Chapter 14
Our honeymoon was spent at a luxury eco-resort on a secluded tropical island,
where the ocean water was a brilliant shade of crystal blue and emerald green.
We spent two magnificent weeks waking up to the sound of crashing waves,
eating fresh fruit on our private deck, and swimming in the warm, salty sea.
Harrison held my hand as we walked along the white sand beaches every evening,
and we talked about our grand plans for the future of our growing business.
There was an absolute, unbreakable trust between us that felt completely natural,
and I allowed myself to fully surrender to the beautiful reality of being loved.
When we finally returned to the city, a wonderful surprise was waiting for us,
as Tara had managed to secure a massive corporate catering contract in our absence.
A luxury hotel chain had chosen Laura and Kate’s Bakery as their exclusive partner,
guaranteeing a massive stream of high-end revenue for the next three years.
Our business was no longer just a local shop, but a prominent brand,
and our names were associated with the highest level of culinary excellence.
One sunny afternoon while I was organizing our new corporate kitchen space,
an old friend from my college days stopped by the bakery to say hello.
She had recently run into David’s cousin at a business conference out of state,
and she hesitantly shared some news about his current life situation.
David had been completely fired from his hardware store job for incompetence,
as his crushing depression and lack of motivation had made him unusable.
He was currently living in his mother’s basement, refusing to leave the house,
and spending his days drinking cheap beer and staring at old photographs.
Khloe had married an older, wealthy man who divorced her within six months,
after discovering that she had falsified her medical records to extort money.
She was now working at a low-end retail clothing shop in a dying shopping mall,
stripped of all her designer luxury and living in a small, rented room.
I listened to the story with a completely flat, unbothered expression,
feeling absolutely no desire to gloat or celebrate their tragic downfall.
Their current misery was simply the natural conclusion of their character,
and it had absolutely nothing to do with the brilliant life I was leading.
I thanked my friend for the information, but politely changed the subject,
stating that I preferred to focus on the living and the beautiful present.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and a sweet text from Harrison appeared,
stating that he had booked a couple’s massage for us after my shift ended.
May you like
I smiled and closed my leather ledger, stepping out into the bright cafe,
knowing that my freedom was the greatest asset I would ever possess.
