The white rose bouquet shattered on the ground as he tried to hold his temper. He clenced his fist, causing the nerves in his arms to bulge out.

He took a deep breath in. It was hard to control when all he wanted to do, was barge in; take Xander off Winnie, he dared touched what is not his.

The sight made him burn with jealousy. And this time yet again, Xander has good timing.

He took steps backwards. It was better to leave without creating a scene.

Not minding the mess he created on the floor, he left.

He reached towards his car. Unable to control anymore, he slammed his fist over the car's window. It pained. Not only the fist, but his heart included.

His heart was shattering into million pieces, the only thought in his mind;

'is she really over him?' The thoughts gave him unbearable pain. It was getting hard to breath, he felt the air to be suffocated, poisoning him.

The only person who could provide him peace & comfort, the only person who loved him for who he is but not for the 'Billionaire' title along his name.

He managed to push her away, but he pushed her too far away that now it seems impossible for her to trace her way back to him.

She seemed happy, genuinely happy. With him. With Xander. Damien would give everything up to replace himself with Xander. He want no other man to be the reason behind her smile or laughter, but himself.

He should have mended things between them long ago, when he has realised that he was falling for her.

Her green eyes always captivated him, it always triggered passion and jealousy within him. Jealousy, because he knew in his heart; that he didn't deserve her. All the time he was ready for her to leave one day and be with someone who actually deserved her. Despite never truly wanting that. Everything was confusing. Perhaps that could justify his cruel actions towards her.

From far away, he saw them stepping outside. Winnie pecked a kiss on Xander's cheek, breaking already broken heart of Damien further.

She bid him goodbye with the brightest smile on her face as if she was very delighted of his visit. It made Damien wonder, had she reacted the same if it was him instead of Xander.

'Of course not,' a voice inside his head said. 'Remember, she hates you.' And the painful 'I hate you', she uttered before leaving the penthouse that disgraceful night.

He sat inside the car, and the drove away. If this is what she wants, if this is how she is happy then he feels obliged to let her be.

And he wasn't furious anymore. He was just heart broken, and sad of the scenarios and thoughts he concluded on his own. Not paying attention to the already exceeding speed. He stepped on the accelerator. And everything went blur.

...

And it was another round of the big competition. Failure after failure, but there is seriously no success without the traces of failures. Winnie stood in the pressure test, dreading every moment. Since the beginning, to her misfortune, she has participated in every pressure test. And somehow always managed to stay. Always close to go home though.

Yesterday Xander's visit, forced her into thinking positively. He made her clear her doubts of not being capable to win.

In this pressure test, they had to make eggs. Sounds very easy, but they were to be done in perfection. Giving only 10 eggs that they were to be prepared, this easy yet complicated task was making her teary. One after another, tears slipped down her eyes as she messed up the third egg.

She rushed to another egg, which fell on the floor. Great, six more to go. Now she has to put all perfection in them.

Or the only thing that could save her is, if someone messes up as bad as her.

Sixty seconds to go, she put her last egg on the plate as gently as she could. And when the time was up, she looked around, everyone had all the ten eggs. And she only could pull six.

All of the three chef, made their way to her first. Joe's eyes looked at her, giving her disappointing looks, he shook his head. "What happened?" Questionef Gordon Ramsey.

"I.. I.." she couldn't say anymore.

She heard fits of laughter from the upstairs and the counters behind her.

Peeking, she saw most of them mocking. "Looks like someone is going home." She didn't pay attention to whoever made the comment.

"How could you dare to enter masterchef when you don't know how to cook something as simple as an egg."

Another comment.

The chefs proceeded to take a look at eggs, the taste and the texture. "Well, I must say, these six are perfect, young lady.

But would that be enough to keep you still in the competition?

I doubt." Gordon Ramsey said before they all left her table.

She wiped her wet eyes. Maybe she shouldn't have just come here.

These people seem to be more evil and cruel than Damien ever was. Well, not really. But he was one & alone and here, there are so many of them.

The chefs judged everyone's bundle of eggs. They stood on their spots, talking in whispers; deciding with each other.

After taking what felt like ages to the competitors, the chefs finally came to their conclusion.

