Chapter 128: You won’t stay away for too long.
When Gen didn’t say anything and simply stared at Clara with a completely flabbergasted expression, Clara let out a helpless sigh.
"Fine," she said, setting her phone aside. "Tell me what’s on your mind."
Gen had been trying to speak to Clara since morning, but the bakery had been packed with customers. She didn’t want to interrupt while everyone was busy. Now that the afternoon rush had finally died down and the shop had grown quiet, she gathered the courage to ask.
"Madam..." Gen began cautiously. "May I take the rest of the day off? There’s somewhere I’d like to visit."
Clara frowned immediately.
"Gen, are you feeling sick?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "Have I been overworking you?"
To Clara, her employees weren’t just staff. They were a team—more like family than coworkers. Seeing Gen ask for permission so formally made her wonder if something was wrong.
"No, Madam!" Gen replied quickly, shaking her head. "I’m perfectly fine."
Clara narrowed her eyes.
"Then why are you asking like you’re about to hand me a resignation letter?"
Gen blinked.
"A... resignation letter?"
"You’ve been standing there for five whole minutes, looking like you’re about to deliver the saddest speech of the century."
Gen’s eyes widened in panic.
"I wasn’t! I was just... trying to find the right words."
"You failed miserably."
"...I know."
Clara pinched the bridge of her nose dramatically.
"Goodness. For a second, I thought you were going to tell me you’ve accepted a job at another bakery."
"As if I’d betray you that easily," Gen muttered before realizing what she’d said. "I-I mean—"
Clara burst into laughter.
"There it is. That’s the Gen I know."
The tense atmosphere disappeared almost instantly.
Taking a small breath, Gen finally spoke.
"Today... is my mother’s birthday."
Clara’s smile softened.
"I wanted to visit her at the cemetery."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Clara quietly sighed in relief.
"Goodness... and here I was mentally preparing a speech about employee loyalty."
She shook her head before smiling warmly.
"Of course you can go."
Gen’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
"And wait." Clara pointed toward the display counter. "Take one of my special strawberry cakes with you."
Gen looked confused.
"For... my mother?"
"Yes."
"But..."
Clara folded her arms.
"Tell her it’s from me."
Gen stared blankly.
"...Madam."
"And tell her she’s still being missed."
A gentle smile spread across Gen’s face, and her eyes became slightly misty.
"I will."
"But don’t eat half the cake on the way."
"I won’t!"
"Not even a tiny bite?"
"I said I won’t!"
Clara leaned forward suspiciously.
"You hesitated."
"I was offended!"
"Which means you’ll eat only one slice."
"Madam!"
Both of them laughed.
Gen carefully packed the cake Clara had chosen, making sure it stayed perfectly intact before bowing slightly.
"Thank you."
"Take your time," Clara said. "And don’t worry about the bakery. We’ll survive a few hours without you."
"I’ll be back before closing."
"If you’re late, I’ll deduct your salary."
Gen gasped dramatically.
"So heartless."
"I’m kidding."
"I know."
Still smiling, Gen waved goodbye before leaving the bakery.
The moment the door closed behind her, Silvia looked up from arranging the pastries.
"Goodness," she said. "I’ve never seen Gen leave with such a huge smile. Did she win the lottery?"
Lily chuckled.
"No."
"Then what happened?"
"It’s her mother’s birthday."
Silvia’s expression softened.
"Oh..."
"And Madam even sent one of her signature cakes along with birthday wishes."
Silvia blinked.
"She sent birthday wishes... to someone in heaven?"
Lily nodded matter-of-factly. "Sounds exactly like Madam."
Silvia couldn’t help laughing.
"Only madam would think, ’You know what? Heaven deserves good cake too.’"
The two exchanged amused smiles before returning to work, the bakery once again filling with the comforting aroma of fresh bread and the quiet warmth that Clara somehow always managed to create.
***
Meanwhile, Gen arrived at the cemetery and greeted the old caretaker with a bright, cheerful smile.
"Well, someone seems to be in a wonderful mood today," the old man said warmly as he looked at her.
He had known Gen for years.
He still remembered the first time she had come to the cemetery. She had looked so fragile and broken that he had genuinely feared she might give up on life.
Back then, she would sit silently in front of her mother’s grave for hours, her eyes empty of emotion. No matter how many times he brought her warm tea or homemade food, she would simply thank him without taking a single bite.
Watching someone so young carry that much grief had weighed heavily on his heart.
Then, one day, she suddenly stopped coming.
