Ben adds his last finishing touch as the judges start the final countdown. He looks at his cake with a little pout. 

If he survives today with this cake, he will make an advance dish for the next competition. 

"Times up ! Everybody, step back !" 

One of the judges shouts on the mic. 

"Now, it's time for the tasting and evaluation. But before we put marks on your efforts, let me tell you, all of you did an effortless job today.

But only one can be the celebrity chef. So, let me tell you the evaluation process.  

All four of us will taste each one of your cakes and give you marks out of 10. The one with the lowest marks will say goodbye to the show. 

And the one with the highest marks will get this star from us. The old judge pulls out a star shape badge from his inner coat. Whoever will get this star, will receive an added advantage for the next competition. 

Now, there is a twist. We judges have one star badge with us but there is another star badge in our store. So even if you don't get the highest score , you can still receive one star through audience votes. 

Yes ! After we judges taste your cakes, the audience will taste your cakes too and their vote will decide who will get the second star badge."

Ben takes in a sharp breath as the judges start tasting the cakes. The first cake was the rainbow seven flavoured cake. It looked beautiful inside out. 

Ben observes how beautifully the knife goes through the cake. 

"The cake looks wonderful, Charlie but the cake is undercooked." One lady judge points out. 

"When you decided to make seven different layers I was worried about this and I even warned you." Alina gives a tight lip smile. 

"Best of luck." The old man pats on Charlie's shoulder before moving towards another candidate. 

Ben notices how the judges weren't holding back their negative remarks.

Key lime cake ? The flavour is too strong. It tastes bitter.

Red velvet cake ? The eggs aren't mixed properly. It smells bad. 

Pineapple cake ? Pineapples aren't cleaned properly. 

Ben smiles thinly as the judges stand in front of him.

"This doesn't look like a birthday cake. More like a Halloween cake." The old lady stated. 

Alina takes the knife to cut the cake "this looks like , you aren't putting enough effort into this show." 

"Is this your first time baking ?" The old judge asks before tasting one small piece. 

Ben studies their faces as they taste the cake. But everyone had an unreasonable expression on their face. 

"Best of luck !" The last judge smiles before walking towards Juliette's counter. 

Ben bites his lips. He feels the tension rising. He steals a glance at Mr. Scott. 

Will Mr. Scott also think that he isn't putting enough effort ? 

Alan who was standing on the gallery tilts his head as Ben looks at him in a worried face. Throughout the entire competition his eyes didn't leave Ben's counter.

He has seen Ben tasting the cake pieces and even making a small trail cake piece to taste it multiple times. Then What is he worried about ?This kid doesn't have a drop of confidence in himself.

"Time for the score !" 

Ben looks at the front. 

Ben crosses his finger behind his back 'please not less than 24' he whispers. 

Ben lets out a tired breath. At least he is not going home. A smile forms on his lips. He hurriedly looks at Mr. Scott. 

He was about to utter something when a figure stands beside Mr. Scott. 

Ben blinks. Luke ? 

"Heidy, unfortunately your journey ends here and Juliette congratulations for getting the first star of the celebrity chef." 

Ben heard the announcements in his ear but his eyes didn't leave Luke's face. Before Ben could react any further Luke hurriedly walked down the gallery.

The audience also walks down one by one for tasting. Everyone gathers around Juliette's princess cake while Luke walks straight in front of Ben's counter. 

"Having fun , are you ?" Luke almost throws the cake off the counter but Alan catches it in time. 

Luke's blood boils seeing Alan beside him "What are you doing here Mr. Scott? If you have enough free time shouldn't you spend it with your boyfriend? Or are you really into raising a mistress ?" 

"Luke !" Ben almost shouts. 

"What ? Can't digest the truth ?" 

"This is a show. If you are here to taste then taste, if you don't, then leave." Alan replies calmly. 

"Taste ?" Luke mocks "Didn't my boyfriend make this cake especially to seduce you ? Isn't it a celebration cake of your affair ?" 

"Luke, don't cross the line. You can't talk with Mr. Scott like that. He is my boss." Ben warns. 

"Boss ? Yes, yes, your boss. Your boss left his all work to see your stupid cake competition? Not only That your Boss brought his adopted son to the show and surprisingly the son knows you. You are making a chocolate cake which is surprisingly favourite cake of your Boss's son. You are so busy in your Boss's face that you didn't even notice your boyfriend sitting just beside your boss ? You think I am blind ?"

Ben looks around as everyone's eyes fall on him including the judges. He clenches his fist "Luke, not everyone is a cheater like you. You think, everyone is like you but that's not true. Let's break up." 

"Break up ?" Luke laughs out loud "of course, you want to break up now. You got a big shot. You became his mistress and he gave you the show. Why not ?" 

"Mister, you are here to talk bullshit about our show, then you better leave before the security drag you out." Alina stands in front of Luke in full authority. 

