After introducing herself as a consultant from Second and hearing the gist of the situation, Vendia was dumbfounded.
It was even more absurd than she’d expected.
“So, the store is under your husband’s name, but your mother-in-law is the one managing everything as his proxy? And the one who got humiliated for dating a married man is also your mother-in-law?”
“Yes… That’s right. So if it’s about the store, you’ll have to talk to her, not me.”
Kate, clutching the handkerchief Vendia had handed her, replied in a subdued voice.
The handkerchief was soaked with tears after her emotional breakdown.
When Vendia had visited the store the day before and saw Kate working with a baby strapped to her back, she thought Kate was just a staff member because she had said to speak with the owner. Turns out, she was the daughter-in-law.
Vendia quietly observed Kate, who sat with slumped shoulders and swollen legs, lightly punching them with her fists.
Her skin was dry, and there were dark circles under her eyes—she looked utterly exhausted.
Her lips were cracked and chapped, and her hands were covered in burn marks, likely from baking tarts.
It was a popular store, attracting hundreds of customers daily.
And yet, Kate was the one doing everything—from baking, to packaging, to selling—all by herself.
“Your baby is adorable. Regen, was it? How old is she?”
Vendia asked, looking at the tiny baby who had cried herself to sleep on the chair.
“She just turned two months.”
Kate also turned to look at Regen, who was breathing softly in her sleep.
Her eyes, red from crying, sparkled with pure love as she looked at her child. The kind, tender gaze of a mother.
“You work all day carrying the baby?”
Just two months old.
That meant Kate had only given birth two months ago, yet she was already enduring all this grueling labor.
“…Yes. There’s no one else to look after her.”
“So you work all day and stay up all night with the baby too.”
“…”
Kate pressed her lips tightly together.
Her silence was an admission. No wonder she looked so exhausted—she worked with the baby on her back all day and stayed up all night soothing her.
Her mother-in-law and husband clearly weren’t helping her at all.
And from what Vendia overheard earlier, the mother-in-law had also taken all the store’s earnings.
Kate was working herself to the bone while someone else was spending the money.
“Kate. Have you ever thought about opening your own shop? You’re already running this one by yourself—you could totally manage on your own.”
“Oh, no! I could never… I need my husband. Regen needs her father too.”
“That’s… not exactly a great—”
“I could never raise Regen like me… without parents…”
A flash of pain and bitterness crossed Kate’s face.
Vendia had been about to say Regen would be better off without a father like that—but she stopped.
To push back against such a hardened belief, built from years of pain, would be cruel.
“You should go now. Thank you for everything today—and for the handkerchief. I’ll wash it and return it.”
“Alright. I’ll come back soon.”
Vendia smiled at her and left the shop with Chris.
Her mind was racing. What should she do? She didn’t want to get involved, but now that she knew, it was hard to ignore.
Still, she had no intention of stepping in unless Kate wanted her to.
“Sigh…”
“Ma’am… are you going to help her?”
As they walked down the now-dim street, Chris asked carefully.
“Of course. I’m trying to figure out how.”
“But why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
Vendia looked at him, puzzled.
The darkness in his eyes was deeper than the night itself as he calmly explained.
“I-I mean… she made that choice. Even if it was foolish, she still has to take responsibility. If something goes wrong, you’ll be the first one she blames.”
“…”
“There’s no reason for you to get involved with a stranger.”
“You’re right. That’s true.”
Vendia didn’t disagree. She had no intention of blaming Chris for how he thought.
“But I’m not doing this just out of kindness. I want Kate to join Second. That’s my motive.”
“Still…”
“Chris. People think differently. I’m not going to argue with you about it. I don’t need to convince you either. This is just who I am. And you’re who you are. We’re simply different. That’s all.”
Her firm but composed words left Chris silent.
Instead, he just stared at her for a long moment.
The clear blue eyes that met his gaze were unwavering—full of quiet conviction.
She really was someone who liked stepping up for others. Just like how she ran things at Second. Even though she called herself a consultant, she took the lead in everything—not just for personal gain.
“Th-Then I’ll help too. Because I want what you want.”
Chris gave a soft smile, lifting the corner of his lips into something full and warm.
Yes. She was definitely still someone worth staying beside and watching over.
Two days later.
“Whoa. This guy’s a total piece of trash!”
Bang.
After reading the documents Yulize handed her, Vendia shot up from her chair.
“Right?! I almost had a stroke reading that stuff!”
Yulize, who had seen the report beforehand, was equally furious.
After Vendia told her about Kate, Yulize had investigated Kate’s husband Charles and her mother-in-law—all within two days.
Turns out, they hadn’t even tried to hide anything. A little digging had unearthed a flood of information.
“Sis. We need to get Kate out of there!”
Now, it wasn’t about taking the dessert shop anymore—it was about rescuing Kate. And Yulize was all in.
For someone so hot-headed, she really had a strong sense of justice. That’s why Vendia liked her.
Knock knock.
“Ma’am, i-it’s Chris.”
“Come in.”
Right on cue, Chris stepped into the office.
“How did it go?”
“I m-managed to approach her.”
Vendia gave him a big thumbs-up. “Great job.”
“It’s time to tell Kate.”
“You’re going to tell her directly?”
“No.”
At Yulize’s question, Vendia shook her head and grinned wickedly.
“We’re putting everyone on stage.”
“Kate, the day’s business is done—what are you doing?”
Kate was startled to see Dia again after several days.
Out of nowhere, she showed up and asked such a question.
“Oh, I was just about to clean up and head home…”
“I got these meal vouchers. Let’s go together.”
Dia held out two invitations.
Kate, looking back and forth between Dia and the vouchers, waved her hands nervously.
“No, that’s okay. And I really can’t help you with the store… Everything’s up to my mother-in-law…”
“I know. You told me last time. I’m not asking because of the store. I just wanted to go with you.”
“I’m sorry… I have to look after the baby, and… I’m not really dressed to be going out with someone like you…”
She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Her lips quivered slightly as she clutched her worn-out apron.
She was embarrassed.
Standing there in her frayed, faded blue dress, worn-out flats, rough skin, and hair just tied back into a bun—she looked shabby next to Dia, who was dressed in elegant, fine clothing.
Dia didn’t even need flashy accessories; she exuded grace and light on her own. Kate felt like the complete opposite—miserable and insignificant.
“Don’t worry. About the baby… or your clothes.”
Despite Kate’s rejection, Vendia smiled at her with serene warmth.
