All Chapters of THE SHIRTLESS CHEF IS MY FAKE BOYFRIEND: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

14 Chapters

THE GIFT

Christmas was supposed to be perfect. I had spent weeks making sure of it.The living room looked like something out of a Christmas movie, from the enormous tree glowing with golden lights to the carefully arranged ornaments that Mom insisted had to go in exactly the right places. Everything felt warm and beautiful, almost too perfect. Standing beside the tree, I held the small black watch box I had bought for Ian and smiled to myself.I had spent a ridiculous amount of time choosing that watch. It wasn't cheap, but Ian deserved something special.At least, that's what I believed then.I turned the box over in my hands, imagining his reaction when he opened it.“This Christmas will be perfect,” I whispered.For the first time in a long time, I actually believed it.“Still trying to be perfect, sis?”I looked up and found Ruby standing a few feet away.My younger sister was wrapped in a soft beige robe, her delicate features making her look as fragile as ever. She had always known how

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

THE BIGGER PERSON

The silence in the study lasted only a few seconds before the door opened again.My parents rushed into the room.Dad took one look at Ian and Ruby, and the shock on his face quickly turned to anger.“What the hell is going on here?”Ruby's eyes filled with tears. Her lipstick was still smeared from the kiss, and she looked at Dad like a frightened child.“Daddy...”Dad didn't even let her finish.He pointed toward the door.“Ian. Get out. Now!”Ian stood there, frozen.His eyes moved to me first.For one brief second, I thought he might say something. Explain himself. Apologize. Anything.Instead, he looked at Ruby.Then back at me.There was guilt in his eyes, but there was something else, too. Hesitation. As if he couldn't decide which one of us he was supposed to choose.That hurt almost as much as the kiss.Finally, Ian lowered his head and walked out of the study without saying a word.I watched him leave, my heart breaking with every step.Mom immediately rushed to Ruby and pul

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

ONE YEAR LATER

A year had passed since the night everything fell apart.A year since I had walked out of my parents' house and promised myself I would never spend another Christmas there.For twelve months, I had tried to build a life without them.Some days were easier than others.I had gotten used to waking up without hearing Mom moving around in the kitchen. I had gotten used to not seeing Dad sitting in his favorite chair in the living room. I had even gotten used to not hearing Ruby's name come up in every family conversation.But Christmas was different.Christmas had a way of bringing everything back.I was sitting on the couch in the apartment I shared with Mandy when my phone started ringing.Mom.I stared at her name on the screen for several seconds.Part of me wanted to let it go to voicemail.Another part of me knew I couldn't keep running forever.I finally answered.“Hi, Mom.”There was a brief silence.Then I heard her voice.“Clara? It's Mom...” She sounded nervous, almost as if sh

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

ONLY AN APRON

The bar was almost empty.Christmas lights blinked along the walls, their red, green, and gold reflections barely lighting the room. There were no customers, no music, and almost no movement. It was so quiet that Henry Silva's voice carried easily across the room.“And this is how you make a real Brazilian caipirinha.”Henry stood behind the bar, facing a ring light and a smartphone. He wore jeans and an apron tied around his waist, with nothing underneath. His muscular chest was still damp with sweat from filming, and his dark hair was slightly messy.The drink he'd just made sat on the counter.Fresh lime. Ice. Cachaça.Henry picked up the glass and held it toward the camera.“Simple. Perfect.”Arthur stood behind the phone, recording the last few seconds.“That's a wrap,” he said.Henry lowered the glass and took a sip.“Finally.”I barely noticed any of it.Mandy and I were sitting at a table near the entrance, both still wearing our coats. I'd been staring at the table for severa

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

THE CONTRACT

I stood at the bar, still trying to process the fact that I'd actually asked a complete stranger to be my fake boyfriend.Henry looked at me for a moment, then leaned casually against the counter.“Fake boyfriend?” he said. “Princesa, I charge two hundred an hour for that.”I blinked.“Two hundred?”Henry's mouth curved into a teasing smile.“You got that kind of cash, princesa?”I ignored the way he said the nickname, as if he'd already decided it belonged to me.“I was thinking...” I hesitated. “A flat fee. Three days.”Henry stared at me.Then he laughed.“Three days? With this face?” His eyes moved over me, slow and deliberate. “That's gonna be expensive for you.”I crossed my arms.“Name your price.”That made him stop.For the first time, Henry looked directly at me without joking.Then he gave me another slow once-over and smirked.“I don't want your money.”I frowned.“Then what do you want?”“Three rules.”He held up one finger.“You break one, I leave you alone with your sis

