Chapter 334 Reopen
Sterling showing up at the bar was like a wrecking ball smashing into Bella's once peaceful heart, stirring up a storm of emotions.
She couldn't shake the painful memories, but she also couldn't stop thinking about him.
Every night, when the world was quiet, those memories would flood back, keeping her awake.
She was torn between desperately missing him and hating him, and this conflicting emotion tortured her daily.
To escape the pain and longing, Bella decided to keep herself busy.
She believed that immersing herself in work was the only way to temporarily forget her troubles and confusion.
So, she resolutely decided to reopen her bakery on the 2nd.
The familiar hustle and bustle of the bakery greeted her as she opened the door. Bella put on her apron and gloves and began to meticulously craft each dessert.
However, even in the midst of her busy schedule, Bella couldn't help but think of Sterling. The memories of their time together played like a movie in her mind.
But she knew she couldn't stay trapped in the past forever. She kept telling herself to let go and start anew.
She had thought that time would heal her wounds, but for Bella, it seemed to have the opposite effect.
She had hoped that as time passed, she would be able to move on and say goodbye to the man who had caused her so much heartache. But that wasn't the case.
Whenever the night was quiet or during a break in her busy day, Bella's thoughts would inevitably drift to Sterling.
She remembered their sweet moments and the subsequent pain and betrayal.
These memories were like an invisible thread, tightly wrapped around her heart, making it impossible to break free.
She had tried to numb herself with work, to fill the emptiness inside. But no matter how hard she tried, his shadow always lingered.
Bella found herself thinking about him more and more frequently, even starting to doubt if she could ever truly let go of this love.
She realized that it wasn't just a fleeting infatuation, but a deep love that had unknowingly rooted itself in her heart, causing her so much pain now.
Despite the festive atmosphere of the New Year, the bakery's business was noticeably slower than usual.
The streets were sparsely populated, and the occasional sound of fireworks was the only sign of celebration. Naturally, the demand for desserts had decreased.
Since Serafina and Lily hadn't started their new year's work yet, the delivery duties fell to Bella.
She didn't complain; instead, she saw it as an extra task to keep herself busy and temporarily forget her troubled thoughts.
She carefully packed the first delivery, ensuring each dessert was in perfect condition for the customer.
She left Anna to watch the store and hopped on her electric scooter to make the delivery.
Following the address on the order, Bella arrived at an old neighborhood.
The narrow roads were cluttered with parked cars, and she navigated carefully until she found the old apartment building without an elevator.
The stairwell was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a musty smell. Each step echoed with creaks, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
Bella took a deep breath and dialed the customer's number.
The call was answered almost immediately, but the voice on the other end was impatient and cold, "Delivery? You're downstairs? Bring it up to the eighth floor, no elevator. Slow and steady, or I'll give you a bad review!"
Bella felt a wave of frustration. She understood that people might be irritable during the holidays, but the attitude still bothered her.
"Okay, I'll bring it up right away," Bella replied as politely as she could, then hung up and started climbing the stairs.
The eighth floor was quite a challenge without an elevator. Bella climbed steadily, adjusting her breathing to stay calm. She knew that rushing would only make her more tired.
It was the first delivery of the new year, and despite her irritation, Bella gritted her teeth and began the climb. Each step felt heavier than the last, and her heart raced as she ascended.
By the time she reached the eighth floor, her legs were trembling from the exertion.
She stood in front of the closed door, taking a deep breath to steady her breathing.
Then, Bella knocked gently on the door. But there was only silence, as if time had frozen.
Just as she was about to give up and leave, the door slowly opened.
A young woman in pajamas with messy hair appeared, her expression annoyed and impatient. She didn't even look at Bella before snatching the delivery from her hands.
Bella's hand lingered in the air for a moment before she slowly lowered it.
A mix of emotions surged within her—sympathy for the difficulty of her job and frustration with the customer's attitude. But then, a familiar name flashed through her mind: Charlotte.
She looked up sharply, her gaze fixed on the young woman about to close the door, and asked loudly, "Wait, does Charlotte live here?"
The woman was taken aback by Bella's sudden question. She glanced at Bella nervously and stammered, "No... she doesn't live here. Why?"
Bella had already made up her mind. She smiled and shook her head, her eyes scanning the messy apartment, confirming her suspicion.
Bella maintained her polite smile and said, "It's nothing. I just noticed you always order from our bakery but leave bad reviews every time. I wanted to see what we're doing wrong. Try the dessert and let me know if it's good. I'll wait here. If you like it, please leave a good review."
Under Bella's watchful gaze, the woman reluctantly opened the dessert packaging and took a cautious bite. "It's... okay... You can leave now."
Bella didn't leave immediately. She stood there, her gaze steady, and said calmly but firmly, "You'll leave a bad review no matter what. I'm not here to cause trouble. Just let Charlotte come out and talk to me. If there's an issue, we need to discuss it. Bottling it up will only make things worse."
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