, ¡°Something came up. I¡¯m flying back to L.A. today.¡± Just an abrupt end to a vacation that had already soured The jet ride back to Los Angeles was the longest hours of my life. Liam sat at the front, arms crossed, headphones in, but no music ying. Just silence and tension. His gaze stayed fixed on the clouds beyond the window, like if he stared long enough, he could disappear into them. He snapped at the flight attendant when she asked if he wanted coffee. He snapped at Jay for adjusting the lighting. He even snapped at Sophia for trying to ask what happened. Jay gave me a helpless look. Sophia gave me a raised brow. 13:35 4: 788 Vouchers I leaned into my seat, staring at nothing. I was too tired to care. Eventually, Sophia moved beside me, whispering just loud enough for me to hear. ¡°Okay. Spill. What happened?¡± I hesitated. Then sighed. ¡°Kelvin kissed me.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Wait¡­what?¡± ¡°I stopped it. I didn¡¯t feel anything,¡± I said quickly. ¡°But Liam saw.¡± Sophia¡¯s shoulders dropped, and she let out a groan. ¡°Oh, Emily¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± I said, more to myself than her. ¡°I know. But still¡­ this is messy. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± ¡°1 She didn¡¯t respond. Just gave me a knowing look and patted my knee before returning to her seat. I closed my eyes, hoping the world would pause. Just long enough for me to breathe. When wended in L.A., the mood hadn¡¯t improved. Liam walked off ahead of everyone without saying a word. His driver was already waiting. He didn¡¯t wait for goodbyes. Sophia and Jay exchanged a look as we followed behind. They helped me with my luggage and insisted on dropping me off. As we pulled up in front of my building, Sophia turned around to face me. ¡°You should try to talk to him.¡± I blinked. ¡°Talk to Liam?¡± Jay nodded. ¡°Clear the air. He¡¯s been walking around like someone stole his dog.¡± I gave a dryugh. ¡°We¡¯re not even dating.¡± Both of them rolled their eyes in perfect sync. 13:35 248 VouchSTS Sophia leaned forward. ¡°Emily¡­ you really think this is aboutbels?¡± Jay added, ¡°Liam¡¯s not the jealous type. He doesn¡¯t even do rtionships. But with you? He¡¯s already in it, he just doesn¡¯t know how to say it out loud.¡± I opened the door slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready,¡± I said. Sophia smiled. ¡°Maybe not. But don¡¯t wait until it¡¯s toote.¡± I stepped out, dragging my bag behind me. Behind the tinted windows, they watched me for a second before the car drove away. And I stood there, at the curb, wondering when everything got soplicated¡­ and why, even now, part of me still wanted to run back to him. It had been three days since we got back to L.A. Three long, dragging, miserable days. And I hadn¡¯t been the same. I¡¯d tried everything to keep myself sane. Morning runs that left me breathless. Solo dates where I dressed up just to sit alone in a restaurant booth, pretending the silence beside me was someone else¡¯s voice. Late night walks through parks, watching strangersugh and argue, just to convince myself the world was still spinning. I kept moving, thinking if I kept my body busy, my mind would fall in line. It didn¡¯t. Liam stayed lodged in my chest like a splinter I couldn¡¯t dig out. The worst part? We weren¡¯t even dating. Not officially. Not by any normal standard. But the silence between us felt worse than a lover¡¯s fight. At least lovers fight because they care. Liam¡¯s silence? That burned. It scorched every minute of every day with questions he wouldn¡¯t answer. Monday came and went, and I didn¡¯t show up at his house to cook. Highly unprofessional. I knew that. But professionalism blurred the day he kissed me in a club restroom like I belonged to him, then pulled back like I was nothing. I wanted to provoke him. To force him to feel something. Anything. Even anger would¡¯ve been better than this quiet rejection. 13:35 268 Vouchers. Official source is f?ndnovel Chef Novel 55 To make things worse, Sophia had flown off to Paris for a fashion show. She disappeared in a whirlwind of couture, camera shes, and zero updates. I had no one to ask, no one to lean on. No one to say, He¡¯s just being Liam, give it time. I once grabbed my phone to text him¨Con impulse, only to freeze when I realized something stupid and humiliating: I didn¡¯t have his number. How had wee this far, shared moments, heat, silence, confusion, and I didn¡¯t even have a way to reach him? Iughed when I realized it. And then I cried. Twice, I swore I heard a knock on my door. I ran out of bed both times like a madwoman, heart hammering, only to open it to empty night. That was when I knew I was slipping. I¡¯d be that girl. Standing barefoot in a T¨Cshirt, whispering, ¡°Please be him,¡± to no one. By midnight, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. My bed felt like a coffin. The silence like a scream. I needed air. I needed movement. I needed distance from my thoughts. So I grabbed my keys, threw on a hoodie, and left. I drove without thinking, turning randomly down streets I barely registered. And somehow, I ended up in front of Liam¡¯s house. I don¡¯t remember choosing the address. Maybe it wasn¡¯t me behind the wheel. Maybe it was my heart, or whatever was left of it. The engine idled as I stared at the familiar front door, biting the inside of my cheek, debating if I should reverse and drive away before I embarrassed myselfpletely. And then the door opened. Liam stepped out. 13:35 288 Vouchers Gray joggers hung low on his hips, the ck T¨Cshirt stretched tight across his chest like a second skin. His hair was tousled, eyes shadowed with something unreadable. He stared at me across the dark, quiet street. And without a word, he turned and went back inside. He didn¡¯t wait. Didn¡¯t m the door. Just left it open, like an invitation I couldn¡¯t ignore. I shut off the engine and stepped out slowly, cach step toward the house heavier than thest. Inside, the living room was dim, lit only by a floormp casting soft shadows across the walls. The air between us felt thick, charged, like we¡¯d stepped into the eye of a storm. He didn¡¯t speak. Neither did I. We stood there in silence, the kind that stretched into your bones, until finally, he broke it. ¡°So¡­ you came all the way here to sit and listen to our heartbeats, or what?¡± His voice was dry, rough. But not cruel. I inhaled, trying to find my words. ¡°No. I came because¡­ I don¡¯t know. I thought we should talk.¡± ¡°Talk,¡± he repeated, leaning back against the console table. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry,¡± I said softly. ¡°For what?¡± His brows lifted, slow and precise. ¡°Be specific, Emily.¡± I hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I don¡¯t know exactly what I¡¯m apologizing for.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just saying sorry because you feel like you should?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said, sharper this time. ¡°Because you¡¯re mad at me.¡± He let out a humorlessugh. ¡°And why am I mad at you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± My voice cracked. ¡°You¡¯re the one who vanished. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been acting like I set fire to your life.¡± 13:35 288 Vouchers ¡°If you¡¯re here to make this worse than it already is,¡± he said, pushing off the table. ¡°you can leave.¡± ¡°At least I¡¯m here!¡± I shouted. ¡°At least I¡¯m trying! You¡¯ve been acting like a ghost and I¡¯ve been going out of my mind trying to figure out what the hell happened!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who got caught kissing someone else.¡± ¡°He kissed me!¡± I snapped. ¡°I didn¡¯t kiss him back.¡± He scoffed. ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°That¡¯s rich,¡± I said bitterly. ¡°What do you care anyway? We¡¯re not together, remember? Last I checked, I was single to stupor. I don¡¯t owe anyone exnations!¡± His voice dropped, low and tense. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± That stopped me. Why was I here? Why had I driven across the city in the middle of the night? I looked at him, and couldn¡¯t find an answer. Liam turned away. He walked over to the bar cart and poured himself a drink. His shoulders lifted and fell once as he took a slow breath. ¡°I thought you were different,¡± he said, voice quieter now. I blinked. ¡°You were the one exception, Emily. The one person I thought I could break the rules for. You made me want to try again. To risk it. ¡± He turned halfway, his back still mostly to me. ¡°But I guess I was wrong. You¡¯re just like the rest of them.¡± His next words were a whisper. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? ?ovelFind ¡°1 Chef Novel 56 ¡°Not worth it.¡± Air caught in my lungs like ss. And then¡­ the tears came. Unstoppable. Hot, fast, blinding. I didn¡¯t sob. I didn¡¯t make a sound. I just stood there as the ache slipped from my chest and down my cheeks. Liam turned. And froze. ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered, rushing toward me. ¡°Emily. No. Don¡¯t cry. Please don¡¯t be like that.¡± I turned away, wiping my face, but it didn¡¯t stop the shaking. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that,¡± I whispered. His voice softened, filled with regret. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it. I was angry. I faced him, eyes burning. ¡°Then why did ite out so easily?¡± ¡°1 His jaw tensed. I could see him struggling. With what¨Chis pride? His guilt? I didn¡¯t know. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to fight,¡± I whispered. ¡°I came because¡­ because not talking to you hurts more than anything.¡± Silence again. He reached for me, slowly this time. And I didn¡¯t step back. I fell into him. Melted into his arms like they were the only ce that ever made sense. He held me like he was terrified to let go. Like maybe he finally understood I wasn¡¯t trying to 13:35 288 Vouchers : 288 Vouchers. break him, I was just trying to reach him. And for once, he didn¡¯t push me away. I stayed in his arms longer than I should have. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours. I didn¡¯t care. My cheek rested against Liam¡¯s chest, his heartbeat finally matching the rhythm of mine- steady, real, calming after the chaos. His chin rested on my head, and he pressed the softest kiss into my hair. Another. And another. I hadn¡¯t realized how much I missed this, being near him, wrapped in his gravity. I could¡¯ve stayed like that forever. ¡°I should go,¡± I whispered after a long silence, my voice barely a breath. ¡°No,¡± he murmured, his arm tightening around me. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Stay right here.¡± I teased, ¡°Is that your way of begging me to stay the night?¡± He pulled back slightly and looked down at me, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°Do you know how badly I¡¯ve wanted to hold you like this again?¡± My heart flipped. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t youe looking for me?¡± He exhaled sharply. ¡°Because I was mad. Of course I waited. Monday morning, I kept checking the time like a maniac. Every sound made me look up. And when you didn¡¯t show¡­ that was it. The anger tripled. I thought you didn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°I nearly called you,¡± I said softly. His brows lifted. ¡°What stopped you?¡± I hesitated, embarrassed. ¡°I realized¡­ I didn¡¯t even have your number. He stared at me, then scoffed. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡± I nodded, cringing. ¡°Yeah. ¡± 13:35 ¡°How¡¯d that feel?¡± ¡°Kinda sad.¡± I admitted. 1288 Vauchers He tilted his head, amused. ¡°So what do you intend to do about that?¡± I looked up at him, trying not to smile. ¡°Get it from you before I leave.¡± Liam leaned in, teasing. ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°What? Why not?¡± ¡°I already have your number. I expected you to have mine.¡± ¡°Oh, so now it¡¯s my fault?¡± Iughed. ¡°I don¡¯t even remember giving you mine.¡± ¡°Even better. I got it regardless. What¡¯s your excuse?¡± he asked with a shrug. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll get yours from Jay or Sophia.¡± Liam smirked knowingly. ¡°Good luck exining to either of them why you never had it in the first ce, and why you suddenly need it now.¡± I groaned. ¡°Ugh. They¡¯ll never let it go. I¡¯ll have to answer a million questions.¡± He leaned closer. ¡°Exactly.¡± I narrowed my eyes on him. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get it from you before I leave. Just watch. ¡°Oh yeah? How?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ by being nice.¡± His gaze darkened slightly. ¡°How nice?¡± ¡± I didn¡¯t look away. ¡°Veryyy nice. The kind of nice you¡¯ll remember tomorrow morning.¡± He studied my face, eyes lingering on my lips. The air around us shifted. Slowed. Tightened. Then his voice dropped, low and lethal. ¡°Did you enjoy it?¡± 13:36 D 288 Vouchers My lungs stilled. I didn¡¯t need to ask what he meant. ¡°No.¡± I said immediately. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Will you ever let that happen again?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did you feel this,¡± he said, brushing the back of his fingers along my jawline, ¡°when he leaned close to you?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you know why?¡± I shook my head slowly, even though I already knew. Discover more novels at find[?]ovel ¡°Because you belong to me,¡± he said, voice like velvet and smoke. ¡°Your soul. Your body. Everything.¡± My lips parted. My breath faltered. I was a trembling mess. He didn¡¯t wait. He kissed me. And just like that, everything shattered. Every wall. Every doubt. Every moment I spent trying not to miss him. His mouth was urgent. His hands, hungry. My fingers knotted in his shirt, pulling him closer like gravity had a grip on us both. 13:36 D Chef Novel 57 We broke apart only to breathe, foreheads pressed together, breaths ragged. Liam looked at me like I was something sacred and forbidden all at once. Then, without a word¨Che lifted me, bridal¨Cstyle, and carried me toward his room. I didn¡¯t resist. I didn¡¯t want to. My body burned. My skin ached for his touch. I was done thinking. I wanted to feel. His room was dimly lit, but I barely noticed. My heart thundered. My breath hitched. Heid me down gently, then stepped back, his gaze heavy, dark, and unrelenting. ¡°I want to do so many dangerous things to you,¡± he said, voice low and deliberate. ¡°Things that¡¯ll ruin you for any man thates after me. My thighs clenched. He stepped forward. ¡°Do you want that, Emily?¡± I nodded, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°Use your words.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I whispered. ¡°God, yes.¡± ¡± He kissed me again, slower this time. Deep. Consuming. His hands slid beneath my hoodie, fingertips finding the bare skin at my waist, and I shivered. He trailed kisses down my neck, pausing to inhale like I was something he¡¯d missed for years. Then he pulled back to look at me. ¡°Strip for me. I hesitated, nervous. But the way he looked at me¡­ 13:36 298 Vouchers There was no room for shame. Only hunger. Only awe. Somehow, that gave me courage. Slowly, I sat up and lifted the hoodie over my head. His eyes followed every movement, darkening by the second. I stood, pushing down my shorts. My bra came off next. And still, he didn¡¯t move. Just stared like he was memorizing every inch of me. I hooked my thumbs into the waistband of my panties- But he stepped forward and caught my hands. ¡°Let me.¡± He knelt in front of me, his eyes locked on mine as his fingers moved down my hips, then slower¡­ lower¡­ until he reached the edge of thest thing between me and him. He didn¡¯t rush. He peeled them down with a kind of reverence, like he was unwrapping a secret meant only for him. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled. Eyes never leaving mine, dark and dangerous and possessive. My breath hitched. This was it. There was no going back from this. I was standing there¨Cbare, trembling,pletely exposed. But I had never felt more wanted in my life. ¡°Lie down,¡± he said. I obeyed. ¡°Spread your legs for me. ¡°1 13:36 I didn¡¯t even hesitate. : 288 Vouchers His eyes dragged over me, slow and full of promise. He moved closer, crawling up like a man on a mission. the bed Just before his mouth touched me, he looked up, voice hoarse and low. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to taste you again¡­ since the day on the jet.¡± My toes curled from just the sound of it. And then he touched me. With his mouth. I shattered. His tongue worked like he¡¯d spent years perfecting the art of driving me insane. My hips bucked. My back arched. My fingers gripped the sheets like they were the only things tethering me to the earth. When I came, it was with his name tearing from my lips like a prayer. ¡°Liam¡­¡± He looked up, mouth glistening, eyes alight with triumph. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he murmured, wicked and breathless. ¡°That¡¯s the only name you¡¯ll be screaming tonight.¡± And the night was just getting started. ¡°You¡¯re even more beautiful than I imagined,¡± he said, voice husky with awe. ¡°And trust me, Emily¨CI¡¯ve imagined this too many times.¡± Newest update provided by F?ndNovel I was breathless, trembling beneath him. ¡± He reached into the drawer and pulled out a condom, tearing the packet open with one hand, all while keeping his eyes on me like I might disappear. Then he positioned himself at my entrance, eyes locked on mine. ¡°You ready?¡± he asked. I nodded, unable to speak. 13:36 288 Nouchers. He entered me slowly, inch by devastating inch, until he was entirely inside. ¡°Fuck.¡± he cursed under his breath, head dropping to the crook of my neck. ¡°You feel¡­ incredible.¡± I could barely hold on. My fingers wed at his back. He moved slowly at first, savoring it, letting us both drown in the connection. Every stroke sent sparks up my spine. