Chapter 32: A Dangerous Game

Chapter 32: A Dangerous Game

The kitchen was eerily quiet, with every bit of attention focused on Lydia Moore's reaction.

The taste... Lydia's face suddenly lit up with a summer-like brightness, and she turned to Aaron King, her tone brimming with uncontainable excitement. "It's actually really good! At first, it tastes a bit odd, kind of bitter, but then it leaves a sweet aftertaste, like candy, lingering on my tongue with such a unique flavor. I think it all comes down to your effort and dedication. Even though you act all tough and seem careless while learning, constantly making mistakes, you were actually putting your heart into it, right? Just like your cake—it starts off bitter, but ends with a sweet, lasting flavor."

Seeing his effort, Lydia couldn't help but feel happy, as if a brilliant ray of light had shot through her transparent glass heart, causing vibrant flowers to bloom, filling the air with the fragrance of happiness.

Her words made all of Aaron King's tension vanish, replaced by a warm surge of joy and a strange, unacknowledged sense of relief. Her innocent smile reflected in his eyes, momentarily causing him to lose himself in thought.

But he quickly regained his composure, awkwardly pushing her away, his cool demeanor returning as he looked down at her with his usual aloofness. "I'm not as soft as you make it sound," he retorted, his voice holding its typical authoritarian tone. "Remember, if anyone finds out about this, you're..."

Aaron didn't finish his sentence. The warmth in her words had deflated his anger, and instead, he shot her a warning glance before turning on his heel, walking away with his head held high.

His perfectly highlighted brown hair shimmered with a soft sheen, and his tall, lean frame exuded an aristocratic, aloof elegance.

Though he would never admit it, the devilish Aaron King was, in truth, a very straightforward and simple person. Watching his retreating figure, Lydia's eyes gleamed with a small flame of hope.

It seemed that he was one step closer to evolving from a devil into an angel.

Since that day, everyone seemed to notice a subtle change in Aaron King. Although he remained proud and cold, he would now nod slightly when he saw Lydia's aunt and uncle. Though he continued to refrain from helping during the shop's busiest hours, he no longer stood in the doorway with his arms crossed, glaring challengingly at Lydia. Instead, he would quietly sit behind the counter, either daydreaming or napping. Although he still tormented Lydia mercilessly, his mischief had taken on a more playful and less malicious tone.

This shift in behavior made the ever-optimistic Lydia Moore increasingly confident that her "angel evolution theory" was bound to succeed in the end.

The autumn sky was a brilliant blue, and the bustling streets were filled with people. The "Fairy Cake Shop," as charming as a magical house, continued to be a little paradise of joy and laughter.

The glass doors were quietly open, letting in the fragrance of flowers. Inside, the variety of sweet, delectable cakes attracted a steady stream of customers. Almost every wooden round table was occupied by guests enjoying their cakes and complimentary drinks. They chatted softly, laughed, or worked while leisurely savoring their delicious cakes, their faces showing varying degrees of satisfaction.

Busy as ever, Lydia Moore glanced at the order slip in her hand before quickly grabbing two plates of chiffon cake from the display case. She then poured two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice and placed everything on a tray. Glancing over at Aaron King, who was napping peacefully at the counter, she frowned slightly in confusion.

Was he that sleep-deprived? He could sleep through all this noise? His ability to sleep anywhere really amazed her. Lydia sighed quietly, replaced her frown with a smile, and carried the tray over to the waiting customers. After taking care of their needs and making a mental note of the other customers' orders, she turned around to find Aaron King, now awake, glaring at her with a decidedly grumpy expression. His slightly tousled brown hair, a result of his nap, only enhanced his wild, untamed good looks. His long eyelashes cast shadows over his dark eyes, and though his brows were furrowed in irritation, it gave him a boyish, almost endearing quality. The light blue Western-style shirt he wore perfectly highlighted his handsome features.

The unintentional attractiveness of the scene left Lydia momentarily stunned. But she quickly snapped out of it, awkwardly shifting her gaze elsewhere while silently cursing herself for being a fool. How could she find him handsome even when he was glaring at her like that?

Could it be that, after all this time spent together, she'd unknowingly developed a habit of enjoying his torment? She worriedly wondered.

"Ugh..." Aaron King groaned uncomfortably as he woke up, trying to straighten his stiff back, only to be met with spasms of pain that prevented him from moving as he wished. His legs felt numb, making it hard for him to stand. And the one responsible for leaving him so sore and exhausted was none other than—Lydia Moore!

"D*mn it!" Aaron muttered under his breath as his eyes zeroed in on her pale green figure amidst the crowd. The foolish grin on her face only fueled his irritation, making his gaze even colder.

If it hadn't been for her strange condition, he would be lounging comfortably in his king-sized French bed at home instead of being forced to sleep in this cramped, noisy place where the constant noise kept him from getting any real rest. The growing anger in Aaron's chest reignited the dormant devil within him.

Was he angry? But, as far as Lydia could recall, she hadn't done anything to upset him. Moving quietly, she placed the tray back on the counter, her smile polite as she asked, "You're awake? Would you like some cake?" Their time together and the lessons she'd learned from previous confrontations had taught her one thing: a devil's temper was unpredictable. Whether or not she had actually done something wrong, it was best to admit fault preemptively with a positive attitude. Otherwise, the consequences could be severe.