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

THE RIDE

The next morning, I stood outside my apartment building with a suitcase at my feet.A cheap rental car was parked at the curb. Henry leaned against it, wearing a tight white T-shirt that showed off his muscular build.I tried not to look at him.I failed.Mandy came out of the building behind me and looked from me to Henry, then at the suitcase.“Good luck explaining this surprise to your mom.”I let out a nervous sigh.“If my mom kills me, you get my vinyls.”Mandy's eyes widened.“Your vinyls?”“All of them.”Mandy immediately turned to Henry.“Bring her back alive, apron guy.”Henry gave me a quick look and opened the driver's door.“I will.”I rolled my eyes.“Very reassuring.”I put my suitcase in the trunk and got into the car.A few minutes later, we were on the road.I sat stiffly, my hands folded tightly in my lap. I stared out the window, trying to calm myself down.Henry, meanwhile, seemed completely relaxed behind the wheel.“My mom has no idea you're coming,” I finally sa

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

THE ARRIVAL

Clara's stomach was already tied in knots before the rental car even reached her parents' house.The Jones family home looked exactly the way I remembered it. A perfect suburban house, almost too perfect, with Christmas lights already hanging outside. Everything looked warm and welcoming, but I felt anything but welcome.The rental car pulled up in front of the house and stopped.I took a deep breath before opening the door.This was it.I had spent an entire year away from this place. A whole year without Christmas dinners, awkward family conversations, or having to see Ian and Ruby together.And now I was back.With Henry.I got out first and pulled my suitcase from the trunk. My hands felt cold, though I wasn't sure if it was because of the weather or my nerves.I was nervous as hell.Henry stepped out after me.He was wearing a tight T-shirt that showed off his muscular build, and the confident smile on his face made it look like he was arriving at a party he'd been invited to.I

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

AUNT SIMONE

The house was quiet.Mom was upstairs getting changed, leaving my father, Henry, and me alone in the living room.I sat beside Henry, trying my best to look relaxed.I wasn't fooling anyone. Especially not my father.Dad sat across from us with his arms crossed, watching Henry carefully.Finally, he broke the silence.“So, Henry. What do you do for a living?”My stomach dropped.Oh, God.I hadn't thought about that.I'd hired a complete stranger to pretend to be my boyfriend, brought him home for Christmas, and we'd never even talked about what he was supposed to tell my family he did for a living.I quickly looked at Henry.“He is... He works with...”Nothing.I had absolutely nothing.Henry didn't miss a beat.“Food business, sir.”I slowly turned to him.Food business?That was all he was giving my father?Before my father could ask another question, the front door flew open.“I'm here!”I jumped.A gorgeous blonde woman in her forties swept into the living room without even bother

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

The Ex

The Jones family house had finally settled down.For a few precious minutes, there was no arguing, no awkward introductions, and no one asking about my new boyfriend.Upstairs, Mom and Aunt Simone were curled up together on the master bed, quietly discussing the most interesting subject of the evening: me.More specifically, my new boyfriend.Dad walked into the room and immediately noticed the suspicious atmosphere."What are you two hiding?""Nothing!" Mom said a little too quickly.Aunt Simone glanced at her before answering."We were just talking about Clara's boyfriend."Dad's expression immediately darkened."The naked YouTuber?"Mom sighed."Theodore...""The guy who cooks in an apron?""What about him?" Mom asked."What kind of actual profession is that?""He's a YouTuber.""That's a profession now?""He makes a living from his channel."Dad stared at her."A channel where he cooks?""Yes.""While wearing an apron?"Aunt Simone smiled."Sometimes."Dad shook his head in disbel

Last Updated : 2026-09-30

DINNER IS READY

Ruby's smile was the first thing I noticed.She stood in the living room beside Ian, looking perfectly pleased with herself. Christmas presents sat on the table behind them, wrapped in bright paper beneath the warm glow of the tree.I was still standing near the doorway when Ruby suddenly lifted her left hand right in front of my face.The diamond caught the light."Five carats, Clara. Ian proposed in Paris."I stared at the ring for a second.Five carats.Of course.Ruby watched my face closely, waiting for my reaction."You remember Paris, right?"I looked at her.She gave me an innocent smile."Oh... sorry. I forgot you've never been."There it was.Ruby's favorite way of getting under my skin.She didn't need to say anything openly cruel. She could make a perfectly sweet comment and somehow turn it into a competition.I forced a smile."Congratulations.""Thank you."She lowered her hand, but the smile on her face told me she wasn't finished.Ian finally spoke."Clara looks good."

Last Updated : 2026-09-30

1 2

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP