The kitchen was still buzzing with the aftermath of the cooking challenge.
Group B had already been declared the winners, while Group A stood around their stations looking exhausted.
The smell of food still hung heavily in the air.
Dirty plates covered one side of the counter.
Pots and bowls were scattered around the cooking stations, and there were traces of sauce, vegetables, flour, and spices everywhere.
Marcus picked up one of the plates and examined it.
“I think this plate has suffered enough today.”
Lucas laughed.
“You’re the one who almost dropped it.”
“I did not almost drop it.”
“You absolutely did.”
Marcus looked offended.
“That was a controlled movement.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Your hand slipped.”
“It was intentional.”
Chloe laughed.
“Then do it again.”
Marcus immediately held the plate closer to his chest.
“No.
I don’t repeat dangerous experiments.”
Everyone laughed.
Before the conversation could continue, the director stepped forward.
“Everyone, settle down.”
The room gradually became quiet.
The director looked around at the contestants.
“Before we deal with the results of the challenge, we’re going to review some of the footage.”
The crew brought up the recordings on the large monitor.
Everyone gathered around.
The first footage showed the beginning of the cooking challenge.
The screen showed everyone rushing around the kitchen, preparing ingredients and trying to figure out what to do.
Then Marcus appeared.
He was carrying several plates at once.
He turned around while talking to Lucas.
His hand suddenly slipped.
One of the plates tilted dangerously.
Marcus’s eyes widened.
He quickly caught it against his chest.
The footage paused.
The entire room burst into laughter.
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Why did you people record that?”
Chloe was already laughing so hard she had to hold Nina’s arm.
“You said it was controlled!”
Marcus pointed at the screen.
“Look at everyone’s faces!
Nobody even tried to save me!”
Lucas laughed.
“You were three steps away from me.”
“You could have jumped!”
“Jumped?”
“Yes!”
Daniel shook his head.
“You caught it yourself.”
Marcus looked around dramatically.
“So nobody cares about me.”
Nina laughed.
“We care about the plate.”
Marcus placed a hand over his heart.
“That hurts.”
Even Lillian laughed.
The director allowed the moment to pass before continuing the footage.
More clips played.
The different groups preparing their meals.
Chloe trying to keep up with the timing.
Nina organizing ingredients.
Lucas and Daniel working on their dishes.
Then the footage reached the incident involving Serena.
The room became quieter.
On the screen, Serena approached Group B’s station holding the pepper.
She spoke briefly before turning toward the sauce.
Then she suddenly stumbled.
The pepper container tilted.
A large amount spilled into Group B’s sauce.
The footage switched to another camera angle.
This angle showed the floor.
There was nothing there.
No spilled liquid.
No object.
Nothing obvious that would explain the sudden movement.
Serena folded her arms.
“I already said I slipped.”
The director didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he moved to another clip.
This one showed Isabella and Serena talking earlier during the challenge.
Serena had been upset.
“I don’t like the way Lillian keeps acting.”
Isabella had looked at her calmly.
“I know you’re upset.”
“I want to say something to her.”
Isabella shook her head.
“Don’t make the situation worse.
If you two have an issue, solve it properly.
There’s no point creating a bigger problem in front of everyone.”
The footage ended.
Isabella immediately spoke.
“That is exactly what I was saying.”
Everyone looked at her.
“I wasn’t advising Serena to interfere with Group B’s food,” she continued.
“She was already angry, and I was trying to stop the situation from becoming worse.
I told her that if she had a problem with Lillian, she should solve it directly instead of creating drama.”
Serena nodded.
“She was trying to help me.”
Isabella glanced at her.
“I didn’t want Serena to do anything stupid.
That’s why I spoke to her.”
Lillian remained silent.
The director looked at Isabella for a moment before nodding.
“Fine.”
He didn’t continue questioning her.
“The footage has been shown.
Everyone can make their own judgment.”
That was the end of it.
The director turned toward Group A.
“Now, because Group A lost the challenge, you have a punishment.”
Marcus’s expression immediately changed.
“What punishment?”
“You will clean the kitchen.”
“All of this?”
“All of it.”
Lucas sighed.
“We have to wash everything?”
“Yes.
Plates, utensils, counters, cooking stations, and the floor.
Everything must be properly cleaned before you leave.”
Marcus looked devastated.
“I should have broken the plate earlier.”
Daniel laughed.
“Don’t give him ideas.”
Chloe smiled from the side.
“Good luck.”
Marcus pointed at her.
“Don’t smile at me.
You people caused half of this mess.”
“We won.”
“That doesn’t make you innocent.”
The director then turned toward Isabella.
“And Isabella.”
“Yes?”
“Since you are joining Group A, you’ll be staying with them.”
Isabella nodded.
“You’ll share the room with Serena.”
Serena glanced at her and smiled.
“Okay.”
The director continued.
“Serena is the only woman in Group A, so it makes sense for the two of you to share.”
Isabella gave a polite nod.
“Of course.”
The director looked at everyone.
“Your final challenge for today will begin at 9:00 p.m.”
Immediately, several heads lifted.
Chloe looked curious.
“What are we doing?”
“You’ll find out this evening.”
Marcus frowned.
“Not even a hint?”
“No.”
“Just tell us if we’re going to suffer.”
The director smiled.
“You’ll find out.”
That only made everyone more curious.
“Until then, you are free to rest.”
The contestants slowly dispersed.
Group A remained behind to face the kitchen.
Marcus looked at the enormous pile of dishes.
“Guys…”
Lucas sighed.
