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chapter 46
Huling Na-update:
2025-04-10 08:13:56
Kaugnay na kabanata
The chef and The charmer chapter 47
Evelyn povThe morning light bled softly through the sheer curtains of Damien’s penthouse, casting golden stripes across the marble countertops and hardwood floors. I stood in the kitchen, barefoot, hair pulled into a loose bun, flipping fluffy blueberry pancakes on the stove. The smell of vanilla, cinnamon, and warm butter filled the space, offering a fragile sense of normalcy after the stormy whirlwind of the past two days.Damien had barely spoken since we landed last night. He wore that stoic mask of his, one that didn’t break even when I gently asked if he was okay during the drive back from the airport. He’d simply nodded, eyes fixed on the skyline through the tinted windows, his fingers clenched so tightly his knuckles turned pale. I didn’t press. I could feel the weight he carried.What his mother said to him… the look in his eyes when he stepped onto the beach to tell me we were leaving Miami—it haunted me. There was pain there, real and raw. A wounded little boy buried beneat
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-11The chef and The charmer chapter 48
It had been a few days since that cozy breakfast with Chris and Damien—the kind of morning that stitched warmth back into your bones after a storm. Since then, the atmosphere in the penthouse had settled into a rhythm I found surprisingly comforting. I cooked, Damien worked, and somehow, the silence we shared was no longer awkward. It was… soft. Familiar. Like we were both learning how to exist in each other’s orbit.But something inside me had shifted. Ever since Damien held up my scrappy little notebook and told me I could turn it into something real, something shareable, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. What if I did? What if I actually created something from these random recipes and ideas that had lived only in my head and on paper? I found myself sketching out themed menu ideas—personalized brunches, comfort dinners, elegant date-night sets. Each one had a story, a feeling, a reason. For once, it didn’t feel like I was just cooking. It felt like I was telling a story
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-11The chef and The charmer chapter 49
I told myself a hundred times that this wasn’t supposed to happen.Not the butterflies when Damien walked into a room. Not the subtle ache in my chest when he smiled at someone else. And definitely not the way my thoughts kept drifting back to him when I was alone.This was fake. A performance. A contract sealed with obligations and convenience. But lately… it’s started to feel like something else.And that terrified me.I stepped out of the guest room, now basically my room, and headed down the hallway. I didn’t mean to stop, not at first. But as I passed Damien’s room, I noticed the door slightly ajar. i know i shouldn’t eavesdropped on peoples conversation especially Damien’s but i cant help itHis voice—sharp, low, and edged with frustration—filtered through the crack. I froze.“I told you this already,” Damien snapped. “I’m not going to let you manipulate me into staying, Mother.”Silence on the other end, then the hiss of her voice—his phone must’ve been on speaker.“You would g
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-12The chef and The charmer chapter 50
The smell of coffee and freshly toasted bagels drifted through the penthouse, dancing with the sound of sizzling eggs. I stood at the stove, barefoot, flipping an omelet while Damian sat at the kitchen island scrolling through something on his phone.It had become a quiet rhythm, these mornings with him. The tension that once hung in the air like a storm cloud had softened, replaced by something quieter, something… warmer.“Evelyn, I would like you to accompany me to a children’s charity event tonight at 8 PM. Will you be able to join me?”Damien said whiles scrolling through his phone“sure” i repiled“Did you sneak goat cheese into my omelet again?” he asked, raising a brow.I smirked. “You liked it last time.”“I tolerated it,” he said, but I caught the slight lift at the corner of his mouth. A playful flicker I was seeing more often lately.“Liar. You cleaned your plate.”Damian was about to retort when his phone buzzed against the counter top. The name Chris flashed on the screen.
