The kitchen doors opened.
The cameras moved in immediately as the celebrities entered the challenge area.
Two long counters had been prepared with fresh ingredients, cooking utensils, chopping boards, pots, pans, and presentation plates.
A large digital timer hung above them.
60:00
The director stood between the two stations.
“Your task is simple.
Each group will prepare a complete meal within one hour.
The judges will score you based on taste, presentation, teamwork, and time management.”
Marcus looked around the kitchen.
“Simple?”
Daniel glanced at him.
“You’re already complaining.”
“I haven’t even started.”
“That is exactly why I’m concerned.”
Everyone laughed.
The director continued.
“Group B will remain together.
Isabella will join Group A.”
Isabella nodded.
“Understood.”
Serena looked pleased.
Lillian didn’t pay much attention.
She was already examining the ingredients in front of her.
“Ready?”
Everyone took their positions.
“Three…”
The cameras moved closer.
“Two…”
Chloe leaned toward Lillian.
“Please don’t panic.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“You looked like you were calculating how to escape.”
Lillian gave her a look.
“Maybe I was.”
“One!”
The timer started.
59:59
Chaos immediately filled the kitchen.
Lucas organized Group A’s ingredients while Daniel prepared the vegetables.
Marcus took charge of the rice, and Serena began preparing the sauce with Isabella.
Group B moved just as quickly.
Chloe handled the main cooking.
Nina prepared the vegetables, Ethan worked on the chicken, and Lillian helped wherever Chloe directed her.
“Pass me that bowl.”
Lillian handed it over.
“Now this one.”
She passed another.
“Can you wash those vegetables?”
“Sure.”
She carried them to the sink.
For once, nobody had time to tease anyone.
The timer continued counting down.
48:36
Group A’s station looked increasingly organized.
Isabella moved between the ingredients with calm precision.
“Marcus, check the rice.”
“Already done.”
“Lucas, the chicken needs another few minutes.”
“Got it.”
Serena glanced toward Group B.
Lillian was standing beside Chloe, carefully arranging vegetables onto a plate.
Serena’s lips curled slightly.
“She really is trying.”
Isabella glanced over.
“She is.”
“After all that talk yesterday, I expected more.”
Isabella smiled.
“Everyone has different strengths.”
Serena rolled her eyes.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
The timer reached 35:00.
The smell of food filled the kitchen.
Group B’s sauce was almost finished.
Chloe tasted it.
“Needs a little more pepper.”
Lillian reached for the spice container.
“Which one?”
“The black pepper.”
Lillian picked it up.
“Here.”
Chloe added a little and stirred.
“That should do it.”
Serena watched from across the room.
Then she looked toward the pepper containers.
An idea crossed her mind.
“Is there any more pepper?”
Isabella glanced at her.
“There’s some beside Group B.”
Serena nodded.
“I’ll get it.”
She walked toward Group B’s station.
Lillian was facing the opposite direction, helping Nina arrange the vegetables.
Chloe was at the stove.
Serena reached for the pepper container.
“Thanks.”
Chloe barely looked up.
“Sure.”
Serena held it.
Then, just as she stepped backward—
Her foot caught against the edge of the floor mat.
“Oh!”
Her body lurched forward.
The container tipped.
A generous amount of pepper spilled directly into Group B’s sauce.
Everyone froze.
Chloe stared at the pot.
Ethan’s expression hardened.
Nina looked at Serena.
“What did you just do?”
Serena immediately looked horrified.
“Oh my God!”
She placed the container down.
“I slipped.”
Chloe rushed toward the pot.
“You put all that pepper in there!”
“I didn’t mean to!”
Ethan looked at the floor.
Then at Serena.
“The mat didn’t move.”
Serena’s face changed.
“What?”
“You didn’t trip.”
“I did!”
Nina looked at the scattered pepper on the floor.
“Then how did you land without falling?”
Serena opened her mouth.
No answer came.
The director’s attention shifted toward them.
“What’s happening?”
Chloe pointed toward the pot.
“She spilled pepper into our sauce.”
“It was an accident!”
Marcus looked over from Group A.
“That was a lot of pepper for an accident.”
The livestream exploded.
