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Lahat ng Kabanata ng One Week to be Loved by a Billionaire : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1~The Last Straw

Elodie’s POV“Ellie, a customer is asking for you.” Mara poked her head through the kitchen door.Another complaint. Another customer I couldn’t afford to lose.My hands stiffened. The dough stuck to my fingers like glue as I paused the next batch of meat rolls. I raised my head to look at Mara.“Did the customer say why?”“No, just that she wants to see you, and before you ask, her face is neutral, so I couldn’t get a read on her emotions.” Mara leaves the kitchen, and I am left alone with my mind running on the number of possibilities about why this customer could be asking for me.A lot of customers have been complaining lately, and it’s draining me mentally. I used to get excited every day to bake and make people feel happy with every bite, but lately, I don’t look forward to opening anymore.I remove my apron, wash my hands, take a deep breath and walk to the counter, hoping it’s not another complaint. I put on my customer smile.“Hello, you asked for— Mama Vee? It’s you. Is ever

Chapter 2~ The Last Spark

Elodie’s POVThe red notice trembles in my hand like it’s alive. I fold it once, twice, until it’s small enough to shove into the drawer with the others. My fingers won’t stop shaking. I stare at the closed drawer as if it might disappear if I look away long enough.The bakery is silent now. Just the hum of the fridge in the back and the faint drip from the sink I never fixed. I should clean up, lock up, and go home. Instead, I sit there, numb, counting how many days are left until Christmas Eve turns into Christmas morning and everything my grandmother built gets taken.Twenty-one days.I press my palms to my eyes until spots dance behind my lids. Twenty-four days to find almost two hundred thousand euros. Twenty-four days to fix the allergy mess that just cost me my most loyal customer and probably half the town. Twenty-four days to prove I’m not the failure everyone already thinks I am.A soft knock on the office door makes me jump.“Elodie?” Mara’s voice is careful, like she’s tes

Chapter 3~The Dinner Ambush

Elodie’s POVThe screen glows brighter than it should in the dark office. €500,000. This Christmas. The words blur for a second, then snap back sharply. Hart Holiday Bake-Off. National television. Live finale on Christmas Eve. Open entry for passionate bakers. Winner takes the prize and a lifetime partnership with Hart Culinary House.My thumb hovers over the “Apply Now” button.I sit up so fast the cot creaks. Heart hammering. This can’t be a coincidence. Not today. Not after the red notice. Not after Mama Vee walked out and took half the town with her. €500,000 would wipe the debt clean. It would help with the bank, restock everything, prove to everyone, including myself, that I’m not the failure they all think I am.I tap the button before I can talk myself out of it.The form loads. They ask for my name, age, bakery name, a short bio, why I deserve to compete and to upload a photo of my best creation.My fingers fly. Filling the form in one breath.I attach a photo of my Kaisers

Chapter 4~ Fake It or Go Insane

Elodie’s POVThe words land like ice water. A cold, sharp pain pierced my chest, making it impossible to take a full breathI blink. “You… what?” The waiter brings in the food. They’d ordered before I arrived. When I look at the food I lose the little appetite left from the news they dumped on me. So this was the important thing my mother had to discuss.“He’s a good man,” my father says, not looking at me. “Stable. Reliable. You’re not getting any younger, Elodie. It’s time to settle down.” “Father, I have important things to settle before I think of marriage and also to Luca. How can you agree with this dad?” He looks at me startled i called him dad. Since the year after Selena joined our family, I stopped calling him Dad always Father. Tears burn my throat. I pick at my fingers under the table.“You know what i went through with luca, i know you don't care what happens with me but there is a reason he is my ex-boyfriend, what were you all thinking” my father doesn't say a word and