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me, grounding me. I moaned his name, breathless, dizzy, full. But just as I felt the wave build, right on the edge of bliss, he pulled out. ¡°On your knees,¡± he said, voice like amand wrapped in velvet. I blinked, dazed. ¡°What?¡± He gently flipped me over, cing a kiss on my lower back. ¡°I¡¯m switching it up now. It¡¯s going to be hard. Rough. If it gets too much, say stop.¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate. I nodded. ¡°Good girl,¡± he murmured. Secondster, he was inside me again, this time faster, deeper¨Cmerciless in the most delicious way. 13:36 D Chef Novel 58 My hands gripped the sheets, my breath ragged. Liam had turned into something else. A beast. A storm. And God¡­ I liked it. He thrust harder, faster, one hand gripping my hip, the other sliding under to toy with that sensitive bundle of nerves until I was choking on moans. When I came, it wasn¡¯t soft or shy, it ripped through me like fire. I screamed his name again and again, my body convulsing around him. He wasn¡¯t far behind. With a groan that sounded more animal than man, he followed me over the edge. We copsed in a sweaty, shaking heap. And still, he didn¡¯t move away. He held me. His hand smoothed over my back, down my thigh, as if reassuring himself I was still there. I¡¯d never felt so wanted. So taken. So ruined. Because now I knew¨CI would never want anyone else again. Liam was soft after. Gentle. He cleaned me up, kissed my shoulder, whispered things I couldn¡¯t hear properly through the haze of exhaustion and satisfaction. We tangled in the sheets again. We touched. Talked. Laughed a little. And yes, we went 13:36 again, maybe twice¨Cbefore sleep finally imed us. And like he¡¯d promised, his name was the only one I screamed all night. 228 Voucher I woke to an empty bed. The space where Liam had been was warm, but vacant. Panic red in my chest. I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest, heart thudding. Where was he? Had I misread everything? Did he leave? I was two seconds from spiraling when I heard it, soft footsteps down the hallway. The door opened. And there he was. Liam walked in carrying a tray with both hands, shirtless, hair a mess, that crooked grin on his face. ¡°Good morning, chef,¡± he said. ¡°Thought I¡¯d serve you for a change.¡± I blinked. ¡°You made breakfast?¡± He ced the tray over myp and sat on the edge of the bed, watching me like a proud kid who had just finished a science project. I stared at the eggs, the toast that looked slightly¡­ dark, and the bacon that was aggressively crispy. I tried not tough. ¡°Wait,¡± I said, a smirk tugging at my lips. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to poison me, are you?¡± He raised a brow. ¡°Rude. I put my heart into this.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the thought that counts, right?¡± 13:36 288 Vouches. He nodded. ¡°Exactly. I mean, I picked up a few things during that lockdown storm situation. I watched you work. Took notes.¡± I took a careful bite. He waited. ¡°How is it?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you want the truth or do you want me to tter you?¡± He winced. ¡°Hit me with the truth.¡± I swallowed and smiled sweetly. ¡°It¡¯s horrible.¡± Updates are released by find~novel Liam groaned, copsing back onto the bed with augh. ¡°Knew I should¡¯ve just ordered in.¡± ¡°No, no¨Cit¡¯s endearing. Like watching a toddler try to paint a masterpiece.¡± ¡°I forgot you¡¯re a chef,¡± he muttered. ¡°Who says you can¡¯t impress one in the kitchen?¡± I teased, taking an exaggerated bite. He shot me a look, half daring, half amused¨Cas if to say wanna bet? ¡°Okay, fine,¡± I added. ¡°I¡¯ll make us something edible.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± I slipped out of bed, pulling his oversized shirt around me. It hung almost to my knees and smelled like him. When I stepped into the kitchen¡­ I screamed. ¡°Liam!¡± He came running in, looking genuinely rmed. ¡°What? What happened?¡± ¡°What happened in this kitchen!¡± I pointed at the stove, the three pots he¡¯d somehow used just to make eggs and bacon, and the trail of flour across the counter like a storm had passed through. 13:36 288 ?Vouchers He winced. ¡°I, uh¡­ got creative?¡± ¡°This looks like a crime scene. In a kitchen.¡± ¡°Pretend you can¡¯t see it. The cleaning crewes in a few hours.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I grabbed a towel and tossed it at him. ¡°We¡¯re fixing this. Together.¡± He groaned, reaching for a sponge like it might bite him. ¡°You¡¯re evil.¡± ¡°Call it culinary karma,¡± I smirked. ¡°Next time, just stick to toast.¡± ¡± We spent the next twenty minutes wiping, scrubbing, and throwing things away whileughing at his cooking attempts. It was messy and domestic and weirdly perfect. When the kitchen finally resembled something functional again, I made us breakfast. Proper breakfast. Liam sat on one of the bar stools at the ind, watching me like he was watching something sacred. ¡°You really love it, huh?¡± he asked as I flipped eggs onto tes. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Cooking. You look peaceful when you do it.¡± ¡°I I smiled. ¡°It¡¯s where I feel the most like myself.¡± We ate at the ind, side by side. It was quiet, peaceful. And almost too perfect. That is, until Liam finished hisst bite and kept staring at me. I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± 13:36 4: Chef Novel 59 He wiped his mouth, leaned slightly toward me, and whispered, ¡°Thanks for breakfast. It was amazing.¡± I nodded. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s one meal I¡¯ve really been craving this morning.¡± I froze mid¨Csip. Slowly, I looked at him. ¡°What meal?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°The one your dirty little mind is picturing right now.¡± My mouth opened in mock outrage. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable.¡± ¡°And you,¡± he said, voice dropping as he pushed his chair back and stalked toward me, ¡°are irresistible.¡± He kissed me before I could reply. Then he lifted me onto the kitchen counter like it was nothing. His hands pushed the shirt up. And in minutes, we were lost again. When we came down from our high, legs still tangled, lips swollen¨CI leaned against his chest,ughing softly. ¡°How am I ever going to cook in here again without shing back to this?¡± He smirked, brushing a thumb over my lower lip. ¡°Easy. Call me over to create new memories when the old ones start fading.¡± I stared up at him. And just like that, I knew¨Cthis man wasn¡¯t just going to ruin me. He already had. 13:36 288 Vouchers After breakfast, and round two on the kitchen counter¨CI could barely catch my breath. My muscles ache in the best way. My skin still buzzed from Liam¡¯s touch. I was ready to curl back into his bed, let the morning melt into the afternoon, and pretend the outside world didn¡¯t exist. But Liam had other ns. ¡°Get ready,¡± he said, pulling on a pair of grey sweats, the drawstring hanging loose around his hips. ¡°We¡¯re going out.¡± I blinked from where I still sat on the counter, his oversized shirt sliding off one shoulder. ¡°Out where?¡± He smirked, eyes glinting. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± I squinted at him, suspicious. ¡°I have nothing to wear. ¡°1 ¡°Borrow from Sophia¡¯s closet,¡± he said casually, grabbing his water. ¡°Or wear something of mine again. Not that I¡¯d mind. Honestly, I¡¯d prefer you in just my shirt.¡± I slid off the counter and shot him a yful re. ¡°Pervert.¡± He leaned against the ind, sipping slowly. ¡°You in my clothes? That¡¯s better than any view in this city.¡± I rolled my eyes, trying not to blush. ¡°Fine. Twenty minutes. And no funny business while I¡¯m getting dressed.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± After my shower, I snuck into Sophia¡¯s room and borrowed a pair of soft cream shorts that barely reached mid¨Cthigh. Paired with Liam¡¯s oversized ck tee, the look was pure ¡°identally hot.¡± I tugged at the hem, pretending not to notice how his scent still lingered on the fabric. When I walked into the living room, Liam froze. 13:36) Chapter 59. His eyes moved slowly down my body like a man starving. ¡°That look on you?¡± he said, voice low. ¡°Criminally distracting.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said that before.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll say it again. And again.¡± I spotted his car keys on the console and nced out the window at the collection of ridiculously expensive cars parked in his garage. ¡°Okay. Real talk. What¡¯s with the fleet? Are youpensating for something?¡± He followed my gaze and grinned. ¡°It¡¯s called a collection. Vanity, maybe. But I like shiny things that go fast.¡± ¡°Bloody show¨Coff,¡± I muttered. ¡°Pick your favorite.¡± I narrowed my eyes, pointing at a sleek, obsidian¨Cck Ferrari. ¡°That one. I love how it¡¯s built.¡± He walked toward the door. ¡°Noted.¡± Something in the way he said it made my stomach flip. ¡°No. Liam. Don¡¯t even think about it. I was joking.¡± He grinned. ¡°Toote.¡± ¨C The drive was¡­ fun. Stupid, flirty fun. He gave me the aux cord. ¡°Pick something good.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Prepare to be amazed, or horrified.¡± First song: old¨Cschool heartbreak anthem. 13:36 288 Vouchers ¡°Nope.¡± Liam said instantly. ¡°Next.¡± Second song: too upbeat. ¡°Are you okay? Did a unicorn make this?¡± Third one: dramatic indie bad. He gave me a sideways look. ¡°Who hurt you?¡± ¡°Mind your business.¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F?nd-Novel Fourth try: Die For You by The Weeknd. ¡°This,¡± Liam said, tapping the wheel. ¡°This is eptable.¡± ¡°Wow. Your royal highness approves,¡± I teased. As the beat filled the car, I sang along off¨Ckey and danced like a maniac in my seat. My shoulders bounced. My arms iled. Liam kept his eyes on the road, but I saw the smile twitching on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassing yourself,¡± he said. ¡°You love it,¡± I shot back. Then, as the chorus hit, Liam¡¯s voice dropped a little. ¡°You got anyone you¡¯d die for?¡± The question hit different. I nced at him, heart thudding a little harder. ¡°Maybe¡­ if I ever love someone enough.¡± He nced my way briefly before he nodded and resumed driving. The car slowed to a stop in front of a boutique I¡¯d only seen in luxury fashion blogs. The name alone made my wallet cry. 13:36 288 Vouchers Chef Novel 60 ¡°Liam,¡± I whispered. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± He turned off the engine, like this was the most normal errand in the world. ¡°You let another man buy you a dress. I¡¯m here to correct that.¡± ¡°Liam, I thought we were over the dress thing.¡± ¡°We are not,¡± he said tly. ¡°Do you even understand the emotional trauma I endured? Watching you wear a dress bought by Kelvin and sitting next to him all night? Do you?¡± I opened my mouth, then closed it. ¡°Exactly,¡± he said, unbuckling his seatbelt. ¡°If I was a petty man, I¡¯d ask you to burn that thing. But I¡¯m trying to be reasonable. So instead, we¡¯re going to walk in there and buy you so many dresses that his will get lost somewhere in the back of your closet.¡± I blinked again. ¡°Are you hearing yourself?¡± ¡°Crystal clear. Now let¡¯s go.¡± Inside, the boutique was dripping with elegance. ss, gold, and velvet. Soft ssical music yed in the background. The air smelled like expensive perfume and even more expensive decisions. The staff practically floated toward us like moths to a me. ¡°Mr. ck, wee back.¡± ¡°Would you like champagne while you shop?¡± Liam gave a nod. ¡°Bring the good stuff.¡± I leaned closer. ¡°Youe here often?¡± He smirked. ¡°Only when I need to emotionally recover from seeing my girl in another man¡¯s 13:36 229 Vouchers outfit. I rolled my eyes. The staff handed us flutes and disappeared into the racks, returning with armfuls of designer dresses. Silk. Velvet. Sequins. Styles I¡¯d only ever dreamt of wearing. ¡°Liam,¡± I hissed, arms overloaded. ¡°This is too much.¡± He sipped his champagne. ¡°No such thing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°You love it.¡± And so I tried them on. He sat like royalty, legs crossed, watching me parade outfits while deliveringmentary that was half¨Cflirty, half¨Cserious. ¡°Too churchy.¡± ¡°Spin again.¡± ¡°Dangerously sexy. Keep that. ¡± When I stepped out in a deep red velvet wrap dress, his entire body stilled. ¡°That one,¡± he said. ¡°Definitely that one.¡± I looked at myself in the mirror. And for a second, I saw myself through his eyes¨Cconfident, bold, desirable. His gaze said everything he didn¡¯t need to. Just when I thought we were done, he pointed at a ss disy in the corner. ¡°Add that too.¡± Find the newest release on find?novel ¡± I followed his gaze. 13:36 268 Vouchers A lingerie set. ckce. Cut to filth. Expensive enough to feed a small country. ¡°Liam¡­¡± He leaned in, voice dark and hot against my neck. ¡°You¡¯re modeling that for me tonight.¡± My knees nearly gave out. ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible.¡± ¡°Say that againter, when you¡¯re screaming.¡± ¡°Liam.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± I didn¡¯t. And as I watched him casually swipe his card, smiling like a man who¡¯d just won, I realized this wasn¡¯t just retail therapy. This was Liam¡¯s way of marking territory. And honestly? I kind of liked it. After the shopping spree, Liam and I returned to his ce, bags upon bags weighing down the trunk of the car. The ride home was filled with teasing banter and the asional silence that stretched in a way that felt¡­ warm. Comfortable. Like we were finally okay again. But the second we got inside, Liam¡¯s phone buzzed. He frowned at the screen. ¡°I have to head out. Emergency meeting I can¡¯t miss,¡± he muttered, already loosening the top buttons of his shirt like it offended him. I crossed my arms. ¡°You¡¯re ditching me? After dragging me through a fashion marathon?¡± 13:36 289 Wescher Liam grinned, closing the distance. ¡°Oh no, sweetheart. I¡¯ll be back in a bit. You¡¯re staying the night.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°Excuse me? Since when do you decide where I sleep?¡± He smirked. ¡°Since I said so.¡± My lips curled in defiance. ¡°May I remind you that Sophia, your sister, also lives here?¡± He tilted his head slightly, amused. ¡°She¡¯s not returning until tomorrow evening. And even if she were, this is my house. My rules.¡± I huffed, yfully sassy. ¡°Then you better beg.¡± His eyes darkened with mischief. He leaned in, brushed his lips against mine, just barely a kiss, and then pulled back with a devilish grin. ¡°Consider that my version of begging.¡± And then he was gone, slipping into his car with a final wink. Alone in the house, I tried not to overthink. But Liam had that effect on me, he filled my mind even when he wasn¡¯t around. So when a sleek white box appeared in the room an hourter, with a handwritten note that read: Tonight, I want to take care of you in every way. A strange warmth bloomed inside me. Inside the box was a gown. No¨Cnot a gown. A masterpiece. Royal blue silk with a thigh¨Chigh slit and a plunging neckline. Paired with it were silver heels, delicate jewelry, and a matching clutch. A smaller bag held luxury makeup essentials. 13:36 1:0 Chef Novel 61 Attached was another note. My driver will pick you up at 7. Wear this. And don¡¯t bete. He didn¡¯t even sign it. But I didn¡¯t need to see his name. 288 (Vouchers. By 6:58 p.m., I was standing at the front of the house, dressed to kill and nervous for no reason I could understand. The sleek ck car pulled up right on time. The driver, immactely dressed, opened the door for me without a word. The moment I stepped inside, soft music yed, and the city lights flickered past the tinted windows. When we stopped, I stepped out and blinked in disbelief. Liam had booked out an entire rooftop restaurant. Strings of warm lights danced above, casting everything in a soft glow. There were no other guests, just us. A live band yed soft jazz in the corner. A chilled bottle of wine waited on the table. And Liam stood at the far end of the space, dressed in a ck¨Con¨Cck suit that hugged him in all the right ways. I forgot how to breathe. He turned, saw me, and everything in his expression softened. ¡°You look¡­ breathtaking,¡± he said, meeting me halfway. ¡°You did all this?¡± He took my hand, kissing my knuckles. ¡°Every second of today, I wanted to make up for what we lost. I know I mess up. I know I¡¯m a lot. But I meant it when I said I wanted more with you. So tonight, this is just the beginning.¡± We dined under the stars. Laughed over wine. Shared dessert like a scene straight out of a cheesy romance movie. The band yed our song. Yes, somehow he remembered the off¨Ckey mess I sang in the car, and asked us to dance. So we did. Right there. Slow. Close. His breath against my cheek. His hand at my waist. My 2009 13:371 The source of th?s content is find?novel fingers curled into the fabric of his suit. And when the night ended, he didn¡¯t ask. He just offered his hand. And I took it. 288 iVouchers Back at the house, I had a n of my own. As soon as we stepped inside, I turned to him and smiled innocently. ¡°I was thinking we could cool off.¡± His brows rose. ¡°Cool off?¡± ¡°In the pool. You did n a whole date. It¡¯s only fair if I say thank you properly.¡± His eyes darkened with interest. ¡°You¡¯ll meet me there?¡± ¡°Mmhmm. Give me a few minutes.¡± He walked off toward the pool, and I rushed to the bedroom, pulling out the ckce lingerie we¡¯d bought during our shopping spree. The one he¡¯d pointed to with that wicked smirk. I slipped into it, heart thudding. It hugged every inch of me, scandalous and elegant all at once. When I walked into the pool area, Liam was taking a sip from a bottle of water, shirtless, glistening in the low lights. He saw me and choked. His eyes shot wide open, lips parting like he couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°God, Emily¡­you trying to kill me or what?