Liza glanced around the banquet hall and didn’t see any sign of Gavin. Remembering what the manager had said about Gavin heading toward the Reed Family’s area, she let out a cold snort. So the Reed Family had sent Sophia away and even instructed the guests not to gossip. Yet Gavin, that shameless man, was still planning to work with them? The thought annoyed her to no end. Her mind flashed back to Gavin’s stern warning earlier in the car, and her irritation surged again. With a swift motion, she pulled out her phone, found his number, and blocked it. “That darn man!” she muttered under her breath, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as she tucked her phone back into her bag. Just as she was about to leave, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, catching her attention. She paused, sniffing instinctively. The smell was rich and mouthwatering—it was steak, and it smelled divine.The manager noticed her reaction and immediately stepped forward with a knowing smile. “Miss, that’s the aroma of our world-class Wellington steak. If you’re not in a hurry to leave, would you like to try some? It’s one of our specialties.” Liza’s stomach betrayed her with a faint rumble, and she gulped. She hadn’t had steak in years—ten, to be exact. Since her taste buds had stopped working properly, she’d been deprived of such delicacies. Now the tantalizing scent made her heart ache with longing. But the thought of tasting it brought a different problem to mind. If she wanted to taste anything again, it would require kissing Gavin. Her face darkened at the memory. “No need,” she said firmly, waving off the manager. The idea of reaching out to Gavin after just blocking his number was too mortifying to consider. Besides, she wasn’t about to swallow her pride just for a taste of steak. The manager, sensing her resolve, didn’t press further and politely escorted her toward the exit. But before they reached the door, a young man approached. He was well-dressed and carried himself with a quiet confidence. When he saw the manager, he greeted him politely. The manager’s eyes lit up with recognition and delight. “Miss,” the manager said with enthusiasm, “allow me to introduce Mr. Han. He’s the apprentice of the renowned international chef, Mr. Wilson. It’s rare for him to make appearances, let alone cook for someone personally. But he’s just informed me that he’s willing to prepare a feast for you—for free.” Liza blinked, surprised. The manager leaned in conspiratorially, adding, “This is a rare opportunity, Miss, Mr.Han doesn’t usually offer special treatment to anyone. You shouldn’t let this chance slip by.” Liza hesitated, her gaze shifting to Han. She had, of course, heard of Mr. Wilson, a world-famous chef. If this man was his apprentice, then Han’s culinary skills must be extraordinary. Having a feast prepared by someone like him was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But then her thoughts circled back to her frustrating predicament. What was the point? She couldn’t taste anything anyway! Liza stared at the tempting spread before her, feeling a pang of frustration. No matter how exquisite or delicious Jiang Han’s cooking might be, it was all meaningless to her. Without the ability to taste, she could never fully appreciate the dishes. She wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all but could only swallow her disappointment and refuse the offer. For someone like her, with non-functional taste buds, it was better not to waste the time and effort of a talented chef or let such exquisite food go to waste. Han, however, seemed taken aback by her refusal. He hadn’t expected someone to turn him down, especially after he had volunteered to cook. Determined not to give up, he persisted, borrowing the kitchen to prepare a meal for her. Left with no choice, Liza reluctantly followed him. Before long, the meal was ready—a feast fit for royalty, prepared with the skill and artistry of a Michelin-level chef. The enticing aroma wafted through the air, drawing envious glances from those nearby. Jiang Han, too, watched her expectantly, awaiting her reaction. Liza could only stare at the dishes, her mind racing. The manager, sensing her hesitation, gently suggested, “Miss, if you’re not feeling hungry now, you can always take these dishes home. I’m sure Mr. Han wouldn’t mind. Perhaps you could provide him with feedback later after trying them.” Her eyes lit up at the suggestion. Taking the dishes home would be the perfect solution. It would allow her to avoid the awkwardness of explaining her condition and still enjoy the food later. She swallowed hard, nodded, and quickly arranged for the dishes to be packed. Carrying the carefully wrapped meals, she called for a car to head home. Sitting in the backseat, Liza sighed and berated herself inwardly. Was she really about to reconcile with that scoundrel Gavin over a few dishes? The thought made her feel utterly spineless. But as her gaze fell on the delectable feast in her arms, she decided that maintaining her pride was overrated. Once her taste buds recovered, she vowed, she would sever ties with Gavin and never look back! When she arrived home, the butler greeted her warmly and took the packages from her hands. “Madam, welcome back. Mr Gavin is still at the company dealing with some matters. Would you like to have dinner now, or wait for him?” Liza smiled politely. “I’ll wait for him to return.” Learning that Gavin was tied up with work gave her a sense of relief. If he was busy at the office, he wouldn’t have time to call her. And if he didn’t call her, he wouldn’t realize that she had blocked his number earlier. Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as she quickly unblocked his number. Pretending as though nothing had happened, she settled onto the sofa, waiting for Gavin to return. Meanwhile, at the Stone Corporation an hour earlier, Gavin was growing increasingly agitated. He had tried calling Liza again, but for the umpteenth time, he was met with the same frustrating response: she was on another call. His frown deepened as he stared at his phone. Who could Liza be talking to for such a long time? Even if it was an important matter, surely it didn’t require this much conversation. After multiple failed attempts to reach her, Gavin finally snapped, slamming his phone onto the desk in frustration. “Why is it that whenever I call her, she’s always on the phone? Do women have to talk endlessly like this?” he demanded, his tone laced with irritation. His employees wisely avoided his gaze, sensing that now was not the time to offer unsolicited advice.