Chapter 5~The Change Of Heart

Cassian’s POVThe door slam echoes in my apartment long after she’s gone.I lean against it, eyes closed, her words replaying like a bad dream. “Please. One week. I’ll do anything.” Her voice was raw, breaking on the edges. Her eyes were desperate, shining with tears she wouldn’t let fall. I’ve seen that look before. On my mother’s face the day she left. But Elodie Voss isn’t my mother. She’s just a neighbour. A baker. A woman with a bakery that's failing.I push off the door and walk to the kitchen. The apartment is silent. Too silent. I moved to Snowhaven two months ago to escape exactly this, the family pressure, the endless board meetings, the arranged dates my father kept setting up. “You need an heir, Cassian. The Hart empire won’t run itself.” I came here for a break. For quiet. Not for her.But her bakery treats have become my only comfort. Every morning, I look forward to ordering through her app. Something that feels like a home I never had. I run a hand through my hair.My

Chapter 6: Facing The Wolves

Elodie's POV I grip the steering wheel tighter, trying very hard not to think about what just happened. I am sure my face is red, especially where Cassian's lips brushed not too long ago. I can't believe he pecked me. He pecked me. "I wonder what you will do when we kiss." Why is he wondering that? This is strictly business like he said no feelings attached. So the kiss will be…no don't think about it Elodie. He is just a stranger acting as my fake fiancé to avoid the proposal Mother accepted from Luca. Nothing more. A loud honk forces me to refocus my eyes back on the road. I wave sorry to them as they pass me. Three hours into the drive I stop at the gas station to refuel my car, my phone buzzes on the passenger seat. I see mother's name light up the screen. What does she want now? I stare at it until the call almost ends, then swipe to answer. --- "Elodie, where are you?" Impatient as always but the case would have been different if it were Serena. "About an hour o

CHAPTER 7: Two Arrivals, One Disaster

Elodie’s POV Sunlight pours through the library windows stabbing my eyelids, and I jerks awake. My neck aches from the awkward angle I laid my head. For one disoriented second I think what happened last night was a dream—he drove through the storm just so I won't be alone and I remember the way my heart wouldn’t slow down afterward. Then I fell asleep right here. I pick up my phone to check the time and spring up when I see it's 8:17am, breakfast will be starting in thirteen minutes. Just perfect. I quickly stand up smoothing my dress and hurry back to my suite before anyone notices. I take a quick shower, put on fresh clothes and little makeup. My hands tremble while I brush my hair. He’s really here. Today marks the beginning of our act as a couple. I walk into the breakfast hall exactly on time. My family is already seated. The long table gleams with silver and white linen. Serena is discussing with mother, while father is busy on his tablet. I slide into my chair, my stomach

CHAPTER 8: Rose Petals and Ruin

Elodie’s POVCassian and I walked through the corridor, without a word to each other, after mother told us that we will be sleeping in the same room. I knew we would sleep in the same room to sell the act but now it's happening I don't know what to think. I felt the edges of the key card dig into my palms, and I released the strong grip I have on the key card to our room. Our? Elodie don't get ahead of yourself. This is just a simple one week deal and nothing more. But, It's ours though, since we would be sleeping together for our stay in this resort.I stole a glance at Cassian, he has his usual cold face on, nothing like what I saw in the dining hall. I still felt the butterflies in my stomach from when he protected me from Luca, i have never had someone who has done that for me and it felt so good. His eyes moved to mine and I looked away, moving my legs faster now to get to our room quickly. When I got to the room door, I swiped the key card to open the door and stepped insid

Chapter 9: The Hart Behind The Mask

Cassian’s POVI heard when Elodie started to sleep, her breath evened out, now coming out in soft rasps. The upper level of the pillow wall between us had already tilted sideways; one of them now rested against my arm. I moved it under my head, trying to sleep, but I didn't feel a shred of sleep. I stayed awake for so long that when I picked up my phone to check the time, I saw it was 3 am.I slipped out of bed and padded barefoot silently across the cool floor to avoid waking Elodie. I slid the balcony door open without a sound, and cool crisp mountain air rushed in. I closed the door behind me and dialled my assistant. I pressed the phone to my ear.“Goodday Sir.” My assistant answered on the first ring. His voice was alert, like he’d been waiting for me.“Lay it out for me, George.”“The board meeting has been confirmed for next Tuesday. There will be full attendance, and your father will be part of those attending. The Ashford merger vote is the main discussion of the meeting, and

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