¡± I stopped at the edge of the water, smirking. ¡°You said I¡¯d model it for you tonight. Consider this¡­ gratitude.¡± He set the bottle down slowly, like he needed both hands to worship the sight of me. ¡°Come here,¡± he said, voice rough. I walked to him, letting the tension simmer between us. He pulled me close, hands gripping 27 23% 13:37 home ond pg up pg dn my waist, then backed us slowly into the pool. Water hugged our bodies. Skin on skin. Heat and chill shing. 286 Vouchers What happened next was messy, slow, then urgent. His hands explored like he couldn¡¯t decide what part of me to worship first. We kissed until breathing was optional. When he finally lifted me, bracing me against the edge of the pool, I let gopletely. I lost count of how many times he made mee undone. He whispered my name like a prayer. I screamed his like it was a curse. And when we stumbled out of the pool, drunk on each other, dripping and breathless¡­ Sophia¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Well, well. Hope I¡¯m not interrupting.¡± We froze. Liam cursed under his breath. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me with a yelp. Sophia stood at the sliding ss door, arms crossed, one brow raised, clearly amused. ¡°Hi,¡± I said, my voice embarrassingly high. She smirked. ¡°So¡­ what did I miss?¡± I didn¡¯t even get the chance to wrap myself fully in a towel before Sophia¡¯s voice cut through the night air. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Liam looked over his shoulder, still dripping wet from the pool. ¡°Sophia,¡± he said, lifting a brow.¡°You¡¯re back early.¡± She stood at the edge of the patio with a teasing grin, arms crossed, wearing a casual pink hoodie and shorts. ¡°Surprise? I figured I¡¯de back a few hours earlier. But it looks like I walked in on something¡­ intimate.¡± Chef Novel 62 ¡°Remind me to call Mom and Dad tomorrow,¡± Liam said with a sigh, brushing past her as he ran a hand through his damp hair. ¡°We seriously need to get you your own ce. This is spiraling.¡± Sophia gasped with mock horror. ¡°Are you seriously kicking out your only sister over a girl? Damn. The sex must be incredible.¡± Heat rushed to my checks. I instinctively tried to step back inside with Liam, but Sophia reached out and grabbed my wrist. ¡°Oh no, missy. You¡¯re not escaping that easily. You¡¯reing with me. She dragged me toward her room, talking the entire time. ¡°Someone¡¯s clearly been corrupted¡­ and I want every scandalous detail.¡® ¡°1 As soon as we were in her room, she threw herself onto the bed like she owned the world. I stood awkwardly, still damp in my towel, wishing the ground would open up. ¡°So?¡± she propped herself up on her elbows, grinning. ¡°Did it happen?¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± Sophia rolled her eyes. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t y dumb. I walked in on you two glowing like fresh fireflies. The air literally smelled like sex. So? Spill.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Sophia, that¡¯s your brother. Have some shame.¡± She scoffed. ¡°Shame left the chat the day I walked in on my parents making out in the living room. Come on, Em. Just tell me. Did it happen?¡± I didn¡¯t say anything. She squealed. ¡°Oh my god, it did! And you¡¯re still standing? Props to you.¡± I groaned. ¡°Can you please not be like this?¡± 0.00% 13:37 288 Voucher ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just getting started. Did you guys use protection? I am so not ready to be an aunt.¡® I covered my face with both hands. ¡°Sophia!¡± Sheughed harder. ¡°Actually, you know what? I wouldn¡¯t mind. If you¡¯re already pregnant. I get dibs on naming the baby. Girl or boy, doesn¡¯t matter. As long as it¡¯s named after me. Imagine a little Sophie running around.¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± She smirked. ¡°And you¡¯re in love.¡± ¡°I am not. ¡°Oh, please. Look at you. You¡¯re practically glowing, smiling at nothing, humming like a Disney princess. What is this? Chapter one of a rom?¡± I sighed and flopped onto the chair by her vanity. ¡°Okay. Maybe I like him. A lot. But we haven¡¯t defined anything yet. It¡¯s kind of¡­ just happening.¡± Sophia tilted her head. ¡°And you¡¯re okay with that?¡± I hesitated. ¡°Would it be nice to have rity? Sure. But what we have right now¡­ it feels good.The Liam I¡¯ve seen these past few days? I like this version. If taking it slow means seeing more of that¡­ I¡¯m in no rush.¡± Sophia looked uncharacteristically thoughtful. ¡°He¡¯s softer with you. It¡¯s weird. I¡¯ve never seen him like this before.¡± Before I could respond, she snapped out of it. ¡°Anyway, if you ever do get married, I want to be your maid of honor. And flower girl. And DJ. And bridesmaid. I¡¯ll multitask.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insufferable. Between you and Jay, I don¡¯t know who¡¯s worse.¡® We both burst intoughter. A few more jokes and pillow jabster, I told her I needed to rest. I was genuinely exhausted from the whirlwind day¨Cshopping, swimming, sex, more sex, and I needed to breathe. Sophia wagged her brows. ¡°Exhausted from what? All that cardio? Huh?¡± 13:371 288 Vouchers I threw a pillow at her. ¡°Go to sleep!¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel She snorted, tossing the nket over herself. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t go tiptoeing back to his room.¡± ¡°I make no promises.¡± I decided to grab some water from the kitchen before heading to Liam¡¯s room. The kitchen was dim and quiet. I was pulling a bottle of water from the fridge when I felt strong arms slide around my waist. I squeaked. ¡°Rx. It¡¯s just me.¡± Liam¡¯s voice was smooth, low, and far too smug. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be asleep,¡± I whispered, trying to ignore the way my heart skipped. ¡°With you around? Not a chance. The night¡¯s still young.¡± I giggled softly. ¡°Liam, Sophia¡¯s around. Maybe we should, you know¡­ keep it PG for a few hours.¡± He scoffed. ¡°This is my house. I¡¯m not ying hide and seek in my own home. If she has a problem, she can use earplugs.¡± Iughed, half horrified, half tempted. ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible.¡± ¡°I get that a lot.¡± Just as I was about to reply, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. Mason. The name hit like a siren. The air turned still. Whatever yfulness lingered vanished instantly. Liam¡¯s grip loosened, just slightly. The phone buzzed again. 13:37 288 Vauchan¡¯s Liam stepped back slightly. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said, voice unreadable. ¡°Answer it.¡± I hesitated, then grabbed the phone and answered. ¡°Hey, Mason.¡± His voice was warm, familiar. ¡°Hey, Em. Sorry for thete call. I just¡­ I¡¯ve been thinking about you. I was wondering if we could talk. Maybe meet up tomorrow?¡± 46.07 Chef Novel 63 : 288 Vouchers Chapter 63 I swallowed. ¡°Um. I¡¯m a little¡­¡± ¡°No pressure,¡± he added quickly. ¡°I¡¯m flying out in a few days. I just¡­ I wanted to see you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know,¡± I said softly. When I hung up, the silence between Liam and me stretched. ¡°You okay?¡± I asked. He nodded once. ¡°Fine.¡± But he wasn¡¯t. I could see it in the tension in his jaw, the way he looked past me instead of at
  1. me.
Before I could say anything else, Sophia popped into the kitchen. ¡°Whoa. Did I interrupt a lovers¡® spat?¡± she asked, grabbing a bottle of water. Liam turned. ¡°Nothing to interrupt.¡± She looked between us, clearly sensing something had shifted. ¡°Right. Well¡­ I¡¯ll be in my room. Try not to break anything.¡± She disappeared, leaving us in thick silence. I reached for Liam¡¯s hand. ¡°Mason¡¯s just a friend,¡± I said. Liam finally met my eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he remembers that.¡± And then, without another word, he walked past me and disappeared into his room. Leaving me alone with my thoughts, and the unsettling truth that maybe things weren¡¯t as simple as I¡¯d hoped. After what happened in the kitchen. The tension, the awkward silence, and Mason¡¯s perfectly 0.00% 17:340 288 Vouchers inconvenient call. I needed air. Not the kind you breathe¡­ the kind that clears your head. I slipped out to the pool, letting the cool evening breeze brush against my skin. The water shimmered under the moonlight, still and inviting. But I didn¡¯t get in. I just sat at the edge and dipped my toes in, staring into nothing while Mason¡¯s name looped in my head. Why did he call? And why now? He could¡¯ve waited. He should¡¯ve. His timing couldn¡¯t have been worse. Eventually, I made my way back inside, quietly slipping into Liam¡¯s room. I assumed he¡¯d be asleep by now, wrapped in that cold, proud silence of his. But as Iid down beside him, the shift in the mattress said he was still awake. I didn¡¯t speak. Neither did he. I turned my back to him and stared into the darkness, my thoughts louder than ever. Why was he quiet? Was he mad? Are we seriously back to the awkward phase over a single phone call? This update is avable on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? But just as I began to drift into sleep, Liam pulled me close. Slowly. Carefully. His arm wrapped around me, firm but gentle, like he still hadn¡¯t forgiven me, but couldn¡¯t bear not touching me either. ¡°I don¡¯t want to share you,¡± he whispered against my neck. ¡°Not with any other man alive.¡® My heart thudded hard. I didn¡¯t say anything, I just held his arm tighter and let that be enough for the night. By morning, the bed was empty. Cold. He was gone. On the nightstand was a note in Liam¡¯s neat handwriting: Didn¡¯t want to wake you. You were sleeping too peacefully, and I was needed at the office. Have a great day, Lia. We¡¯ll talkter. My fingers lingered over the paper longer than necessary. He called me Lia. People usually go with Em or Emmy. Lia was different. Softer. Personal. That tiny thing made me smile. 25.44% 17:34 288 Vouchers Sophia was gone too. Probably off to do whatever unpredictable thing Sophia does. It was just me, sunlight, and the lingering scent of Liam on the sheets. I sat there for a few minutes, letting my thoughts catch up to me. Then I grabbed my phone and texted Mason. Emily: We can talk now if you¡¯re free. Just say where. Less than a minuteter, he replied. Mason: Sending location. Come hungry. He picked a high¨Cend restaurant in the heart of the city, of course. ss walls, velvet booths, menus without prices. I wore a breezy sundress that made me feel light but not too dressed up, paired with sandals and a little gloss. When I arrived, Mason was already there, hood up, cap low, sunsses on. Somehow, he still managed to draw attention. That¡¯s the thing about Mason, he has this energy that demands a second look. He stood the moment he saw me, pulling out my chair with a smile that could melt Billboard charts. ¡°Damn, Emily,¡± he said, eyeing my dress. ¡°You look¡­incredible.¡± I smiled. ¡°Thank you. You look like you know exactly how good you look. As always.¡± He grinned and signaled for the waiter. We ced our orders, then slipped into easy conversation, letting small talk smooth over the nerves. But eventually, I leaned forward. ¡°Okay, enough suspense. Why did you want to see me so urgently?¡± He smirked, swirling his drink. ¡°You really want to know?¡± ¡°Of course. That¡¯s the very reason I¡¯m here.¡± He leaned back with that signature Mason charm. ¡°Tour¡¯s on. It¡¯s official.¡± ¡°No way! Mason, that¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°We locked in the final venues this morning. I¡¯m leaving in two days.¡± 64 22% Chef Novel 64 ¡°That¡¯s really soon. Congrattions!¡± ¡°And,¡± he added, raising a brow, ¡°if you¡¯re still up for it¡­ you¡¯reing with me. I blinked. ¡°You¡¯re not joking?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? I meant it when I asked you the first time. I want you there, Em.¡± And just like that, the adrenaline rushed in. The idea of being on tour,te¨Cnight concerts, road trips, VIP everything, new cities¡­ It was crazy. It was exciting. And it was exactly what I needed. ¡°Of course I¡¯lle,¡± I said, grinning. ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯d be insane to say no. ¡°1 He raised his ss of sparkling water and gently clinked it against mine. ¡°To unforgettable nights and no regrets.¡± I smiled and took a sip. We spent the rest of lunch discussing logistics, how long the tour would run, what cities they¡¯d hit, what I¡¯d need to pack. He talked about the crew, the music, the fans, and what it all meant to him. His excitement was contagious. For a moment, it felt like nothing else existed. No Liam. No pressure. Just freedom. After lunch, he hugged me tightly, resting his chin briefly on my shoulder before pulling away. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up the day after tomorrow. Get ready.¡± As soon as I parked in front of my house, I called Lisa. She picked on the first ring. ¡°Girl,¡± I said, voice bubbling with excitement. 17:34 288 Vouchers ¡°Oh no. What did you do now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on tour with Mason.¡± Silence. She let out a loud squeal. ¡°Bitch! I swear, I hate you right now!¡± I burst outughing. ¡°You¡¯re not serious. Like, tour tour? Like, celebrity buses and backstage passes?¡± ¡°Yup. Three countries. Real rockstar life.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°You said that already.¡± ¡°I mean it more now. We bothughed. ¡± ¡°Send me everything,¡± Lisa said. ¡°I want photos. I want videos. I want T¨Cshirts. Actually, I want one worn by Mason.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sick.¡± ¡°I¡¯m passionate,¡± she corrected. ¡°And slightly unhinged.¡± I chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll send postcards. Maybe even steal a mic.¡± ¡°Please do. But Emily¡­ have you told Liam?¡± I paused. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m telling him tonight.¡± She sighed. ¡°Oof. Yeah, that¡¯s gonna be a conversation.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯ll be cool with it?¡± I hesitated. ¡°Honestly? No. But that doesn¡¯t change anything. This is something I want to do.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, her voice softening. ¡°Then go do it. Just exin it properly. Remind him an eno 17:34 288 Vouchers you¡¯re your own person.¡± ¡°I will.¡± After we hung up, I called my mom. Her voice lit up when I told her the news. ¡°Oh honey, that sounds like such a wonderful opportunity! Just¡­ promise me you¡¯ll be careful, okay?¡± ¡°I will, Mom. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to war. ¡± Sheughed. ¡°Still. Keep your head on your shoulders. And no groupie nonsense, you hear?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± When I finally stepped into my room and copsed on my bed, the thrill of everything finally hit me. Tour life. Late nights. Music. Crowds. A break from the noise. A taste of something untainted and free. But beneath all that excitement¡­ I felt the unease creep in.. Because I still hadn¡¯t told Liam. And something told me, this wouldn¡¯t go down smoothly. Not with the way he whispered those wordsst night. Not with the way his name curled in my chest whenever I thought of him. I sighed and pulled a pillow over my face. This was going to be one hell of a night. 17:34 : 288 Vouchers I drove back to Liam¡¯s house that night, nerves coiling in my stomach tighter with each passing streetlight. The high from lunch with Mason had faded. Now, it was just dread. The kind that simmers and sits heavy on your chest. Telling Liam about the tour felt like walking into a storm with a matchstick umbre. I¡¯d yed it out in my head a dozen times. Each version ended with tension¡­ or worse. His car wasn¡¯t parked out front, and that bought me time¨Ctime to breathe, time to panic. I was halfway to knocking when the door swung open. ¡°Look who the cat dragged in,¡± Sophia grinned, standing barefoot in a fluffy robe, a ridiculous headband pushing back her curls, and a bowl of popcorn in hand. ¡°You look like and a rom. sugar you need ¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I mumbled, stepping inside. ¡°Liam¡¯s not back yet. But I¡¯m watching something tragic and beautiful. Come suffer with me.¡¯ Follow current nov?ls on Find?Novel I dropped my bag by the couch and joined her. A bubbly movie yed, one of those predictable love stories with perfect hair and tearful reunions. But I wasn¡¯t watching. Sophia¡¯s eyes flicked over to me now and then. Eventually, she hit pause. ¡°Okay. Spill. You¡¯ve blinked weirdly seven times in thest minute. Something¡¯s up. 17 Chef Novel 65 I hesitated, chewing my lip. ¡°I need to talk to Liam. And I don¡¯t know how.¡± She arched a brow. ¡°You¡¯re not pregnant, right?¡± ¡°What? No.¡± She set the popcorn down. ¡°Okay, so what is it?¡± I swallowed. ¡°Mason¡¯s tour. It¡¯s happening. He asked me toe along¡­ and I said leave in two days.¡± Sophia went still for a second. Then she whistled. ¡°Wow. Okay. That¡¯s¡­ definitely something.¡± yes. I ¡°I know.¡± I pulled my knees to my chest. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I need to talk to Liam.¡± She gave me a long look. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not trying to be dramatic, but this might go nuclear.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Emily,¡± she deadpanned, ¡°You¡¯re about to tell Liam you¡¯re going on tour with a guy who¡¯s clearly into you. You think he¡¯s just going to nod and offer to drive you to the airport?¡± I frowned. ¡°Mason¡¯s my friend.¡± ¡°Girl. Come on. ¡± I sighed, running a hand through my hair. ¡°I just want Liam to understand. I¡¯m not trying to hurt him. I just want this experience.¡± Sophia shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to live your life. Just be prepared, no man on earth wants to hear that the woman he¡¯s crazy about is about to spend weeks traveling with a superstar who clearly has a thing for her.