"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?
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."