"Elena. Do you realize who you’re talking to right now?"

My heart immediately began to race uncomfortably the moment Zidane’s deep voice rang out. Besides being known for his culinary expertise, Zidane had a reputation for being ruthless and cold.

He was dangerous. I felt like backing away. But the sharp pain in my stomach reminded me once again of all Bryan’s betrayals.

"You once offered me a spot in your culinary group. I’ll accept now."

"But there’s a condition," I added quickly, without hesitation. "I want the best lawyer you can find. Seven days… I want Bryan and Livia to pay the price."

A week later, my father must be released from prison. Then I’ll file another lawsuit against Livia!

A low chuckle sounded on the other end of the line.

Brief. Chilling. Then came a firm reply.

“Alright. I’ll take care of everything.”

—

Suddenly, the door burst open just as I was about to close my eyes.

I had just returned to the hospital and was receiving the intensive care Bryan had promised.

“Elena, come with me.”

Bryan grabbed my hand, trying to pull the IV out of my arm.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but Miss Elena needs rest. She just had abdominal surgery,” said a nurse watching over me.

Bryan stared at the nurse blankly. “I’m paying you to keep quiet.”

The nurse immediately bowed her head and left.

Meanwhile, I watched as Bryan’s hands hurriedly removed my IV. He wasn’t skilled at it and struggled.

“Let go. I can do it myself, Bryan!”

But it was too late. Bryan had succeeded. But blood was gushing from my hand. The pain choked my throat.

“What are you doing? Where do you expect me to go after all this chaos?” I asked angrily.

Bryan ignored me. Panic had been etched on his face from the start. Then he dragged me out of the hospital toward the car. My blood dripped onto the hospital floor. I struggled, but Bryan used my lack of strength to his advantage.

On the way, I realized the car was heading toward a place I knew all too well.

The European Competition.

“Livia needs your help,” Bryan said without looking at me. “She said she forgot some ingredients in the recipe. To make sure Livia succeeds, you have to help her behind the scenes.”

“Are you serious?” I choked, fighting the urge to vomit. “After taking my recipe and my ticket, you also want me to help Livia win the competition of my dreams?”

Bryan stared at me intently. A look I’d never felt before.

“Just do as I say. Then our wedding will still go ahead.”

I spat. Rage flared in my chest. “Who wants a wedding? I want to leave you!”

Bryan just laughed. Loudly. “Leave where? Do you think you have a place to go? What culinary group would take in a cripple like you? You’re lucky I’m being kind enough to take you in.”

My eyes stung. My chest burned. Unable to take it anymore, I opened the car door to get out.

I wanted to jump.

I didn’t care if I got hurt. The pain of seeing my dream competition was torture enough.

But Bryan saw what I was doing. The moment the door opened, he actually sped up the car. A strong wind hit my face, making it hard to breathe. I wouldn’t just get hurt—I’d almost die for nothing if I jumped.

“Go ahead and jump if you dare, Elena,” Bryan said casually.

“Why are you backing down?” Bryan swerved the car left and right on that empty road. “Aren’t you the one who wanted to leave?”

My hands gripped the car seat tightly. I tried to hold on and not fall. The jolting made my stomach ache again. He only stopped when he saw that I had turned completely pale. I was nearly losing blood and control.

We arrived at the luxurious building that had once been my greatest goal in life.

"Take her away."

Bryan didn’t let me look for too long; he ordered his men to drag me away.

They took me to a damp, filthy place beneath the building.

The walls were damp. The floor was cold. Light came only from a single large screen glowing in front of us.

I was shoved until I fell to my knees.

“Sit. Look ahead.”

One of the men pressed down on my shoulder to keep me still.

On that screen… the magnificent stage that should have been mine was clearly displayed. Spotlights, world-class judges, and the best contestants—everything was going perfectly.

And there.

Livia.

Standing gracefully on the stage that should have been mine.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Listen carefully,” said Bryan’s henchman. “If Miss Livia hesitates, you speak up. If she makes a mistake, you correct her. You’ll make sure she wins.”

