Chapter 41: Shattered Trust

Chapter 41: Shattered Trust

"Not enough? What do you mean?" Aaron King narrowed his eyes dangerously, a cold glint flashing in his dark pupils. Was she planning to sell his cake or something?

"I mentioned before that the key to making a great cake is to do it with love and care. Only when you're thinking of happy and beautiful things while making the cake can it bring happiness with every bite. Similarly, sharing your joy with others and allowing them to find happiness in the cake you made can bring you even more happiness. So, I want to give away the cake you made for free to every customer. When you see the sincere and kind smiles on their faces, maybe the feeling you get will be even deeper, and you'll gain something more than just what you feel now."

Lydia Moore looked at him with hopeful eyes. She wasn't sure if Aaron King, with his personality, would accept her request, but she added softly, "I just genuinely want you to be happy because I know you have a heart as kind as an angel's."

Her bright, hopeful smile reflected in Aaron King's deep, dark eyes, and he stared at her in silence for a long time, unable to speak.

In the early afternoon sky, a few blue-and-white clouds drifted lazily by. After the autumn rain, the streets regained their clarity and brightness, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth. Outside the window, the clearing sky and the refreshing taste of the "Angel's Heart" cake lifted the spirits of the bakery's customers, filling them with a sense of joy and contentment. Lydia's aunt and uncle stood by the counter, smiling at each other, their gazes filled with deep affection.

Aaron King stood quietly at the kitchen door, watching the happy smiles on the customers' faces, and suddenly felt a strange warmth that he hadn't experienced in a long time. He had thought that his heart had frozen over long ago, that nothing could move him anymore. But now, the peaceful and harmonious scene before him stirred something deep within him, making him want to preserve this moment in his memory forever.

As he looked at the sweet and satisfied smiles of the customers, Aaron realized that happiness could be so simple and pure, not as distant as he had once thought. Perhaps "Sprite Bakery" really was a place that could bring happiness to people because everyone here had a pure and transparent heart. In that moment, Aaron King decided to stop suppressing his true feelings. A smile slowly spread across his face, a smile so warm it could melt the coldest ice.

Just as Aaron King was lost in the warmth of the moment, a little girl in a cute princess dress, looking like a Barbie doll, came skipping up to him, smiling brightly as she gazed up at him. Her eyes were as clear and sparkling as those of a newborn, filled with innocent light. "Big brother," the little girl called to him affectionately, her voice soft and sweet like a piece of cotton candy.

Aaron King looked down at the sweet little girl before him and frowned. "What do you want, kid?" His expression was cool, and his tone was just as aloof. All he wanted was to get rid of this clingy little thing as quickly as possible.

The little girl's bright eyes blinked as she tugged at Aaron King's sleeve, motioning for him to bend down with a sweet smile that made it hard to refuse.

"You're really a troublesome little kid!" Aaron King grumbled, reluctantly bending down and bringing his face closer to hers. "What do you want?" he asked impatiently. But before he could finish speaking, the little girl suddenly stood on her tiptoes and planted a light kiss on his right cheek.

A big smile spread across her apple-red cheeks as she said, "Thank you, big brother. The cake you made is really delicious." With that, the little girl happily ran off, leaving Aaron King standing there, stunned, unable to process what had just happened. This... little brat.

The customers who witnessed the scene exchanged knowing smiles, and the bakery was filled with laughter and warmth. Outside, a vivid rainbow appeared in the bright blue sky after the rain, gently reflecting a spectrum of vibrant colors.

The night at Sakura Academy was serene and beautiful. At this hour, most students were quietly studying in their classrooms or rehearsing for performances, while only a few couples strolled hand in hand through the vast campus. The deep night sky was illuminated by a clear crescent moon, casting a silvery glow over the entire campus, turning it into a dreamlike landscape of silver and white.

From the music club's practice room, faint strains of soft music could be heard.

What would tonight's first rehearsal be like? Lydia Moore wondered, curious about what it would be like to rehearse with so many different types of instruments. The bass and guitar had more vibrant and free-spirited sounds, while the piano and violin were more elegant and soothing. Could these two distinct musical styles really blend together harmoniously? Lydia was uncertain.

But then she remembered that Julian Reed was the club president, and her doubts quickly faded. She believed that someone as musically talented and capable as Julian Reed could create miracles, turning the impossible into the possible. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance out the window repeatedly, eager for him to arrive and begin the first rehearsal.

Behind her, a girl with straight hair sitting at the piano was taking advantage of the break before rehearsal started to chat quietly with another girl who was tuning her guitar. "I heard today is 'Prince of Finance' Aaron King's birthday."

"Really?" the other girl exclaimed, then sighed in disappointment. "But it seems he never celebrates his birthday. No matter what gifts his current girlfriend or other girls give him, he doesn't even look at them before throwing them away."

"Is that so…" the girl at the piano sighed, and both of them fell silent.

Today is Aaron King's birthday? Lydia Moore thought, startled by what she had overheard. But why hadn't he mentioned it? Then again… he didn't have any reason to tell her. Realizing this, Lydia pushed away the small feeling of disappointment in her heart and silently wished him well.

Coincidentally, today also marked his last day working at the bakery. She had initially thought that, given his personality, Aaron King would leave without hesitation once he learned how to make cakes. But he had continued to show up at the bakery every day this week, even helping out with small tasks while occasionally teasing her. His change in behavior made Lydia certain that he had developed a fondness for the bakery and that he had found the happiness he had long sought.

As she recalled the many moments they had shared during this time—teasing, laughing, and arguing—a soft smile slowly spread across Lydia's face, her eyes gleaming with clarity. In her mind, Aaron King was always bossy and arrogant, just like earlier that afternoon when he used his height advantage to snatch the bakery keys from her and then smugly declared, "Only a blind person or a fool would try to rob this old and rundown bakery." His words had left Lydia both speechless and amused.