All Chapters of Tastes Like Damn Chocolate : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

**Chapter 2**Tiana could swear that Ryan didn’t recognize her.Of course he didn’t, why did she feel she was special enough to be remembered? She was almost invisible back in high school. No one ever really saw her then; they looked through her, except Ryan Lancaster, perhaps he was too young then to understand the bridge between them, but now with this new arrogance, and the fact that he doesn’t know that she was the wife of Nikolai Toriaga, he has decided to act like he didn’t recognise her. But of course, Ryan recognised her. How could he not recognise Tiana Selma, his highschool crush who was impregnated by the bully, Nikolai Toriaga and forced into marriage with him? His expression was blank but professional, not a flicker of familiarity in his eyes. Not the slightest sign that he remembered the quiet girl who used to sit beside him under the old tree at Velmore High, sharing chocolates after class and laughing softly at his terrible jokes. He was the same boy who had invited

Chapter 4ONE WEEK LATERThe sky over Velmore was heavy, refusing to let anyone breathe properly. It was as if even the heavens were mourning George Toriaga.The Toriaga estate was swarming with black cars and camera flashes. Despite the solemn occasion, the press circled like vultures, whispering, snapping photos and throwing careless questions into the air as soon as Nikolai arrived.“Mr. Toriaga, how do you feel about your father’s passing?” “Are you returning to Velmore to take over the company?” “Miss Indy, how does it feel to lose your future father-in-law?”Tiana was curious and quietly anticipating seeing Nikolai again. She knew he wouldn’t waste time filing for divorce now that his father was gone. But at the very least, she would allow herself one final moment: to look at his handsome face, as her husband one last time before everything officially ended.Nikolai stood a few meters away, perfectly polished even in grief. His black suit was tailored to perfection, his arm ca

Chapter 6Eight Years Ago (Continued)Tiana stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribs as every pair of eyes in the room bore into her."I… I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible."Can't?" Mike laughed, stepping forward with a cruel grin. "Come on, Head Girl. Don't be such a buzzkill.""Yeah," someone else chimed in. "It's just a game."Declan crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "Unless you want to pay the fine. Five thousand dollars. Right here, right now. That's the rule for refusing a dare."Tiana's breath caught in her throat. Five thousand dollars? She could barely afford her bus fare home. Her scholarship covered tuition, but her stepmother made sure she had nothing extra, nothing for herself."I… I don't have that kind of money," she admitted, her voice trembling with humiliation.The crowd erupted in laughter, cruel and mocking. Her face burned, shame washing over her in waves."Of course you don't," someone sneered."Charity case strikes again."Nikolai s

Chapter 8Tiana gasped, the sound escaping her lips before she could stop it. Her eyes widened in shock, and she immediately looked away, her gaze darting to the floor, the towel rack, anywhere but at him.But it was too late, the image was already burned into her mind.His bare chest, glistening with water droplets that caught the soft bathroom light like tiny diamonds. The tattoo, the wolf art across his ribcage, fierce and beautiful, exactly as she remembered it from eight years ago when he'd explained it was his spirit animal. Her fingers tingled with the phantom memory of tracing those inked lines in the dark.But there was something new in his chest, just on his left breast, small and delicate against his tanned skin, was a baby footprint. Tiny toes, a perfect little heel, preserved forever in black ink.Pascal's footprint. Nikolai must have taken their son when he was just a baby and had his footprint tattooed over his heart."What are you doing here?"Nikolai's voice cut throu

Chapter 10Tiana woke before dawn, her body moving on autopilot as she dressed in the dark. She chose a navy blue pencil skirt that hugged her curves just right, paired with a crisp white silk blouse and a tailored blazer. Professional. Polished. Perfect for the Hartwell Corporation meeting.The house was still wrapped in silence as she crept down the stairs, her heels muted against the floor. She absolutely couldn't let Pascal wake up and delay her. Not today. Maryann, their housekeeper, would get him ready for school this time around.Tiana had completely forgotten that Nikolai was home.The realization hit her the moment she stepped outside and in the driveway, sat his latest Lexus he'd parked there last Christmas and hadn't touched since. The engine was running, a low, expensive purr.Nikolai sat in the driver's seat, one hand draped casually over the steering wheel, his dark eyes locked on her through the glass. He just watched her with that unnerving intensity that made her feel