I sink into the plush chair and exhale slowly, letting the soothing scent of lavender calm my nerves. It feels strange to stop and just breathe. Between the bakery, Winter Wonderland, and everything else piling up, this spa day almost feels like a stolen moment.
Celine sits across from me, a glass of cucumber water in her hands, and I can feel her eyes on me, even with my eyes closed. “You know,” she says, her voice smooth like honey, “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you this relaxed.”
I crack open one eye to glance at her, surprised by the observation. She’s right, I haven’t been this at ease in forever. But I don’t know how to explain to her that it’s not just the spa day that’s helping. It’s the fact that I’m finally not buried under the pressure of running a bakery that my mother left behind. Or at least, that’s how it feels right now.
I take a slow breath, settling into the chair. “Yeah. It’s nice,” I say, not quite sure what else to add.
Celine leans forward, her gaze sharp but laced with curiosity. “So, how’s everything going with Sebastian?”
My heart stutters, a little caught off guard. I haven’t really talked about Sebastian with anyone, not in depth. And I certainly haven’t had a chance to reflect on us.
I smile, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “It’s good. Really good, actually. We’ve been spending more time together. Things feel natural.”
A small, knowing smile tugs at Celine’s lips. She doesn’t speak immediately, but her eyes narrow just enough for me to notice. “Natural, huh?” she repeats. “Is that what you think? Because you know, men like him, they don’t really do ‘natural,’ you know?”
I tilt my head, puzzled by the way she says it. "What do you mean?"
She raises an eyebrow. "Oh, you know. The rich, powerful ones, especially someone like Sebastian. They like the thrill, the excitement. But when it comes to real commitment? It’s rare. Trust me. They get bored quickly."
I feel a flicker of unease at her words, something twisting deep in my stomach. Sebastian’s been nothing but kind, supportive even, but Celine’s words leave a crack of doubt.
“He’s not like that,” I say quickly, though my voice feels thinner than I want it to. “He’s different with me. I think he wants something real.”
Celine chuckles softly, the sound light but there’s an edge to it, something almost dismissive. “Sweetheart, you’re gorgeous, no doubt about that. But don’t let that beauty fool you. It’s easy for a guy like him to take what he wants, and when he gets tired of it, he’ll move on to the next one. You really want to risk your heart on someone who might see you as just another pretty face?”
I can feel my pulse quicken, my stomach knotting in a way that has nothing to do with relaxation and everything to do with her words hitting a little too close to home. I try to shake it off. “I don’t think that’s true,” I reply, though it’s more to convince myself than to her. “He’s different with me.”
A sharp, knowing laugh escapes Celine, as if she’s been here before, watching this play out over and over again. “Sure. But trust me, Selina. I’ve seen this story unfold before. It’s all fun and games until you’re left wondering why it ended.”
I try to push the growing anxiety out of my chest, but it lingers like a shadow. “I don’t think I’ll be left wondering,” I whisper, but my voice doesn’t hold the conviction I want it to. “This isn’t like how it was with Victor and me before. Sebastian is different from Victor.” Victor was my ex. The one who shattered me completely when he walked away.
Celine shifts in her seat, her tone softening ever so slightly, but I can tell there’s something beneath her words. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all. You deserve someone who sees you for you, not just for your beauty.”
Her words sting more than I expected, and I find myself staring at my hands, the tension creeping up my arms. Maybe Celine has a point. Maybe I’m holding on too tightly to something that isn’t real.
The conversation shifts, but the unease lingers. Celine begins asking about the bakery, her tone light but her questions pointed. “It’s doing well, isn’t it?” she asks, sipping her water. “But are you happy with it? Like, truly happy?”
I blink, surprised. “Of course. It’s... it’s my mother’s legacy. It’s important to me.”
Celine tilts her head, studying me. “Important doesn’t always mean fulfilling, you know. You’ve spent so much time building something for her memory. But is this what you want for the rest of your life?”
Her words hit me like a cold gust of wind. I’ve never thought about it that way. The bakery has always been more than a job. It’s been my connection to my mom, a way to keep her close. But is it enough? Is it really mine?
“I’m not saying you should walk away from it,” she continues, her voice gentle now, almost conspiratorial. “But maybe it’s time to ask yourself if you’re living your life for her or for you.”
I stare at my hands, her words sinking in like stones. The bakery has always been my anchor, my purpose. But has it also been my cage?
By the time we leave the spa, my mind is swirling with doubts I hadn’t even considered before. As I check my phone, a message from Sebastian lights up the screen: Hey, I was thinking about you. Let’s meet tonight.
My heart skips, the familiar warmth of his attention washing over me. But even as a smile spreads across my lips, Celine’s voice lingers in the back of my mind: Be careful, Selina. Not everything that glitters is gold.
