Aurora searched her phone for soup recipes-simple tutorials with little technical skill required. For someone like her, it was hardly a challenge. She couldn''t understand why Leonard wanted her to cook. She thought a man with his mindset would find such domestic actsughable and beneath him.


    What was the point? It was a waste of time, the food would never be as good as a professional chef''s, and she could easily burn herself. Weren''t there more meaningful things to do with her time?


    Or was this just his way of punishing her?


    Still, for the sake of her goals, Aurora, who could master any skill she set her mind


    to, diligently studied the recipe. Half an hourter, she brought out a bowl of freshly made soup.


    "Leonard," she said gently, "this is my first time making soup. It might not be very good, so please don''t mind."


    Leonard looked at the steaming bowl. "Thank you for the effort."


    He picked up the spoon and took a taste. It was ordinary-not bad, but certainly not delicious. Aurora had always been this way: she might not choose to do something, but once she did, she did it to the best of her ability.


    Leonard had wanted to see if food made by the woman he admired really tasted as special as people imed. But after one bite, he felt nothing. It wasn''t as good as he''d imagined. It wasn''t even as good as the food made by his private chef.


    He wondered if Ste''s cooking was truly exceptional, to have captivated Joshua sopletely.


    Seeing Leonard eat without any sign of pleasure, Aurora grew even more puzzled. This was the first time she had ever cooked for anyone. Why didn''t he seem happy at all?


    After eating about half, Leonard lost his appetite.


    He set the spoon down and asked, feigning ignorance, "So, Aurora, what brings you here today?"


    Aurora smiled. "I painted something recently and wanted to get your opinion."


    ???


    She took a canvas from her tote bag. Although Leonard revered Aurora as a goddess and would spend exorbitant amounts on her work


    auctions, he never disyed her paintings in his personalo coffection. His appreciation for art was pure; he had his own tastes. Everyone had their own style, and even if it was Aurora''s, he simply didn''t like it.


    vel


    He had been drawn to Summer''s art because it was always brimming with raw emotion and a certain spiritual energy that made each piece feel breathtakingly alive. Aurora''s work was technically skilled, but it wasn''t a style that moved him. However, their shared hobby gave themmon ground.


    Style that


    He unrolled the canvas to reveal a painting of a snow-covered mountain. Aurora seemed to know which style suited her best, nearly all her works were rendered in cool tones.


    As they discussed art, Leonard''s attitude toward her softened slightly. Eventually,


    Aurora gifted him the painting. As she was leaving, she hesitated.


    "Leonard, about my brother''s scandal... how did that story get out? Did it somehow bypass your media channels?"


    "Yes," Leonard replied. "It seems Ste was worried I''d intercept it, so she deliberately used outlets I don''t control."


    A flicker of something passed through Aurora''s eyes. "Ste? So it really was her?"