Chapter 706
Chapter 706:
He continued, “Therefore, I need both an opportunity to expand my influence and a representative of the victims to let the other victims know they still have a chance to reclaim the fruits of their labor. This culinary competition and you, a victim nearly driven to bankruptcy by the Crawford family, are both essential to my plan.”
Malcom’s heart skipped a beat as he listened to Ashton’s heroic words.
Reason told him that Ashton’s plans seemed unrealistic. They were even a bit childish.
But for the first time in a long while, a spark of hope flickered in his heart. He had been consumed by despair, but Ashton’s words reignited something in him.
He thought for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and said resolutely, “Alright. Anyway, I have nothing to lose now. In this case, I might as well take a leap of faith and trust you once more.”
The following day, Malcom made a high-profile announcement. His Golden Restaurant was merging with Skyline Group and would reopen under a new name—Skyline Restaurant.
But that wasn’t all. Malcom also declared his entry into the upcoming culinary competition, with Ashton as the head chef and himself as the assistant. Together, they aimed to restore the restaurant to its former glory.
Golden Restaurant had once been the pride of Staville’s catering scene, so the announcement sparked immediate chatter.
However, most of it was less than kind.
Malcom’s reputation in the culinary world was no secret—his cooking skills were infamous, even to those who hadn’t tasted his dishes. The decline of Golden Restaurant was a story everyone knew all too well. To many, this competition seemed like Malcom’s desperate attempt to save his restaurant from ruin. Critics were quick to judge his decision as a disastrous misstep.
The Skyline Group’s rivalry with the Pavilion Foods Group was widely recognized, and going up against Staville’s dominant catering force was seen as a reckless move—one akin to digging his own grave.
News of this development quickly reached Stephen, the head of the Crawford family, via Marc.
Latest releases on g@ℓησv𝑒ℓs․com
After hearing Marc’s report, Stephen’s eyes sparkled with mockery. “I sent Morris with you to acquire Golden Restaurant, and yet you didn’t close the deal. So this is your grand plan? Your handling of the matter worked out well. That sinking restaurant is practically bankrupt, so it doesn’t matter whether we own it or not. Besides, the winner of this culinary competition has already been decided. If Ashton is foolish enough to think this stunt will elevate their group’s reputation, let him. We’ll turn him into the laughingstock of Staville’s catering industry.”
Marc nodded, flashing a sycophantic smile. “It’s all thanks to your guidance, Uncle Stephen. I’m just learning from the best!”
Deep down, Marc was seething. He hadn’t forgotten the humiliation Ashton had caused him, and he was determined to make Ashton pay for it.
Two days later, the much-anticipated Staville Culinary Competition finally arrived.
The event was held in Staville’s largest square, an open-air venue perfect for hosting over a hundred participating restaurants. The buzz around the competition had drawn a massive crowd, filling the square with lively chatter and eager anticipation.
.
.
.