Chapter 5

Brielle tied her apron and brushed a stray curl behind her ear, trying to put everything about her personal life behind her and focus on her work.

However, it was not an easy day for her.

"Private Room Four sent the steak back, saying it was overcooked." The waitress returned with the dish, reporting with an awkward wince.

"It couldn't be." Brielle frowned while checking, and she was sure it was correctly grilled.

Brielle cooked another one, which was returned as quickly as it was sent out.

"Room Four returned it again. She said it was definitely not what she wanted."

Brielle pressed the steak a little and did not doubt that the steak was cooked, just as the customer asked. She didn't know why the customer insisted it was wrong, but she took a deep breath and started another one, ensuring it was perfect.

It took much longer than the last two times for the waitress to return. Just when Brielle thought the customer was finally satisfied with the steak, she saw the face of the waitress.

"Room Four wondered if you really know what medium rare is. If you don't know, she'd love to teach you that face-to-face." The waitress looked embarrassed.

Brielle never planned to be a chef in the first place. She had dreamed of being a doctor for her whole life. No one knew she had chosen firmly to be a chef only because of someone's simple saying, someone who turned out not to be the one she thought he would become.

She remembered when she cooked for him for the first time. Brielle was trying to know what he thought of it through his expression, and thank god, Ethan didn't seem to hate it.

"You should be a chef." He finished the meal unhurriedly and said casually.

By that, she gave up her childhood dream. Even though it was not her original thought, she did not work any less than others and finally earned her title as a chef.

She would never accept anyone to pick on her profession for fun. It would be a complete humiliation of all the sweat and tears she had put in.

Brielle wiped her hands and decided to meet the customer in person to find out.

As she walked into Room Four, Brielle wasn't as surprised as she thought she would be.

“Oh my! Miss Evans! What a surprise!” The woman said dramatically, deliberately avoiding Brielle’s married name.

It was no one but Jessica Owen. She was seated like a queen at her table with her perfectly manicured hands resting purposely on her stomach.

"Good evening, Miss. Is there anything wrong with the food?" Brielle kept her voice professional.

"Oh, I didn't mean to give you a hard time; it's just that none of those are what I wanted in the first place."

"Every dish is made to the highest standard by my team," Brielle said calmly. Jessica Owen would never be here just for a meal, and Brielle knew Jessica was doing that purposefully.

"If you insist so. I understand. Let’s move to the dessert." Jessica smiled as if Brielle were some person who wouldn't dare to admit her mistake.

"Sure, and if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” Brielle had no mood to argue with her. She swallowed down the annoyance with a polite but distant nod and then turned to walk out.

Brielle tried not to overthink, but Jessica wouldn't leave her alone.

"Chef, Room Four has another complaint." The waitress said tiredly, not meeting Brielle’s eyes. “She said the sundae is not vegan.”

Speechless, Brielle laughed, not out of humor but out of powerlessness.

That was new; someone who had ordered the steak now wanted a vegan sundae.

She had enough.

Brielle untied her apron and walked calmly towards the private room.

As soon as she entered, Jessica looked up, her expression changing into wide-eyed innocence.

“Oh dear.” She started softly. “I hope you’re not mad. I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble, I swear.” Jessica said with an apologetic expression.

“It’s just that I heard so much about how the chef is talented and how amazing the menu is. I expected a lot from the dishes, but I don't know. It's just hyping. I guess I'm just looking forward to it so much. I’m really sorry.” She pressed her hand to her chest with a sigh.

Brielle didn't bother to reply. She simply stepped forward and picked up the barely touched bottle of red wine from the table. Slowly but steadily, she poured it over Jessica’s perfectly curled hair, emptying the whole bottle.

“Oh my god! What are you doing?” Jessica screamed and jumped, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“We both know exactly what this is for,” Brielle said, her speech laced with sarcasm. She leaned closer, meeting Jessica’s gaze with hers- harsh and deadly.

“You walked into my marriage, got pregnant for my husband, and are now trying to act like the victim? How dare you come here and insult my career?” Brielle shook her head slowly with a faint but cruel smirk on her lips.

Jessica opened her mouth, but Brielle cut her off in scorn.

"You might get it the wrong way. Let me be clear: I am not afraid of you. But if you keep pushing me and getting on my nerves, I don't mind making things difficult for you- taking back the divorce to have fun." Brielle looked right into Jessica's eyes.

Jessica flinched, shaking visibly with fear.

“Brielle! What are you doing?! She’s a VIP!” He yelled and hurried to Jessica.

“Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry, Ma’am. Please, forgive us.” He begged, handing a dry towel to Jessica, who had tears flowing nonstop.

“Apologize immediately!” He commanded, but Brielle scoffed.

“Don’t bother.” She said, already removing her apron. “I’m done here.”

The manager blinked in shock. “You… what?”

“I quit.” She said sternly and tossed the apron on the chair. Brielle had never been this sure in her life.

Brielle walked to Jessica, close enough to see her smudged makeup and chest heaving.

She leaned in, smiling with mischief in her eyes.

“You should avoid drinking wine, considering you are pregnant. Bon appétit.”

Jessica was left frozen in place, and a sign of panic flashed through her eyes that could hardly be noticed.

***

Minutes later, Jessica sat in her car, drenched in red wine and tears.

Her hands trembled as she dialed Ethan’s number, and she cried the moment he picked up.

“Ethan…I…I just left Brielle’s restaurant, and she…she humiliated me. She poured wine on me, Ethan. I don’t know what I did to your wife to make her hate me like this.” She sobbed.

The line went silent for a few minutes. When Ethan spoke, his voice was cold and serious.

“How did you know Brielle is my wife?”