I glance at Celine, who gives me a knowing smile, and I can’t help but wonder how much of her advice is really about looking out for me, and how much is about something else entirely.
The snowflakes fall around us, each one drifting softly, like they don’t have a care in the world. I watch them for a moment, lost in the quiet. The night feels cold, but not in the way I expected. There’s warmth here, not from the air but from Sebastian standing beside me. His presence feels solid, like he’s not just here physically, but really with me, in a way that makes everything else fade.We’re walking through the forest, and I’m still trying to figure out why he brought me here. It wasn’t a question of whether I felt safe with him. Because I did. It’s just that everything felt like it was shifting so fast. One moment, we’re at odds, and the next, I find myself walking hand-in-hand with him on a snowy path, heading to God knows where.The clearing comes into view. I wasn’t prepared for this. The space feels like something out of a winter dream. Fairy lights twinkling in the trees, casting soft shadows across the snow. The air is filled with the smell of pine and wood smoke, and
I push the door open to Everhart Bakery, the familiar bell above jingling softly. The warm, comforting scent of freshly baked pastries fills the air, but it does little to calm the tightness in my chest. The knot that’s been growing ever since I read Celine’s text last night: “We need to talk. It’s urgent.”I glance around and spot her at the back, sitting at a corner table. Her hands are wrapped around a coffee cup, her fingers tapping anxiously. She doesn’t see me yet, so I take a moment to collect myself.I take a deep breath before walking over and sitting down. “Celine,” I start, trying to sound steady, but I can already feel my heart racing. “What’s going on? You said it was urgent.”She looks up at me, her eyes heavy with something I can't quite place. She hesitates before speaking, and that makes my heart pound even harder. “It’s about this bakery,” she says quietly, like she’s afraid someone might overhear.The words hit me like a slap. “What about it?” I manage, trying not t
Victor's POVI stood outside Everhart Bakery, just a few feet away from the door. My thoughts were consumed by the sight of the bakery. The place where it all started, and where it all ended. I thought I could just walk in, talk to Selina, tell her I had returned. But something kept me rooted to the spot.The old familiar ache stirred in me as I watched her through the window.She wasn’t alone.I saw her when she collided with someone. I wanted to help Selina since she was covered in flour, but I couldn’t find the strength to go up to her.I watched her laugh at something the man beside her said, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a calm presence that contrasted with the warmth radiating from Selina. A gentle warmth in his eyes made something stir within me.Sebastian Frost. The architect. I knew who he was. The town’s golden boy. The guy who looked like he had it all together. Snowfall Valley is so small that it's easy to recognize people, espe
Selina's POVI stand there, frozen. My eyes are fixed on Victor, my ex-boyfriend. The one man who broke my heart so many years ago. His presence in my bakery feels like a cruel twist of fate, one I never saw coming. The silence between us is thick, the burden of the past pressing down on me like an unshakable shadow.Victor, standing by the counter, just casually dropped the bombshell. He’s one of the key players behind the town’s new development project. He’s been part of the plan that could wipe away my mother’s legacy, the bakery, off the map. Every word he says hits me like a blow straight to the core, but I can’t bring myself to react. My mind is numb, too stunned to make sense of it all.I should be angry. I should scream at him, demand answers. But instead, I just stand there, completely at a loss for what to do, what to feel. What’s worse? The pain he caused me years ago, or the betrayal I feel now? I can’t tell. It’s as though all the hurt, the years of healing, come rushing
The tension from the bakery is still hanging over me like a thick fog. The moment Victor’s words replay in mind, the past seems to linger heavily on me, and the question that had plagued me for so long—what now?—lingers like a haunting whisper.So, here I am, sitting beside Sebastian in his car, the engine purring softly as we cruise down the winding roads of Snowfall Valley. The sky is a muted grey, with clouds rolling in, but for some reason, I feel like the open road is the only thing that’s offering me some form of escape.This is the morning after everything that’s happened. The confrontation with Victor, the unexpected bombshell he dropped, and the emotional whirlwind that followed. Sebastian must have known that I needed space to clear my mind, because he suggested a road trip, a chance to get away from the chaos and breathe.I glance over at him, his eyes focused on the road. He’s quiet, but there’s an unspoken understanding between us. He gets it.Beside me, Celine looks out
Sebastian's POVIt’s funny, really, how much a few words can change everything.I keep thinking about the last time Selina and I were together, that night I confessed to her, how I felt, how much she mattered. It’s been lingering in my mind ever since. I could still hear her voice in my head, soft but unsure, as she processed everything. She wasn’t ready for it, I could tell, but somehow, I wasn’t scared. Not like I used to be when it came to emotions. The truth is, being around her felt different. There was something about her, her kindness, her strength, the way she made everything seems so real that made me want to take the risk.I don’t know what I expected after that night, but certainly not this. This easy bond between us, this quiet understanding that’s formed without either of us needing to try too hard. I catch myself smiling at little things now. Like the way she looks at me when she’s lost in thought, or how she scrunches her nose when she’s trying not to laugh at something