«[Live Comment — LilyMoon]: WAIT A MINUTE 👀
[Live Comment — NoFilterGirl]: She just conveniently spilled it into their FOOD?
[Live Comment — DramaAddict]: Serena is not even subtle 😭
[Live Comment — SerenaForever]: She said she slipped.
Maybe she actually did.
[Live Comment — WatchingClosely]: Why did she go all the way over there for pepper though?»
Chloe looked furious.
“Serena, at least apologize.”
Serena frowned.
“I already said it was an accident!”
“Then apologize.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Whether you did or not, their food is affected.”
Serena looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Before the argument could grow, Isabella hurried over.
“Serena, are you okay?”
Serena nodded.
“I’m fine.”
Isabella looked at the spilled pepper, then at the pot.
“Oh no.”
She turned toward Group B.
“I’m really sorry.”
Chloe crossed her arms.
“She needs to apologize.”
Isabella immediately nodded.
“Of course.”
Then she looked at Serena.
“Say sorry.”
Serena hesitated.
“Sorry.”
Her voice was barely audible.
Chloe still looked annoyed.
Isabella quickly added,
“Please don’t be angry with her.
She didn’t mean to do it.
It was just a mistake.”
Nina stared at her.
“That’s a pretty big mistake.”
“I know.”
Isabella sighed sympathetically.
“But she’s already apologized.”
The director looked toward the pot.
“You still have twenty-two minutes.
Can the sauce be fixed?”
Chloe tasted it.
Her face fell.
“Barely.”
Lillian finally walked over.
She looked inside the pot.
Then she looked at Serena.
Serena avoided her eyes.
Lillian remained silent for several seconds.
Then she smiled.
“Since it was just a mistake, there’s no problem.”
Serena looked relieved.
“Exactly.”
Lillian nodded.
“Accidents happen.”
She reached for the pepper container.
Chloe looked at her.
“Lillian?”
“It’s fine.”
Lillian walked toward Group A.
Serena’s eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
Lillian stopped beside their cooking station.
She looked at the pot of sauce Group A had been preparing.
Then she glanced at Serena.
“You said it was an accident, right?”
Serena swallowed.
“Yes.”
Lillian smiled.
“Then don’t worry.”
She opened the pepper container.
And poured a generous amount straight into Group A’s sauce.
Everyone went silent.
Marcus’s jaw dropped.
Daniel stared at the pot.
Lucas looked between Lillian and Serena.
Even Isabella’s calm expression finally cracked.
“Lillian…”
Lillian closed the container.
“Oh.”
She looked at Serena.
“My hand slipped.”
Serena’s mouth fell open.
“You did that on purpose!”
Lillian blinked innocently.
“Did I?”
“You—”
Lillian tilted her head.
“That’s strange.”
She glanced at the pepper container.
“You said accidents happen.”
The kitchen erupted.
Marcus turned away, laughing.
Chloe covered her mouth.
Nina burst out laughing.
Even Ethan couldn’t hide his amusement.
The livestream went completely wild.
«[Live Comment — LilyMoon]: LILLIAN 😭😭😭
[Live Comment — NoFilterGirl]: SHE RETURNED THE PEPPER!!!!
[Live Comment — DramaQueen21]: “MY HAND SLIPPED” I’M SCREAMING 💀
[Live Comment — LillianFan001]: THE EXACT SAME EXCUSE 😭
[Live Comment — FashionLover]: Serena walked into that one herself.
[Live Comment — WatchingClosely]: Isabella suddenly doesn’t look so calm 😂
[Live Comment — HonestViewer]: This is the best reality-show moment yet.»
Serena’s face burned.
“You deliberately did that!”
Lillian looked at her calmly.
“And you didn’t?”
“I told you I slipped!”
“And I told you my hand slipped.”
“That isn’t the same!”
Lillian’s expression remained pleasant.
“Why not?”
Serena couldn’t answer.
Lillian stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“If you want to play dirty, that’s your choice.”
Her eyes moved briefly toward the cameras.
“But don’t spill something into someone else’s food and then hide behind that innocent face when people call you out.”
Serena’s expression hardened.
Lillian continued.
“And please…”
She smiled.
“If you’re going to act innocent, at least make your story believable.”
The room went quiet.
Serena looked humiliated.
