Chapter 41
BLAIRE
Six yearster…
“ire, where do you want me to put this sack of flour? Ethan asked as he entered my shop,
effortlessly carrying a new supply of flour on his shoulder. I had been running a bit short-staffed, so I
had requested Ethan’s help to replenish our stock from the market. The dessert shop had gained
poprity within the neighborhood.
In the wake of the divorce, I redirected all my time and energy into making my small. dessert shop a
thriving sess. It became my sole source of ie after I made the conscious decision to refuse any
assistance from Sebastian post-separation. I yearned for a fresh start, detached from the pain of my
past, and my shop provided the canvas for this new chapter in my life. The enticing aroma of freshly
baked goods and the sweet symphony of bustling customers now filled the space that once echoed
with the remnants of a broken marriage.
I went back to Hawaii and continued my business here after I leftn’s house. It
I didn’t matter if Sebastian already knew where I was, for I am sure that he had no ns to visit me
here. Our chapter was already close. It’s been years since then, and I was thankful that I didn’t see any
sign of Sebastian since then. He probably moved on with his life with Catherine.
“Thanks, Ethan. Just ce it near the storage area,” I replied, wiping my hands on t apron. Ethan
nodded and carefully moved towards the designated spot.
my
“You’ve really turned this ce around, ire. The customers love it,” he remarked, ncing around
the shop with admiration.
“I appreciate your help, Ethan. It’s been a journey, but I’m d to see the shop thriving,” I replied with a
grateful smile.
He leaned against the counter. “So, any ns for the uing weekend? You’ve been all work and no
ytely.” All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
I chuckled. “Well, I can’t. If I don’t work, ze and I will starve. Besides, we have a pile of hospital bills
to pay. ze condition is quite expensive,” I answered..
My son was born with a congenital heart disease. He developed a hole in his heart, and we’ve been
managing his symptoms since birth. The doctor says that he might be in need of a heart transnt
sooner orter. The procedure was quite expensive, but I’m doing everything in my power to give my
son the life he deserves.
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“Have you thought about my suggestion?” he asked.
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Chapter 41
I stopped organizing the disy cupcake upon hearing what Ethan said. I looked at him with a stern
look as I put my hand on my waist. “Don’t even think about saying it again, Ethan. You’re a good friend
of mine, and I love you. But don’t even try. I don’t care if he’s the richest man in the world
I will never ask for his help. I can take care of my
child alone.” I said.
He quickly raises both of his hands as a sign of defcat. “I was just suggesting. It will be much easier for
you and ze if you’ll ask for his help. Look how thin you are. You’ve been neglecting yourself, ire,”
he said.
I let out a loud sigh. “I’m fine, Ethan. And I’m not changing my decision. I can take care of ze without
his life. We don’t need him.”
“Then how about the offer of a dessert supplier for this newly opened hotel in New York? We could put
up a small shop there to amodate them,” he said.
Ethan’s words lingered in the air, tempting me with the prospect of expansion. I weighed the
possibilities, contemting the idea of venturing beyond the familiar boundaries of my local shop. I’ve
received an offer from a newly built hotel in New York. But my hesitation doesn’te from whether I
would be able to handle such a huge opportunity, but from the fact that New York is where my past is. I
don’t want to risk bumping into them.
“It’s a tempting offer, Ethan, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to let go of this ce. Besides, the shop can
still cover all our expenses. I don’t think epting another client would be suitable at this moment.”
He leaned against the counter, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I get it, ire. But think about it. It
could be a great opportunity, not just for the business but for you and ze too.
I considered his words, the vision of a broader h or izon mingling with my sense of caution. The future
held uncertainties, but perhaps embracing new possibilities was the key to unlocking a chapter of my
life that transcended the shadows of the past.
The bustling sounds of the dessert shop provided aforting backdrop as I continued to ponder
Ethan’s proposition. It was undeniable that the prospect of growth and sess was enticing, yet a part
of me hesitated, tethered to the memories of a life that once promised happiness.
ze, my energetic and cheerful son, ran into the shop, his eyes lighting up as he spotted me. “Mom!
Guess what? I made a new friend at school today!”
A genuine smile crept across my face as ze shared his day, momentarily diverting my thoughts from
the weighty decisions that loomed over me. The joy in his voice was a reminder of the simplicity and
beauty that life could hold.
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Chapter 41
“You did?” I responded with glee.
“Yes, mom! They have all been
od to me. I like going to school, mom!” he continued. Due to ze’s condition, I opted not to send him
to regr school. But ze practically begs me to send him to school, just like all the kids in our
neighborhood. He has been jealous of them whenever he sees him walking right past our shop with
their school bags and uniforms.
Despite my hesitation, I decided to give it a shot. And I think it’s the right decision, seeing how he was
happying home from school.
“I’m d you liked it,” I said.
“Thank you, mom,” he said before wrapping his tiny arms around my waist as he gave me a tight hug.
I embraced ze, his joy radiating through the small but meaningful moments. The
decision to let him experience the simple joys of school, despite, &
proved to be a source of happiness for both of us.
health challenges,
“ire, there’s a customer at the counter asking about our special chocte cake. Should I go ahead
and serve them?” Ethan called from the front of the shop.