My hands trembled as they fitted me with an earpiece and a mic. The same ones Livia was using covertly.

“Do it right. If not, Mr. Bryan will put your imprisoned father in danger.”

That night, my eyes were forced to stare at the screen. Every one of Livia’s movements stole my life away.

My heart went numb. Watching Livia officially declared the winner using a recipe that was actually mine. First place. The audience cheered for her. The media scrambled to take her picture.

And then, she spoke softly through the mic connected directly to my ear. Smiling. “Elena, actually, I haven’t forgotten a single thing about your recipe.”

Her laughter hurt my ears. “I just… wanted you to see this glamorous competition and your dream. Aren’t I so kind?”

My chest burned.

I pushed the door open roughly and ran out of that dark room. I could barely breathe. Livia’s words burned through my soul. All the reality that had hit me made me nearly lose my mind.

And with my erratic steps, I found myself in the middle of the crowd. They were startled; I looked a complete mess.

“Oh my God… isn’t Chef Elena injured?”

“Yeah, she looks frustrated. She must really want this competition.”

“What happened to her is so sad.”

I backed away, panicking. The media cameras rushed forward, trying to zoom in on me. I stumbled, turned around, and ran.

As I passed by, a door swung wide open.

“Please arrange my wedding with Elena within a month, Hans,” Bryan’s voice echoed out.

“Are you really willing to give up your childhood sweetheart for that poor girl by marrying her?”

“I need to be by Elena’s side at all times so she’ll keep her mouth shut if she ever finds out; her father was imprisoned to cover up the mistake Livia’s older sister made while drunk back then. For Livia, I’ll make sure she always has a happy life. By any means necessary, even if it means sacrificing Elena.”

Bile rose in my throat. My body felt like it had been struck by lightning.

The marriage Bryan promised wasn’t compensation for my pain. It was worse than that. It was to keep me quiet.

For three years, my father suffered in prison. A hit-and-run charge.

Three years that bankrupted my father’s big restaurant and turned my life upside down until I had to settle for being a chef at a small culinary association. I started from scratch to build a better life.

I never imagined that from the very beginning, when Bryan met me, he already had a carefully orchestrated plan of his own.

Our seven failed marriages were all his doing.

My head was spinning.

Both my hands were clenched tightly. Now that I knew this, I was absolutely going to get my revenge on Bryan and Livia! I had to find the evidence immediately!

As I turned around, I accidentally kicked a vase. It made a noise. Panicked, I hid behind the door.

“Who’s there?” Bryan asked, his footsteps drawing closer.

“Bryan, it looks like no one’s there. Alright, for your wedding, I’ll get everything ready right away.”

Bryan nodded. “Yeah, I have to go pick up Livia and secure Elena now.”

As Bryan walked past me, I breathed a sigh of relief. But suddenly, the door opened. Hans, Bryan’s friend, appeared.

My heart nearly stopped.

“Hello, Miss Elena, calm down.” Hans looked around casually. “I’m Mr. Zidane’s messenger. In five days, I’ll gather evidence of crimes that can incriminate Bryan and Livia.”

I gasped. Zidane?

Hans raised his phone. “I even recorded my conversation with Bryan just now.”

“You don’t have much time; Bryan will definitely be looking for you. Hang in there for the remainder of the time, and then Mr. Zidane will come to pick you up in triumph.”

After leaving there, Bryan found me right away. In the car, he patted my head gently, like he would a puppy.

“Good girl, Livia won. Now you’re entitled to intensive hospital care. This time I won’t bother you as long as you obey.”

I wanted to attack him, but knew it was better to stay quiet this time.

My stomach suddenly started hurting again. When I looked down, I saw blood seeping through my hospital gown.

“Bryan, take me to the hospital right now!”

“What, your stomach’s hurting again?” he said, glancing at me. “Okay, we’ll go to the hospital right away. But I’ll pick up Livia first. She just celebrated her victory with her friends.”

