She picked up her spoon, scooped up a chunk of meat, and took a bite. She instantly choked on the spice.

She tossed the spoon and hastily poured herself a glass of water.

"Why is this so spicy? Did I put in too much pepper?" she mumbled to herself.

The stew smelled perfect, but it was far too spicy for Layla's liking.

She was used to the lighter flavors of meals at home, and though she would occasionally dine out with her friends, she could only tolerate food that was mildly spicy.

After finishing her water, she sat back down in her chair and thought of ways to get rid of the spice. Finally, she placed a bowl of water next to her and submerged the meat in the water to wash off some of the spices, so that she would not choke again, before taking another bite.

Just then, her phone started ringing.

It was a video call from Avery, and Layla immediately answered it.

"Darling, I saw the photos you posted. Are you having stew tonight?" Avery asked.

"Yeah, Mom! Let me show it to you."