Chapter 1834

Vivian had read countless novels, and although her family had shielded her from the harshness of the world, she was not blind to its darker realities. It suddenly made sense to her why Zea, though a cousin to Manfred's biological mother, had become his stepmother and treated him so cruelly. It was a reflection of human nature—selfish and merciless. Vivian didn't want to delve further, knowing it would upset Manfred. "Well, the cake is made with eggs, flour, butter, and chocolate…" Vivan began. Though she wasn't an expert in complex baking techniques, she had attended a few classes and knew the basics. Manfred listened, intrigued by the unfamiliar ingredients and methods she described. He realized this cake was something special that only belonged to Vivian's world. A dark gleam flickered in his eyes as the thought crossed his mind. "I also brought you a few books. You mentioned you were interested in medical texts last time, so I thought you might enjoy this one. It has illustra