My stomach was twisting even more. “Bryan, please, just this once,” I said, trembling.

But Bryan ignored me. Instead, he answered a call from Livia.

I gave up. No matter how much I begged, it wouldn’t work.

Our car stopped at a mall. Livia emerged from there.

“Get in, Livia. I have to take Elena to the hospital right away.”

Livia’s face turned into a feigned look of panic. “Wait, I think I left my lipstick in my friend’s bag!”

She was doing this on purpose.

My stomach felt like it was on fire. It felt like an infection. Five minutes passed and Livia still hadn’t come out. Cold sweat covered my body. My head was spinning and my vision was blurring.

When I woke up in the hospital, my stomach hurt even more.

I opened my eyes and saw Livia. She looked different, as if she were copying my style of dress and my hair. Even the color of my favorite lipstick.

Her hand pressed against my wounded stomach. “I hope this is an infection, so you won’t end up pregnant with Bryan’s child!”

“Get away from me, you bitch!” I screamed as I sat up.

She looked surprised, then laughed cynically. “Calm down, sis. What’s there to be angry about now? I’ve taken all your dreams. If I were you, I’d just give up.”

My blood boiled. “What are you doing here?”

"To say thank you. For everything. Do you know why Bryan hates you? I’ve been the one doing it all along. Whenever Bryan approached you for a mission, I always tried to make you look bad in his eyes. Of course, so he wouldn’t fall in love with you."

My head was spinning. "Just get out of my room, Livia."

But she kept talking.

"Remember when you fell down the stairs to save Bryan three years ago?" Livia chuckled. "When Bryan came to, I quickly told him you helped him because you felt guilty. I said you’d just been on a date with your first love."

Livia’s words pushed me to recall the past.

I fell down the stairs. I was injured. I lost consciousness trying to save Bryan.

But no wonder that man wasn’t grateful to me. He acted cold instead. Bryan spent time with Livia, whom I used to think was truly Bryan’s adopted sister—turns out that was the reason.

“And there are so many more of your kindnesses that I’ve manipulated,” Livia giggled. “And how foolish of Bryan to always trust me.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. My hand slapped Livia’s cheek hard. This time I was truly furious.

“You cruel woman!”

Livia screamed loudly and stepped back. Bryan immediately burst in, pushing the door open.

“She slapped me, Bryan!” she screamed hysterically. “I say sorry, but she said she’d kill me for taking the Bocuse d’Or Europe golden ticket!”

Bryan turned to me, his face twisted in disgust. “Are you out of your mind? How dare you attack Livia?"

"What else did you expect?" I asked, my voice trembling with disgust. "You’ve taken everything from me. You put me in the hospital while you celebrated Livia’s victory."

"Elena, stop being so dramatic," Bryan sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "It’s all over now. To be my wife, you’d better behave, got it?”

“Wife?” I laughed out loud. “I don’t want that.”

Bryan’s eyes narrowed. His eyebrows arched sharply. “Elena, I have to punish you,” his voice dropped low.

“How many times did she slap you?” Bryan asked, turning to Livia.

“Three,” she said, lying through her teeth.

Bryan stepped closer to me. Within seconds, his hand slapped me hard.

Three times.

The corner of my lip was bleeding.

My head was spinning, my body went limp. And slowly, I closed my eyes.

I was just pretending to faint. It hurt, but not enough to make me lose consciousness.

And then I heard what they were saying.

“Don’t hurt her again.” Livia’s voice—soft yet venomous—pierced my ears.

“Why is your heart so noble, Livia? She just tried to kill you.”

“To be honest, this time I’m really upset.”

“Then what do you want, darling?” Bryan asked softly. “Do we need to kill her father in prison?”

Secretly, my heart burned as I listened to their malicious conversation.

“Why rush? I think I want something else,” Livia chuckled. “As you know, I’m opening a restaurant. It’s sure to be a hit with my name having won the competition.”

“Yeah, so?” Bryan asked excitedly.

“Elena is the best chef I know. Can’t we take advantage of that by hiring her at minimum wage?”

