the couch, her cell phone was dead, her apron hanging on the kitchen chair. She clos

r peeled back a layer of resistance, as if he co

o pay, a delayed candy delivery, and nothing,

herself before she

he morning. Who could it be? She opened the do

a lazy smile on his lips. As if it were the most natural thing in the

orning,

crazy? Now you're here t

ed her, slowly pushing the door ope

N

case, the boxes stacked in the corner. It was too early for the bakery to

he counter and looked at it as

e out personally?" she

ok out a thick envelope. He placed it on the counter, as if

g through. You're still running the bakery." I'll cover all the debts, invest whatever i

d in the empty bakery. "Excuse me,

nal thing in the world. "Twelve months. A year. Then we each mo

if she'd bitten through glass. "And

lose a deal with a traditional family. Investors who want someone..." he searched for the word, "...solid. The spoiled

o what am I? A prop? A facad

smart, Clara. You know there's no other way out. With me, your legacy

"And who gave you the rig

f a predator. "I'm not buying you. I'm buyi

er. He skimmed it: clauses, deadlines, amounts. Everything tied to

ssed in the university library. The same one tha

in a low, venomous voice. Everything's a ga

her. "Clara, listen," he began, but

ity"-she spat the word out-"to make you look like a family man? I'd r

't sure. But she didn't flinch. "Don't be dramatic," she sa

ushed the contract aside. The pages fell to the floor

to pounce on her, grab her face, force her to understand. But he did nothin

," he said softly,

y. "Better to regret it in freedom than to lie

ed the small room, mingling the sweet scent

nst the light. "You'll thank me later, Clara. When everythin

She just watched as the door closed behi

to cry. For another, she wanted to laugh. She did neither. She went to t

he'd lose it standing up. Alone. Witho

t, she'd fight until h