Chapter 3
The operation was in a few days, and before that, I returned home to pack. Only when I decided to leave the city did I realize there were still many loose ends.
I had amassed a stack of gift cards from various pastry shops, each representing a promise Valentino King and I had made to visit them together. We met in a pastry shop and daydreamed about enjoying sweets worldwide. But after his brother died, he became busy and continuously declined my offers.
To avoid regrets, I decided to go alone. Sitting in my usual spot by the window, I was stunned to see two familiar figures. Camila Jimenez tasted Valentino’s dessert with her fork, and he gently wiped the cream off her lips.
Gabriella, the shop attendant, noticed my gaze and tried to comfort me, “Sorry, ma’am, the special dessert is sold out.”
“Mr. King purchased the last three servings. He orders them to–go every week. If you want to try one, maybe you could ask him to share.”
I had wanted to try the shop’s Thursday special for ages. Every Thursday, before Valentino left for work, I’d ask, “Could you bring me a dessert if you’re passing by on your way home?”
The pastry shop was right across from his office, just a few extra steps, and yet he always came home empty–handed. But Gabriella mentioned he orders every Thursday.
Sometimes, I wished I were slower to catch on, so I could indulge in self–deception a bit longer.
“Ma’am, if you’re shy, I could negotiate for you,” Gabriella kindly offered.
I held back her hand, “No need.”
She nodded with a smile
A
9:00 PM
She nodded with a smile, “All right then, Mr. King might not give up a serving anyway. He
said Mrs. Jimenez is expecting, and both she and the baby are his treasures, deserving a
serving each.”
“Plus, Mr. King has commissioned a wedding cake here. The design is on the wall; it’s so romantic.”
Seeing the familiar design, I felt a surge of emotion and nearly stumbled. Just a month ago, I had envisioned my wedding ceremony and painstakingly sketched the cake designs.
Valentino dismissed them, saying, “Why bother with flashy designs? They’re impractical/ Yet now, my sketch was displayed here, meant for someone else’s wedding.
I left the pastry shop in a daze, observing their closeness, and a daring thought crossed my mind.
I took my gift cards from store to store, each card linked to a consistent record of purchases. At one shop, the attendant seemed unfazed by my mention of the card number, commenting, “You must be Mr. King’s housekeeper. Does Mrs. Jimenez have a specific dessert in mind this time? Should we deliver it to the usual place?”
She rattled off Camila’s address as if it were routine, and even though I had prepared myself, my heart shattered at the confirmation.
On the shop’s photo wall, many snapshots were displayed. My gaze lingered on the central photo.
Gabriella eagerly explained, “Only couples who visit ten times can have their picture on our wall. Mr. King and Mrs. Jimenez have far surpassed that.”
The photo showed the pair awkwardly forming a heart, yet their eyes met in perfect harmony. I couldn’t grasp what I felt inside.
There were three photos of them on the wall, indicating they’d secretly visited over thirty times.
Just then Vol
9:00 PM C
Just then, Valentino’s message arrived: [I stopped by the pastry shop today, but the limited
edition is sold out. Do you want anything else?]
Attached was a photo from the previous pastry shop. I chuckled bitterly and didn’t reply.
Staring up at the photos on the wall, tears flowed uncontrollably.
Gabriella was flustered, “Ma’am, are you okay?”
shook my head and said I was fine, leaving a gift card at each shop, asking them to hand it to Mr. King next time he came by.
