Chapter 13: Looking Down

Adriana stared at Aurora, her expression softening.

"You… really think about stuff like that, huh?"

Aurora shrugged, acting like it wasn't a big deal.

"Of course! Family's the most important thing, right?"

Adriana smiled and hugged Aurora suddenly, catching her off guard.

"Thank you. Really."

Aurora blinked, surprised.

Then she hugged back, grinning like she just won the lottery.

"See? I told you the fairy godmother's magic works!"

Olivia, watching the scene, groaned.

"Ugh, now I feel bad for teasing you."

Aurora gave her a smug look. "You should! Maybe the fairy godmother will forgive you if you're nice to me."

Olivia laughed and ruffled Aurora's hair. "Fine, fine. I'll be nicer… for now."

Once all the siblings left, Aurora made a beeline to the computer and typed in the details.

Sure enough, the next second she received 

"Transaction verified. 200% rebate credited: $100. Your new balance is $167."

$167!

Aurora was so excited that she lost her footing while jumping. Fortunately, neither her siblings nor her parents were present; otherwise, they would have laughed to death.

"Since I have crossed a mark of $100 rebate, why not give a small treat to myself?"

Aurora's excitement carried her straight to the fancy cake shop downtown.

The place was famous for its luxurious designs and mouthwatering desserts.

As she entered, the sweet smell of chocolate, cream, and sugar-filled the air, making her grin from ear to ear.

She wandered through the shop, her eyes glued to the beautiful cakes on display.

Each one was a masterpiece—chocolate mousse with gold leaf, red velvet with edible flowers, and her personal favorite, the Lotus Biscoff Cake, shining like a jewel under the glass case.

But today wasn't just about choosing a cake.

No, today Aurora decided to act like a rich customer—calm, classy, and confident.

She folded her arms and tilted her head slightly, inspecting each cake with a thoughtful expression.

She even tapped her chin like she was considering which one matched her mood.

The shop staff, a woman in her late twenties with perfectly styled hair and a sharp smile, noticed Aurora.

Her smile didn't reach her eyes as she muttered to her colleague,

"Oh, it's her again."

Aurora had been here many times before, but she never bought anything.

She just admired the cakes and left, and the staff had grown annoyed with her.

This time, the woman decided she'd had enough.

With a stern expression, she approached Aurora.

"Excuse me, miss," she said, her voice polite but her tone sharp.

"Are you planning to buy something today? Or are you just here to look… as usual?"

Aurora froze, blinking in surprise.

She quickly realized the woman was looking down on her. Her cheeks turned pink, but she straightened her back, refusing to let it show.

"What if I'm just here to look?" Aurora replied, lifting her chin.

The woman smirked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"Oh, I see. You like to dream big, don't you? That's nice. But you know, most customers come here to actually buy something. It's a cake shop, not an art gallery."

Aurora's fists clenched at her sides.

Another staff member nearby chuckled softly, and the woman continued.

"It's just that we put a lot of effort into our cakes. They're for people who appreciate them, not for people who want to pretend they can afford them."

She glanced at Aurora's worn-out sneakers.

"Maybe you should try the bakery down the street. Their prices might suit you better."

Taking a deep breath, Aurora put on her brightest smile. "Well, thank you for your advice," she said sweetly. "But I don't think I'll need it."

Before the woman could reply, Aurora marched straight to the counter. She pulled out her wallet, careful to flash the shiny debit card she'd just used to buy Adriana's gift.

"I'll take a Lotus Biscoff Cake," Aurora said loudly enough for the other customers to hear. "The large one, please. And make sure it's packed nicely. It's for a special occasion."

The woman's smirk faltered. "L-large?" she stammered.

Aurora nodded firmly. "Yes. And while you're at it, I'll take six macarons—one of each flavor."

The other staff member quickly stepped in, now all smiles. "Right away, miss!"

As they prepared her order, Aurora leaned on the counter, looking directly at the rude staff member.

"You know," she said casually, "it's funny how people judge others so quickly. You should really be careful about that. You never know who might surprise you."

The woman's face turned red, and she was about to retort when Aurora turned toward the other staff and asked,

"Where is the feedback form?"

The staff member's face paled a little as Aurora's words hung in the air.

"The feedback form?" the woman echoed, her voice shaky.

Aurora smiled sweetly. "

Yes. You know, the one where customers write about their experience? I'd love to leave a review about the… excellent service I got today."

The other staff member, trying to smooth things over, quickly stepped forward. "Oh, um, of course, miss! Let me grab one for you."

The rude woman tried to recover her composure. "That won't be necessary! I can help you right here. I'm sure we can clear up any misunderstandings—"

Aurora raised her hand to stop her.

"No need. I'll write my thoughts down. That way, the management can read it too. You know, just in case they want to improve things for their… valued customers."

The rude woman's jaw tightened, but she didn't say another word.

The other staff member returned with the feedback form and a pen. Aurora took them with a polite nod and started scribbling furiously.

When she was done, she handed it back with a flourish. "There. All set."

The woman hesitated before taking the form. She looked like she wanted to rip it in half but knew she couldn't.

Aurora stepped back with her packed Lotus Biscoff Cake and macarons. Turning one last time to the woman, she said,

"Thank you for your help today. I'll definitely recommend this place to everyone I know… and tell them to ask for you specifically."