I gently disengaged from ze’s hug, ruffling his hair with a smile. “Sure, Ethan. Tell them it’s our
pleasure to serve them our special chocte cake.”
ze’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Can I help, Mom?”
I chuckled, appreciating his eagerness. “Of course you can, my little helper. Let’s make sure our
customer leaves with a smile.”
As ze and I approached the counter, I noticed a familiar face among the customers: Alexander. He
was browsing through the disy of pastries with genuine interest. I wasn’t expecting to see him here.
“Alexander?” I called him, trying to sound casual despite the unexpected encounter.
He looked up, a warm smile crossing his face. “I heard this ce has the best desserts in town. I
thought I’d give it a try. But I wasn’t expecting to see you here, ire. How are you?”
ze, being the curious boy he was, chimed in, “Mom makes the best desserts ever!”
Alexander chuckled. He then leaned closer to ze before he spoke again. “Is he your son?” he asked
curiously.
I gently pulled ze closer to my side as I answered, “Yes.”
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Alexander’s eyes softened as he looked at ze. “He’s a remarkable kid. You must be a proud mom.”
I nodded, a mix of pride and gratitude filling me. “He’s my world.”
ze, sensing the attention, beamed up at Alexander. “Are you going to buy our cake?”
Alexanderughed. “Well, I’ll have to try those.”
As Alexander and ze continued their friendly banter. I couldn’t shake off the nagging thought about
the alternate path our lives could have taken if Sebastian had been a part of ze’s life. Before it gets
any further, I quickly shake off the unwanted thoughts in my head. Sebastian already has a life of his
own, and so will I.
After talking to Alexander, he then turned to me. “So, I’m guessing Sebastian was not in the picture?”
he said once ze turned his attention to another customer.
“Yeah,” I vaguely answered.
“Does he know?” he asked.
“He doesn’t need to know. There’s no point in telling him when he was so convinced that I slept with
you that night,” I chuckled, acting as if that past was nothing but a casual encounter.
Alexander’s expression shifted, revealing a mix of curiosity and concern. “That’s aplicated
situation. Have you thought about telling him the truth?”
I sighed, contemting theplexities of unraveling the past. “Some truths are better left unsaid.
Besides, our paths have diverged, and I’m focused on building a new chapter for ze and me.”
He nodded understandingly, acknowledging the intricacies of my chosen path. Little did he know,
beneath the facade of casual conversation,y theyers of a story marked by heartbreak and
resilience.
“Well, it’s nice meeting you again, ire. I hope everything turns out well for you and your kid,” he said
before bidding goodbye.
I forced a smile on my face as I watched Alexander leave my shop. I have a bad feeling about our
encounter today. It feels like my world is starting to get smaller and smaller. I’m scared that it won’t be
long before our paths meet again.
As I tried to put what happened today behind me, I was startled when I heard amotioning
from the corner of the shop. My eyes automatically search for ze. And when I didn’t find him behind
the counter, my heart ski pped a beat. I uickly ran to check what themotion was about. With each
step, I was praying that
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Chapter 41
it wasn’t ze. But it seems like I was out of luck today. My heart clenched when I saw my son lying on
the floor, unconscious.
“ze!” I called for him as I tried to check his status. He has a pulse, which gives me more hope.
“Ethan! Get the car!”
In the rush of panic, I cradled ze in my arms, his small figure feeling fragile against my desperate
grip. The usually bustling shop now echoed with the urgency of the
moment.
Ethan hurriedly fetched the car, and we wasted no time rushing ze to the hospital. Panic clung to me
like a suffocating shroud as I held my unconscious son in my arms. The urgency of the situation
propelled us through the city streets, each passing moment amplifying the fear that gripped my heart.
Upon reaching the hospital, medical personnel swiftly took charge, whisking ze away for
examination. I paced the waiting area, my mind swirling with thoughts of worst-case scenarios. The
ticking clock seemed to echo the erratic beat of my anxious heart.
Ethan stood by my side, offering a supportive presence in the face of uncertainty. The minutes crawled
by until the doctor approached us.
The doctor’s face bore a mixture of concern and careful optimism as they began, “We’ve run some
tests, and it appears that ze experienced a seizure. Given his history, I believe this is another
complication of his congenital heart disease. We’ll need to conduct further examinations to determine
the cause.”
Fear tightened its grip on me, and I clutched the edge of a nearby chair for support. “Is he going to be
okay?” I asked, my voice trembling.
The doctor nodded. “We’re doing our best to understand the underlying issues. He’s stable for now, but
I suggest you talk to his doctor as soon as possible. He might need heart surgery sooner rather than
my eyes. “You scared me,
ze
ze’s expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his eyes. “I’ll be okay, Mom. I’m strong,
aren’t I? I’ll get better soon. Then I can go back to school again,” he said.
“Or y ser!” Ethan suggested, probably in the hopes of getting ze to look forward to the future..
“Let’s not get a hold of ourselves, shall we?” I chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood. “Let’s focus on
you getting better first, okay?”
“Yes, mom,” he agreed before continuing to y with the toy that the doctor gave him a while ago.
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