Ariana saw the happy expression on Lina's face and involuntarily clenched her hands into fists on the side of her legs. She had originally planned to embarrass Madeline in front of her friends, but unexpectedly Freya ruined her plan. The hairpin worn by Empress Dowager Cixi was a priceless treasure, the only one of its kind in the world, truly irreplaceable. In comparison, her jade and agate phoenix seemed mediocre and almost like cheap goods! Seeing Ariana's unwillingness, Freya smirked, feeling satisfied only by thoroughly humiliating such a hypocritical woman in this prosperous era. Relying on Lina's protection and Patrick's childhood affection, she went to challenge Madeline, a woman with such cunning intentions was not worthy of mercy. After the gift-giving incident passed, it was time for the evening banquet. Originally, Patrick had planned for the five-star hotel to directly send the food, but Ariana insisted on cooking personally for Lina's birthday. Patrick could not stop her, so he had to go along with their plans.

Freya and Madeline went upstairs to chat, leaving only Ariana and her sisters in the kitchen bustling around.

"Ariana, why are you cooking yourself? Even if we need to make food, Madeline should do it herself!"

"Yeah, we never stepped foot in the kitchen before. If you ask us to help, we wouldn't know how."

"I think we should just order takeout from Patrick. With our group of clumsy cooks, none of us will have dinner tonight."

Ariana's sisters couldn't understand her actions. Just pretend to cook, why make such a fuss?

"Think about it, if I get hurt while cooking later, what will Patrick do?" Ariana smirked coldly.

She didn't want to cook, and she couldn't stand the smell of cooking fumes. But if she didn't do this, how could she establish authority in front of Madeline and make Patrick realize she's far superior to Madeline.

"Ariana, you wouldn't be..."

The sisters understood each other without saying more.

They are all sisters that Ariana has known for several years, and they are no strangers to Ariana's methods. When Ariana gets hurt, they will follow her lead, and surely disrupt the relationship between Patrick and Madeline. Ariana coldly scoffed, "Women like Madeline, who only know how to sing, probably can't even cook. How could a man like a woman who is so useless? Even if Patrick still loves her now, after some time, he will surely see my value and choose to kick Madeline out. Haven't you seen a guest come to someone's house and have to cook by themselves?" Ariana knew that the usual methods cannot break up Madeline and Patrick, so she came up with this plan. Indeed, in the scheming minds of women, the strategy of pretending to be a victim is always the most effective. "Ariana, don't worry, we will take pictures of you and upload them online later. Tomorrow, the whole city will know about it, and then I will buy you a wave of online defenders to push you into the position of the main wife." the Ariana family is a prestigious family that has been officials for several generations, and these socialites all want to please Ariana in the hope that the Ariana family will support them. Therefore, they are willing to obey Ariana. Time passed by second by second.

Suddenly, a scream came from the kitchen.

Freya and Madeline rushed out of the room immediately.

"What's going on?" Freya asked.

Madeline walked to the railing and glanced towards the kitchen with a sarcastic smile on her lips.

"Well, I told you so, this woman is up to her antics again."

Just as Madeline and Freya were chatting in the room, the conversation turned to Ariana.

Madeline guessed right away that this woman wouldn't stay quiet for long, and she had indeed started causing trouble.

Downstairs, Daisy's sharp voice could be heard, "Ariana, your hands are burned like this, just forget about cooking this meal."

"Yes, Ariana, today is your godmother's birthday, it's time to show filial piety, as her future Yara-in-law, don't waste your efforts."

"It's okay, my godmother is leaving tomorrow, I have to fulfill my duties as a filial Yara."

Ariana's elegant voice came, very delicate.

Several socialites, seeing her like this, began to feel sorry for her.

"Ariana, you are a wealthy young lady, brought up in luxury since childhood, when have you ever set foot in the kitchen?"

"Well, you are busy with filial duties and now you have hurt your hand, but what is Madame Patrick doing? As the hostess, shouldn't she come down to help you?"

The socialites spoke, and Ariana slowly turned her head to look outside, meeting the gaze of Madeline, quickly stopping them.

"Don't say that, Madame Patrick makes a living with her voice, how could she make food."

Upon hearing this, Madeline furrowed her brow harshly.

Making a living with her voice?

The words sound nice, but there is a strong sense of irony in them, making Madeline extremely uncomfortable.

"Who said I can't cook?"

She came downstairs and walked a few steps to the kitchen door. Upon closer inspection, there was a blister on Ariana's hand caused by a burn, and the socialites were fetching water for her. Madeline lazily raised her eyes and coldly said, "It seems that Miss Ariana's hands are not suitable for cooking. Since she can't do it, why bother trying to show off." This woman is too pretentious, and if she didn't find it unbearable, she wouldn't bother coming down. Daisy, seeing her arrogance, sarcastically criticized, "You know Ariana can't cook, why let her work alone in the kitchen. In my opinion, you, as the hostess, are completely incompetent, more like a guest waiting to be fed." Madeline glanced at her and said coldly, "Did I ask her to do it?" Her tying was cold and arrogant, with a frosty look in her eyes. "You... you..." Daisy choked on her words, pointing at her for a long time. Madeline mercilessly raised her hand and slapped Daisy's hand hard, saying, "Didn't your mother teach you that it's impolite to point at others?" The slap was not light, producing a crisp sound in the air, and Daisy's hand turned red.

"Madeline, you..."

"Xixi!" Ariana stopped Daisy before she caused trouble.

Daisy was straightforward and lacking in intelligence, continuing the chaos would only bring bad luck to her.

The reason for dragging Lina here to hold a birthday banquet was to assert dominance, the real drama was yet to come, and they couldn't risk causing trouble at this moment.

"Never mind, Ariana, you're just too kind, that's why people take advantage of you!" Daisy glared at Madeline with frustration and stomped her foot, "I'll go chat with my godmother."

After receiving the gift, Lina went back to her room.

Daisy said she was going to chat, but in reality, she was discussing with Lina the next steps to deal with Madeline.

Tonight, no matter what, they had to make Patrick and Madeline have a conflict to make Ariana notice them again.

Once Daisy left, Ariana looked apologetically at Madeline, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Patrick, Xixi has been spoiled since childhood, she speaks without restraint, please don't take it to heart."

After speaking, she glanced at the time, pretending to be anxious, "It's already past seven, and the dishes haven't been prepared yet, what should we do?"