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-12The chef and The charmer chapter 51
I’ve always found comfort in creating. Whether it was through the careful stir of a simmering pot or scribbling quick notes in the margins of a food-stained notebook, cooking had always been more than just nourishment to me. It was storytelling.So when Damien casually mentioned again over coffee one morning that I should share my recipes online, I hesitated. “You think people would actually want to follow me for that?” I’d asked, sipping slowly.He’d smirked at me from across the kitchen counter, one brow raised. “Eve, come on. You’re basically a walking Pinterest board. If you don’t post those recipes, someone else will—and then I’ll be forced to pretend I like someone else’s food.”I rolled my eyes, but his teasing tone was oddly encouraging. His belief in me—real or not—had a way of sinking in, settling beneath my skin. Later that day, I found myself arranging a flat-lay of my brunch, jotting down the recipe, and uploading it to a new Instagram account called Eats with Evelyn.To
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-13The chef and The charmer chapter 52
Damien povThe past few days had been a blur of tension, damage control, and emotional static I couldn’t quite shake.It all started when Lawrence—my half-brother—decided to get cozy with a primetime talk show host and vomit our family drama on national television.I’d seen it live. Watched with clenched fists as he dragged my name across the screen like it was some pawn in his tragic sob story. Spun tales of me being a “corrupt heir,” a “silver-spoon narcissist” who didn’t deserve to inherit Blackstone. His delivery was polished, charismatic even, and laced with just enough truth to make the lies sting harder.The phones started ringing before the credits rolled. Investors, journalists, our PR team.But the worst call came from my mother.“I TOLD YOUR FATHER NOT TO BRING THAT BOY INTO OUR LIVES!” she shrieked into the phone, no hello, no warning. “But no, he just had to play savior—had to ‘do the right thing.’ And now look at the mess!”“Mother—” I tried.“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me. I sw
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-13The chef and The charmer chapter 53
Damien povThe past few days had dragged me through the mud—emotionally, politically, and now, publicly.Since Lawrence aired his grievances on national television, accusing me of manipulating my way into the CEO seat, my world had become a media circus. The name Blackstone was trending for all the wrong reasons. Not for our legacy in luxury hospitality, or our latest expansion into eco-retreats—but because of a bitter half-brother with a microphone and an agenda.The moment the interview aired, my phone didn’t stop ringing. Clients. Investors. Journalists. Even former flames who suddenly remembered my number. But the call that hit the hardest came from my mother.She never begged. That wasn’t her style. My mother was a woman who led with iron and ice, and I’d long accepted that her love came dressed in expectations. But that night, after Lawrence’s tirade, during our phone called she repeated herself again this time with her voice trembling.“Don’t step down, Damien,” she had said,al
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-14The chef and The charmer chapter 54
Evelyn povThings were finally starting to settle after a few chaotic days—the whole Lawrence drama, the unexpected leak prank—everything had thrown us off balance. But Damien, ever the calm in the storm, somehow managed to regain control of the situation and smooth things over. It felt like the first real breath of peace in days.It was just another quiet Sunday morning, sunlight spilling lazily through the curtains, when Damien turned to me with that familiar spark in his eyes and said, “Get ready—I’ve got somewhere to take you.”His tone held that mysterious edge that always made my heart race just a little fasterI should’ve known something was up when Damian added for me to “wear something comfortable but nice.” Those were the kinds of instructions you gave someone you were trying to impress, not someone you were fake dating to get your mother off your back.Still, I found myself slipping into a soft linen dress and pulling my hair into a loose bun, not for him, obviously. Just…
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-14
Pinakabagong kabanata
The chef and The charmer chapter 77
Evelyn povThe morning sun spilled into the penthouse, casting golden streaks across the hardwood floors as I zipped up my weekend bag. Damian’s shirt hung loosely off my shoulder, paired with biker shorts I’d found at the back of my drawer—comfort and borrowed masculinity. The faint hum of the city below was a distant murmur, like background music to the chaos in my head about what to pack.“Are you planning to move in somewhere I don’t know about?” Damian’s voice floated in from the doorway, a hint of amusement curling around the words.I turned to see him leaning casually against the frame, coffee in one hand, his eyes already undressing my over packed duffel.“Just being prepared,” I said, tossing in one more pair of shoes. “You said weekend getaway, not survival challenge. I don’t know if we’re hiking, wine tasting, or trespassing.”He smirked, stepping into the room to set the mug beside me. “Little bit of all three, maybe. You’ll love it.”“Define ‘love it,’” I muttered, alread
The chef and The charmer chapter 76
Evelyn povAfter pancakes and stolen kisses, I thought the day would melt into lounging in silk robes and playfully arguing over which movie to stream.But Damian had other plans.“Get dressed,” he said, standing in the doorway of the bathroom, towel slung low on his hips, hair still wet from the shower.I blinked up at him from the bed. “Why? This robe and I have a solid relationship.”He smirked. “Not as solid as ours. Now come on. I’m stealing you for the day.”I tilted my head. “Where are we going?”“It’s a surprise.”“Will I need heels or sneakers?”“Neither. Just bring your smile,” he said, before disappearing again.I threw a pillow at the door. “That is not helpful, Blackstone!”But I got up anyway, heart fluttering with the same giddy excitement I hadn’t felt since… maybe ever.—By the time we were in the car, I was in a sundress, soft pink and flowy, and he was in a crisp white linen shirt with the top buttons undone. Casual but devastating.The drive was scenic—Damian kept
The chef and The charmer chapter 75
