Chapter 0283


    Abby


    The judges are sitting in front of me, spoons poised, and I can’t help but hold my breath. Every moment


    that they taste the soup without a word feels like an eternity. My palms are sweating, and it’s all I can


    do to not show them that I feel like I’m about to pass out.


    Vanessa is the first to break the silence, and her voice is smooth and soft—an instantfort.


    “Abby, this is delightful,” she says, her spoon clinking against the bowl as she sets it down. “The


    bnce of vors is excellent, and the carrot really shines through. Your hint of thyme really makes the


    dish.”


    I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and a smile spreads across my lips. “Thank you, Vanessa.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    I’m d you enjoyed it.”


    Xavier follows, his voice deep and thoughtful. “I must agree. The sour cream and green onion were a


    nice touch as well. An unexpected vorbination, but delightful nheless.”


    Their words empower me, and I can feel the knot in my chest loosening.


    But then I look towards Logan, thest toment, and his brow is slightly furrowed. The room seems


    to grow colder as he ces his spoon down with a long sigh.


    “It’s… good,” he starts, and for a moment, hope flickers inside of me, only to be immediately put out like


    a candle by his next words. “But if I’m being honest, it’s too… safe. Expected, rather.” As he speaks,


    his eyes meet mine, and there’s that glint again.


    I feel a small knot twist in my gut, and it’s all I can do to keep myposure. “I see,” I manage,


    swallowing. “Was it the vors, or…?”


    He shakes his head, pressing his lips into a thin line. “I can’t quite say. It tasted good, but it’s just…


    boring.”


    Suddenly, Vanessa interjects before I can offer a retort. “Not every dish needs to reinvent the wheel,


    Logan,” she says. “And it was quite vorful. The ginger—”


    Logan’s lips twitch, and he interrupts her. “vorful, perhaps. And you’re correct; not every dish needs


    to reinvent the wheel. But when ites to the most important event of the year, one would hope for


    more than…”


    That’s when he pauses, and in a swift gesture, he pushes the bowl away from him on the table, his cold


    eyes meeting mine. “...‘cozy andfortable.’”


    My heart feels like it’s sinking. It feels as though Logan turned my words against me, turning something


    that was meaningful to me into a joke. I feel like every female chef ever, who has had her craft


    diminished into nothing more than frivolity.


    Vanessa, sensing the tension, speaks up again. “Well, it was only the first course,” she says. “I’m sure


    Abby will continue to wow us throughout the evening.”


    Xavier chimes in, his voice soothing. “I agree. And if we’re going to critique, let’s make it constructive.


    Abby, for the next course, we’d like you to make us something out of the box.”


    “You’re doing great,” he murmurs once we’re out of earshot. “Logan is tough to please, but you’ve got


    Vanessa and Xavier on your side.”


    I let out a shakyugh. “Feels like I’m on thin ice, though. Logan’s critique was... piercing, to say the


    least.” New chаpter av?ble on Drаmanоvels.cом


    “But Logan is right, isn’t he?” I can’t hide the worry that seeps into my voice. “I yed it safe. Maybe


    too safe.”


    “Abby, he’s just trying to get under your skin,” Karl murmurs. “Are you gonna let him?”