26. Checkmate and Cooking Catastrophes: A Night to Remember

Well, after an epic two-hour battle in the kitchen, featuring numerous burns as badges of honor, I proudly presented my culinary masterpiece. Behold, a magnificent creation! A steak, cooked to perfection (by sheer accident, I swear), lounging gracefully next to a generous dollop of mashed potatoes, with a sidekick team of assorted vegetables. I mean, I don't want to brag, but I might just be the next big thing in haute cuisine. I'll take my Michelin star now, thank you very much! Armed with my culinary delight and a bottle of red wine, I ventured towards the basement. In my typical fashion, I knocked on the door and hollered, "Food delivery, brace yourself, Jacob, I'm entering the premises!" With an exaggerated flourish, I slowly creaked open the door and entered the basement. As I swung the door open, I was met with a baffling sight – an empty basement, void of the captive groom. My brain went into overdrive as I pondered the improbable escape. There were no windows down there, for