Chapter 4: The Stranger At The Bakery
720 Words
Fifteen years after the promise...
The morning sun rose gently over Willow Creek.
The aroma of fresh bread drifted from Collins Corner Bakery, the small shop where Lena Brooks had worked for nearly eight years.
She tied on her faded apron and smiled politely as the first customers arrived.
No one noticed how tired she looked.
She had worked a night shift cleaning offices before coming straight to the bakery.
Every dollar she earned paid for medicine for her mother and tuition for Noah, who was now preparing to enter university.
Lena never complained.
She simply kept going.
---
Miles away, in Ashwood City, Nathan Blackwood stood in the conference room of Blackwood Holdings.
Executives applauded as another billion-dollar merger was announced.
"Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood."
"This is your biggest acquisition yet."
Nathan only nodded.
Money had never been his greatest goal.
After the meeting, his grandfather, Victor Blackwood, entered his office.
"You've built an empire."
Nathan looked out at the city skyline.
"It still isn't enough."
Victor already knew what he meant.
"You still haven't stopped looking for her."
Nathan smiled faintly.
"I made a promise."
---
That afternoon, Nathan decided to visit one of the charitable bakeries his foundation secretly supported.
He refused to announce his arrival.
"No cameras," he instructed his assistant.
"I want to see how people are really treated."
His black luxury car drove for hours until it reached Willow Creek.
When they stopped in front of Collins Corner Bakery, Nathan stepped out wearing a simple black coat.
No security guards followed him inside.
---
The bakery was crowded.
Lena hurried from table to table carrying trays of bread and coffee.
She almost collided with a tall customer entering through the door.
"Oh!"
The tray tilted.
A cup of hot coffee spilled across the man's expensive suit.
Gasps echoed through the bakery.
"I'm so sorry!" Lena cried.
"I didn't see you."
The manager rushed over, his face pale.
"Do you know who this is?"
Lena shook her head.
Nathan looked down at the stain before meeting her eyes.
For one strange second...
Everything around him seemed to disappear.
Those eyes.
That voice.
Something about her felt painfully familiar.
"It's alright," Nathan said calmly.
"It was an accident."
The manager blinked in disbelief.
He had expected the billionaire to explode with anger.
Instead, Nathan smiled.
"It's only a suit."
Lena quickly fetched a clean towel.
As she handed it to him, something slipped from her pocket.
A worn silver coin rolled across the floor.
Nathan froze.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The tiny wolf engraved on the coin caught the light.
His coin.
The one he had given away fifteen years ago.
Before he could pick it up, Lena quickly grabbed it and slipped it back into her apron.
"I'm sorry," she said with an embarrassed smile.
"It's very precious to me."
Nathan stared at her.
"Where did you get that coin?"
Lena hesitated.
"It was... a gift."
"From whom?"
She looked away.
"A boy I met a long time ago."
Nathan felt his hands tremble.
He wanted to ask another question.
But before he could speak, an elderly customer collapsed near the entrance.
Without hesitation, Lena rushed forward.
"Someone call an ambulance!"
She knelt beside the old man, keeping him calm until help arrived.
Nathan watched silently.
She hadn't changed.
Even after years of hardship...
Her first instinct was still to help others.
Just like the little girl who had shared her last piece of bread.
---
After the ambulance left, Nathan quietly paid for every customer's meal before walking toward the exit.
"Lena," he said softly.
She looked up, surprised that he remembered her name from the manager.
"Yes?"
"I think we've met before."
She smiled politely.
"I don't think so, sir."
Nathan nodded slowly.
"Maybe."
"But I have a feeling this won't be our last meeting."
He walked away before she could answer.
Lena watched the black car disappear down the road.
For reasons she couldn't explain, her heart was racing.
She touched the silver coin hidden in her pocket.
The stranger's voice...
It had sounded strangely familiar.
Inside the car, Nathan closed his eyes.
After fifteen years...
He had finally found her.
But one question refused to leave his mind.
Why...
...did she not recognize him?
End of Chapter 4
By Jasmine
- Writer