Selina's POVI never imagined I’d find myself on a camping trip. Honestly, when Sebastian had first mentioned it, I thought it was one of his quirky ideas. I pictured a secluded forest with damp, uncomfortable tents, the sound of crickets in the air, and mosquitoes buzzing in my ear. But here we are, in a cozy little camping spot, the evening sky already deepening into a starry night as the last silver of sunset fades behind the trees.Celine is already setting up the campfire, her laughter filling the air. She has brought marshmallows and hot dogs, which, of course, are her idea of gourmet camping food. She pulls them out of her cooler, practically beaming with excitement as she hands them over.I can’t help but laugh. There’s something about her joy that makes these simple foods feel like the best thing ever.“Hey, you two! Help me with the firewood!” Celine calls out, waving a stick in her hand like she’s wielding a sword. “Or I’ll burn everything down myself!”“Don’t tempt me,” I
I wake up to the sound of leaves rustling outside the tent, the morning light filtering through the trees. I blink a few times, still half asleep, and then I realize I’m not alone.Sebastian is lying next to me, his arm draped casually over my waist. His dark hair is messy, his chest rising and falling in steady breaths as he sleeps beside me. The warmth of his body against mine makes everything feel so peaceful. I allow myself to just stay there, not moving, enjoying the feeling of being close to him.His face, still relaxed in sleep, holds an expression of quiet contentment that I haven’t seen before. He looks softer, more vulnerable, and it makes my heart skip a beat in a way I wasn’t expecting.I gently shift, careful not to wake him, and try to pull the blanket up a little more around me. But as I move, my action must disturb him because he stirs, blinking his eyes open slowly. His eyes meets mine immediately. He doesn’t say anything, just studying me like he’s trying to memorize
The scent of garlic and herbs hits me first, teasing my senses and dragging me out of the warm haze of sleep. My stomach rumbles in response, and I can’t help but smile. It’s the kind of hunger that only the smell of comfort food can provoke. Like my body knew it was time to wake up and eat. It takes a moment to remember where I am. My house. And now, I’m lying here like a potato, tangled in the blanket.I pull myself up, fixing my hair from my face as I stand and walk toward the kitchen. Celine is singing along to some random playlist, stirring something on the stove with way more focus than someone cooking for just two people should have.“You know, you’re starting to get pretty good at this,” I say, leaning against the doorframe, grinning. “I didn’t realize you had a hidden talent for cooking.”She turns, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “What can I say? I’m a woman of many talents.” She flips the spatula in the air dramatically and catches it. “You’re lucky I’m here. You’d starve
I wake up to the sound of leaves rustling outside the tent, the morning light filtering through the trees. I blink a few times, still half asleep, and then I realize I’m not alone.Sebastian is lying next to me, his arm draped casually over my waist. His dark hair is messy, his chest rising and falling in steady breaths as he sleeps beside me. The warmth of his body against mine makes everything feel so peaceful. I allow myself to just stay there, not moving, enjoying the feeling of being close to him.His face, still relaxed in sleep, holds an expression of quiet contentment that I haven’t seen before. He looks softer, more vulnerable, and it makes my heart skip a beat in a way I wasn’t expecting.I gently shift, careful not to wake him, and try to pull the blanket up a little more around me. But as I move, my action must disturb him because he stirs, blinking his eyes open slowly. His eyes meets mine immediately. He doesn’t say anything, just studying me like he’s trying to memorize
Selina's POVI never imagined I’d find myself on a camping trip. Honestly, when Sebastian had first mentioned it, I thought it was one of his quirky ideas. I pictured a secluded forest with damp, uncomfortable tents, the sound of crickets in the air, and mosquitoes buzzing in my ear. But here we are, in a cozy little camping spot, the evening sky already deepening into a starry night as the last silver of sunset fades behind the trees.Celine is already setting up the campfire, her laughter filling the air. She has brought marshmallows and hot dogs, which, of course, are her idea of gourmet camping food. She pulls them out of her cooler, practically beaming with excitement as she hands them over.I can’t help but laugh. There’s something about her joy that makes these simple foods feel like the best thing ever.“Hey, you two! Help me with the firewood!” Celine calls out, waving a stick in her hand like she’s wielding a sword. “Or I’ll burn everything down myself!”“Don’t tempt me,” I
