Chapter 4

My dessert shop was located right at the entrance of our neighborhood. It was small, only about two hundred square feet.

But my recipes were perfected over a decade in my past life. The taste was absolutely unmatched.

On opening day, I baked a hundred egg tarts, and they sold out in just two hours.

The next day, I baked two hundred, and it still wasn't enough.

Within a month, my shop had become incredibly popular.

Locals lined up every day, and some people even drove from across town just to buy my pastries.

I was working non-stop, but I felt incredibly fulfilled.

This was a million times better than sitting in a cubicle typing on a keyboard like I did in my past life.

After school, Mia would come to the shop to help out.

She handled the cash register, and she did a great job.

I paid her daily wages, and she saved every penny diligently.

A month later, she finally saved enough money and bought the doll she wanted.

She hugged the doll, smiling brightly.

"Mom! I bought it with my own money!"

I patted her head.

"Good job."

Her eyes shined with pride, but then they dimmed slightly.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Go ahead."

"Why are you so strict with me?" she asked.

"Chloe is so nice to Lily. She buys her whatever she wants."

I looked down at her.

"Do you think that’s actually good for her?" I countered.

Mia was stunned.

"I... I don't know," she whispered.

"Remember this, Mia: there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world," I said.

"If you want something, you have to earn it yourself."

"What other people give you can be taken away at any moment."

"Only what you earn with your own hands truly belongs to you."

Mia seemed to understand, nodding thoughtfully.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Chloe walked in, dragging Lily with her.

Chloe was wearing a cheap, wrinkled T-shirt, and her face looked exhausted.

Lily looked even worse—pale, severely underweight, and her eyes were filled with absolute terror.

My heart tightened.

It had only been a month. How did they end up like this?

When Chloe saw how busy my shop was, her face turned sour with jealousy.

"Well, Audrey, look at you. Business is booming," she sneered.

"It's alright," I replied casually.

"You must have used some dirty tricks!" she suddenly snapped, raising her voice.

"Otherwise, how could a basic office worker like you afford a shop like this?"

I looked at her, finding her jealousy pathetic.

"Did you forget, Chloe? I was a professional pastry chef in our past life. Of course I know how to run a bakery."

Chloe froze, her anger flaring even hotter.

"So what? Why do you get to live the good life while I..."

She stopped herself.

I could tell she was having a miserable time.

She thought that by adopting Lily, she would instantly get rich. But Lily hadn't shown any "miraculous artistic talent" yet.

Chloe had spent all her savings, lost her job, and was now living on instant ramen.

Meanwhile, I had opened a successful shop.

Her mind was twisted with jealousy.

Just then, Mia walked over holding a glass of lemonade.

"Here is some water, Chloe," she said politely.

As Chloe reached out to grab it, Mia’s hand suddenly slipped.

The lemonade splashed all over Chloe's shirt.

"Ah!" Chloe shrieked, jumping back.

Mia immediately shrank behind me.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..." she sobbed, looking terrified.

Chloe was furious, stamping her feet.

"You little brat! You did that on purpose!"

"That's enough," I stepped in, blocking her.

"She’s just a kid. Why are you screaming at her?"

Chloe glared at me.

"Keep protecting her! Just wait until Lily's talent kicks in. You'll be begging me for money soon!"

She grabbed Lily’s arm to pull her away.

As she did, I noticed a dark, nasty bruise on Lily's forearm.

"Wait," I called out, my voice dropping.

"What happened to Lily's arm?" I demanded.

Chloe’s face turned pale.

"None of your business!" she snapped.

"Mind your own life!"

She dragged Lily out of the shop.

I watched their retreating figures, a heavy weight sinking into my chest.