"Am I talking bullshit. Everybody" Luke shouts to gather the audience "Do you know how this person in front of you entered this show ? He replaced celebrity Fredrick Thomson position by seducing his boyfriend Alan Scott. This position originally belonged to Fredrick Thomson." 

Gasps and whispers erupt the hall with Luke each word. 

Ben blinks as he feels the judgmental stares on him. He lowers his head. He doesn't know how to defend himself. How to .... 

Luke's burning glare falls on Ben "You  want to break up with me ? Did you forget who was by your side when you were just nobody ? Did you forget all the rents I paid for you ? All the gifts I bought you when you were down ? You swallowed my every effort?" 

Ben tries to open his mouth but no words come out. 

"You used me all these years and now you are throwing me away like trash ?" 

"You are trash !" Juliette walks out of the crowd with a scoff. "You are trash and you are here to trash all his hard work with your stupid insecurities.

There are almost three to four kids who want to eat Ben's cake. So what ? Does that make him the mistress of every kid's father ?" 

Luke glares at Juliette "who are you to ..." 

"I am that everybody you addressed just now, We are here in this show for almost a month. You claim to be his loving boyfriend? Why haven't I seen you once during this month ?" 

"I haven't seen you during the selection either. I sat beside Ben all the time." Charlie joins in. 

"You weren't present in any of his shooting either. Never heard any rumours. If he wants to break up with you then it's because you are a trashy boyfriend, nothing else." 

Alan puts his hands inside his trouser's pocket "Can I ask why Mr. Luke is more worried about Mr. Fredrick Thomson than his boyfriend or now ex. Boyfriend?" 

Luke scoffs at Alan before pointing at Ben "look , you think, he will support you in future ? No, Ben. You are just a side chick. He will never choose someone like you over Fred."

Ben looks directly at Luke this time "I am not here through any backdoor. I am here because that's what Zoom entertainment owes me. This vacant seat was offered to me as the compensation of what happened to me in my previous drama.

And I don't owe you an explanation Luke. You paid my rent ? I paid for your food, your clothing, your medical insurance. We are even and talking about cheating ? Do you think I don't know what you are doing behind my back ? 

You think I didn't notice the expensive perfumes when I entered our apartment after work ? I didn't notice two wine glasses ? I didn't notice the ......" Ben stops to take in a deep breath. 

Luke's face shows a clear confusion. He was about to ask whether Ben was talking about Fred when the cameraman in front of him fell making a huge crash with utensils. 

Alan pulls Ben behind him as a knife suddenly flies above them. Ben clutches on Alan's coat. 

Luke's face turns dark in anger "shamel..."

"ENOUGH !" Alan looks at Luke up and down "Your audacity Amaze me, Mr. Luke Thomas. But don't risk my amazement with my limits." 

Luke glares at Alan. But Alan's cold gaze didn't waver. He scoffs before pointing at Ben "this is not over Benedict ! You can't treat me like trash !" 

Ben sits on a stool tired after Luke leaves the hotel. He doesn't have the power to do anything anymore. He can still feel the judgements and stares at him. The judges are trying hard but the harm is done. 

Nobody gives a damn about the cakes now, it's all about the drama now. He didn't even notice who got the second star batch. He just stood up like a robot when the director said pack up. 

"Uncle !" 

Ben was leaving the hall when he heard a familiar voice. Ben's eyes turn teary. He sniffs a little "Ethan ... Baby , I am sorry. You couldn't eat the cake." 

Ben wipes the corner of his eyes. Even though Mr. Scott saved his face the first time but it fell when the cameraman fell on the ground. 

Ethan signs Ben to match his little height. Ben kneels to Ethan's height. 

Ethan cups Ben's cheeks with his tiny hands. "It's ok. Today isn't Ethan's birthday. Uncle can make me a cake on my birthday. I will wait till then." 

Ben nods with red cheeks "I promise. I will make you a beautiful birthday cake on your birthday." 

Ethan jumps and hugs Ben "uncle, don't cry. I will report to the police about that bad uncle."

Ben chuckles with a sniff "aw , thank you baby." 

Ethan gives Ben a toothy grin "uncle, can I live with you here? What if that bad uncle comes again ? I will fight him." 

Ben laughs out loud this time "oh my, if Ethan fights with him, then he will end up in hospital. Then police will catch Ethan." 

Ethan frowns "huuhhh ! I am not a kid. I know I can't fight with him. But I always have one shadow guard with me. He can fight ." 

Ben widens his eyes "you little ..." He starts tickling Ethan's belly. 

Ethan giggles "haha .. hahaha .." 

"So it's true ?" 

Ben looks up only to find the girl named Briana who made coconut cake standing in front of him. "Excuse me ?" 

Briana looks at Ben and Ethan up and down "I said it's true that you are the mistress!"