Sebastian's POVIt’s funny, really, how much a few words can change everything.I keep thinking about the last time Selina and I were together, that night I confessed to her, how I felt, how much she mattered. It’s been lingering in my mind ever since. I could still hear her voice in my head, soft but unsure, as she processed everything. She wasn’t ready for it, I could tell, but somehow, I wasn’t scared. Not like I used to be when it came to emotions. The truth is, being around her felt different. There was something about her, her kindness, her strength, the way she made everything seems so real that made me want to take the risk.I don’t know what I expected after that night, but certainly not this. This easy bond between us, this quiet understanding that’s formed without either of us needing to try too hard. I catch myself smiling at little things now. Like the way she looks at me when she’s lost in thought, or how she scrunches her nose when she’s trying not to laugh at something
The tension from the bakery is still hanging over me like a thick fog. The moment Victor’s words replay in mind, the past seems to linger heavily on me, and the question that had plagued me for so long—what now?—lingers like a haunting whisper.So, here I am, sitting beside Sebastian in his car, the engine purring softly as we cruise down the winding roads of Snowfall Valley. The sky is a muted grey, with clouds rolling in, but for some reason, I feel like the open road is the only thing that’s offering me some form of escape.This is the morning after everything that’s happened. The confrontation with Victor, the unexpected bombshell he dropped, and the emotional whirlwind that followed. Sebastian must have known that I needed space to clear my mind, because he suggested a road trip, a chance to get away from the chaos and breathe.I glance over at him, his eyes focused on the road. He’s quiet, but there’s an unspoken understanding between us. He gets it.Beside me, Celine looks out
Selina's POVI stand there, frozen. My eyes are fixed on Victor, my ex-boyfriend. The one man who broke my heart so many years ago. His presence in my bakery feels like a cruel twist of fate, one I never saw coming. The silence between us is thick, the burden of the past pressing down on me like an unshakable shadow.Victor, standing by the counter, just casually dropped the bombshell. He’s one of the key players behind the town’s new development project. He’s been part of the plan that could wipe away my mother’s legacy, the bakery, off the map. Every word he says hits me like a blow straight to the core, but I can’t bring myself to react. My mind is numb, too stunned to make sense of it all.I should be angry. I should scream at him, demand answers. But instead, I just stand there, completely at a loss for what to do, what to feel. What’s worse? The pain he caused me years ago, or the betrayal I feel now? I can’t tell. It’s as though all the hurt, the years of healing, come rushing
Victor's POVI stood outside Everhart Bakery, just a few feet away from the door. My thoughts were consumed by the sight of the bakery. The place where it all started, and where it all ended. I thought I could just walk in, talk to Selina, tell her I had returned. But something kept me rooted to the spot.The old familiar ache stirred in me as I watched her through the window.She wasn’t alone.I saw her when she collided with someone. I wanted to help Selina since she was covered in flour, but I couldn’t find the strength to go up to her.I watched her laugh at something the man beside her said, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a calm presence that contrasted with the warmth radiating from Selina. A gentle warmth in his eyes made something stir within me.Sebastian Frost. The architect. I knew who he was. The town’s golden boy. The guy who looked like he had it all together. Snowfall Valley is so small that it's easy to recognize people, espe
I push the door open to Everhart Bakery, the familiar bell above jingling softly. The warm, comforting scent of freshly baked pastries fills the air, but it does little to calm the tightness in my chest. The knot that’s been growing ever since I read Celine’s text last night: “We need to talk. It’s urgent.”I glance around and spot her at the back, sitting at a corner table. Her hands are wrapped around a coffee cup, her fingers tapping anxiously. She doesn’t see me yet, so I take a moment to collect myself.I take a deep breath before walking over and sitting down. “Celine,” I start, trying to sound steady, but I can already feel my heart racing. “What’s going on? You said it was urgent.”She looks up at me, her eyes heavy with something I can't quite place. She hesitates before speaking, and that makes my heart pound even harder. “It’s about this bakery,” she says quietly, like she’s afraid someone might overhear.The words hit me like a slap. “What about it?” I manage, trying not t
The snowflakes fall around us, each one drifting softly, like they don’t have a care in the world. I watch them for a moment, lost in the quiet. The night feels cold, but not in the way I expected. There’s warmth here, not from the air but from Sebastian standing beside me. His presence feels solid, like he’s not just here physically, but really with me, in a way that makes everything else fade.We’re walking through the forest, and I’m still trying to figure out why he brought me here. It wasn’t a question of whether I felt safe with him. Because I did. It’s just that everything felt like it was shifting so fast. One moment, we’re at odds, and the next, I find myself walking hand-in-hand with him on a snowy path, heading to God knows where.The clearing comes into view. I wasn’t prepared for this. The space feels like something out of a winter dream. Fairy lights twinkling in the trees, casting soft shadows across the snow. The air is filled with the smell of pine and wood smoke, and