"This way, please." Julio led Elaine further into the residence. Elaine’s expression remained indifferent for the most part, but the moment she turned to face Tyson, she transformed into a picture of gentle devotion. "Tyson, you haven't eaten tonight, have you? Why don't you go rest for a bit? I'll head into the kitchen and whip something up for you." She looked every bit the devoted wife. Before Julio could speak, Tyson cut in coldly. "The kitchen has already prepared dinner. There’s no need for you to bother." Tyson’s daily life was governed by a rigid, predictable routine. Normally, dinner was expected to be ready the moment he walked through the door. If he had a prior engagement, his assistant would notify the kitchen staff to cancel the meal. Because he had returned early after accompanying Elaine to her fitting, the kitchen hadn't started yet. Seeing this opportunity, Elaine immediately volunteered to take charge. The head chef was stunned to see her enter the kitchen, but since Tyson hadn't forbidden it, he had no choice but to step aside and let the future mistress of the house take the reins. Years ago, in a desperate bid to catch Nolan's eye, Elaine had gone out of her way to master several culinary styles. She never imagined that those skills, learned for another man, would be put to use today. Before long, several exquisite dishes were set upon the dining table. Tyson was actually surprised that a pampered socialite like Elaine possessed genuine cooking skills. Julio was equally taken aback. Elaine looked at Tyson with an expression full of anticipation. "I’m going to work hard to be a good wife. I hope you’ll notice the effort I’m putting in." Tyson remained expressionless as he took a bite. Although Julio felt that Elaine was acting uncharacteristically strange today, he remained silent, waiting for his boss to speak first. "Starting tomorrow, Ms. Lynn will be responsible for preparing all meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner." Tyson took only a single, shallow bite before dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin. His voice was flat and devoid of emotion. "Since she wants to be a qualified wife so badly, she can start with the most basic chores. Cooking seems like a fitting place to begin." With that, he stood up and headed upstairs without another word.He left Elaine standing there alone, her face frozen in a mask of rigid frustration. Julio followed Tyson upstairs immediately. Elaine could feel the surrounding servants watching her, their eyes filled with silent mockery. Tyson had clearly been trying to make things difficult for her. She had intended to put on a show of being a virtuous, traditional wife to win him over, but Tyson didn't buy into that sentimentality. Instead, he had turned it against her, treating her like a common servant. However, it didn't matter. Since he had given her control over the kitchen, this was actually an opportunity. Elaine walked back into the kitchen. When the head chef saw her, he bowed respectfully. "Ms. Lynn." "What are Tyson's favorite dishes? List them out for me, along with the detailed recipes and preparation steps." The chef didn't dare refuse, quickly presenting her with Tyson's preferences and the corresponding instructions. "Are there other chefs in this kitchen?" "Three assistants, ma'am." The chef, unaware of the tension upstairs, introduced his staff with professional pride. "You're all on long-term leave starting tomorrow," Elaine announced coolly. "I will be handling Mr. Hayes’s meals personally from now on. You can all pack your things and go home." The head chef felt as if the sky was falling. He had missed preparing just one meal, and now his lucrative position was gone? Working in Tyson’s private residence was a coveted post, and they were loath to lose it. "If you would just let us stay to assist you with the prep work..." "No." Elaine’s eyes landed on a young, junior cook in the corner. She pointed at him. "This one stays to help me. Everyone else is out." The young cook began stammering out his thanks, while the rest of the staff were forced to leave the estate. Elaine walked up to the young man. She had noticed him the moment she arrived; he was timid and looked relatively young—but more importantly, he looked fearful and easy to control. "Can you cook?"Faced with her sharp inquiry, the young cook nodded frantically. "Good. Starting tomorrow, you will be the one preparing every single dish on this menu." She slapped the list of recipes down in front of him. She only needed to maintain the appearance of being a dutiful wife for Tyson. Did he really think she was going to spend her days slaving away over a hot stove for him? Not in his wildest dreams.