Chapter 716
Chapter 716:
Esteban’s jaw tightened as he glared at Jeremiah. “Didn’t you say you’d dock 5 points from their score at the start? So, how did they end up with 93 points? Are you telling me their dishes could have scored 98?”
Jeremiah sighed, shaking his head. “No, Esteban. What I said was that we’d deduct 5 points from their total score. To clarify, the highest score your dishes could receive was 100. Meanwhile, Skyline Restaurant’s dishes, even if flawless, were capped at 95 due to the penalty. Although these three dishes had minor flaws, they were still exceptional enough to deserve high marks. Initially, we were concerned their scores might surpass yours, which could lead to disagreements. However, after thorough deliberation, we unanimously agreed that, in this round, Malcom’s performance was superior. They earned their spot in the semi-finals.”
With a wave of his hand, Jeremiah revealed the score breakdown from each judge. “If you’re still not satisfied, feel free to taste these dishes yourself and assess them using the same criteria. If you still think it’s unfair, there’s nothing more we can say.”
The Figueroa brothers exchanged skeptical glances with each other before stepping forward. Driven by both doubt and curiosity, the three of them began inspecting Malcom’s dishes.
As they studied the plates, recognition flickered in their eyes. These weren’t just any dishes—they were signature creations from Golden Restaurant. The three brothers had made them countless times. Their intricate preparation alone was enough to warrant a higher base score than the simpler dishes they’d presented. Then came the tasting. One bite was enough to silence their doubts.
“Unbelievable,” Brewster murmured, glancing at his companions. While the seasoning wasn’t flawless, the overall taste was stunningly refined. It was exactly as Jeremiah had said. A score of 93 wasn’t just fair—it was well-earned.
The three men stood motionless, their earlier bravado melting into quiet humiliation. Any argument they might have had dissolved in the face of the truth.
Gasps rippled through the venue as those watching realized even the three men couldn’t deny the outcome. Ashton, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward with a wry smile. “So, I take it you’ve come to terms with the result? After all, you’re familiar with these dishes. You’ve made them yourselves. If you’d put in the effort to recreate them here, it would’ve been impossible for Malcom to beat you. But instead, you chose to present simple dishes, thinking you’d humiliate Malcom. And now, look where it got you—embarrassing yourselves in the process. Tell me, were you ever truly trying to win?”
C0ntinue r3@ding at g𝒶lnovels.𝓬𝗼𝗺
Ashton’s words carried an air of instruction, but to the three Figueroas, they cut like sharp mockery.
Had they truly given their all, as Ashton suggested, even if Malcom had outdone himself today, he might not have secured his victory. Yet, the truth stood firm—they had lost.
The trio’s faces burned with shame before turning a deep, stormy hue. Covington, the eldest among them, refused to accept the outcome. He straightened his back, his voice trembling with indignation. “Why are you acting so smugly? We were simply caught off guard. Mr. Ashton, I insist on a rematch. This time, we’ll leave no room for defeat!”
From the crowd, Marc’s voice boomed in agreement. “Absolutely! Give them another chance. There’s no way the Figueroa brothers should lose to someone as mediocre as Malcom!”
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