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"A Culinary Romance" is a heartfelt tale of Li Yan's journey, ignited by her late grandmother's cherished memoir book, "The Taste of Love." Within its pages lie not only Italian culinary treasures but also memories of her grandmother's early days, including her love for an Italian gentleman and her deep connection to Italian cuisine, forming the very essence of "A Culinary Romance." As Li Yan faces familial pressures and personal trials, the book becomes a guide, offering not just recipes but a glimpse into her grandmother's past and the enduring power of love. Through cooking these dishes, Li Yan not only honors her grandmother's memory but also discovers her own path to fulfillment and success, guided by the flavors of love passed down through generations.
The piercing sound of knocking shattered the fragile veil of Li Yan's fitful sleep. Groaning, she buried her face deeper into her pillow, trying to escape the relentless intrusion. But her stepmother's voice, sharp and unforgiving, cut through the haze of exhaustion.
"Li Yan! Get up, lazy girl! You need to make breakfast, we don't have all day!"
Li Yan's heart sank as she reluctantly dragged herself out of bed, her mind already heavy with the weight of her stepmother's scorn. With a resigned sigh, she stumbled towards the door, bracing herself for the inevitable barrage of insults.
Opening the door, Li Yan was met with her stepmother's steely gaze, her lips curled in disdain. "About time you woke up, useless freeloader. Don't think you can laze around all day while we work to support you!"
Li Yan swallowed the bitter retort that rose in her throat, opting instead for silence as she shuffled past her stepmother and into the cramped kitchen. The air hung heavy with tension, suffocating any semblance of peace or warmth.
As she clumsily prepared breakfast, her stepmother's voice continued to echo in her ears, each word another dagger to her already wounded spirit.
"You should be grateful we even let you stay here. If it weren't for your father's pension, we'd have no use for you at all. And don't even think about chasing after those silly dreams of yours. A chef, ha! You'll never amount to anything more than a burden."
Li Yan bit her lip, fighting back tears as she poured all her frustration and anguish into the sizzling pan before her. She dared not speak, knowing any words she uttered would only be met with scorn and ridicule.
Li Yan's steps faltered as her stepmother's relentless tirade echoed in the cramped kitchen. The sharp words cut through the morning haze, stinging like a slap to the face.
"When will you move out? You're an extra mouth to feed! Did I not do my part to raise you when you were a minor? Now you're an adult and still, you will not give me peace!"
The weight of her stepmother's accusation hung heavy in the air, suffocating Li Yan with guilt and shame. She clenched her fists, willing herself to remain composed despite the torrent of emotions swirling within her.
"I'm trying, okay?" Li Yan finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with determination. "I'm doing my best to find a job and figure things out."
But her stepmother's scoff pierced through her feeble attempt at defense. "Your best? Ha! Your best isn't good enough. You've been mooching off us for far too long. It's time you started pulling your own weight."
Li Yan's jaw tensed, a silent battle raging within her. She longed to scream, to unleash the pent-up frustration and anger that threatened to consume her. But she held her tongue, knowing that any protest would fall on deaf ears.
Instead, she turned her attention back to the task at hand, her movements mechanical as she continued to prepare breakfast. Each chop of the knife, each stir of the spoon, became a silent act of defiance-a declaration that she would not be crushed by the weight of her stepmother's scorn.
As the aroma of food filled the air, a faint glimmer of hope stirred within Li Yan's heart. Despite the darkness that surrounded her, she clung to the belief that one day, she would break free from the shackles of her circumstances and forge her own path forward.
Li Yan's stepmother, Mrs. Zhang, relentless in her morning diatribe, finally stirred Li Yan's father, Mr. Chen, from his slumber. With a gruff bass voice, he emerged from his bedroom, rubbing his eyes in irritation.
"Alright, that's enough, Ming," he muttered, addressing his wife by her given name. "How long will you keep yelling? You're disturbing the entire floor with this. Let her be."
Mr. Chen settled at the dining table with a heavy thud, casting a tired glance at Li Yan. "Li Yan, bring me my coffee," he grumbled, his morning ritual disrupted.
But Li Yan, as usual, had other plans. With a gentle smile, she placed a steaming cup of herbal tea before her father. "Dad, you know your blood pressure is too high. You cannot drink coffee now."
Mr. Chen sighed, resigned to his daughter's stubbornness but grateful for her concern. He took the cup in his hands, nodding in acknowledgment. In that simple exchange, amidst the chaos of their dingy kitchen, there was a flicker of understanding.
Mrs. Zhang huffed as she settled down to eat the simple but delicious Italian-inspired breakfast that Li Yan had hurriedly prepared. Though inwardly impressed by Li Yan's cooking prowess, she maintained her stoic facade, refusing to give her stepdaughter the satisfaction of praise.
As she savored each bite, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but marvel at the flavors dancing on her palate-hints of basil, garlic, and tomatoes mingling together in perfect harmony. Despite herself, she found herself yearning for more, yet stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the culinary talent before her.
Instead, she focused on the clatter of utensils and the rhythmic sounds of chewing, doing her best to ignore the undeniable truth-that Li Yan's cooking surpassed her own by leagues. And as the meal came to an end, Mrs. Zhang pushed aside her empty plate, her pride warring with her taste buds, a silent testament to the complexity of their relationship.
Anna Maria returns home to discover her husband and best friend in bed. When she attempts to confront her best friend about the betrayal, her husband defends the mistress, despite Anna Maria being the one who financially supports him. In an effort to escape her sorrow, she heads to a bar and, in her inebriated state, spends the night with the enigmatic billionaire Alejandro King, mistaking him for a gigolo. Astonishingly, after their encounter, Mr. King insists that Anna Maria take responsibility for him. What will Happen Next?
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Eliana was framed by her best friend and her fiance into sleeping with a boy toy in the club and getting impregnated by him. Five years after she had given birth to twins, she returned home and worked under the Moran Group, where she met the CEO-- Maurice. Maurice was a brilliant businessman who did his job well. But in order to stay under the radar, he lived a double life. One as Maurice, and one as Preston. Fate brought the two together again, roping them in on an exciting love story. It all became more complicated when Eliana faced Preston, the man she had slept with before, once again. Now that she was being pursued by two men, how could she ever choose? When would Eliana uncover the secret of Maurice's identity? When was Maurice going to know that he already had two children of his own? How would Eliana face this man when the truth came to light one day? Come and find out.