¡± I groaned. ¡°Sophia, for the hundredth time, he¡¯s just a friend.¡± She smirked. ¡°Good luck selling that story to Liam.¡± 0.00% 17:34 : 288 ?Vouchers I rolled my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not helping.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being real. You¡¯re about to start a fire. And honestly, I¡¯m here for it.¡± Before I could respond, the door opened. Footsteps. A voice calling my name softly. Then Liam walked in, loosening his tic, looking like something out of a high¨Cfashion billboard. Tired, but still absurdly attractive. His eyesnded on me. And just like that, his whole face softened. Sophia grinned. ¡°Aww, puppy eyes.¡± He ignored her, crossed the room, and leaned down to kiss my cheek. ¡°You came back.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Readplete version only at find[?]ovel Sophia gagged. ¡°Seriously? Get a room. Liam looked at me. ¡°Want to?¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate. I stood, and he took my hand, leading me upstairs like he couldn¡¯t wait to get me alone. His room was dimly lit, quiet. I leaned against the door once it closed. ¡°Tough day?¡± I asked. ¡°You have no idea.¡± ¡°Well, maybe I can help you rx.¡± He turned slowly. ¡°Oh yeah? Got something in mind?¡± I stepped closer, dragging a finger down the buttons of his shirt. ¡°Maybe something involving zero stress and a very happy ending.¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°God, you¡¯re dangerous.¡± I smiled and tugged his cor, bringing his mouth to mine. It was all fire and tension after that, clothes hitting the floor, breathlessughter, whispered moans. He took me like he¡¯d been craving me all day. And in the shower, he did it again, this time slower, with so much intensity that I forgot what day it was. 17:35 282 Vouchers Afterward, we dried off, wrapped in towels, still warm from the water. But my heart had started to race for another reason. Now or never. I sat on the edge of the bed and watched himb his fingers through his wet hair. ¡°Liam, I need to tell you something.¡± He nced at me, still smiling. ¡°Yeah?¡± I nodded. ¡°Mason¡¯s tour is officially happening. He invited me toe with him.¡± The smile slipped. ¡°And I said yes.¡± Silence. Heavy. Deafening. His smile was gone, reced with nothing. Just unreadable stillness. I waited. My throat dry. ¡°Say something,¡± I whispered. ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± ¡°Anything. Just¡­ don¡¯t shut down on me.¡± He looked at me slowly. ¡°You want me to be happy? To smile and say I¡¯m proud? Emily, what the hell do you want me to say? That I¡¯m cool with you spending the next few weeks with a guy who¡¯s been trying to get with you since day one?¡± My heart thudded. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? He¡¯s not just a friend and you know it. But fine. You already said difference does my opinion make now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair.¡± Heughed bitterly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you because I want to be honest. Because you matter to me.¡± ¡°Then maybe you should¡¯ve talked to me before agreeing to go.¡± yes. What 17:35 288 Vouchers. That stung. I bit my lip. ¡°I was excited. And I didn¡¯t want to miss the opportunity.¡± He ran a hand down his face. ¡°When are you leaving?¡± ¡°Two days.¡± He cursed under his breath, low and harsh. ¡°Then I guess you should start packing,¡± he said, voice cold. I stood. ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you to go do what you already decided to do,¡± he snapped. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Emily. I can¡¯t do this with you right now.¡± Chef Novel 66 I stared at him, anger ring. ¡°You always do this. You act like caring means control.¡± ¡°I act like I give a damn about you,¡± he said. ¡°But maybe I care too much.¡± I didn¡¯t say anything else. I turned and left. Down the stairs, past Sophia, who paused her movie and gave me a questioning look. I didn¡¯t stop. I didn¡¯t say goodnight. And when I stepped outside, the night air hit my face like a p. My hands were shaking. This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to go. But maybe I should¡¯ve known¡­ Liam ck doesn¡¯t share. And I had just be the exception that proved the rule. Suitcases lined the edge of my bed like I was moving to Mars. Maybe not literally, but it felt that way. With things between Liam and me ending on such a sour note, this tour with Mason felt like the escape I didn¡¯t know I needed. I wasn¡¯t just running from drama. I was sprinting, suitcase in hand. I folded a few outfits with care, mostlyfy travel pieces, a few dresses, makeup I barely used, because Sophia¡¯s voice haunted my conscience, and a red lipstick I hadn¡¯t touched in days. Just in case I needed to feel bold. My phone buzzed. Mason: We¡¯re outside. I grabbed my bags, took onest look around the room, and locked up. Outside, Mason leaned against a sleek ck SUV, sunsses on, hoodie up, his signature 17:35 288 Vouchers cool energy on full disy. His driver, a sharp¨Clooking man in all ck, was already loading my luggage into the trunk. ¡°You ready, superstar?¡± Mason teased as he opened the door for me. I gave a smallugh. ¡°I¡¯m not the one with sold¨Cout stadiums, but sure.¡± I climbed into the car, trying to pretend my stomach wasn¡¯t doing somersaults. The excitement was real, but so was the nervousness. This was a new world. Mason¡¯s world. We arrived at the private terminal of the airport within the hour. That¡¯s when reality punched me right in the face. Cameras. Paparazzi. Like bees to honey, they swarmed the car before Mason¡¯s foot even hit the ground. I shrank back in my seat, stunned by the shes and shouting. Mason leaned in through the door. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re good. Just stay close and keep your head up.¡± I nodded. Discover more novels at F?ndNovel He took my hand gently, guiding me into the waiting jet. Inside the jet, plush leather seats lined the cabin, bathed in soft, ambient lighting. A fully stocked mini bar gleamed under the glow, while smooth jazz yed faintly in the background. It was calm. Beautiful. Andpletely intimidating. Three people were already seated: his stylist, his assistant, and a man Iter learned was his manager, Joe. Joe stood to shake my hand. ¡°So you¡¯re the mysterious Emily.¡± ¡°Only mysterious to people who haven¡¯t spent five minutes in a kitchen with me.¡± I replied, earning a chuckle. Joe grinned. ¡°Mason talks about you.¡± That made me blink. I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, but Mason didn¡¯t give me the chance. ¡°Hey, Joe, leave her alone,¡± came Mason¡¯s voice from behind me. ¡°She¡¯s new to the 17:35 288 Vouchers madness. And then she made her entrance. Olivia. Supermodel. Joe¡¯s little sister. A stunning hurricane in designer sunsses, impossibly long legs, and a pout that probably broke hearts for a living. ¡°Mason,¡± she purred, standing up and smoothing her silky dress. ¡°I told you that beige hoodie washes you out.¡± He gave her a polite half¨Csmile. ¡°Noted.¡± She cast a nce my way. Sharp. Assessing. Dismissive. ¡°Emily,¡± Mason said, turning to me, e sit by the window.¡± That earned me a silent death re. Cool. I wasn¡¯t here to fight over anyone. Least of all Mason. I just wanted to enjoy this tour, breathe a little, and maybe, just maybe, forget the ache Liam left behind. The jet took off smoothly. Somewhere between clouds and catered snacks, I finally started to rx. Chicago was the first stop on the tour. Mason¡¯s opening night. When wended, the city energy felt skyline glittered beneath us. shing billboards. Sunset¨Ckissed rooftops. The electric, even from above. We were whisked away to a luxury hotel that looked like something off a magazine spread. ss walls, rooftop infinity pool, golden elevator buttons that dinged softly like music notes. My room? No. Not a room. A suite. With floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, a view of the skyline, and a bathroom so massive, it could host a five¨Ca¨Cside game. I stood in the center of it, stunned, phone in hand, taking it all in. Later that evening, I followed Mason and his team to the United Center for soundcheck. 17:35 234 Vouchers It was¡­ chaos. Beautiful, organized chaos. Dancers warming up. Technicians shouting into headsets. Massive screens flickering to life. Every inch of the space buzzed with movement and urgency. 17:350 Chef Novel 67 Mason was a different person here. Focused. Sharp. Demanding when needed. Gone was theid¨Cback flirt. I watched him mic¨Ccheck, adjust sound levels, give nods of approval to the stage lighting. It was like watching a conductor lead a full orchestra¨Cexcept the orchestra was backup dancers, stagehands, and a million¨Cdor light rig. ¡°You okay?¡± Joe asked, stepping beside me. ¡°Completely overwhelmed,¡± I whispered. ¡°In a good way.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Just don¡¯t let Olivia corner you. She bites.¡± I smiled. ¡°Yeah¡­ I noticed.¡± After a few hours, the team wrapped. Mason waved me over. ¡°Hungry?¡± ¡°Starving.¡± We ended up at a low¨Ckey but fancy restaurant near the hotel. Dark wood. Dim lighting. Jazz music floating in the background. Mason ditched the hoodie for a ck tee and jeans. Somehow, he still looked like someone who belonged on the cover of Rolling Stone. I tried not to look too out of ce in my sundress and tired eyes. ¡°I had no idea touring was this much work,¡± I said, stirring my drink. ¡°I thought you just¡­ show and sing.¡± up Heughed, leaning back in his seat. ¡°You just offended every artist on the.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I said sheepishly. ¡± He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a grind. You write, you rehearse, you fly, you market, you perform. Then you do it again. And again. The mour¡¯s just what people are allowed to see.¡± 17:35 288 (Vouchers ¡°Well, then you make exhaustion look good.¡± He held my gaze a second too long. ¡°Careful, or I might start thinking you¡¯re into me.¡± I rolled my eyes, and we changed the subject. We talked about music. Travel. His worst fan encounter (hint: someone tried to steal his shoe mid¨Cperformance), and what song almost didn¡¯t make hisst album. It felt easy. After dinner, we both retired. He to his floor. Me to mine. I showered and copsed into the ridiculously soft bed, my muscles aching but oddly light. my heart Then my phone rang. I ignored it. It rang again. Then again. I groaned and reached for it. Sophia. I answered on the fourth ring. ¡°It¡¯s midnight.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait until morning?¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Oh, just that you¡¯ve officially made it to gossip blogs. Congrats.¡± I shot upright. ¡°What?¡± Her voice was gleeful. ¡°You and Mason. Airport. Rehearsal. Him fixing your hair while you giggled like a teenager? Babe, they¡¯re calling you his secret muse.¡± My heart sank. This text is hosted at FindN0vel I reached for my iPad and typed in the gossip site¡¯s name. There it was. ¡± 17:35 Global Pop Star Mason Jacob Spotted with Mystery Woman Photo after photo. 288 Vouchers Romance Brewing on Tour? Meughing beside Mason at soundcheck. Him brushing a strand of hair from my face. Us stepping off the jet together. The captions were wild. Thements? Wilder. I dropped the tablet on the bed. This¡­ was going to be a problem. A big one. Especially with Liam. And definitely with Olivia. And somehow, I had a sinking feeling this tour had only just begun. Sleep came like a wave after the emotional turbulence of the night. I must¡¯ve been more tired than I thought, because even Sophia¡¯s call didn¡¯t stop me. I barely remembered dropping my phone beside the pillow. My body sank into the luxurious bed, and for a while, nothing else mattered. The noise, the headlines, the photos, all of it faded beneath the weight of exhaustion. Peace, however, is always temporary. When I finally stirred, sunlight leaked through the thin hotel curtains, warm against my skin. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Then it all came rushing back¨Cthe jet, the shing cameras, Olivia¡¯s death stares, Mason¡¯s easy charm, and most of all, the gossip blogs. I reached for my phone, still half¨Casleep. The moment it lit up, I flinched. Notifications poured in before the screen even fully unlocked. Mentions. Tags. DMs. Hundreds. Then I saw it: #MasonAndMysteryGirl #WhoIsEmily #TourLoveStory 17:35 298 Vouchers My name. My face. Everywhere. My follower count had exploded overnight. Thirty thousand. Then sixty. Now, over a hundred thousand. Complete strangers reposting my face, dissecting my outfit, analyzing my smile, and debating whether I was Mason¡¯s new girlfriend. Of course, they also dragged out photos of his ex. Somements made me smile: ¡°She¡¯s so naturally pretty. I love her vibe.¡± ¡°Mason¡¯s finally smiling again. Thank her.¡± Some went for the throat: ¡°Not even half as beautiful as his ex. ¡°1 ¡°Just another clout¨Cchaser with a pretty face.¡± Others questioned my worth. A few even imed I must¡¯ve ckmailed my way into his orbit. And the worst part? I read every single one. I dropped my phone onto my chest and stared at the ceiling. My heart thudded in slow, dull beats, like it couldn¡¯t decide whether to break or harden. The words from the blog kept echoing, looping in my head like a cruel soundtrack. I knew I shouldn¡¯t care, I shouldn¡¯t give strangers that kind of power¨Cbut God, it hurt. 17:35 Chef Novel 68 Is this what going viral felt like? I wasn¡¯t even trying. I texted Sophia: Emily: Tell me again why I shouldn¡¯t burn the inte down. My socials are a mess. What do I do? Sophia: LOL. You trending, babe! Wee to the circus. Emily: Sophia, seriously. Sophia: Okay, okay. Lock yourments. Don¡¯t scroll. Let them talk. In two days, someone else will sh a nipple or fake a breakup, and boom¨Cnew headline. Emily: Great. I signed up for a music tour and got a PR disaster. Sophia: ¡°Ignore everyone and just have fun. Go private on all socials if you have to.¡± Easier said than done. I dragged myself out of bed and got ready. Just as I finished pulling on a white tee and jeans, another message came in. Mason: Breakfast? Me, Joe, and Olivia are downstairs. A part of me wanted to stay in bed and hide. But another part, the one that hadn¡¯tpletely unraveled, told me to face it head¨Con. Downstairs, Olivia already looked like a perfumemercial. Sleek hair, glossed lips, and a perfectly calcted scowl. Joe smiled warmly when he saw me. ¡°Good morning, star of the tabloids,¡± he teased. Mason stood and pulled out a chair. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Define okay,¡± I said, sitting. He chuckled. ¡°Eat something. You¡¯ll feel better.¡± 17:35 288 iVouchers Olivia gave me a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Fame looks good on some people. Even when it¡¯s¡­ unintentional.¡± I ignored her. Joe leaned in. ¡°About the trending thing, our PR team is already managing it. These things blow up, but they settle. Sometimes, though¡­ they can be useful.¡± Mason turned to me, his voice soft. ¡°If it gets too much, just say the word. You can dip. No pressure.¡± ¡°And miss all this fun?¡± I said with a weak smile. ¡°Not a chance.¡± Olivia snorted. ¡°Not everyone can handle the pressure.¡± I looked her square in the eye. ¡°And not everyone needs to be passive¨Caggressive before coffee.¡± Joe nearly spit out his juice. Mason¡¯s mouth twitched, fighting a smile. ¡°Actually,¡± Joe said, clearing his throat, ¡°we could lean into this a bit. Nothing staged, just¡­ let the public see more of you naturally. You¡¯re trending, and ticket interest just doubled. Think of it as¡­ exposure.¡± Mason shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s a friend, not a marketing prop. Let her breathe.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said,ughing to ease the tension. ¡°If my idental stardom helps ticket sales, you owe me fries. I also want royalties.¡± ¡°Done,¡± Mason said with a wink. Breakfast continued with lighter banter, until Mason and Joe had to leave to prep for the evening¡¯s tourunch. Olivia and I were to join themter. The moment they left, silence returned. She didn¡¯t waste it. ¡°You should enjoy your fifteen minutes,¡± Olivia said, tapping her nails on her ss. ¡°Some people never even get that.¡± ¡°You think I want this?¡± I shot back. ¡°Trust me, I didn¡¯t. And you? You¡¯re not worth the stress.¡± She blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± 17:35 288 Vouchers You heard me. You can keep ring and dropping snide remarks, but I didn¡¯te here for Mason. I came here for peace. And you¡¯re not about to ruin that for me.¡® I didn¡¯t wait for her reply. I got up and left. n Back in my room, I slumped onto the bed and sighed. Maybe I¡¯d been too blunt. Maybe not enough. Then, my phone buzzed. I picked it up, half¨Cexpecting a message from Lisa. Instead, it was from Liam. A single photo. From the blog. Mason¡¯s fingers in my hair, my face tilted inughter. Too intimate. Too easy to misread. His message: ¡°d you¡¯re having the time of your life¡­ with a ¡®friend¡®.¡± I stared at the screen, feeling the sting I¡¯d tried to forget. His silence the night I told him. His face. His goodbye. Now this. I put the phone down gently, then curled into the bed again. The sheets still smelled like vani. I closed my eyes and let the ache sit quietly in my chest. Newest update provided by f?ndnovel I hadn¡¯t expected fame. I hadn¡¯t expected drama. And I sure as hell hadn¡¯t expected heartbreak to follow me on tour. But here I was. The tour had barely started. And already, my whole life felt like a headline waiting to happen. The arena throbbed with energy, like the walls themselves were alive, absorbing every scream, every beat, every pulse of light that sliced through the darkness. Outside, fans had camped since morning, their excitement spilling into the night like a rising tide. Inside, it was electric¨Cglow sticks swaying, shlights blinking, and a sea of Mason 17.35 Jacob T¨Cshirts stretching from the barricades to the nosebleeds. 