“Great idea. She won’t be able to do anything about it because every kitchen knows she’s injured.”

They laughed as they left me in the room.

An hour later, when I pretended to wake up, the doctor approached me and said I would never be able to get pregnant again. My uterus had a severe infection.

I already knew this would happen. But it still felt suffocating. Empty. I’d always dreamed of becoming a mother. And now I’ll never be able to have children for the rest of my life.

But a day later, I pulled myself out of my despair. Facing Bryan, who was pretending to regret hitting me.

“Elena, I’m sorry. Earlier, I… didn’t mean to. I’ll never do it again!” Bryan cried with fake tears.

I nodded, pretending to accept it with a blank expression. And Bryan continued his act.

“I just sent your resignation letter to all the cooking schools and associations because of your injury.” He held back a small, triumphant smile. “They all agreed you can’t join anymore.”

My eyes widened. I was truly shocked that Bryan had gone this far.

“Poor you, Elena.” Bryan put on another fake sad face. “But don’t worry, Livia is opening a new restaurant. You can work there. Isn’t that enough to cover your living expenses from now on?”

I nodded stiffly. Trying to look straight at the man I’d loved for five years.

“Alright,” I said softly. “You’re right, I need a job to cover my living expenses.”

Bryan’s smile immediately widened perfectly. “Finally, you understand and aren’t being stubborn.”

Livia arrived, her high heels clacking arrogantly against the floor.

“The restaurant’s opening is the day after tomorrow. You’d better get ready,” the woman said with her chin held high.

The day after tomorrow. My birthday. Livia knew that for sure. And she even wanted to steal it from me.

“Sure,” I nodded weakly. “I’ll do my best for your restaurant.”

The next day, Livia burdened me with such a heavy task. Not cooking, but acting like a waitress. I was told to make coffee for my former subordinates at the association. They were invited. And of course, they hated me.

“Oh, so this is the once-proud star chef, now just a servant,” said a junior member I’d once scolded for cheating at the culinary association.

When she tried my coffee, she spit it all over my shirt. The others laughed while I screamed.

“What are you doing? Clean my shirt!” I shouted furiously.

“Clean it? Who do you think you are?” She laughed. “The coffee’s bitter. It’s awful, what did you put in it? Make another one!”

I almost slapped each of them. But I quickly calmed myself down, telling myself that this would all be over soon.

That evening, Livia assigned me to handle a lot of things. She trusted me so much because I’d done all my work exceptionally well. I’d been playing the role of the repentant, obedient one.

But in reality, I was orchestrating everything.

One by one. Without a single flaw.

First.

I made sure the big screen in the hall, which was supposed to welcome Livia, turned into something that exploded.

Second.

I’ve sprinkled a generous amount of dark red powder into the main sauce. Sudan I. An industrial dye. Not for food. Used in fuel, oil, and plastic. And… strictly banned throughout the European Union because it’s carcinogenic.

If it’s detected even once—it’s not just the dish that gets pulled. The entire restaurant will be immediately sealed off. Their license revoked. Their reputation ruined.

Third.

I sprinkled fine powder from dried lily flowers onto Livia’s dress. I remember she almost fainted from the itching caused by those flowers.

As the morning sun rose, I slipped out alone.

A car was waiting for me right in front of the gate.

Zidane.

He glanced at me briefly through the open window. “Do we need to burn this place down?”

I got in and stared straight ahead. “No need. I already have a plan.”

And we drove off.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. Bryan and Livia’s names flooded the screen. But I didn’t answer.

Until a message came in from Bryan.

[Don’t let our first course be a letdown. If that happens, I promise I won’t forgive you.]

I laughed hollowly at his threat, which seemed silly now.

Ten minutes later, another message popped up.

[The guests have arrived. Where are you? If you mess up, your father in that prison could be in trouble at any moment!]

I chuckled softly.

Ah… they don’t know.

Tomorrow morning, my father will be released.

Free.

And all their threats… mean nothing anymore.