His Private Chef (by Amycee) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

He tapped a glass gently, drawing attention. Linda stiffened across from him.

“I was saving this,” he began, “but maybe now’s the time.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

My stomach dropped.

“Linda,” he said, steady and heartfelt, “I know this vacation hasn’t

gone the way we

imagined. But through everything, my feelings haven’t changed. I love you. I want a future

with you. Will you marry me?”

The terrace fell silent.

Linda rose slowly.

Then: “No.”

The word landed like a punch.

She held his gaze, her voice soft but unwavering. “I’m sorry. I can’t. Not yet.”

Then she turned and walked away.

Noah sat frozen, the ring still in his hand. The music didn’t resume. The candles still flickered. But something in the air had changed.

And none of us could pretend we hadn’t felt it.

After Linda walked away from the proposal, the dinner continued, but nothing felt the same.

Conversations turned shallow. The laughter was hollow. Even the string quartet played like they were counting the minutes. Eventually, people began to retreat one by one, whispering farewells, clutching half–finished glasses of champagne as if the evening hadn’t cracked in half.

Liam disappeared before most of them.

I didn’t even see when he left, but his absence settled over the terrace like fog. A glance at

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Chapter 53

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the far end of the table confirmed it, his seat was empty. No goodbyes. No confrontation.

Just… gone.

I stayed behind.

Not because I was having the best time, but because leaving meant facing silence and the questions waiting in my head. Tonight, silence was louder than anything.

Kelvin and I nursed a half–drunk bottle of wine on the lounge chairs. The stars blinked above us like they pitied the mess below. We talked about everything and nothing. Melissa’s sparkly gown, Oliver’s tearful speech, Linda’s boldness. Our feet brushed now and then, but neither of us made a thing of it.

I tilted my glass lazily and asked, “You think Noah will be okay?”

Kelvin’s fingers tapped rhythmically against his bottle. “Yeah. He’ll be fine. They both will. Might take time, but they’ll figure it out.”

I nodded slowly. “You always sound so sure.”

He grinned. “That’s because I usually am.

“1

”

I laughed. And for a few minutes, I forgot about Liam. About the heat in his eyes. About how he made everything feel too big, too intense.

Then Kelvin shifted, looking more serious. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

I glanced at him. “Oh no. Should I be worried?”

He leaned in slightly. “I’m moving back to the States.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Seriously?”

“Yep. Moving back for good.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Welcome back, then. But please don’t bring your troubles with you.”

He smirked. “Oh, I’m bringing trouble. In fact… I’m coming to woo you.”

I blinked, thrown off guard, completely speechless

Maybe it was the wine. Or how he casually said it, not joking. Maybe it was the ache in my

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Chapter 53

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chest from being ignored all night by Liam. Maybe I just wanted to feel wanted.

Whatever it was, Kelvin leaned in… and kissed me.

His lips were warm, steady. He smelled like expensive cologne and good decisions.

But nothing in me stirred.

No sparks. No butterflies. No internal chaos. My heart didn’t skip. My fingers didn’t tingle. Instead, I felt… blank. Like I was trying to pretend a melody existed when the room was quiet.

All I could think of was how different it felt from Liam. How Liam’s kiss had left me dizzy, breathless, like I’d been standing too close to fire. And this? This felt like warm water on a closed tap. Gentle. Predictable. Safe.

Too safe.

I pulled away gently, placing my hand on his chest.

“Kelvin… no,” I said quietly.

He didn’t argue. Just looked at me, like he already knew.

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