17:35 Chef Novel 69 298 Vouchers I hadn¡¯t expected the atmosphere to affect me this much. My stomach fluttered as we pulled up to the venue, a sleek ck SUV whisking Olivia and me through the private entrance. The crowd outside screamed the moment they caught a glimpse of us behind the tinted ss. I was invisiblepared to Mason, but somehow, I still felt exposed. His stylist had chosen my outfit hours earlier¨Ca pair of sleek ck jeans, a vintage band tee tucked in just enough, and a cropped leather jacket that made me look cooler than I felt. Olivia barely spoke during the drive. Her silence was more tolerable than her snide remarks, so I didn¡¯t push it. We stepped through the side entrance, guided by Mason¡¯s tour assistant, and were led to a VIP section not far from the stage. It was just elevated enough to have a perfect view, yet close enough to feel every vibration of the bass deep in my chest. The lights dimmed. The air thickened with anticipation. Then, everything exploded. Lights shot from the stage. The first note echoed, and the entire arena went unglued. Mason rose from the tform in the middle of the stage like a god ascending through smoke and color. The way the crowd erupted, it was deafening. But he soaked it in with practiced ease, like he was born for this. And maybe he was. Song after song poured from him like a fire being released. He danced, nailed every note, teased the audience with half¨Csmiles and head tilts. His energy lit up the room. Every move choreographed, every breath timed, but somehow, it still felt real. I stood there, rooted. Not just by the sound or the lights, but by him. This was Mason in his elementmanding, electric, impossible to look away from. Midway through his set, the music slowed. Mason paused, catching his breath, sweat glistening across his forehead. He walked to the edge of the stage, mic still in hand. 602 17:35 288 Vouchers ¡°I need to take a second,¡± he said, his voice low and clear. ¡°I want to thank the real ones¨Cmy team, my crew, the fans who¡¯ve been here since the garage days, and every single person who makes this possible. This tour means the world to me. So do you.¡± The crowd screamed. A beat of silence. Then, from somewhere in the crowd, maybe near the barricades, came a shout that sliced clean through the noise. ¡°MYSTERY GIRL!¡± It echoed. A ripple ofughter and cheers followed. Suddenly, my face shed briefly on the big screen. I blinked, midugh, and there I was, caught like a deer in headlights. Oh God. I could feel my face heating up. Mason turned slightly, his eyes scanning until theynded on me. Just for a moment. And then, with the faintest smirk, he turned back to the audience andunched into the next song. Smooth save. I ducked my head, trying to disappear into the leather seat beneath me, but it was toote. People were already whispering, pointing, phones lifted. Just ride the wave, Emily. After the show, one of the crew members found me. ¡°Mason wants you backstage,¡± she said, holding out anyard. ¡°There¡¯s someone he wants you to meet. Backstage was a different world. Controlled chaos. Dancers stretching, water bottles being tossed, people shouting time calls, camera shes snapping for behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes reels. Mason stood near a table, towel around his neck, gulping water between hugs and congrattions. And beside him, a guy who looked vaguely familiar, but softer around the edges¨Cmessy curls, kind eyes, aid¨Cback vibe that stood in contrast to the post¨Cconcert rush. 17:35 ¡°Emily,¡± Mason called out, waving me over, ¡°meet my older brother, Brian.¡± Brian extended his hand dramatically. ¡°So you¡¯re the infamous plus¨Cone everyone¡¯s whispering about.¡± Iughed, shaking it. ¡°Infamous sounds¡­ intense.¡± ¡°Fair warning, we Jacob boyse with high drama, sold¨Cout shows, and awkward childhood stories waiting to be spilled.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± I said, already liking him. This text is hosted at find~novel Mason shook his head. ¡°Ignore him. Don¡¯t encourage his terrible sense of humor. We moved to a quieter area backstage. Brian offered me a bottle of vored water and pointed to a small couch. ¡°Figured you¡¯d want to escape the madness. Mason¡¯s too hyped to wind down.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve never experienced anything like that. He leaned back. ¡¨ ¡°I¡¯ve only seen him like this a few times. First tour. First stadium. First heartbreak show.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°This is one of those?¡± ¡°Feels like it,¡± Brian said, a little too knowingly. We sat there, swapping stories about concerts, childhood fights between Mason and Brian, and the strangest things fans had thrown onstage. He was effortlessly easy to talk to, the kind of guy who made you feel like you were already part of the family. 17:35 Chef Novel 70 Eventually, people started packing up. Mason walked over, sweat finally drying, hair a mess, face flushed. ¡°I¡¯m stealing her back now,¡± he told Brian. Brian winked. ¡°Be nice.¡± Back at the hotel, I kicked off my boots and copsed into the bed. My ears still rang the echo of screams and bass. My heart, however, pulsed with something different. Excitement? Confusion? Something I didn¡¯t want to name. My phone buzzed. Sophia. I unlocked it expecting a meme or another tabloid headline. Instead, it was a photo. Liam. with Shirtless by a pool, head tilted back, face void of expression. No smile. No sun in his eyes. Just¡­ empty. Sophia¡¯s message followed: Sophia: He¡¯s off today. Not seeing anyone. Looks like someone¡¯s carrying more than just work stress. I stared at the image longer than I should have. My fingers hovered over the screen, unsure what to say or feel. He looked like the version of Liam that only I knew existed. The one who needed no words. Who¡¯d carry everything silently, until it broke him. And for the first time since I got here, the line between both worlds blurred. 17:36 288 Vouchers Part of me wanted to stay¨Csoak up the thrill of the tour, the music, the freedom. But another part? It kept tugging at me. Back to Liam. Back to the mess I left behind. I didn¡¯t know which part of me to listen to. Because one felt like escape¡­ And the other felt like unfinished business. Something had to give. And I wasn¡¯t sure what it should be. Getting any real sleep felt impossible after everything. Even though the hotel room was quiet and the bed ridiculously soft, I couldn¡¯t shake the whisper of Liam¡¯s photo still haunting my phone. When I finally opened my eyes,te morning light spilled in through the heavy curtains. I stayed in bed a while, letting the silence wrap around me. For the first time in days, I didn¡¯t reach for my phone right away. But I couldn¡¯t avoid it forever. When I unlocked it, social media was still buzzing. More photos. More fan edits. The nickname Mystery Girl trending in at least two hashtags. A few new blog headlines too: ¡°Who Is Mason Jacob¡¯s VIP Guest?¡± ¡°From Nobody to Front Row: Emily Sparks Spection¡± A knock sounded at the door. ¡°Emily?¡± Brian¡¯s voice called. I sat up, startled. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You decent? We¡¯re heading out. Thought I¡¯d steal you for a few hours. Sightseeing. Chicago¡¯s best distraction, promise.¡± I hesitated, then stood. Maybe I needed a distraction. Brian took me to Navy Pier first. He talked nonstop, about deep¨Cdish pizza, how he and 17:36 288 Vouchers Mason once got lost biking around the city, the worst soundcheck Mason ever had. Iughed at all the right ces, but my mind was only half there. Eventually, we sat on a bench facing Lake Michigan, munching on caramel popcorn from a street vendor. He nced sideways at me. ¡°You¡¯re quiet.¡± ¡°Just tired,¡± I said. He didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Tired doesn¡¯te with that look in your eyes.¡± I said nothing. Updates are released by f?ndnovel Brian shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me your life story. But sometimes, running toward something fun is really just running from something else. Just¡­ don¡¯t forget to deal with the thing you¡¯re running from.¡± I turned to him, surprised. ¡°That¡­ was actually really insightful.¡± He smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Mason. He still thinks I peaked in college.¡± Back at the venue that night, the energy was even more intense than the first show. Mason¡¯s up hours team buzzed with nerves and excitement. Fans were already chanting outside, lined early. As I stepped into the backstage area, I heard someone yell, ¡°Is that Emily?!¡± I turned, and there he was. ¡°Jay!¡± I grinned and ran over. ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± He opened his arms dramatically. ¡°You think I¡¯d miss thest Chicago show? I¡¯m performing the cob track with Mason tonight. Thought I¡¯d surprise everyone. Including you.¡± ¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°You and your dramatic entrances. He winked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep Mason¡¯s fans from biting your head off. You might need a disguise soon, you¡¯re trending, Em.¡± I shoved his arm. ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± 17:36 288 Vouchers The arena soon filled again. I sat in the same VIP section, surrounded by crew and a few family members. Brian waved at me from the mixing booth, giving a thumbs¨Cup. Mason took the stage like he was born there. The crowd erupted. Song after song rolled out. Then halfway through, the lights dimmed. He stepped forward, sweat shimmering on his skin, and grabbed a different mic. ¡°Tonight¡¯s special,¡± he said, voice soft but powerful. ¡°Not just because it¡¯s our final night in Chicago, but because sometimes¡­ life throws someone into your path who changes how you see everything.¡± Fans screamed. Chef Novel 71 ¡°So this next one is new. Never been performed before. And it¡¯s for someone who showed up out of nowhere but somehow made everything clearer.¡± And just like that, his eyes found mine in the crowd. The spotlight didn¡¯t hit me, but the fans followed his gaze. Cheers went up. I wanted to disappear. But I smiled anyway. He didn¡¯t call me on stage. Not literally. But the dedication said enough. The new song that followed was beautiful¨Cmncholy, raw, full of longing and quiet hope. The kind that lingers in your chest long after the final note fades. I pped with everyone else, even as my hands trembled. Halfway through Jay and Mason¡¯s cob performance, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I almost didn¡¯t check it. But something told me to. Sophia. She sent a picture. Liam. Sitting alone by the pool. A drink in hand. Eyes hollow. Her message followed. Sophia: He took the day off. Said he didn¡¯t feel like talking. I haven¡¯t seen him like this since Grandpa died. I¡¯m scared. My heart dropped. I stared at Liam¡¯s photo, and everything else blurred. The lights. The music. The cheers. All of it faded. That look on his face¡­ it wasn¡¯t just sadness. 17:36 288 Nouchers It was emptiness. The kind you don¡¯t post about. The kind that quietly suffocates you. Heavy. Silent. Real, And it broke something in me. I tried to stay in the moment, to enjoy what was left of the show, but my hands felt wooden My chest too tight. Brian caught my eye across the venue, frowning slightly. This was Mason¡¯s night. But something inside me had already shifted. I gripped my phone tighter. Olivia noticed too. Of course she did. She leaned closer, smirking. ¡°What¡¯s with the sudden mood drop? Missing the spotlight already?¡± I turned to her, voice sharper than I intended. ¡°I¡¯ve got actual things to worry about, Olivia. Try that sometime.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Wow. Sensitive.¡± I didn¡¯t bother replying. I stood, ignored Brian¡¯s questioning nce, and slipped into the backstage corridor. The crowd¡¯s cheers echoed behind me, but I couldn¡¯t stay. I found Jason near a stack of equipment cases, high¨Cfiving one of the crew. ¡°There you are,¡± he said. ¡°Tell me I crushed it.¡± ¡°You did,¡± I said honestly. ¡°But I need a favor. He caught the shift in my tone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°When are you flying back to LA?¡± ¡°In a few hours. Why?¡± ¡°I need toe with you.¡± He blinked. ¡°Whoa. That¡¯s sudden.¡± ¡± 17:36 288 Vouchers ¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°But I need to go home. Now.¡± Jason¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Because of Liam?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. I didn¡¯t have to. He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the pilot. You¡¯re with me.¡± ¡°Thanks, Jay.¡± ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay?¡± I gave a tight smile. ¡°Just¡­ tired of pretending I am.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± He nced toward the stage. ¡°Want me to wait while you tell Mason?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll meet you outside.¡± He squeezed my shoulder and walked off. I turned and headed for Mason¡¯s dressing room. The door was slightly open. He was sitting on the couch, flushed from the performance, towel draped around his neck. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, lighting up when he saw me. ¡°Perfect timing. I was just thinking about dragging you to the after party.¡® ¡°1 I stepped inside and shut the door behind me. ¡°Mason¡­ I need to tell you something.¡± His smile faded. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have to leave. Tonight. I¡¯m going back to LA.¡± He stood up. ¡°What happened? Is it Olivia? Something online?¡± ¡°No. Everyone¡¯s been kind. And tonight¡­ was incredible. But something came up. I need to fix it.¡± He studied me for a beat. ¡°Is it about the song?¡± ¡°What? No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s not about you at all. It¡¯s something I should¡¯ve done before now.¡± Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? 17:36 288 Vouchers Mason nodded slowly. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± My voice cracked. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m letting you down.¡± ¡°Em,¡± he said gently. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. I get it.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t ruin anything,¡± he said. ¡°You made this tour more real. More human. That matters.¡± I looked at him. ¡°I¡¯ll text when Ind?¡± ¡°You better.¡± I hesitated, then added, ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still a mystery girl, you know. ¡°1 Iughed. ¡°I think I¡¯ve caused enough mystery for one week.¡± We hugged, quick and quiet. I left before I changed my mind. Jason was already waiting near the car. ¡°All good?¡± he asked. I nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We climbed into the back seat. He buckled up and nced over at me. ¡°So. You¡¯re leaving the lights, the tour, the superstar who literally wrote a song about you¡­ for moody, brooding Liam ck?¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°No, really. Are you sure?¡± I looked out the window. The Chicago skyline glittered beyond the ss, loud with life and music and color. 17:36 Chef Novel 72 ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing,¡± I said quietly. ¡°But I know where I need to be.¡± Latest content published on find~novel Jason nodded. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± I leaned back, phone in hand, heart in turmoil. I wasn¡¯t running anymore. I was choosing. Even though the flight back to LA had been smooth, my body felt like it was carrying the weight of another world. The moment Jason¡¯s car pulled away, I just stood there at my door, keys in hand, staring at the knob like I was afraid of what would be on the other side. Inside, the silence felt both familiar and foreign. My shoes echoed softly on the hardwood as I walked through the apartment, my eyes scanning every corner like it might suddenly look different. It didn¡¯t. I dropped my bag in the hallway and wandered into the bathroom like muscle memory. Everything moved in slow motion. I turned on the shower and stepped under the water before I could talk myself out of it. The temperature stung my skin in the best way, a punishment and a cleanse. The water was scalding, the kind of heat that stripped awayyers. I didn¡¯t cry. I just stood there, letting it burn. Letting it wash away the makeup, the perfume, the tour, the sh of cameras, the whispers of strangers. The look in Liam¡¯s eyes from that photo Sophia had sent
