Chapter 10

Just as Audrey was showing Sebastian a new batch of pastries, the bell above the bakery door chimed sharply. Audrey looked up, expecting to see a customer, but her heart plummeted when she saw the familiar, sharply dressed figure standing in the doorway.

Her mother.

Tall, with a steely gaze and lips pressed into a thin line, her mother looked completely out of place in Audrey's cozy little bakery. The disapproval was evident in her eyes as she glanced around, taking in the flour-dusted countertops and trays of pastries with barely disguised disdain.

"Mother," Audrey managed, her voice tight with surprise and dread.

Her mother's eyes flicked to Sebastian, who was watching the interaction with a polite, if curious, expression. She arched a perfectly sculpted brow, giving him a once-over with the same judgmental scrutiny she'd reserved for Audrey her entire life.

"Ah, Audrey. I didn't expect to find you here... or in such company." Her tone dripped with thinly veiled condescension as she eyed Sebastian. "And who is this?"

Sebastian's expression didn't waver. He extended his hand smoothly. "Sebastian Hale. I'm a friend of Audrey's."

Her mother's gaze lingered on his hand, clearly assessing him with newfound interest. "Hale... as in the Hales who own Hale Industries?" She seemed almost amused, the surprise flickering in her eyes. "Well, it's not every day my daughter entertains such... high-profile company."

The pointed emphasis was impossible to miss. Audrey's cheeks flushed, a mixture of embarrassment and anger simmering within her.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Audrey asked, trying to keep her tone steady.

Her mother waved her off dismissively. "I was just in the area and thought I'd stop by to see my only daughter. But I must admit, this place"—she gestured to the bakery, a tight smile on her face—"is not exactly what I had imagined. All that schooling, and you're... baking."

Audrey's stomach tightened. She felt Sebastian's hand on her shoulder, a grounding force that helped her breathe through the humiliation rising inside her.

"And here you are, trying to play house with a man like Mr. Hale." Her mother's voice was laced with disdain, her eyes narrowing on Audrey. "You don't really think he's interested in you, do you?"

"Mother, that's enough," Audrey said, her voice shaking. But her mother's words had already struck deep. She'd spent years trying to distance herself from these old wounds, from the constant reminders of her supposed inadequacies.

But Sebastian's grip on her shoulder tightened, a steady, reassuring presence. "Actually, I am interested in Audrey," he said, his tone calm but firm. "She's talented, driven, and unlike anyone I've ever met."

Her mother's eyebrows shot up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she masked it with a condescending smirk. "Well, then, I do hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Mr. Hale. But I can't imagine this little bakery... or my daughter... will hold your attention for long."

Audrey felt the sharp sting of her mother's words, but she forced herself to stand taller, determined not to let her mother see the effect they had.

Sebastian glanced down at Audrey, his gaze warm and unwavering. "Actually, I was just telling Audrey how much I admire her work and dedication. She's created something truly special here."

Her mother's expression faltered briefly, the dismissal in her eyes wavering as she sensed the conviction in his voice. "Well, perhaps I've overstayed my welcome," she said, recovering her composure. "Goodbye, Audrey. And good luck... you'll need it."

As her mother swept out, Audrey let out a shaky breath, feeling both relief and the lingering sting of her mother's words. She looked up at Sebastian, her cheeks still flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude.

"You don't have to defend me to her," she murmured, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I didn't do it for her. I did it for you. Audrey, you don't need anyone's approval to be amazing."

A warmth filled her chest, and for the first time in a long time, she believed it—maybe, with Sebastian by her side, she could finally silence the voice of doubt her mother had instilled in her all these years.