Semua Bab Betrayed by my Ex, Married his Boss: Bab 11 - Bab 20

The Westfield Children's Home was a sprawling Victorian building set back from the road, its grounds well-maintained with bright flower beds and a modern playground. As they pulled up to the entrance, Adaline felt a familiar warmth spread through her chest. This place had always been her sanctuary."I'll only be an hour or so," she told Martin."Take your time, Ms. Adaline. Mr. Justin didn't specify when to return."Inside, the home bustled with afternoon activity. Children's laughter echoed down hallways decorated with colorful artwork. Adaline signed in at the reception desk, explaining she was a former volunteer."We're always happy to have extra hands," the receptionist smiled. "The younger children are in the east wing playroom if you'd like to help there."Adaline found herself sitting cross-legged on a carpet surrounded by toddlers, helping a small girl with pigtails build a tower of blocks. The child giggled as Adaline made exaggerated expressions when the tower wobbled."High

Adaline wiped the sweat from her brow as she surveyed the busy kitchen. The clatter of pots and pans, the sizzling of oil, and the rhythmic chopping of vegetables created a symphony of culinary activity around her. As the newly appointed head cook, she felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on her shoulders. Tonight's party wasn't just any gathering—it was a statement, a demonstration of her capabilities."The sauce needs more seasoning," she instructed one of the new recruits, a young woman whose hands trembled slightly as she stirred the large pot. "Remember, we're cooking for discerning palates tonight."The kitchen doors swung open, and Justin entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. His tailored suit contrasted sharply with the white uniforms of the kitchen staff, a stark reminder of the different worlds they inhabited."How are preparations coming along?" he asked, his eyes meeting Adaline's."On schedule," she replied confidently, though her heart skipped a

Melanie Waston's fingers tightened around the kitchen knife as she chopped vegetables, cursing under her breath. The humiliation of being put in her place by her own daughter burned like acid in her stomach. "That girl will never get away with this," she muttered, the knife coming down with unnecessary force on an innocent carrot. "Never." The young kitchen assistant working beside her glanced over nervously. Melanie noticed the look and forced her expression into something more pleasant. "So," she began, her voice honey-sweet, "how long has my daughter been working here? I've been... away, you see. Family matters." The assistant seemed hesitant but eventually replied, "I just saw her for the first time this morning. But everyone respects her already." "I'm sure they do," Melanie said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "And... the Westfields? How do they treat her?" The assistant's face lit up. "Oh, Mr. Westfield—the CEO—he really likes her skills. Might even like her too, if yo

I took the lead in the kitchen, tasting the remade sauce one final time before nodding with satisfaction. Our hopes were getting restored after the disaster with my mother's sabotage, I was proud of how quickly we were able to get the situation under control and recover from it. The new sauce was beaming with perfection, even better than the original. "More thyme in the chicken marinade," I instructed one of the sous chefs, moving to the next station, “and please check the temperature on those potatoes."The staffs followed my directions without hesitation, as I'd earned their respect, especially after turning around what could have been a complete catastrophe in less than 50 minutes. My throat still felt raw from tasting the excessive chili powder my mother had dumped into the original sauce, but I pushed the discomfort aside."Everything's back on schedule," I told Lisa, my assistant. "We'll be ready to serve on time."I caught movement at the kitchen door and glanced up to see Jus

"Your food," Michael accused loudly, pointing at Adaline. "It's been poisoned, my wife and our unborn child is in danger!"As all eyes turned to Adaline, a slow, calculated smile spread across Michael's face. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, Adaline cornered, her reputation at stake, and Justin watching it all unfold.The room fell silent, all attention focused on the drama unfolding before them, confused glances passing between guests as they looked down at their own plates, then at Evelyn who continued to writhe in apparent agony."Poisoned?" an elderly woman whispered loudly. "But we've all eaten the same food.""Yes, and we're fine," another guest added.The murmurs grew louder as guests tried to make sense of the situation. If the food was indeed poisoned, why was only Evelyn affected? Several guests were already on their second serving, clearly enjoying the meal without any ill effects.Adaline stood frozen, her chef's whites stark against the elegant evening we