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It wasn¡¯t until I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel that I really exhaled. I caught my reflection in the fogged¨Cup mirror¨Ctired eyes, cheeks pale, hair clinging to damp skin. I barely recognized myself. And yet¡­ there was something familiar in the way my chin tilted slightly upward, in the quiet stubbornness behind my gaze. 17:36 288 Vouchers Determination. I took my time getting dressed. Simple jeans. A white top. Nothing fancy. ts instead of boots. No makeup. No distractions. Just me. By the time I gathered myself, there were no more excuses left. I grabbed my phone. My keys. And I walked out. Sophia opened the door with a look of total surprise. ¡°Emily?¡± I gave her a small smile, unsure of what I expected her reaction to be. A secondter, her face softened and she practically yanked me into a hug. ¡°Oh thank God.¡± My arms folded around her instinctively. I hadn¡¯t realized how much I missed her presence until that exact moment. ¡°Hi.¡± I mumbled. She pulled back, her brows lifting. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re here to put my brother out of his misery. Because I swear, I am exhausted.¡± I blinked. ¡°Is he home?¡± Sophia stepped aside, letting me in. ¡°No, he left about an hour ago. Didn¡¯t say a word. Just walked out looking like a man who lost a fight with a mirror. He¡¯s been like this since you left. Brooding. Moody. Not eating properly. ssic Liam ck. ¡± I followed her inside. The house smelled faintly of espresso and something woodsy. Lived¨Cin but still quiet. I took everything in slowly, the nket crumpled on the couch, the half¨Ceaten croissant on the counter, a hoodie draped over the armchair like someone couldn¡¯t be bothered to fold it. ¡°He¡¯s hurting,¡± Sophia said quietly. ¡°But don¡¯t expect him to admit it.¡± I sat down slowly, my palms resting on my thighs. ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡± 17:36 288 Vouchers Sophia nodded, then looked me over like she hadn¡¯t had the chance before. ¡°You look tired.¡± ¡°I am.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything else. She just gave me a quiet, understanding look. The kind that didn¡¯t push. The kind that knew. We sat like that until the front door clicked open. My heart lurched. Liam stepped inside like he didn¡¯t know what he was walking into. Like my car outside had raised his suspicions but he didn¡¯t want to believe it. His eyes swept the room like a man scanning for ghosts. Then theynded on me. Our eyes locked. Everything inside me stilled. He looked¡­ not broken exactly. But stretched thin. Dark shadows under his eyes. A stiffness in his shoulders like he hadn¡¯t slept right in days. Yet somehow, he still managed to look impossibly, heartbreakingly beautiful. His lips parted. For a moment, I thought he was going to say something. But he didn¡¯t. He just blinked once, turned his face away, and walked straight past us into his room. Sophia let out a dramatic groan beside me. ¡°Wow. That was¡­ so him.¡± I blinked hard. ¡°Yeah. I noticed.¡± The silence after that felt louder than anything Mason¡¯s tour ever sted. I sat there for a while, pretending the cushions werefortable and that I wasn¡¯t fighting the urge to go after him. Eventually, I stood. 17:36 Sophia didn¡¯t stop me. She just gave me a small nod, her eyes soft. His door wasn¡¯t closed all the way. I pushed gently and stepped in. 288 Nouchers 17:36 Chef Novel 73 Chapter 73 He was sitting on the bed. Fresh from a shower, damp hair pushed back, gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips, a long¨Csleeved shirt clinging to his frame. His feet were nted on the floor, elbows resting on his knees, gaze locked on the window like he was waiting for someone to show up outside and tell him how to feel. ¡°Hey,¡± I said softly, stepping into the room. He didn¡¯t even blink. I walked over and sat beside him, careful not to get too close. ¡°Are you good?¡± Silence. ¡°Are you okay with me being here?¡± Nothing. ¡°Liam, please. At least say something.¡± He didn¡¯t look at me. Didn¡¯t move. The silence cut deeper than any words. I let out a curse under my breath. ¡°Seriously?¡± He finally turned his head, just enough for his voice to carry. The rightful source is F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°Why did youe back?¡± I swallowed. ¡°For you.¡± He looked at me fully now, his eyes unreadable. ¡°I don¡¯t remember asking you to. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you did,¡± I said, trying to stay calm. ¡°I came because I wanted to.¡± ¡± His jaw clenched. ¡°Why? Wasn¡¯t the tour fun anymore? The attention? The cameras? Being someone else¡¯s mystery girl?¡± 17:36 288 Vouchers That stung. My lips parted. ¡°Are you being serious right now?¡± He said nothing. ¡°You think I came back because I couldn¡¯t handle being in the spotlight? That I got bored of Mason?¡± Not a word. I stood. ¡°You know what? Maybe this was a mistake.¡± I turned to walk toward the door. But his hand shot out and caught my wrist. His grip was firm¨Cnot rough, just¡­ unyielding. He pulled me back, turning me to face him. ¡°Do you really thinking here was a mistake?¡± His voice was raw. Low. Like it hurt to even ask. I blinked. My heart thundered in my chest. He stepped closer, eyes locking on mine. ¡°Say it,¡± he whispered. ¡°Say it was a mistake and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± My mouth opened, but no words came out. The tension between us snapped tight like a wire pulled too far. I felt the heat of him, the electric charge between us rising. His hand slipped to the side of my neck, thumb brushing just below my jaw. ¡°You¡¯re not repeating it because deep down, you know it¡¯s a lie,¡± he muttered. I didn¡¯t move. ¡°You came back because you couldn¡¯t stay away. And before I could say anything, he kissed me. ¡± 17:36 : 288 Vouchers No hesitation. No gentle lead¨Cin. Just raw, bottled¨Cup frustration and longing crashing together. His lips were firm, demanding. I melted into it, hands sliding to his chest, his shirt wrinkling under my fingers. We broke apart only long enough to breathe. ¡°I hate how much I missed you,¡± he whispered, forehead resting against mine. The room still smelled like his skin. Like heat and tension and something purely Liam. My body felt boneless, sated, wrapped against his chest like it had found its rightful home. The ache between my legs hadn¡¯t faded, but it wasn¡¯t pain. It was the memory of being taken, devoured, worshipped in the roughest way possible. His hand was heavy around my waist. Possessive. Like he was daring the world to try and take me again. I ran my fingers along his bare chest, brushing over the steady rise and fall. There was a moment of perfect silence, broken only by our breathing. Then, I whispered, ¡°I missed you so badly.¡± His arm tightened around me. He exhaled through his nose. ¡°God, I hate how I can¡¯t stay mad at you.¡± I pulled back a little to look at him. ¡°You nned to stay mad at me?¡± He tilted his head on the pillow, eyes fixed on the ceiling like it was safer than looking at me. ¡°nned it all. Long and hard. I was going to ignore your calls, block your number, act like you didn¡¯t exist. But the moment I walked through that door and saw you¡­¡± He turned, locking eyes with me. ¡°The only thing I could think about was hugging you, kissing you, and punishing you.¡± My lips curled. ¡°Punish me, huh? And what exactly would that entail?¡± His voice dropped, smoky and rough. ¡°Reminding you who you belong to. Who your body responds to. Who your heart calls out for.¡± A hum rolled in my throat. I leaned closer, letting my hand trail lower beneath the sheets. ¡°Sounds intense.¡± 17:36 ¡°Oh, it will be,¡± he growled. My breath hitched. ¡°Maybe I deserve the punishment.¡± He pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing with a slow, hungry gleam. ¡°Strip. Slowly. I want to see you naked again.¡± I sat up, still flushed from earlier, but I obeyed. One piece at a time, I peeled the sheet off, let it slide down my body. My skin tingled under his gaze. Chef Novel 74 :.. 288 Vouchers Chapter 74 ¡°Turn around,¡± he ordered. I did. ¡°Touch yourself.¡± I hesitated. Heat crawled up my neck. ¡°Emily. Do it.¡± With trembling fingers, I reached between my thighs. The room was too quiet. Too loud. Every breath he took behind me felt like a touch. As I moved, I heard him shift. My eyes darted to the mirror across the room. He was stroking himself, watching me. That slow, controlled rhythm that made my insides coil. ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± he rasped. I didn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t. I reached that peak, eyes locking with his in the mirror, and everything came undone. My back arched. My moan broke the silence. Then he was on me. He didn¡¯t wait. ¡°This,¡± he grunted, thrusting into me with unforgiving need, ¡°is for following another man off.¡± Another thrust. ¡°For smiling at him.¡± Another. ¡°For letting them take pictures of you with him.¡± Harder now. Wilder. 0.00% 20:38 : ¸Ê ¡°For listening to that stupid song.¡± I wed at the sheets, meeting him thrust for thrust. ¡°I deserve it,¡± I cried out ¡°Damn right you do.¡± My body was fire. He was me. We didn¡¯t speak again until the end, when we came together. Harsh. Loud. Desperate. And when it was over, when Iy there ruined and trembling, he pulled me close. Pressed his lips to my shoulder. The silence returned. But this time, it was warm. Comfortable. I didn¡¯t realize I was still shaking until he tucked the nket around me. ¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± he said softly. I hesitated. ¡°I have a confession.¡± His body stiffened. ¡°Emily¡­ please don¡¯t tell me you kissed Mason or something.¡± I blinked. Then burst outughing. ¡°What? No! God, Liam. Nothing like that happened.¡± He sighed, dragging a hand over his face. ¡°Good. Because I swear, I was ready to break something.¡± I bit my lip. ¡°But I think Sophia sent me photos of you looking like a drowned rat by the pool. Twice. Same position. You looked dead, honestly.¡± He groaned. ¡°That little demon is getting it. I¡¯ve been too lenient.¡± I poked his side. ¡°You love her. She has you wrapped around her finger.¡± ¡°Only reason she¡¯s still living here,¡± he muttered. ¡°I make threats. She ignores them.¡± Silence again. 20:38 Chapter 74 Updates are released by Find?Novel :. 11 et Nouchers Then I asked, ¡°Why the pool, though?¡± He paused. ¡°Because it holds a memory. My favorite. You. In that ck lingerie. The way the water clung to you. The way youughed that night. It¡¯s all I had when you were away¡± My throat tightened. I nced up at him, finding something vulnerable behind his eyes. A man who hated showing weakness, admitting loneliness. But there he was, exposed in the dim glow of the bedroom, sharing a moment he¡¯d tried to bury under anger. ¡°You remember that night?¡± I whispered. ¡°I remember everything,¡± he replied. ¡°The sound of yourugh. The way you told me to stop sshing water like a child. The curve of your smile when I pulled you against me in that pool. I wasn¡¯t just thinking of the past. I was holding onto it. Because it reminded me that you were mine once.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. My heart clenched. Words were suddenly too small for the emotion blooming in my chest. He ran a hand through his hair. ¡°You¡¯re my woman. But for the past days, the world thinks you belong to some singer.¡± ¡°Some singer,¡± I echoed, smiling. ¡°Don¡¯tugh. It¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry.¡± He looked at me long and hard. ¡°Are you okay with that? The public thing?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said honestly. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t intentional. It just¡­ happened. Mason is a friend¡® His jaw tightened slightly. ¡°And what am I?¡± I met his gaze. ¡°More than a friend.¡± He leaned in, brushing a kiss to my temple. ¡°Good. Because we need to make that clear tomorrow. No more confusion. No more question marks.¡± I nodded, curling deeper into his chest. 20:38 11 284 Mouchers ¡°What if they still talk?¡± I asked quietly. He answered without hesitation. ¡°Let them. As long as you¡¯re here with me, they can say whatever they want.¡± The soft crackle of oil in the pan was the only sound in the kitchen as I carefully flipped the eggs. The smell of toast drifted up, mixing with the faint aroma of coffee. I wasn¡¯t about to risk another surprise breakfast¨Cin¨Cbed from Liam. One look at his burnt pancakesst week had been enough. Kindness shouldn¡¯t be put to the test like that. And afterst night¡¯s¡­ marathon, I needed something hearty to survive the day. My body ached in all the best ways, but I wasn¡¯t trying to tempt fate on an empty stomach. Coffee was non¨Cnegotiable, and anything remotely greasy suddenly felt like a lovenguage. : Chef Novel 75 : 288 (Vouchers Content originallyes from fin?novel Sophia padded in a few minutester, barefoot, wearing ck oversized shirt. She looked unusually serious, eyes glued to her phone as she slid onto the kitchen ind stool without a word. ¡°Good morning,¡± I said. She blinked once, distracted. ¡°Hey.¡± Silence stretched. I served the eggs, then poured us both orange juice. She still hadn¡¯t looked
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¡°Everything okay?¡± Another pause. Then she grinned, dropped her phone on the counter, and leaned forward dramatically. ¡°I have good news.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What kind of good news?¡± Sophia wiggled her brows. ¡°I¡¯m traveling. Which means¡­¡± She spread her arms. ¡°You and my dear brother get the whole house to yourselves. Scream. Break amp. Go wild.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you always travelingtely?¡± She gave a wickedugh. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one with a man dying to have her around. This girl needs her ownte night adventures too.¡± I nearly choked on my juice. ¡°Who is he? Should I offer my condolences?¡± ¡°Emily!¡± she gasped, mock¨Coffended. ¡°How can a man lucky enough to hold my attention be unlucky? That¡¯s sphemy.¡± ¡°So? Who is this mystery man?¡± She smirked and crossed her legs. ¡°Maybe one day I¡¯ll be generous enough to give you all the details. For now, just know he¡¯s hot. And obsessed with me.¡± I leaned on the counter. ¡°Does Liam know him?¡± 0.00% 20:38 11 288 Vouchers ¡°God, no! Promise me you won¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Understood. Operation Don¡¯t Tell Big Brother in motion. But you know you¡¯re a grown woman right?¡± ¡°Try telling that to Liam and Jay. Thest time I tried dating someone, they found out he once shoplifted a candy bar in fifth grade. Fifth grade, Em.¡± Iughed. ¡°They¡¯re doing what big brothers do best. ¡°Being overbearing and nosy? Yeah. A¨Cplus effort.¡± Just then, Liam strolled into the kitchen shirtless, hair tousled like he¡¯d just rolled out of a GQ ad. His eyesnded on me. ¡°You left the bed,¡± he said with mock betrayal. Sophia stood and stretched. ¡°And on that note, I¡¯ll give you lovebirds the kitchen. Try not to scar me for life.¡® ¡°1 Once she was gone, Liam walked up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist. ¡°Mmm. You smell amazing. I could eat you for breakfast.¡± ¡°Liam,¡± I warned, trying not to smile. ¡°Let me cook.¡± ¡°Remember the counter? Still fresh in my memory. We could make new memories real quick.¡± ¡°If this food burns, you¡¯re making the next batch.¡± He held up his hands. ¡°Alright. I surrender to the chef.¡± I flipped thest pancake and turned to him. ¡°So, what¡¯s on today¡¯s agenda?¡± He leaned against the counter, suddenly serious. ¡°We¡¯re going out tonight.¡± I blinked. ¡°We are?¡± He nodded. ¡°Alunch. I¡¯ve been avoiding it for personal reasons. But now¡­ having you here changes things. We¡¯ll go together.¡± There was weight in his tone. Unspoken intent. I understood. 20:38 288 (Vouchers He wanted the world to see us. He wanted to make a statement. And not just to the press. Hourster, the transformation wasplete. My gold satin dress hugged my curves like a second skin. Liam, in a midnight ck suit, looked like he could shut down Wall Street with a single nce. He adjusted his cufflinks like a man preparing for battle. Calm. Calcted. Unshakably in control. The car ride was quiet. Focused. A different kind of anticipation buzzed between us. His hand rested on my thigh, a casual touch that still managed to make my pulse race. As we pulled up to the venue, the air changed. shbulbs. Shouts. A wave of camera shes erupted as soon as our car door opened. I could hear the buzz of reporters, the chatter of tech insiders, the clicks and whirs of eager lenses. We stepped out together. The energy outside the venue was electric, partunch event, part fashion runway. People called his name. Then mine. But Liam didn¡¯t stop. He took my hand and guided us down the carpet like we owned it. His grip was firm. Sure. Then, just before we entered the ss doors, he paused. He looked at me, jaw set. And then he kissed me. It wasn¡¯t soft. It wasn¡¯t shy. It was a full im. Possessive. Certain. shbulbs exploded. A low gasp rippled through the crowd. And I knew. There would be no more mystery. No more whispers. 20:38 288 Vouchers Liam ck had made his statement. Loud. Clear. And unforgettable. The air inside the venue hadn¡¯t cooled since the kiss. If anything, the heat had only grown thicker. Liam ck, the man known for calcted nces and cold detachment, had be someone else entirely tonight. Someone¡­ touchy. He didn¡¯t let go of my hand. Not even once. 240 voucher Chef Novel 76 Chapter 76 He whispered into my ear between tech presentations, his breath grazing my neck, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything but him. During speeches, he leaned over to murmur jokes only I could hear. Stolen kissesnded on my temple, my jawline, the corner of my mouth. Liam ck had entered full PDA mode, and judging by the stunned nces we were getting, no one had seen iting. Not the press. Not the attendees. Not even me. By the time the event wrapped up, I could barely remember half the speeches or tech presentations. All I remembered was Liam¡¯s presence at my side, thefort of his touch, the way he kept iming me without words. Back at the car, I thought we were heading home. My heels were ready toe off. But Liam had other ns. ¡°We¡¯re going out,¡± he said casually, loosening his tie. ¡°I¡¯m not done making my point.¡± I blinked. ¡°What point? You kissed me in front of every reporter in California.¡± He turned to me, eyes dark and mischievous. ¡°That was just the intro.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°What next?¡± He smirked. ¡°We¡¯re going to the club.¡± ¡°A club? Since when do you club?¡± ¡°Since I realized I have something to celebrate.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°You,¡± he said simply. We returned home, changed clothes, and the Liam that stepped out of the walk¨Cin closet wasn¡¯t theposed CEO. No. This was Liam ck: low ck tee, expensive chain, a watch that screamed power, and a look in his eyes that promised fun. 20:39 : 248 (Vouchers I slipped into a crimson wrap dress that hugged my curves like it was custom¨Cstitched for seduction. As we stepped out of the car at the club¡¯s entrance, the shes began immediately. Paparazzi had been tipped off Cameras roared like thunder. ¡°Mr. Liam! Is she your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Are you dating Emily from the Mason tour photos?