evelyn povThe moment the elevator doors slid open, Damian didn’t wait. His hand found mine as he pulled me into the penthouse, the quiet click of the doors sealing us away from the world behind.The gala was hours behind us, but the emotions were still raw. The confrontation, the tension, the way I had stood my ground—and the way he had protected me and, All of it lingered between us like a spark begging to be lit.As soon as the door shut, he turned and kissed me.There was no pretense. No slow buildup.Just lips on lips, deep and consuming. His hands found my waist, guiding me backward until my back met the wall. He kissed like he needed to feel alive again—like I was the only thing anchoring him to the ground.I gasped softly as his mouth moved along my jawline, and my fingers tangled in his dark hair. Damian’s breath was warm and uneven, his words muttered against my skin.“You have no idea what tonight did to me.”His hands slid down to my hips, pulling me closer, and I smiled a
The chef and The charmer chapter 74
evelyn povDamian and I eventually reached the center of the room, where a small gathering of powerful figures stood, engaging in animated conversation. But I felt the heat of Eric’s gaze on me before I saw him move.And then, it happened.Eric’s eyes locked onto mine, and everything around me seemed to blur into a hazy, distant noise. My heart stopped for a beat, my breath caught in my throat.“You’re here,” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he approached us, completely disregarding the woman on his arm.Damian stepped in front of me, his posture protective but calm, a silent warning in his stance. “She doesn’t owe you anything, Eric,” he said, his tone even but firm.Eric shot Damian a look of disdain but didn’t say anything to him. Instead, his gaze stayed locked on me. “I thought I might get a word with you. You know, for old time’s sake.”I resisted the urge to recoil at the way he said it. His smile was still that charming one, the one that had once made my heart race,
The chef and The charmer chapter 73
evelyn povThe city lights shimmered through the tinted glass as the Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through Manhattan’s evening traffic. Rain had left the roads slick, reflecting bursts of gold, red, and sapphire from traffic signals and store signs. Inside the car, the world outside barely touched them. There was only the hush of leather seats, the faint hum of tires, and the palpable energy between us.Damian’s hand rested on my thigh, warm and grounding. He hadn’t spoken in a few minutes, just looked at me like he was memorizing everything—my curls cascading over my shoulders, the sheen on my collarbone, the curve of my lips still stained with his kiss from earlier.Then, as if unable to hold it in any longer, he turned slightly in his seat.“I have something for you.”I blinked, my heart hiccupping. “What is it?”He reached into the inner pocket of his tailored jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.My breath caught.He opened it slowly, revealing a ring so intricate it almost didn
The chef and The charmer chapter 72
(Evelyn’s POV)If someone had told me a few months ago that I would be wrapped up in a whirlwind with Damian Blackwell—the Damian Blackwell—I would’ve laughed them out of the room. Yet here we were. Caught in a strange kind of bubble, floating somewhere between reality and something that felt too good to be real.After that night with Eric, after the investigation plans and the rush of tension, something shifted between us. It was subtle, but it was there, threading through our days like silk ribbons. A look that lasted too long. A brush of fingers that lingered. A softness in Damian’s voice when he said my name.The next morning, I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.Then I walked into the kitchen and found Damian standing there—shirtless, wearing only a pair of soft gray sweatpants, his hair deliciously messy, stirring something in a pan like he’d done it a hundred times.He turned when he heard me, a boyish grin stretching acro
The chef and The charmer chapter 71
Damian stepped forward, his presence imposing as always. “I’m warning you, Eric. You don’t want to go down this path.”after I stood up then and walk toward Damien and now am face to face with Eric, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t going to let Eric—my ex, the man who had betrayed me with my best friend—control the narrative of my life anymore. He didn’t get to decide what people knew about me, what I owed anyone. And certainly not after everything I had fought through to get here.“Damian, stop,” I said, my voice steady despite the rising tension. “I’ll handle this.”Damian looked at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I could see the conflict in his eyes—he wanted to protect me, but I knew this was something I had to face on my own. After everything I had been through, after all the ways I had been silenced, this was my fight now. And I was done being passive.“Eric,” I called out, stepping toward the door, my voice firm. “You’re not going to tell my story. I’m going
The chef and The charmer chapter 70
Evelyn povThe penthouse felt quieter tonight, the dim light from the chandelier casting soft shadows on the sleek walls. The city buzzed below, but up here, it felt like a world apart—one that was just mine and Damian’s. The kind of space where, for once, everything else could fade away. The soft clinking of glasses, the hum of the stove, and the sizzle of food in the pan were the only sounds filling the room, and even they felt like they were part of a private rhythm we’d only just begun to understand.I moved in a fluid motion as I sautéed the vegetables in olive oil, a simple but comforting dish that had come to be my way of showing Damian I cared. After everything that had happened, after the tension and misunderstandings, there was something about cooking for him that made me feel like I could finally breathe again. It was the first time in so long that I didn’t feel like I was just pretending to be something I wasn’t. Cooking for Damian was different. It was honest, like the fo
The chef and The charmer chapter 69
Evelyn povThe restaurant was one of those places you don’t find unless someone wants you to. Tucked between rows of elite boutiques and imported wine bars, it was all low lighting, pressed linens, and whispering waiters. I should’ve felt proud. Accomplished, even. Instead, my skin buzzed with an unease I couldn’t quite name.Damian had surprised me at the mentorship kitchen that evening, walking in like he belonged in every room—even the ones meant for me. I didn’t mind, not really. At first, I thought he came to support me. But over dinner, I started to wonder if he came to stake a claim.He’d been quiet since we sat down. Not in the way people are when they’re tired or content. It was the kind of silence that hangs off every movement. His eyes darted between me and my phone, lingered too long on my wrist where Chef Marcellus had also my complimented bracelet and of my dishes. Pride lingered in his gaze, but so did something sharper.I tried to laugh it off. “You’re quiet tonight. D
