Chapter 11

Melanie didn't put in much effort while cooking. She aimed to make the dishes taste bad so that she wouldn't be expected to cook again in the future. She didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen after this. Her goal was to settle in at the Grayson residence first, then look for a job. If she ended up doing all the cooking, cleaning, and childcare, she wouldn't have a single moment to spare, let alone time to find work. Her thoughts drifted back to what Edward had told her earlier—use less oil and salt. That advice seemed odd because she had noticed that the Grayson family didn't have particularly bland tastes. So why would he suggest that? Soon, the answer became clear to her. As she realized his intentions, she couldn't help but smile. While she was lost in thought, the food burned a little before she hurriedly stirred it and plated it. The Graysons were already seated at the table, waiting. Sophie was bored out of her mind and figured that Melanie would pull out all the stops to impress with her cooking since, in her opinion, that was the only valuable skill Melanie could bring to the table. But when Melanie finally served the dishes, the Graysons fell into a stunned silence. What was this mess? The food looked so unappetizing, it was almost comical. She wondered if everyone from the countryside cooked this miserably. Felicia also eyed the dishes with a smirk. She thought Melanie had nothing going for her except her looks. If Melanie couldn't even cook, how was she going to survive in this family? Sophie was equally shocked. She had been certain Melanie would try to showcase her cooking skills, but she was left speechless now. After sitting down, Melanie wore an apologetic expression as she looked at Luca and Sapphire. "Sapphire, Luca, I'm really sorry. I grew up in the countryside, and we never had much nice food—mostly potatoes and cabbage. Cooking meat was always tricky for me. I did my best, though." She appeared genuinely anxious, as if she were on the verge of tears. Seeing her so distressed, Luca and Sapphire quickly reassured her. "It's okay! You did your best, and that's what matters. Let's eat," Sapphire said kindly. Melanie smiled in gratitude, uttering a few more polite words before finally starting to eat. Sitting next to her, Edward lowered his head, barely suppressing a grin. He knew she was smart, but this was next-level. All he had suggested was that she use less oil and salt, and she had managed to make the meal nearly inedible. She had ensured she wouldn't be asked to cook again anytime soon. As soon as everyone started eating, their expressions revealed the truth. It wasn't just the food's lackluster appearance—it was flavorless and oily in all the wrong ways. The older members of the Grayson family were polite enough to keep eating, albeit slowly, but Sophie couldn't hold back. She spat out her food, exclaiming, "What is this? Even pigs wouldn't eat this! Unbelievable!" Her outburst made things even more awkward. Felicia tried to calm things down. "Sophie, don't say that. She tried her best." Sophie muttered while clinging to Felicia's arm, "Felicia, you cook the best." Hearing this, Felicia felt smug, but she maintained her humble facade. Melanie remained composed, though. She didn't mind being mocked now, as they would soon realize she was the smart one. Felicia would be the one feeling miserable for having to cook every day. "Alright, Sophie, that's enough," Sapphire interjected. "Melanie tried her best, and that's what matters. Let's just eat." And so, the Grayson family choked down their meal, looking pained the entire time. When dinner ended, Melanie didn't offer to wash the dishes. She had already cooked the meal, so why should she be expected to clean up too? Instead, she scooped up Nellie and headed to her room. Edward, still amused by the whole situation, followed shortly after. As soon as Melanie left the table, Sapphire couldn't help but speak up. "Mel's cooking really isn't up to scratch. We can't let her cook again. It's a waste of good ingredients." Hearing this, Felicia felt triumphant. Melanie had sealed her fate in the family's eyes as little more than a pretty face with no real value. All they would need to do was wait for her to give birth to the babies, and then Edward could divorce her. They would keep the children, and she would be out of the picture. Later, as Melanie sat in her room, there was a knock on the door. It was Edward. He entered with a grin, giving her a silent thumbs-up. She raised an eyebrow at him, smirking in return. No words were needed—they were clearly on the same page. "You should get some rest tonight. It's going to be a busy day tomorrow," he advised. Their wedding was the next day, and the festivities would start at the crack of dawn. As a pregnant woman, Melanie would need energy to get through it all. "Alright," she nodded. Edward didn't leave right away. Instead, he spent some time playing with Nellie. Before he left, he said, "If you ever run into any issues, don't hesitate to tell me. There's no need to keep it to yourself." She looked at him and gave a small nod. "Okay." He lingered for a bit longer before finally leaving the room. Outside, Felicia watched as Edward emerged from Melanie's room. Her eyes gleamed with jealousy, though she plastered on her usual sweet smile, calling out, "Edward!" Later, when Melanie went outside to use the restroom, Felicia cornered her. With no one else around, she dropped the sweet act, her smile turning sharp. "Melanie, we were all talking after you left the table, and... well, it's pretty clear you can't cook. Now, that's not really my problem, but I couldn't help myself. Edward's a diplomat—the youngest consul in Hermiton. "He should've married someone of equal standing. Instead, he's with you. Even if you don't have the education, the least you could do is take care of his needs, right?" Her words were cutting, though not overtly rude, filled with a clear sense of superiority. She didn't think Melanie deserved Edward. Melanie understood the game. Felicia was picking a fight, but she couldn't take the bait. If she ran to complain, Felicia would play the victim, pretending she had only been trying to help. "Felicia, you don't need to worry about that. Once Edward and I are married, we'll figure out how to live together. Marriage is a process of adjustment, after all. What you think he needs might not be the same as what he actually wants. But I appreciate your concern." With that, Melanie calmly walked past her, leaving Felicia fuming in silence.