¡± ¡°Was the kiss staged or real?¡± Liam didn¡¯t say a word. He just ced his hand at the small of my back and guided me inside like he owned the ce. Like he owned me. The club was pulsing. A¨Clisters filled the booths, music pounded from the DJ stand, and neon lights made everyone look ten percent more dangerous. Liam ordered shots. Then bottles. Then more. Four shots in, I found myselfughing louder than usual, losing the part of me that overthought everything. I didn¡¯t even know when I started dancing, but the bass found my hips, and I gave in. Liam watched me for a while, lounging back like a king watching his queen own the room. Then he joined me. Hands on my waist. Mouth at my ear. ¡°You¡¯re driving me insane.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Twerk for me.¡± Iughed but obeyed. His grip tightened, pulling me closer, whispering things in my car that made my knees feel weak. People were watching, but we didn¡¯t care. I saw shes again from the back of the club, phones, maybe even press. He didn¡¯t mind. He wanted it. We were two drinks past logic and ten touches into madness by the time we got into the car. Liam pulled me onto hisp before I even shut the door, 20:39 11 288 unters ¡°Liam! The driver¡­¡± Official source is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel ¡°Won¡¯t see anything. Windows are tinted.¡± He kissed me like the world might end that night. My head tipped back against the seat as his lips found the skin beneath my ear. My fingers threaded into his hair. Every red light was a tease. Every turn, a countdown. By the time we reached the driveway, I didn¡¯t remember a single song that yed at the club I only remembered Liam. Inside, we barely made it to the bedroom. His mouth was on mine the moment the door closed. Clothes disappeared in a frenzy of buttons and groans. He lifted me onto the dresser. ¡°Say it,¡± he growled. ¡°I¡¯m yours.¡± He pulled my hair back. ¡°Again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m yours, Liam. All yours.¡± The rest of the night was a blur of gasps, moans, nails scraping skin, and derations that didn¡¯t need words. The kind of rough that left bruises¡­ and begged for more. We copsed after, tangled and ruined in the best way. I woke up to the smell of him again. Liamy beside me, shirtless, hair a mess, grinning like he¡¯d just won a war. ¡°What?¡± I murmured, rubbing my eyes. ¡°Why do you look like the devil just granted your favorite wish?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just¡­ this is a good morning.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°You never smile like that unless you¡¯re plotting something.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Not plotting. Celebrating.¡± 20:39 ¡°Celebrating what?¡± ¡°Sophia gave me good news earlier.¡± My stomach tightened. If it¡¯s from Sophia, it can¡¯t be good news.¡± ¡°Check your phone.¡± 1 Chef Novel 77 Chapter 77 Confused, I reached for it, still half¨Cdazed. I opened my lock screen and blinked A screenshot of a gossip blog post. Headline: Liam ck and Mystery Girl Identified ¨C Meet Emily Davis, the Woman Who Just Broke the Inte. Below it? Thousands of shares,ments, and fan threads. Some defending me. Some tearing me apart. But all agreeing on one thing: I was no longer a mystery. And Liam had made damn sure the world knew exactly where I stood. The grin on Liam¡¯s face didn¡¯t fade the entire morning. It stretched from cheek to cheek like he¡¯d won some silent victory, and even as we sat at the breakfast table, he kept shing me smug little looks over his coffee mug. ¡°You know that look is annoying, right?¡± I said, reaching for my phone beside the toast. He didn¡¯t respond, just grinned wider. My phone buzzed with yet another notification. I tapped it and my mouth dropped. ¡°Oh my God.¡± Liam raised a brow. ¡°What now?¡± I held up my screen. ¡°I gained over two hundred thousand followers overnight. I¡¯m at nine hundred and forty¨Csomething thousand now.¡± He leaned in to look. ¡°Huh. Almost a million. LA¡¯s new It Girl.¡± ¡°Stop,¡± I said,ughing and trying not to let the nerves creep in. ¡°This is crazy. People are saying maybe I left Mason¡¯s tour because my jealous billionaire boyfriend called me home. Others think I staged it for PR.¡± Liam smirked. ¡°They¡¯re not entirely wrong. I nudged his arm. ¡°Liam.¡± 20:39 Routher He chuckled and popped a piece of toast into his mouth. ¡°Rx. You handled it like a queen.¡± I didn¡¯t even have time to process the wave of attention before my phone buzzed again. Then again. And again. Notifications flooded in like a tidal wave. ¡°Why is it suddenly going crazy again?¡± I asked, unlocking it. Then I saw it. Jay had dropped the music video. The one where I was the vixen. The one that felt like a fever dream now. ¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°He did not.¡± Liam leaned closer. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Jay released the video!¡± His eyes genius.¡± widened for a second before amusement took over. ¡°Oh, that timing is actually I scrolled throughments. ¡°So this is how you catch billionaires. Please open a masterss, sis.¡± ¡°Not Emily breaking the inte twice in one week.¡± ¡°She dumped Mason mid¨Ctour and came back to Liam. I stan.¡± ¡°That video. That kiss. The dress. She¡¯s LA royalty now.¡± I groaned. ¡°I¡¯m going to strangle Jay.¡± Liamughed. ¡°He¡¯s milking the moment. Honestly, from a business standpoint, it¡¯s perfect.¡± I gave him a look. ¡°Whose side are you on again?¡± ¡°Yours. Always,¡± he said, leaning in for a quick kiss. ¡°But also¡­. his timing is top¨Ctier.¡± I stood. ¡°I¡¯m going to Jay¡¯s. I need to drag his cars. ¡°Be gentle with him,¡± Liam said, grabbing his phone. ¡°He did make you go viral.¡± I rolled my eyes. 20:39 : As I turned toward the hallway, Liam called after me. ¡°Shower first. Together¡± 1 paused. ¡°We don¡¯t have time.¡± He was already up and unbuttoning his shirt. ¡°We¡¯ll make time.¡± Ten minutester, we were in the shower. 144 Wrackers Steam curled around us, blurring the ss, wrapping our bodies in heat. Water streamed down my back as Liam pressed me gently against the wall, his lips skimming the side of my neck. ¡°You knew exactly what you were doing when you said ¡®let¡¯s shower together,¡± I murmured, fingers threading into his damp hair. He gave azy, devilish smile. ¡°Are youining?¡± I bit back a grin. ¡°Just confirming your hidden agenda.¡± His hands slid down my waist with deliberate slowness. ¡°You caught me.¡± Then he kissed me. Slow, deep, deliberate, the kind of kiss that stripped everything down to sensation. Every part of me felt awake, pulsing under his touch. He took his time, letting his hands explore, mapping me like I was a luxury he wasn¡¯t in a rush to waste. When he finally entered me, it was with a teasing kind of care, like he wanted me to feel every inch, every moment. My hands braced against the slick tile behind me, our bodies moving together in perfect rhythm, water cascading between us, making everything hotter, wetter, more desperate. He whispered my name like it was a sacred vow. Tender and possessive all at once. The only sounds were our breaths, soft moans, and the rhythmic p of skin against skin. My head dropped against his shoulder, my legs trembling as waves of pleasure rocked through me. He held me through it, never breaking pace, never letting go. By the time it was over, I was barely standing, melted against him, heart racing, lungs gasping for air. I rested my forehead against his chest. ¡°You¡¯re trouble.¡± Checktest chapters at FindN()vel Chef Novel 78 : 11 749 Country He kissed the top of my head, chest rising and falling beneath me. ¡°If that wasn¡¯t the best shower you¡¯ve ever had, you¡¯re lying.¡± Iughed softly, still breathless. ¡°I knew this was your n all along.¡± He tilted my chin up with a smirk. ¡°And you walked in willingly.¡± Back in the closet, Liam was in a yful mood, tossing me socks I didn¡¯t need and teasing me about my choice of ts. ¡°You¡¯re not driving that car,¡± he said suddenly as I reached for my keys. I turned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking one of mine.¡± ¡°Liam, mine is fine.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°Emily, I don¡¯t think you fully understand what you¡¯ve stepped into. The world is watching now. You¡¯re not just any woman. You¡¯re my woman. The possessiveness in his voice made my knees go weak. ¡°And?¡± ¡°And my woman should be treated like it. You¡¯ll drive something worthy of you. No argument.¡± His tone left no room for protest. I caved. ¡°Fine. Which one?¡± He handed me the keys to a sleek silver Aston Martin. ¡°Seriously?¡± He smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll look hot in it.¡± 20:39 This text is hosted at find[?]ovel 11 SAR MIRichers We kissed at the door. A long, slow one that lingered even after I pulled away. Then I slipped into the driver¡¯s seat, trying not to feel like I was stealing a royal chariot When I arrived at Jay¡¯s ce, he was waiting outside like he¡¯d known I wasing ¡°There she is,¡± he said with a shit¨Ccating grin. ¡°Knew you¡¯d show up.¡± I walked straight up to him and dragged his car. ¡°Ow! Emily! What was that for?¡± ¡°You dropped the video without warning. You didn¡¯t even give me a breather!¡± Heughed and rubbed his ear. ¡°In my defense, the timing was just¡­ perfect. The song¡¯s charting again. Streams are through the roof. And you¡¯re officially the most Googled woman in LA this morning.¡± I groaned. He softened. ¡°Hey. Seriously though. You okay?¡± I hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed, Jay. All of this¡­ it¡¯s a lot.¡± His yful expression faded. The celebrity mask dropped. ¡°Alright. First lesson of fame. Everyone has an opinion. Most of it doesn¡¯t matter. You focus on your circle. The people who know the real you.¡± I nodded. ¡°Brands are going toe knocking,¡± he added. ¡°Stay grounded. Keep good people around. And don¡¯t let them tell your story. You control it.¡± I sighed. ¡°You make it sound so easy.¡± He smirked. ¡°That¡¯s because it is. Nowe on. I owe you lunch. My treat.¡± We stepped out together and he paused halfway down the drive. His eyes bugged. ¡°Wait. Is that¡­ Liam¡¯s car?¡± I smiled sweetly. ¡°Yep. He insisted.¡± ¡°He let you drive it? I asked him once and he said he¡¯d rather set it on fire.¡® 20:39 I shrugged. ¡°Guess he likes me more than you. Jay shook his head in disbelief. ¡°No way. He¡¯s so in love. It¡¯s actually disgusting¡± Iughed, but rolled my eyes. ¡°Stop throwing words around like that. You don¡¯t even know the full story.¡± He leaned back, smug. ¡°Please. Keep lying to yourself. That¡¯s what you and Liam do best anyway.¡± My smile faltered for a second, but only for a second. Typical Jay. Hitting a little too close to the truth, then acting like it was all a joke. Jay and I ended up at a sleek rooftop restaurant, velvet¨Clined booths, soft jazz threading through the air, and a view of the skyline framed like a painting. The kind of ce where celebrities could breathe, eat medium¨Crare steak, and not worry about paparazzi lurking behind wine sses. Jay said I needed this. A real meal. A moment to feel normal again. And maybe, he was right. Lunch started off light. We talked about music, travel, a dream he had where he identally officiated a wedding between two cats. He made meugh, the kind ofugh that started in your chest and shook loose all the tension you didn¡¯t realize you were carrying ¡°You good?¡± Jay asked, swirling the straw in his mocktail. ¡°Like actually good?¡± I nodded. ¡°I think so. Just¡­ adjusting.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°You didn¡¯t exactly sign up for all this. But wee to the circus. My phone buzzed on the table. I reached for it absentmindedly, expecting another meme from Sophia or Liam sending a naughty text. But instead, it was an email. From a luxury fashion brand I¡¯d admired since high school. Subject line: Brand Coboration Inquiry. I blinked. Opened it. And read. Twice. The air shifted around me. Everything else dimmed. ¡°What?¡± Jay said, noticing the sudden freeze. 20:39 I turned my phone to face him. He read it. Then leaned back with a satisfied grin. ¡°And it begins.¡± I swallowed. ¡°Jay, they want me to model. Me. Represent their brand. Me.¡± 11 288 Mouchers Chef Novel 79 ¡°Yes, you.¡± he said, like it was obvious. ¡°The same you who nearly broke the inte with one kiss and a music video cameo. Honestly, I¡¯m surprised it took this long¡± I blinked. ¡°But I didn¡¯t sign up for any of this,¡± I mumbled. Jay tilted his head. ¡°Life did, sweetheart. You just walked into the room. Em, you don¡¯t just need a manager. You needed one yesterday.¡± ¡°But I want to go back to school after summer. Quietly. Resume my little life¡± Jay snorted so hard he choked on his drink. ¡°You think you¡¯re going back to ¡®quietly? Girl. you¡¯re with Liam ck. That automatically makes you front¨Cpage news and everyone¡¯s favorite obsession.¡± His phone rang. He nced at the screen, grimaced. ¡°Studio¡¯s calling. I gotta bounce But listen, we¡¯ll n this. Together. We¡¯ll figure out how to handle all of it. The right way¡± I watched him leave, heart pounding. I didn¡¯t know what to do with myself, so I clung to the one thing that always grounded me: food. Specifically, making it. I headed to the store, mentally scrolling through recipes. Maybe a simple pasta dish. Something cozy. Something that made me feel warm. Inside the store, I grabbed a basket and moved quickly, hoping no one would recognize me But people did. Whispers buzzed behind shelves. Phones tilted subtly in my direction This text is hosted at F¦ÉndNovel I felt eyes on me. Someone snapped a photo. I saw the sh. Heard the hush turn into excitement I clutched my basket tighter. This couldn¡¯t be happening over vegetables. Abandoning my half¨Cfull cart, I made a beeline for the checkout, paid for the basics, and rushed toward the exit. The second I stepped outside, a wall of shing cameras and shouting voices met me. ¡°Emily! Is it true you¡¯re dating Liam ck?¡± 20:39 11 Ch ¡°What about Mason?¡± ¡°Are you a gold digger?¡± I froze. Couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t breathe. Every exit was blocked by lenses. A hand slipped around my shoulder. ¡°Let her through,¡± a smooth, firm voicemanded. Kelvin. He led me through the crowd with practiced ease, keeping his arm up to block the shes aimed at my face. When we reached my car, he opened the door, and I slipped inside without saying a word. Inside the car, I exhaled, heart still sprinting. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said. He pulled off his sunsses. ¡°So you¡¯re officially famous. Wee. You¡¯re the only woman I know in LA who¡¯s upset about it.¡± ?? ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this. I went to buy tomatoes. That¡¯s it.¡± Heughed under his breath, clearly amused. ¡°When did you get back to the States?¡± ¡°Three days ago. Been settling in.¡± I rxed slightly. ¡°Well¡­ wee back.¡± He nced at me sideways. ¡°Remember what I told you in St. Barts?¡± I blinked. ¡°No?¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯ming to woo you.¡± I groaned. ¡°Kelvin, please,¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know. You¡¯re with Liam. But unless there¡¯s a ring or a marriage license, I¡¯m still free to shoot my shot.¡± Before I could respond, he shot me azy grin, unbuckled, and stepped out with all the 20:39 283 Pouchard swagger in the world. ¡°Bye, superstar,¡± he said, shutting the door with a wink. I rolled my eyes, waited until he disappeared inside, then shifted gears and pulled out of the lot, heading back to Liam¡¯s. ¨C The kitchen weed me with its familiar silence. Cooking helped. It slowed my pulse. I chopped, stirred, and ted like it was therapy. Just as I finished setting the food down, my phone buzzed again. I stared at it. Paranoid. But I picked it up. Liam had sent me a photo. It was from earlier. Me and Kelvin outside the store. His hand on my shoulder. My face mid- blink. The caption? ¡°Apparently, I wasn¡¯t clear enoughst time.¡± Then another text: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll fix that. Permanently.¡± My stomach flipped. Fix what? What did he mean by permanently? The first delivery arrived just after noon. I was still in Liam¡¯s house robe, flipping through TV channels like a bored house cat, when the doorbell rang. The housekeeper handed me a sleek, matte ck package with my name etched in silver cursive across the top. Inside the box? A crimson dress¨Csilk, scandalous, sculpted like a second skin. My breath 20:39 288 urhers hitched as I lifted it from the folds. It was unapologetically sensual, unmistakably expensive Liam ck didn¡¯t just pick a dress. Hemissioned temptation itself. Tucked inside was a single note: ¡°Dinner. 8 PM. Wear this.¡± I shook my head, already smiling like a fool. I should¡¯ve known he wasn¡¯t done making statements. Then came the second delivery. This time, a bouquet of red roses so deep in color they looked almost ck under the light. The scent was intoxicating, wild. My phone buzzed just as I pressed the petals to my nose. 20:39 Chef Novel 80 Liam: Hope you¡¯re not making other ns, sweetheart. I¡¯ll be iming all of your evening Iughed, biting my lip. Liam: If you¡¯re wondering¡­ yes, I¡¯m imagining you in that dress right now. And yes, you¡¯re driving me insane. PS: Don¡¯t wear panties. I nearly dropped my phone. ¡°Liam!