Bab 20: Chapter 20: The Family's Shadow
Chapter 20: The Family's Shadow
"Teach you how to bake a cake?" Lydia Moore was momentarily taken aback, but then she recalled the complex expression on Aaron King's face when he had eaten the "Loch Ness Secret" cake. His words about not believing in love, spoken with such cold disdain, echoed in her mind. Was it because his life had been devoid of love, or had he lost the most precious and genuine love and happiness? Did the cake, filled with the warmth of happiness, touch something deep within him—something pure and beautiful, like crystal, that made him long for the lost love that once brought him both pain and joy?
Lydia hoped her guess was right, though she wasn't sure why she felt a pang of sympathy for Aaron King, someone so seemingly carefree and rebellious. She wanted to do something for him, to make him feel less lonely, to bring him happiness, to help him believe in love again, and to see him shed his cold, arrogant facade and embrace the good and innocent side of himself.
That version of him might become an angel, she thought, because she could see the fragile, transparent angel wings hidden behind his devilish mask. But she knew that the warmth and sweetness of a cake alone could never fill the void in his heart.
As Lydia stood silently, lost in thought, Aaron King's lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes turning icy. Without warning, he pushed her against the wall, trapping her between his body and the cold surface. With his left hand braced against the wall, he lifted her chin with his right hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Well? Have you thought about the terms of our exchange? Money, a date, or... a kiss?" He leaned in, his face so close that their eyelashes almost touched, and he blew a warm breath teasingly against her lips.
Lydia Moore's back pressed against the wall, her eyes wide with unexpected panic. She could smell the fresh, clean scent on him, like cottonwood, and feel the change in temperature on her lips. Her heart fluttered slightly. The scene might have looked intimate and ambiguous, but there was an underlying sense of danger. He had thought she might be different from the other girls he had dated, but her earlier hesitation made him feel ridiculous. She was just like them, after all, trying to get something from him. Aaron King scoffed and waited leisurely for her response.
"An exchange? Is this how he views relationships?" Lydia thought sadly. To him, dating seemed to be just a way to pass the time and mask his loneliness, while the girls were only interested in his handsome looks and wealthy background. Lydia suddenly felt a wave of pity for him.
She pushed his arm away, stepping back from the scorching wall. Looking up at him, her smile was as bright as the sunlight dancing on green leaves. She spoke clearly, "I don't want any of those things." It was undeniable that most girls would be instantly attracted to him, doing everything in their power to become his girlfriend. But she wasn't one of them. She wasn't interested in any of the three things he offered. What she wanted was to help him find happiness again.
"I have only one condition," she said after a moment of thought, unsure if he would agree but determined to try. "You have to work part-time at the 'Fairy Cake Shop' for a month." If a cake alone couldn't restore his lost happiness, then maybe being in a place filled with love and warmth would help him rediscover it. Only by finding it himself could he achieve true happiness.
"Part-time?" Aaron King couldn't believe his ears, but she repeated herself calmly. "I'll teach you how to bake a cake, but only if you agree to work part-time at the cake shop for a month." Her expression was serious, with no hint of jest.
What a strange demand. Was she out of her mind? Did she really think he—Aaron King, the most valued and unbound student at Sakura Academy—would ever agree to work at a small cake shop? Was she trying to humiliate him, or was she just playing some high-level game, hoping to get closer to him over the course of a month? Whatever her intentions, the result would be the same. "I'm not doing it. You'd better follow my orders, or I guarantee you'll become the enemy of the entire school," he warned, his tone cold and threatening.
Was he always this unreasonable? Lydia wondered. He really was as domineering as the rich kids in TV dramas. But rather than feeling scared, she found his behavior oddly childish, like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. The enemy of the entire school? That sounded pretty terrifying. Lydia smiled brightly, even under his icy gaze. "I have my own principles. This is my only condition, and I won't change it for anything. I hope you'll think it over." Her eyes were clear, filled with a stubborn resolve.
For a moment, the stifling air seemed to freeze as her words hung in the silence. Aaron King glared at her, his clenched fists making the bones crack as he struggled to suppress the anger boiling inside him. Without another word, he turned and walked away. Fine, he thought. If she wanted to challenge his patience with her so-called principles, he would make sure she regretted it.
Long after Aaron King left, Lydia Moore stepped out from the shadows, opening her arms to embrace the sunlight as if trying to draw more courage and strength from it. Breathing deeply, she walked slowly toward a pot of green cacti, crouching down to gently touch the new buds with her fingers. "I will become better," she whispered to the cactus. "One day, I'll find the happiness I'm looking for."
As time stretches on, hope will eventually come to light. Ethan Knight was like a dream in her life, vibrant and dazzling, with the sweetness of candy. For years, she had chased this dream, running tirelessly. So now, even though she was exhausted, she wouldn't stop.
Because… Ethan Knight, I will work harder, and one day, I'll be able to stand by your side.
That afternoon, four summers ago, was just like the countless others Lydia Moore had experienced—bright sunlight so intense it was blinding, the air thick with oppressive heat. Around the corner from the street stood a beautiful music store, with paintings of swans gliding peacefully hanging on the walls. The crystal-clear floor-to-ceiling windows were draped with white curtains, shutting out the noise from the street outside.
A petite girl with short, cropped hair, wearing an oversized light green t-shirt, stood by the window, lost in thought for nearly half an hour.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone