All Chapters of Tastes Like Damn Chocolate : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

CHAPTER 62Indy didn’t knock. She didn’t need to.The door to Tiana’s office flew open so hard the handle left a dent in the wall. A second later Indy stormed in like a hurricane wrapped in couture with sunglasses shoved up into her hair, designer coat slipping off one shoulder, face flushed with the kind of rage that had been simmering for weeks.Tiana looked up from the quarterly report she’d been reviewing. The pen in her hand stilled.Indy didn’t speak at first. She simply swept her arm across the desk.Files exploded into the air. A coffee mug shattered against the far wall. The beautiful blush-rose bouquet from Ryan hit the floor; petals scattered like blood drops on cream carpet.Only then did Indy speak.“You bitch. You did this.”Tiana slowly set her pen down. Her heart was racing, but her face stayed calm. “Indy. This is my workplace. Lower your voice.”“Lower my…?” Indy laughed, sharp and ugly.Tiana rose slowly, palms flat on the desk. “Actually, Indy. Leave.”“Leave?” Ind

CHAPTER 64Tiana didn’t come down for dinner.She heard Pascal’s excited chatter drifting up the stairs, heard the clink of cutlery, the low rumble of Nikolai’s voice responding. The smell of the sauce—rich, garlicky, surprisingly good—wafted through the house. Her stomach twisted, not from hunger but from the sheer audacity of it all. Nikolai cooking? After that conversation? After dismissing Indy like she was disposable, after walking away from the chaos he’d helped create?No. She wasn’t sitting at a table with him. Not tonight.She stayed in her room, door closed, scrolling mindlessly through tiktok videos. She wondered why Maryann hadn’t prepared dinner. The housekeeper usually handled evenings when Tiana worked late. Had Nikolai sent her home early?Downstairs, Pascal’s voice carried clearly. “Daddy, why isn’t Mummy eating with us?”“Mummy’s not feeling well,” Nikolai answered, smooth and calm. “She needs rest.”Pascal frowned, concerned. “Is it her tummy? Or her head?”“Just tir

CHAPTER 66Tiana slipped downstairs earlier than usual, barefoot and silent, hoping to steal a quiet moment with coffee before the house stirred. The kitchen light was already on. Nikolai stood at the counter, pouring batter onto a hot griddle. Pancakes. The smell of vanilla and butter drifted toward her like an unwelcome memory. He wore a plain gray T-shirt, sleeves tight around his arms, hair still damp from a shower. He looked… domestic. It irritated her more than it should have. He glanced up as she entered. “Morning.” She didn’t answer. She walked straight to the fridge, opened it, and stared inside as if the orange juice might rearrange itself into an escape route. He flipped a pancake. The sizzle filled the quiet. “Maryann’s off for a few days. Her mother’s sick.” She didn’t respond. He was pretty sure she heard him. She reached for a glass, filled it with water from the sink, and turned to leave. That was when his patience ended. Nikolai set the spatula down with a del

Chapter 68The crowd around Nikolai had become a wall of bodies. She pushed through it, ignoring apologies.“Nikolai.”He turned at the sound of her voice. One look at her face and the easy smile vanished.“What’s wrong?”“I can’t find Pascal.”The words came out calmer than she felt. “He was right next to me, and then…”Nikolai straightenedinstantly. “How long?”“Two minutes. Maybe three. I turned away for a second and…”He was already moving, shoving politely but firmly through the remaining fans. “Excuse me. Thank you.I have to go.”Once free, he scanned the field with sharp, frantic eyes. “Pascal!”His voice boomed across the grounds, deeper and louder than Tiana’s, carrying real authority. Heads snapped toward him. The music seemed to dim.Teachers hurried over. “Is everything all right?”“Our son is missing,” Nikolai said, voice tight. “Eight years old, blue shirt, curly hair. Pascal Toriaga.”The headmistress paled.“We’ll start a search immediately.”Whistles blew.Announcem

CHAPTER 70 The penthouse door slid open with a soft pneumatic hiss, the automatic lights blooming to life in warm gradients across the vast open space. Nikolai carried Pascal inside, the boy’s head heavy on his shoulder, breath slow and even from exhaustion and medication. Indy was already there, leaning against the kitchen island in a silk robe, wineglass in hand. Her eyes flicked up from her phone, and the small, practiced smile she’d prepared died the moment she saw the child. “Oh,” she said, voice flat. “You brought him.” Pascal lifted his head drowsily. “Hi, Aunty Indy.” She gave him a tight nod, nothing more. Her gaze slid past him to Nikolai, sharp and waiting. Nikolai felt the temperature drop several degrees. “Sit on the couch, champ,” he murmured to Pascal, lowering him gently. “I’ll get you some juice.” Pascal padded over obediently, curling into the corner of the sectional with his hospital bear clutched to his chest. He looked small against the oversized furniture