“Let’s just do it.”
“I’m reconsidering my career.”
Daniel picked up a sponge.
“You’re a singer.”
“Exactly.
Why am I washing plates?”
Their complaints faded as they began cleaning.
Meanwhile, Lillian, Chloe, Nina, and the others went upstairs.
For a while, the villa became quieter.
Everyone retreated to their own rooms to rest before the final challenge.
Lillian closed her bedroom door behind her.
She changed into something comfortable and sat on the edge of the bed.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
Adrian.
Her expression immediately softened.
She answered the video call.
Adrian appeared on the screen.
“You’re tired.”
“A little.”
“You’ve been busy all day.”
“So have you.”
“But I wasn’t on a reality show.”
Lillian laughed softly.
“That isn’t my fault.”
“I know.”
He looked at her for a moment.
“I missed you.”
Lillian’s smile disappeared for a second.
Her cheeks slowly warmed.
“You saw me yesterday.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“I still missed you.”
She shook her head.
“You’re becoming very troublesome.”
“Only with you.”
Lillian looked toward the camera in her room.
She immediately remembered where she was.
She turned her phone around so the screen faced away from the filming camera.
Adrian noticed.
“Why did you turn the phone?”
“Because there’s a camera.”
“So?”
“So they can’t see you.”
His voice became amused.
“Are you hiding me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want everyone seeing you.”
“Or because you’re shy?”
“I’m not shy.”
“You’re blushing.”
Lillian touched her cheek.
“No, I’m not.”
“You are.”
Outside the room, Chloe was walking down the hallway when she heard a man’s voice.
She stopped.
Nina, coming from the opposite direction, stopped beside her.
They looked at each other.
Chloe whispered, “Is that Lillian’s voice?”
“No.”
“Then who is she talking to?”
Nina listened.
A man’s voice came from inside.
Deep. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Calm.
Warm.
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Oh.”
Nina smiled.
“That voice is…”
“Charming,” Chloe finished.
On the livestream, viewers had already started reacting.
[LilyMoon_22]: WAITTT WHO IS THAT MAN???
😭
[DramaQueen88]: That voice!!!
Why is his voice so charming?
**[CharmingVoiceFan]: Lillian, please turn the phone around 😭 We need to see him!”
**[PeachyGirl]: That man’s voice is so deep and calm omg.”
**[RealityAddict]: Okay, whoever he is, I understand why she’s smiling like that 😂”
**[LillianFan101]: She’s hiding his face from the camera!
She’s definitely protecting him.”
**[CuriousCat]: Is he her fiance?”
**[StarWatcher]: Maybe he’s an actor?
Her boyfriend could be someone in the entertainment industry.”
**[TeaSpiller]: that’s definitely her fiance?
👀”
**[NoFilterFan]: The way she suddenly turned the phone away from the camera 😂 She does NOT want us seeing him.”
**[LilySupporter]: Leave her alone!
If she doesn’t want to show him, respect her privacy.”
**[WhoIsHe]: But that voice is ridiculously attractive 😭”
**[DramaHunter]: I came here for a cooking show and now I’m investigating a mystery man’s voice.”
**[SerenaFan]: Maybe he is ugly that’s why she is hiding him🫤.”
[LillianStan]: UGLY MAN DON’T TALK LIKE THAT 😭
Inside, Lillian had no idea they were listening.
Adrian was still teasing her.
“You haven’t told me you missed me.”
“I don’t have to.”
“You do.”
“No.”
“Lillian.”
“What?”
“Say it.”
She looked away.
“I missed you.”
“Again.”
Her eyes widened.
“Why?”
“I liked hearing it.”
She covered her face.
“You’re impossible.”
His laughter came through the phone.
“I wish I could see your face properly.”
“You can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because there are cameras.”
“Then I’ll just imagine it.”
Lillian’s cheeks became even warmer.
“You’re annoying.”
“And you’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”
She immediately lowered the phone slightly.
“Stop.”
“Make me.”
She stared at the screen.
“I regret answering.”
“No, you don’t.”
A tiny smile betrayed her.
Adrian noticed.
“There.
That’s the smile I wanted.”
Lillian shook her head.
“I’m hanging up.”
“You won’t.”
“I will.”
“You won’t.”
She tried to look serious.
But she was smiling.
Before she could respond, there was a knock on the door.
“Lillian?”
She immediately straightened.
It was the production assistant.
“The director asked everyone to come downstairs.
The final challenge is about to start.”
Lillian glanced at the clock.
9:00 p.m.
She looked back at the phone.
“I have to go.”
“Go.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
“And Lillian?”
“Yes?”
“I missed you.”
Her cheeks turned pink again.
“Bye.”
She ended the call quickly.
Outside, Chloe and Nina were still nearby.
Chloe immediately looked at her.
“That voice…”
Lillian froze.
Nina smiled knowingly.
“Whoever that is, he sounds very charming.”
Lillian cleared her throat.
“He’s just someone I know.”
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Just someone you know?”
Lillian walked past them.
“We’re going downstairs.”
Chloe and Nina followed her.
Neither of them knew who the man was.
Neither did the viewers.
All they knew was that Lillian had a fiance who could make her blush with nothing more than his voice.
Lillian reached the staircase.
Then the assistant called again.
“Lillian, hurry.
The director is waiting.”
She quickened her steps toward the living room.
The next challenge was about to begin.
And now that it’s time for The next things are about to get much more interesting guest what game is next.
Who do you think will get the first dare?
See you in the next chapter!