Isabella immediately stepped between them.
“Lillian, I understand you’re upset, but Serena really didn’t mean—”
Lillian turned toward her.
“I know.”
Isabella paused.
Lillian smiled.
“That’s why I didn’t complain.”
A few people exchanged looks.
Lillian returned to her station.
Chloe stared after her.
Then whispered,
“That was brutal.”
Nina nodded.
“Very.”
Ethan laughed under his breath.
“She didn’t even raise her voice.”
Marcus leaned toward Daniel.
“I’m learning never to argue with that woman.”
Daniel nodded.
“Smart.”
Isabella stood beside Serena.
Her voice remained soft.
“Don’t let it bother you.”
Serena clenched her fists.
“She embarrassed me.”
Isabella glanced toward the cameras.
“Then don’t give her another reason to.”
Serena looked at her.
For the first time, there was a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
But Isabella’s expression was already perfectly composed.
The director clapped his hands.
“Enough.
Everyone back to cooking.”
The celebrities returned to their stations.
The timer showed:
17:43
Group A now had a serious problem.
Their sauce was heavily peppered.
Marcus tasted it.
His expression immediately changed.
“That’s… strong.”
Daniel took the spoon.
He tasted it.
“Very strong.”
Lucas sighed.
“We need to fix this.”
Serena stood frozen for a moment.
Then she began helping.
Across the kitchen, Group B was also repairing their sauce.
Chloe added ingredients carefully to balance the excessive pepper.
Lillian followed her instructions.
A few minutes later, Chloe tasted it again.
Her eyes brightened.
“Saved.”
Lillian smiled.
“Good.”
Nina laughed.
“You know, this challenge became much more dramatic than I expected.”
Ethan glanced toward Serena.
“I don’t think we’re done yet.”
The timer continued.
05:00
Everyone rushed to finish.
Plates were arranged.
Sauces were wiped around the edges.
Chicken was positioned carefully.
Finally—
00:00
The director raised his hand.
“Time!”
Everyone stepped away.
The judges entered.
Group A’s presentation looked polished.
Group B’s was less refined but colorful and appetizing.
The judges tasted both dishes.
One judge tried Group A’s sauce.
His expression became thoughtful.
“Quite spicy.”
Marcus coughed quietly.
Serena looked nervous.
Another judge tasted Group B’s dish.
His eyes widened.
“This has excellent balance.”
Chloe smiled.
Lillian remained quiet.
The judges continued tasting.
After several minutes, the scores were announced.
Group A won presentation.
Group B won taste.
The final category was teamwork.
The judges discussed their scores.
Then the director announced:
“Group B wins the challenge.”
Chloe screamed.
Nina hugged Lillian.
Ethan laughed.
Marcus applauded from across the kitchen.
Lillian smiled.
Serena stood silently.
The cameras captured her expression.
The livestream immediately reacted.
«[Live Comment — NoFilterGirl]: GROUP B WON 😂
[Live Comment — LillianFan001]: AFTER THE PEPPER INCIDENT TOO!!!
[Live Comment — DramaQueen21]: Serena tried to ruin the sauce and they STILL WON 😭
[Live Comment — LilyMoon]: Lillian’s “make your story believable” line!!!
[Live Comment — WatchingClosely]: Isabella is way too calm.
[Live Comment — StarWatcher]: Something about those two is definitely off.»
Isabella smiled toward the cameras.
“Congratulations, everyone.”
She sounded sincere.
Nobody looking at her would have guessed she had been watching the entire incident with far more interest than surprise.
Serena stood beside her, still embarrassed.
Isabella leaned closer.
“Don’t worry.”
Serena whispered,
“She made me look stupid.”
Isabella’s smile remained gentle.
“You did that when you tried to pretend you hadn’t done anything.”
Serena looked at her sharply.
Isabella immediately softened her voice.
“I mean… next time, be more careful.”
Serena said nothing.
Across the room, Lillian was laughing with Chloe.
She didn’t look back.
She didn’t need to.
The cameras had already recorded everything.
Lillian in the kitchen is already a dangerous combination, but Serena and that pepper made things even more interesting.
Do you think Serena really slipped?
And what do you think about Isabella’s behavior?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
See you in the next chapter.