But if Leonard refused toply, there was nothing she could do about it.


    Admittedly, when Leonard offered her thirty percent of thepany''s shares, she had been tempted for a fleeting moment. But once she came to her senses, Ste didn''t believe he would part with something so valuable that easily.


    It wasn''t three percent; it was thirty percent. Obtaining those shares meant gaining control of the Lerman family''s most vital asset.


    He had been in love with Aurora for so many years, yet he had only given her three percent. Was it really possible he''d give Ste thirty percent just for spending three months with him? Unlikely.


    She had to find a way to escape. Though the ind seemed to have no exits, there had to be a way out she hadn''t discovered yet. In the meantime, she needed to maintain a delicate bnce in her rtionship with Leonard.


    ***


    The next day, when Leonard came downstairs, he was about to ask a servant if Ste was awake when he saw a slender figure emerging from the kitchen carrying a bowl of hot soup.


    Ste paused when she saw him. Then, she spoke. "I don''t know what you like for breakfast, so I just made a few simple things. You can write down a list of your preferencester, and I''ll try to make what you like in the future."


    Leonard had brought her here for a reason. Ste knew she had to y along, at least within eptable limits. Otherwise, his so-called interest in her might shift to something more physical.


    "Make whatever you like or whatever you''re good at," Leonard said. "I''m not a picky eater."


    Ste ced the soup on the dining table. "Okay. In that case, just tell me if there''s anything you don''t eat."


    Leonard listed a few things, and after Ste memorized them, she said, "Breakfast is ready."


    They went to the table. Leonard was about to sit down but noticed her standing motionless. "Why aren''t you sitting?" he asked.


    Ste hesitated for a moment before pulling out a chair and sitting opposite him.


    Leonard nced at her. "I don''t need another servant," he said coolly. "You''re not here to be one."


    Ste understood his meaning. "I know."


    With that, they ate in silence.


    Leonard wasn''t a talkative person, nor was he skilled at making small


    talk. Ste had no desire to speak with him, eithe


    making the real


    exceptionally quiet.


    Despite the silence, Leonard felt a sense of contentment. He could finally taste Ste''s cooking. No wonder Joshua always praised it so highly. Even a simple breakfast was prepared to perfection He''d had the Same ordinary dishes before; even Aurora''s cooking had been unremarkable, nothing special. Yet, as he ate the breakfast Ste had made, he savored every bite.


    When his bowl was empty, he found himself wanting more. It tasted better than any gourmet meal he''d ever had.


    "This is delicious," Leonard said. "You cook better than a professional chef."


    Ste quietly nced at the food on the table. The oatmeal was just instant oats mixed with milk. The toast was just toasted slices, not bread she''d baked herself. Only the eggs and bacon were cooked by her, but that required no special skill. There was nothing special about it at all. While she hadn''t put much effort into it, she hadn''t deliberately made it taste bad, either. It was just average. After all, Leonard wasn''t an idiot, and there was no need to provoke him over a single meal.