Betrayed Heart, Culinary Rise

Chapter 2

Word Count: 824 | Released on: 04/07/2025

with a hot surge of anger. "The application... it was

ther, was watching TV. "Chloe, Brittany explained everything. It was a silly social media game that got a li

hey ruined my one chance! This wasn't

schools, other chances. Your step-sister is very popular, Chloe. It's important

ng. "Fine," I said, my voice low and steady. "I don't need their help. I don't need

my mother just shook her head as i

t yesterday. Brittany and I, we were talking. We still want to do the summer food truck festival with you. Just

mise to keep me quiet, to keep me in my place. His words were smooth, but his eyes dar

ght, with nowhere to go. I had snuck him into my room, shared my food with him, and convinced my dad to talk to his, smoothing thi

e are no hard feelings." I submitted a detailed proposal for our menu, centering it around my father's reci

. "That's cute, Chloe. Really. But I think we should go with something more... trendy." She pulled out her phone and showed us a picture

ight, Chloe. The visuals are

eap gimmick. My contribution was ignored, replaced by Brittany's shallow pref

eir colorful, mediocre sandwiches. A local food critic, a well-known blogger, came by. He took a bite of the grilled cheese and

ese?" he ask

g extra," Brittany

uine delight. "This... this is incredible," he said, his voice full of surprise

I've been working on." She took all the credit, right in front of me, without a flick

ation for something she hadn't even touched. The anger was a hot, silent scream trapped inside me, while on the outside,

Chapter End

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open

Betrayed Heart, Culinary Rise

Lan Lan Young Adult

“The scent of rosemary and garlic used to be my comfort, a promise of a future I was meticulously crafting. My Ashton Culinary Academy application, almost complete, sat waiting for my signature dish video. Then, my step-sister Brittany waltzed in, phone already recording. "Welcome back to the 'Ultimate Prank Challenge' !" she announced, her cruel smirk widening. This wasn' t my audition; it was my entry for her "Worst Chef Wannabe" contest. Laughter erupted, sharp and loud, from her clique, including Liam, my childhood friend, who just stared at his shoes. They'd "accidentally" spilled water on my application. My meticulously written essays blurred into meaningless inkblots. My chance was gone. They hadn't just destroyed my dream; they' d turned me into a prop in their game for social media likes. The reflection in the oven showed their triumphant faces, a circle of hyenas enjoying their kill, while I was a ghost in my own kitchen. The warmth was gone, replaced by the sting of betrayal. My mom' s voice later confirmed: Ashton had withdrawn my application. No anger, no sadness, just a factual pronouncement. She didn' t ask what happened, or if I was okay. I was just a problem to her. They wanted peace? Fine. I would find my own way, with people who actually respected me. I was done understanding.”