THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 364: Sounding Like A Cuckolded Fool

Women are sure too easy to please. Just give them something they desperately need and the case is settled.

Seeing the way George was smiling like a Cheshire Cat while gazing at his phone, then suddenly typing with gusto still with that same smile, Killian’s brow furrowed in a frown.

"Hey, what’s with the smile?" he asked.

"Mission accomplished!" George responded proudly after putting his phone aside.

"You mean... that soon?"

"Mm-hmm. Are you too impressed with my skills?"

"Tsk! What’s there to be impressed about? It’s only my foolish sister that can be easily deceived by you?"

"Whatever, I still get to get back in her good books unlike you who have never made it into a page of her good book."

"How is that counted as an achievement?" Killian smirked.

"Stop talking. The competition is about to start and the voting website is about to be opened," George said but suddenly Lu remembered something.

"Have you seen that spineless fiancée of hers anywhere?"

After thinking for a while, Killian said. "Yeah, I saw him arrive with his family some minutes ago. They seemed to be headed to the left wing of the auditorium."

"He still has some self-awareness. I thought he would be bent over a woman’s body peering into their intestine and find the perfect excuse not to show up," George said in disdain.

"Are you jealous?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Why should I? He’s not worth an ounce of my emotion, not even my anger."

"But you sounded like a cuckolded fool just now," Killian teased but his face remained expressionless.

"You’re free to think whatever you want. My love for Lauren is pure."

"Agreed. Now focus." This time it was Killian who reminded George to pay attention to the reason why they were there.

George looked up to see the host, a charismatic figure with pot belly tap on the microphone twice with his chilibby hand.

As his gaze swept over the crowd, his excitement was palpable.

"Good morning, coffee lovers!" he greeted, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for – the grand finale of our annual coffee competition! We have three incredible teams left, each one bringing their unique flair and extraordinary talent. Let’s give them a warm welcome!"

"First up, we have Silk and Steam, led by the meticulous Marco!" the host announced, pointing to the screen where Marco and his team were shown in action.

This team is known for their innovative approaches and dedication to excellence.

And who could forget day 2, when their intricate latte art left us all in awe, earning them a standing ovation?

Remember their signature blend, ’Velvet Sunrise’? It’s been a favorite for its smooth texture and rich, layered flavors. Truly a team of elegance and precision."

"Next, we have the rising stars of the competition – Empress Brew, led by the talented Lauren Holmes!" the host continued, as the screen switched to show Lauren and her team. "Despite being newcomers, they’ve captured our hearts.

"These guys are known for their sophisticated techniques and luxurious blends.

Who could forget day 2 when they earned a perfect score from the judges? Their blend, which was the game changer for them stunned the judges with its unique balance of floral and fruity notes. Even the renowned Mr Khan couldn’t recover from the mesmerizing taste of that special blend and since then have been soaring like a bird.

Truly a remarkable journey for such a new team."

"And last but certainly not least, we have Café Solstice, led by the strategic Ms Peggy Carter!" the host’s voice grew louder with enthusiasm.

"Ms. Carter and her team are our reigning champions, having won back-to-back titles in the last two years. Their blend, ’Eclipse Noir,’ is a masterpiece of depth and complexity, reflecting their unmatched expertise."

"On the first day, they set the bar high as the came up as the highest scorer in the quiz, and by Day 4, their flawless execution of a complex brewing challenge reaffirmed why they’re the team to beat. Can they make it three in a row?"

The profiles of each team had ignited excitement in the air causing the crowd to erupt in applause and the host beamed as he looked around at the enthusiastic faces.

"Now, as you all know, it’s time for you to play your part. The voting platform is officially open!" he declared, gesturing to the large screens displaying the voting details.

"Coffee enthusiasts from around the world, it’s time to cast your votes for your favorite team. Will it be Silk and Steam, Empress Brew, or Café Solstice? The power is in your hands!"

The tension was palpable as each team gathered backstage, nerves and excitement mingling in equal measure. Marco, Lauren, and Peggy exchanged glances, each reflecting on their journey and what it meant to be here on the final day.

"Remember, every vote counts," the host reminded the crowd. "These teams have poured their heart and soul into this competition. Let’s honor their hard work by giving them the recognition they deserve.

This of course will be going on concurrently with the final lap of this competition which is the bean to cup challenge!

Each team will showcase the complete coffee-making process from raw beans to the final cup. Each team is expected to have personally sourced for their ingredients to create an unforgettable blend."

"So ladies and gentlemen, let the voting begin!"

As the voting began, the last completion for the day also started.

For the final competition, it was the bean to cup challenge where they were expected to personally source for

Each team busily set to work, the atmosphere thick with concentration and tension.

Lauren went to the cupboard where their ingredients had been kept the previous day to get their ingredients alongside the other teams.

Then proceeded to roast the beans, however during the initial roasting phase, she noticed something was off.

"These beans... they’re wrong," Lauren said, frowning as she tasted the first brew. She called her team together, her voice calm but firm. "Something’s wrong with these beans."

Her assistant, Horatio, looked puzzled. "But these are the Yemeni beans we stored, right?"

Lauren shook her head. "No, these are not our beans. Someone must have tampered with them."

Everyone had one person in mind but the time today was quite short to start complaining.

Lauren’s mind raced. "No one should panic. We have a backup batch of our Ethiopian beans. They’re not what we planned, but we can make it work. But most importantly, pretend that nothing was wrong and continue with other things while I get the Ethiopian beans.

She hurried back to the store but on her way, she bumped into a man who used the opportunity to slip something into her hand. Lauren wanted to drop the thing but she had a gut feeling not to.

"I’m sorry," the man mumbled naturally before slipping away as if the encounter never occurred.

Lauren gave a subtle nod to no one in particular as she wondered what the man’s had squeezed into her hand

She hurried over to the store to see what it was the man had given her.

At the store, she opened her palm and saw that it was a note.