"The person who made the most perfect eggs, 10 out of 10, was..

Sofie.. you can head up to balcony."

Disappointed, that it was not her, Winnie still smiled for Sofie.

"The second person had eight out of ten eggs in perfection... Jack head back to the balcony."

Her breath hitched.

Now it's just two of them left.

"The result is very tight...... the person who is leaving masterchef tonight is...

.

.

None of you. As you both had six perfect eggs each."

She sighed.

"But tonight we are going to have another round between Winnie and Jack."

No, she wasn't looking forward to this.

Her competitor wasn't an easy man, his cooking skills plus the experience was much more.

Jack, her competitor, squealed in excitement as Ramsey uncovered the mystery box.

"7 layers cake.

Now both of you are big in baking but a 7 layer cake is something that might be easily ruined." Commented one of the chef.

"You both have exactly 60 minutes to make us a 7 layer cake...

And the time starts now."

Winnie instantly decided to make a 7 layer rainbow cake with cheese frosting. She ran towards the pantry to gather her ingredients and equipments.

Her hands were shaking, she doesn't want to be out of the game this soon.

She began by preparing the batter of the cake, and completely forgot about preheating the oven. Everyone whispered about her being dumb enough not to preheat the oven, but none of them let her know that she was forgetting something as most of them wanted her out of the game.

Until eventually she realised what she was forgetting. Slapping her forehead, she rapidly switched on the oven, preheating it. It wasn't that late, she tried not to freak out and stayed calm.

When her seven batters were prepared with different colours. She put 3 in one oven and 4 in another. Meanwhile they baked, she prepared the cheese frosting.

When the frosting was ready, she took a peak on her cake and found them already close enough to bake. She checked them and when satisfied enough, she took them out one by one; very carefully.

All the seven layers looked exceptionally beautiful, but it was the taste that would determine whether she stays in the game or go home tonight.

Home. She has no home to go to. If in any case, she is the one going home. She wonders where she will go.

To Xander? Who had hoped she would win and ace the masterchef world.

That would be embarrassing.

Even thinking about it, it will break her heart. She doesn't think she would be even able to cook anymore if she leaves from here without winning.

"60 seconds to go."

She hurried putting all the layers together, and stuffing the icing all over it.

"10 seconds to go."

She took her prepared cake and ran all the way to the counter where the cake is to be delivered before the time is up.

"3, 2, 1... hands up!"

Looking around at Jack's cake, Winnie sighed in horror. Absolutely beautiful, the word to describe his cake. The outer beauty is very appealing, in comparison with Winnie's, who's looked like a dump cake, prepared in a hurry. But one thing she was sure about, the inner beauty of her cake is appealing and inviting.

The chefs first came towards her, she tightened her fist to control her emotions. She is not leaving, she calmly told herself.

"It looks rotten." Commented someone from the balcony.

"It doesn't look the most appealing, I'll have to agree, but then it all comes down to the taste."

Fingers crossed. Gordon Ramsey cut through her cake, and everyone awed at the inner magnificent layers of the cake. The texture and looks from inside, was heavenly, attracting everyone to devour it.

They took bites one by one and without making any comments went to Jack, to taste his piece of cake.

After they were done, they took their time to discuss. Winnie kept praying in silence, she assumed her cake was nice but Jack's was good as well. The bonus point in his favour was, his outer sight of cake was amazing as well. If the taste of his cake is good as well, then he surely defeated her.

The chefs came back and it was now the time to announce who has done their best in this round.

"Both cakes were good.

But there was this particular one that stood out.

Honestly speaking, I, in my life have never tasted a cake like that. That was the most amazing cake with perfect amount of sugar and all other ingredients."

"And the person who prepared the perfect cake is

.

.

.

.

Winnie Smith."

She exhaled out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

Another update😇

Who is enjoying her masterchef journey?

Should Damien leave her alone and let her be with Xander?

Wamien or Wander?

What is going to happened next?

Another thing, whoever is reading my other book 'Saving Snow', I just wanted to let you know that it's on hold. I'll continue it once I'm finished with hpc.

Take care,

Peace ✌🏼