¡± I hissed to myself, cheeks ming. The man was outrageous. I tried to text him back, but before I could finish my sarcastic response, another knock sounded. Delivery number three: a pair of diamond drop earrings, dazzling enough to fund a down payment on a penthouse. I just stared at them, speechless. Was I being proposed to or¡­? Me: What are you up No response. to? Me: You know how insane this is, right? Still nothing. Me: Seriously, Liam. Finally, a buzz.. Liam: Don¡¯t ask questions. Just say yes to everything tonight. Attached was a photo of him in a ck suit, jaw sharp, hair styled, smirk weaponized. I stared at it for longer than I should¡¯ve. 20:39 Chapter BO 1288 Moochers By 7.30, I was ready. The dress clung to me like it had been sewn on, every seam teasing sin. My makeup was wless, soft waves curled perfectly, lips painted the same red as the silk brushing my thighs The m team he sent had left me feeling like a goddess. Still, I had no clue what the night was about. But I had a feeling I wouldn¡¯t forget it. At 7:58 sharp, a sleek ck SUV pulled into the driveway. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and gave me a polite nod. ¡°Miss Emily, we¡¯re ready.¡± The car ride was silent, the tension thick. Excitement and anxiety churned in my stomach as we drove away from Liam¡¯s estate. I expected dinner at some fancy rooftop, maybe one of his hotels. But when we stopped at a private helipad overlooking downtown L.A., my mouth went dry. And then I saw him. Liam stood by the helicopter like he owned the sky, one hand in his pocket, the other brushing back his wind¨Ctossed hair. His suit looked like it had been cut from midnight itself. Our eyes locked. And suddenly, the world around us stopped spinning. ¡°You wore it,¡± he said, voice lower, rougher. ¡°You sent it.¡¯ ¡°I didn¡¯t know it would look that good.¡± The way he looked at me, hungry, reverent, made my skin prickle. He stepped forward and kissed me, slow and deep, hands firm on my waist. Then he took my hand. ¡°Let¡¯s fly.¡± We soared over Los Angeles, lights glittering beneath us like fallen stars. I barely noticed the altitude, I only noticed the way Liam¡¯s fingers stayed wrapped around mine the whole time. 20:39 Wended on the rooftop of one of his towers Candlelight. A violinist. A table for two draped in white linen and surrounded by rose petals. Every detail was deliberate, breathtaking. Dinner was slow, romantic, and filled with flirtation. Liam fed me chocte souffl¨¦ with his fingers, stole kisses between courses, and made meugh until I couldn¡¯t breathe ¡°You nned all this?¡± I asked, sipping my wine. ¡°I nned this weeks ago,¡± he said. ¡°But I needed to be sure.¡± ¡°Sure of what?¡± Get full chapters from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel ¡°That you¡¯re mine.¡± The wind picked up as he rose from his chair and took my hand again. ¡°Come.¡± We walked to the edge of the rooftop. The view stretched out endlessly. Stars above. City lights below. Everything in between belonged to him. And then, fireworks. I gasped as gold exploded across the sky, lighting up the night. And there, written in shimmering trails across the dark: WILL YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND? My heart stopped. My hands flew to my face. My lips parted in a disbelieving gasp. I turned to Liam. ¡°You did not¡­¡± ¡°I absolutely did.¡± ¡°Liam¡­¡± ¡°I wanted it loud,¡± he said. ¡°Louder than gossip. Louder than the blogs. Loud enough to silence everyone else.¡± I nodded, unable to speak through the tears that blurred my vision. 20:39 Chapter #0 He cupped my face. ¡°Say yes.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I whispered. ¡°God, yes.¡± This kiss was fierce. Triumphant. That night, back at his house, everything changed. He carried me to the bedroom like he¡¯d been aching for this moment forever. The silk dress slipped off my shoulders like it had a mind of its own. His lips followed every inch of skin, slow and possessive. It wasn¡¯t just sex. It was him showing me, telling me, without words, that I was his. We moved together like a storm and its thunder, crashing and rising, fierce and warm, wild but safe. Later, tangled in sheets, chests rising and falling, he pulled me close and whispered against my neck: ¡°Now that you¡¯re officially mine¡­ I¡¯ming for any man who dares look your way. I smiled into his chest. Somehow, I didn¡¯t doubt it. ¡°1 20:39 Chef Novel 81 288 (Vouchers And for the first time in forever, I didn¡¯t doubt myself either. Not when I belonged to Liam ck. Liam left that morning with onest kiss and a promise that tasted too sweet to doubt ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel I¡¯ll call the second Ind, he¡¯d said, pulling me into his chest like I was the only thing tethering him to earth. ¡°I hate that I have to leave right now,¡± he murmured against my hair. ¡°But I need to fix this deal myself. It will only be a few days.¡± My fingers brushed his cor as I looked up. ¡°You telling me the big boss couldn¡¯t pull a few strings and skip it?¡± He grinned, kissed me again, longer this time. ¡°Text me everything. What you eat, what you wear, what you miss. Especially what you miss. ¡°So basically¡­ you want to stalk me through your phone.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Then he was gone. A blur of cologne, lingering warmth, and an unspoken goodbye. The house¨Conce filled withughter, inside jokes, and tangled sheets, felt too quiet. Too hollow Too much like it did before him. But we kept pace. He texted like clockwork. I sent him pictures of my breakfast and outfits he¡¯d once half- undressed me from. He called before bed. I fell asleep to the sound of his voice telling me about boardroom battles and hotel food. Woke up to flirty texts, emojis that didn¡¯t match his cold reputation, and one¨Cliners that made my cheeks hurt. Until today. Jay had picked me up to review a new contract. A skincare brand wanted me on board. The meeting was smooth, professional Almost normal. 0.00% 37.31 : 288 (Vouchers Until the cameras returned like a migraine. They were camped outside the building, practically glued to the sidewalks. ¡°You¡¯re officially famous,¡± Jay said as he slid into the backseat beside me. ¡°I might need pepper spray just to walk near you.¡± ¡°Please,¡± I said, nudging him yfully. ¡°You¡¯re the one with your face on billboards and chart¨Ctopping singles. If anyone needs pepper spray, it¡¯s me, just to survive your fan club. Jay smirked, resting an arm on the seat. ¡°You¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡± By the time we pulled into the driveway, I was running on espresso and stress. I kicked off my heels the second I stepped inside and copsed onto the couch, digging into my bag for my phone, ready to update Liam like I always did. That¡¯s when I saw it. A headline. LIAM BLACK SPOTTED IN MONACO WITH CASSIE SCOTT. TROUBLE IN PARADISE? Cassie Scott. I didn¡¯t recognize the name. Not until I clicked. Photos loaded like poison. Liam. Her. Walking out of a private yacht club. She was tall, blonde, the kind of beautiful that¡¯s born into bloodlines and trust funds. The kind tabloids paired with phrases like ¡°ck¡¯s type.¡± My stomach knotted. I texted him. Fingers shaking. Emily: Who the hell is Cassie? No reply. Emily: Liam? 33.03% 11:01 1 Still nothing. I called. Straight to voicemail. That was the moment I realized, I wasn¡¯t breathing. I was just¡­ waiting. For an exnation. For the Liam I knew to break through the static. For this to be a mistake I couldugh off in ten minutes. But ten minutes passed. Then thirty. Then an hour. Silence. I stared at my phone until my eyes stung, confusion splintering into something darker. We had just made it official. So why did it feel like I was reading the obituary of something we hadn¡¯t even finished building? Jay had already driven off. I could¡¯ve called him back. I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t want to talk to anyone. Didn¡¯t wantfort. I just wanted answers. And then my screen lit up again. Kelvin: Heard you had a rough day. Dinner? I stared at the message, biting the inside of my cheek. I knew better. Liam would lose his mind. I could already hear his voice, feel the fight that would follow. But Liam was unreachable. Liam was in Monaco. He was silent. So I typed back. 11:01 Emily: Sure. 282 Mother The restaurant was candlelit, curated, and crawling with paparazzi. Kelvin had booked us a corner booth with privacy, but the shes still found us through the windows. He ordered wine I didn¡¯t drink and made jokes I barely heard. ¡°Still thinking about the headline?¡± he asked gently, reaching for his ss. ¡°I¡¯m trying not to.¡± Kelvin didn¡¯t push. Just let the silence sit, filling it with stories about histest business ventures, passive¨Caggressive shade at Liam, and talk of yachts I couldn¡¯t care less about. I barely touched my food. When the bill came, I thanked him with a nod and got in the car before he could walk me inside. The moment I stepped into the house, my phone buzzed. Liam: Are you kidding me? No greeting. No exnation. Just usation. Chef Novel 82 Emily: Oh, great. You¡¯re alive. So there was no reason for you to have ignored me all day. I dropped the phone onto the nightstand, heart thudding. Let him feel it. Let him sweat for once. Because whatever this was, whatever we were, wasn¡¯t going to survive if it only worked when it was convenient for him. And I wasn¡¯t going to be with someone who left me in the dark just because he could. Days passed. Then more days. And still, nothing. Not a call. Not a message. Not even one of Liam¡¯s usual snarky texts to lighten the mood. After that one angry text he sent the night I had dinner with Kelvin, and my reply that I was just d he was alive, he vanished. Poof. Like he¡¯d been erased from my life. No follow¨Cup. Just silence. At first, I tried to y it cool. I told myself he was probably busy. He did say he had a lot to fix. That he¡¯d be back as soon as he could. But soon, every sound my phone made had me checking it like a madwoman. Every time it didn¡¯t ring, it rang loud in my chest. I was his girlfriend now. That counted for something, didn¡¯t it? But days bled into each other. My modeling offer kept moving forward¨CJay helped me review the paperwork, introduced me to a branding consultant, even gave me a crash course in managing sudden fame. Brands were calling, emails pouring in. People wanted to work with ¡°the girl who caught Liam ck.¡± Funny. Because ¡°the girl who caught him¡± hadn¡¯t heard from him in over a week. Sophia still hadn¡¯t returned either. Though she texted to say she¡¯d be back ¡°real soon,¡± I had a feeling even she didn¡¯t know what was going on with Liam. And summer¡­ well, summer was slipping through my fingers. School loomed just around the corner. The life I thought I¡¯d outgrown was inching back in, and I wasn¡¯t ready. 11:01) 288 I needed air. A reset. So when Mom texted that she was flying back in from her break in Houston, I jumped at the chance to pick her up. LAX was its usual blur of motion and noise¨Cfamilies reuniting, lovers running into each other¡¯s arms, the smell of pretzels, coffee, and jet fuel weaving through the air like afort nket. Then I saw her. My mother. Walking toward me with her suitcase in one hand and her arms stretched wide. ¡°Mom!¡± I called, weaving through the crowd until I fell into her arms. Original content can be found at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? She squeezed me like she could put all my broken pieces back together. ¡°There¡¯s my baby! You¡¯re glowing. One of us had an amazing summer, I see. Is the new boyfriend responsible?¡± I let out a halfugh. ¡°Mom, please. You justnded. At least get home before you start embarrassing me.¡± ¡°Oh, I bet there¡¯s a story there,¡± she said with a raised brow. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it. From the airport, Mom asked if we could make a quick stop at her favorite tea shop in Beverly Grove. A little detour. I agreed. Anything to stretch time before going home to another night of wondering why the hell my boyfriend had gone mute on me. The tea shop was small but pretty¨Cwarm lighting, clean marble floors, shelves lined with rare herbs and teas. We chatted lightly. She picked a new blend for sleep and digestion. I got a bag of honey¨Cvored green tea just because the packaging was cute. And then, as we were leaving, I saw him. Liam. Standing across the street like some tall, well¨Cdressed betrayal. ck suit. No tie. Sunsses tucked into his cor. Talking to someone on the phone, like the world wasn¡¯t currently crumbling under my feet. I stopped walking. My stomach dropped like an anchor. Mom noticed my stillness. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. I couldn¡¯t. My eyes were glued to him. He looked¡­ fine. Normal. Like a man 11:01 : not haunted by the fact he¡¯d ghosted his girlfriend for days. I turned away quickly, blinking hard. Anger wrapped itself around the sadness like armor. The car ride back was quiet. At home, I helped her with her suitcase and followed her into the living room. Then, I gave her the rundown of everything she¡¯d missed. Or¡­ almost everything. Just as I was about to say goodnight, she turned to me with a soft but pointed smile. ¡°You know, you¡¯ve updated me on nearly everything. The tour, the fashion deal, Sophia¡¯s mystery man. But funny¡­ you forgot to mention the most important detail.¡± I blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She tilted her head. ¡°You¡¯re in love with my client.¡± 1401 Chef Novel 83 Chapter 83 ¡°What? Mom, no,¡± I scoffed, instantly flustered. ¡°I mean, yes, Liam and I are together. But¡­ I don¡¯t know what we are right now. He¡¯s been distant. Weird. That whole Cassie thing¡­now I see him on the street like he didn¡¯t drop off the face of the for days.¡± She held up a hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin anything to me, baby.¡± I exhaled slowly. ¡°Goodnight, Mom.¡± ¡°Goodnight, sweetheart.¡± But even after she disappeared down the hall, her words stayed with me. You¡¯re in love with my And the worst part? I knew she was right. client. Because the silence hurts too much not to be love. And if it wasn¡¯t? Then I was just another girl waiting for a man who already let go. Sleep was a stranger all night. I tossed and turned until my sheets twisted around me like a trap. My mind wouldn¡¯t stop racing. Liam was back. Back in L.A. Back in town. And still, he hadn¡¯t reached out to me. Not a call. Not a text. Not even a damn emoji. Original content can be found at find?novel Where did that leave me? Us? Were we still even a ¡®we¡®? It hadn¡¯t even been a full month since I agreed to be his girlfriend, and here I was, lying awake in a bed that suddenly felt too cold, too big, too filled with doubt. I knew dating Liam ck wouldn¡¯t be a fairy tale. I didn¡¯t sign up expecting roses and lubies. But I hadn¡¯t expected¡­ this. Silence. Confusion. Hurt that tasted like betrayal. I stared at the ceiling, counting the seconds until sunrise, until I could knock some answers out of him face to face. Because I couldn¡¯t do this not¨Cknowing thing anymore. I needed the truth. And if there was nothing left to fight for, I needed to hear that too. 11:01 0 When I finally fell asleep, it was morning already. My body gave out before my mind did Barely an hourter,ughter woke me. At first I thought I was dreaming. My mom¡¯sughter, loud and carefree, floated from the living room. Mixed with another voice. Familiar. Softer. Sassier. Sophia. I groaned, buried my face into the pillow, and tried to block them out. But the giggles got louder. Now I was curious. Dragging myself out of bed, I padded toward the living room, eyes still half¨Cclosed. They both looked up when I walked in. ¡°And the princess finally wakes,¡± Sophia teased, arms wide open. I slumped onto the couch beside her, letting her pull me into a warm, tight hug. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± I asked, voice still rough with sleep. She grinned. ¡°Liam¡¯s in one of his moods today. So, obviously, you two are fighting. That means I get to hug the wounded party.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You¡¯re never serious.¡± My mom chuckled. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice seeing you both in one piece. Sophia, you should stop by more often.¡± ¡°Oh, I n to,¡± Sophia said with mock formality. ¡°So often you¡¯ll be tempted to give me a key,¡± My momughed. ¡°Don¡¯t test me. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Sophia winked. ¡°If your daughter would just hurry up and marry my brother, we could be official family.¡± ¡°Sophia,¡± I groaned, smacking her shoulder yfully. ¡°What?¡± she said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. You two are endgame.¡± My mom rose from the couch. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave you two to your gossip. I need to unpack. y nice.¡± 288 Vouchers Once she was gone, Sophia turned serious. ¡°You okay?¡± I hesitated. Then I sighed. ¡°No. Not really.¡± She looked at me quietly, patiently. ¡°He just¡­ disappeared,¡± I said. ¡°After he sent an angry text, I replied, and then? Nothing. Like I didn¡¯t matter. Like I was a ghost.¡± Sophia frowned. ¡°He¡¯s been distant, yeah. Broody. Annoying, even. But ignoring you like this? That¡¯s not okay.¡± I looked at her. ¡°Who is Cassie Scott?¡± That made her pause. She exhaled. ¡°I think that¡¯s a conversation you need to have with Liam first. I don¡¯t want to give you half the story.¡± ¡°So you do know who she is. ¡± Sophia nodded slowly. ¡°Talk to him, Em. He¡¯s home today. Working from his study. You should go. Let it all out. Yell. Break something if you want. Then maybe have makeup sex. You know, the usual.¡± ¡°Sophia!¡± Sheughed. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. Don¡¯t let this linger. You deserve rity.¡± I looked down at my hands. ¡°I miss you:¡± She squeezed my arm. ¡°Of course you do. I¡¯m the fun one.¡± I smiled, faintly. ¡°Go clean up,¡± she said. ¡°Handle your man.¡± An hourter, I was standing in front of Liam¡¯s front door, heart pounding like a warning drum. The house was quiet when I walked in. Too quiet. I checked the bedroom. Empty Then the kitchen. Nothing. Only one ce left. His home office. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!