When he arrived for work and didn’t find her at the cemetery, he couldn’t help wondering where she had gone. Days passed by quickly, and he quietly prayed that wherever she was, she had found a reason to keep living.
His prayers must have been answered.
A few weeks later, Gen returned.
This time, the lifeless girl he remembered was gone.
There was still sadness in her eyes whenever she stood before her mother’s grave, but it was no longer the kind that consumed her. Instead, there was warmth... hope... and, little by little, genuine smiles.
With every visit after that, the old caretaker found himself growing more relieved. Seeing her laugh again reassured him that life had finally begun to heal the wounds she once believed would never close.
"I am in a good mood," Gen replied with a smile. "It’s my mother’s birthday today."
She gently lifted the cake box in her hands.
"So we’re going to celebrate with her."
The old caretaker’s wrinkled face softened into a kind smile.
"I’m sure she’ll be delighted."
"That’s what I believe too."
The two shared a quiet smile before walking deeper into the peaceful cemetery, surrounded by rows of silent headstones as a gentle breeze rustled through the trees.
***
Meanwhile, after wrapping up her work at the bakery, Clara returned to the Pearl Mansion. She greeted Butler James and the servants with her usual smile before heading upstairs to her room.
The moment she stepped inside, however, she froze.
Dominic was standing by the wardrobe, dressed in a crisp suit, carefully fastening his watch as a suitcase rested beside the bed.
She blinked.
"Are you going somewhere?" she asked, setting her handbag aside before walking over to him.
Dominic paused and looked at her.
Originally, he had planned to tell her about the business trip over dinner. There was no need to rush the conversation. Unfortunately, Mark had called a few minutes ago to inform him that the overseas delegates wanted to move the meeting forward, which meant they had to catch tonight’s flight instead.
"I have to leave for an overseas meeting."
The moment those words left his mouth, Clara’s smile faded.
Dominic immediately noticed the change.
Meanwhile, Clara couldn’t help remembering her previous life.
Back then, Dominic had often volunteered for overseas meetings simply to stay away from her. Their marriage had been so cold that neither of them cared about the distance. In fact, she had welcomed his absence because her heart had been filled with resentment.
But things were different now.
Just when she had started looking forward to spending time with her husband, he was leaving.
A wave of disappointment settled in her chest.
Dominic, on the other hand, was beginning to panic.
[Why does she suddenly look so sad?] He swallowed. [Does... she not want me to go?]
Earlier that day, he’d been convinced he was the only one who would miss his wife.
After all, who else would randomly steal his pillow, argue over desserts, or shamelessly occupy his side of the bed while claiming it was "shared property"?
But now... looking at Clara’s crestfallen expression...
He wasn’t so sure anymore.
Clara heard every single one of his thoughts loud and clear.
Unable to help herself, she stepped closer and gently wrapped her arms around his waist.
Dominic instantly froze.
Resting her cheek against his chest, she quietly murmured,
"Promise me... you won’t stay away for too long."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Dominic’s heart skipped a beat.
[W-Wait...Was that...a sniffle?] His eyes widened.
[No way... Is my wife... about to cry because I’m leaving?]
He immediately became flustered.
[No, no, no! This won’t do. I made her sad.]
His thoughts spiraled out of control.
[Should I cancel the meeting? Yes! That’s it!. I’ll call Mark right now and tell him to make the delegates fly here instead. Business meetings can happen anywhere, but comforting my wife? That’s a once-in-a-lifetime emergency!]
A second later...
[Actually... can CEOs resign? No company... no business trips.]
Clara bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
He’s getting more dramatic by the second.
She tightened her embrace just a little. In her previous life, she had never cared whether Dominic stayed home or disappeared for weeks. As long as he wasn’t in front of her, she had considered it a blessing.
Now...just the thought of being apart from him made her chest ache.
She had always believed the only reason she wanted to stay by Dominic’s side in this life was because she regretted never trusting him before.
But somewhere along the way... that reason had quietly changed.
She had become accustomed to his presence. To his voice. To his warmth.
To his ridiculous inner monologues that somehow made every day more entertaining.
Being away from him no longer felt natural.
It felt lonely.
"Am I..." she wondered silently.
"Am I becoming addicted to you, Dom?"
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Or... is this what it truly feels like to fall in love?"
Meanwhile, Dominic was still standing perfectly still, afraid that even breathing too hard might make his wife sadder.
[Don’t move. Don’t say anything stupid. Just let her hug you; although if she wants to hug me forever, I certainly won’t complain.]