Chapter 174

Henry Laurent's hand trembled slightly as he raised his glass, his eyes gleaming with disbelief.

"This flavor..."

The room fell silent.

He took a deep breath and announced in a booming voice, "This cocktail crafted by the young lady is the finest in the past decade!"

All eyes turned to Evelyn Roland in the corner.

"May I ask for your name, miss?"

"Evelyn Roland."

The name sent a ripple through the crowd. No one in the city's mixology scene had heard of her.

Sebastian Valdemar stood in the VIP booth on the second floor, his piercing gaze fixed on the slender figure below.

Henry's praise was considered the highest honor in the industry.

Tyler Macmillan slammed the table and stood abruptly. "What kind of joke is this? How could some nobody make anything decent?"

Skeptical murmurs spread.

"Did she get in through connections?"

"Since when does Château Laurent take shortcuts?"

Sebastian suddenly descended the staircase, his leather shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor.

He strode straight to Evelyn's mixing station and picked up the amber-hued drink.

The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his pupils constricted.

"Gentlemen." His voice was quiet, yet it silenced the room. "Before passing judgment, perhaps you should taste this first."

No one dared contradict the Valdemar heir.

But no one stepped forward either.

Evelyn smirked and pushed the glass forward. "Anyone who doubts me is welcome to try."

Henry rubbed his chin, amused. This girl had spirit.

Sebastian shook his head helplessly. Still as stubborn as ever.

"Since there's disagreement, let's have a rematch." Henry clapped his hands, and servers immediately brought out rare vintage bottles. "This round tests palate."

Tyler stepped up first, confidently lifting a glass. "Fifty-year aged reserve from Rivercrest."

Cheers erupted.

He shot Evelyn a challenging look. "Your turn, little girl."

In the shadows of the booth, Sebastian's lips curled into an intrigued smile.