Chapter 5

The casual way Liam mentioned his support for Chloe felt like a deliberate jab. Ava ignored the sting, channeling the frustration into her work. She would not let him or his perfect Chloe distract her. Her focus had to be on the food, on proving to Chef Dubois and, more importantly, to herself that she still had it.

The week of the food festival arrived. It was a high-profile event, attracting chefs and critics from all over the region. Liam insisted on attending the opening night gala with her, playing the role of the supportive husband. He held her hand, his touch feeling possessive rather than affectionate. He kept her close to his side, introducing her to his business contacts as "my wife, Ava, who' s getting back into her little hobby."

Ava' s smile was tight, but she said nothing. She saw Chloe across the room, holding court with a group of journalists. Chloe' s eyes met hers, a flicker of triumph in them. When Liam saw her, he tensed, his grip on Ava' s hand tightening. He was using Ava, she realized, parading her around to make Chloe jealous, to show her what she was missing. Ava was a pawn in a game she had no interest in playing.

The centerpiece of the gala was a live cooking demonstration featuring several acclaimed local chefs. Chloe, as a guest of honor and judge, was invited on stage. She was charismatic and knowledgeable, charming the audience with anecdotes about her culinary travels. Liam watched her, his expression rapt, completely forgetting the wife standing beside him. He was captivated, and the whole room could see it. The sight solidified Ava' s resolve. She wasn' t competing with Chloe for Liam' s affection anymore. She was competing for her own life.

The next day was the main competition, a "mystery box" challenge. Each chef was given a box of identical, secret ingredients and tasked with creating a stunning dish in under an hour. Ava' s heart pounded as she stood at her station. This was her stage.

The timer started. She opened her box: scallops, fennel, blood oranges, and almonds. Her mind raced. She could see the dish in her head, a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and acidic. Her hands moved with a confidence she hadn' t felt in years. She seared the scallops, created a fennel purée, a blood orange reduction, and toasted almond slivers for texture. She worked with a focused intensity, blocking out the cameras, the audience, and the thought of Liam and Chloe somewhere in the crowd.

When the time was up, her plate was a work of art. The judges, including Chloe, made their rounds. When they got to her station, Chloe picked up her fork, her expression unreadable. She took a bite. For a fraction of a second, her professional mask slipped. There was a flicker of genuine surprise, quickly replaced by a cool, critical look.

The judges deliberated. When they announced the winner, Ava held her breath.

"The winner of this year' s mystery box challenge is... Ava Miller!"

A wave of shock, then pure elation, washed over her. The crowd applauded. Chef Dubois gave her a rare, proud smile from the sidelines. She had done it. She had won.

But as she accepted the award, her eyes scanned the crowd. She saw Chloe, her face pale, quickly turning and rushing out of the tent. And she saw Liam, his face a storm of conflicting emotions, immediately pushing through the crowd to follow Chloe. He didn' t even look at Ava. He didn't stay to congratulate his wife on her victory. He ran after the woman who had lost.

Ava stood on the stage, the trophy heavy in her hands, the applause ringing in her ears. But all she could feel was the cold, hard truth of his choice. Later, seeking a quiet moment backstage, she overheard their voices from around the corner. Chloe was crying.

"I can' t believe she won, Liam. After all this time... it feels like she did it just to spite me."

And then Liam' s voice, low and earnest, spoke the words that would burn themselves into her memory forever.

"Forget her, Chloe. It doesn' t matter. Her cooking is good, I' ll admit. It reminds me a little of yours. That' s why I married her, you know. You were gone, and she was the next best thing. But she was never you. She was only ever a substitute."