Toxic Relationships
Bakery

...Happy Reading's...

A girl with shoulder-length hair seemed to smile at the man in front of her and handed her a box of bread. Now it's exactly seven in the morning and Vill’s bakery now looks crowded visitors. Bread brioche and french toast are in great demand in France.

“This is your order, thank you very much and welcome back.”

Clara smilingly looked at the middle-aged man before her, the man also seemed to smile at Clara before finally leaving. Clara smiled happily, only three months he built a bakery and now the shop is quite crowded. Especially in the morning like this, some visitors buy their bread and take it in the cafe next door to enjoy a glass of coffee every morning. He even has a few regulars in his shop.

Actually living in France is not a bad idea, the language is quite easy to understand by him. And also his expedition regarding him sent by Mr. Hilton turned out to be very wrong. He thought Mr. Hilton would send him to a place in the middle of nowhere that he himself did not know where. But it turns out that the middle-aged man sent him right in the middle of the city center with a simple house and an empty shophouse next to him. His savings money is only used for his initial capital. Fortunately, he always saved from his labor in AR Group, at least this money he could use for the next year he lived in France.

Clara gasps when a cell phone rings, Clara reaches into her pants pocket and sees her mother making a video call to her. Clara smiled and looked at one of her employees.

“You replace me first yes, I have a business for a while.”

“Good, Mom."

Clara now immediately released the apron and walked into the store, more precisely into her study. The place where he counted his sales all day.

“Halo, Bu.”

“See him Clara, he's already starting to laugh.”

Clara smiled as she pointed it at her five-month-old daughter. Clara looked at her daughter intently, her daughter was much more like Jack than she was. The little girl was seen smiling widely and displaying a row of teeth that had not yet grown. Clara felt her tears begin to flow, but she quickly wiped them away, not wanting her to see them cry.

“She is beautiful Mom, she is very beautiful.”

Clara felt her chest so tight. Now he is a single fighter, fighting for his son to live a more decent life. He didn't want his son to feel what he was feeling. So much debt and having to lose the father because of all the pile of debt.

“You cried Clara?” Clara gasped at the mother's voice.

“No, no Ma'am. I'm just exhausted, I'm gone ma'am. There are so many jobs.”

Clara quickly turned off the call and covered her face and began to cry. He is proud, he is very proud of himself so far. Especially when every night he looked at the baby who seemed to be in deep sleep, as if his memory of Jack was so stifling.

‘Can you meet your real father, son? Sorry, I'm sorry for making mistakes in the past.'

Clara flinched again when a cellphone ringing was heard again. Clara quickly wiped her tears and stared at her phone screen. Clara took a deep breath and threw it away slowly before raising the call.

“Halo Tiff, what's up?”

“You where is Chal? I'm at the cafe right next to your shop. Quickly come here!”

...----------------...

Clara was now staring around, just not far from her was Tiffany who was seen waving at her. Clara smiled and tightened the coat she was wearing. In France now the temperature reaches - 5°C, and he will freeze to death if he does not wear warm clothes when out even though it is only a few meters from his shop.

“You're back?”

Clara asked and looked at the two of them, Tiffany and Philip. Two lovebirds in front of him was married a few months ago, even Tiffany pregnant her first child and has been five months. Clara smiled at Tiffany's stomach, which seemed to expand.

In fact, since Tiffany married Philip, Tiffany followed the man to live in France, although sometimes had to return to her birthplace just to take care of some files. Since marriage, Tiffany and Philip have never been separated, especially as if they were both an only child from their respective families, as if they were giving more affection to each other.

“You don't seem happy we're back.”

Tiffany laughed at Clara's annoyed face. Flirting with Clara is one of her favorite things. Clara sees Tiffany as intense, and the friendship she has had with Tiffany for nearly eight years is no joke.

Clara remembers exactly one year ago when Tiffany cried when she came to him to apologize. Even the girl claimed to be looking for her in almost all of France only to apologize for everything she had done, and she assisted Philip in searching for her. Even Philip also begged him to forgive Tiffany because the man was dizzy enough almost every time they met and Tiffany just cried telling her about it.

Even Philip admitted that Tiffany never acted that way when she lost it a few years ago. Clara remembers, Tiffany and Philip broke up for a few months and finally got back together.

“How is my niece, Kate boll boll?”

Clara chuckles at Tiffany's nickname for her son, Katelyn. Tiffany said she got an idea for the nickname because she saw how Kate's cheeks looked like balls when she was born. Even the baby reached a weight of almost 4 kg.

“She's good, but so fussy these few days.”

“Maybe he misses his mother."

“You're right Tiff."

Clara seemed to smile faintly at Tiffany's words. Clara admits that what Tiffany said is the truth. For almost three months, he rarely played with Kate. He was so focused on bringing out several different bread innovations and making recipes. And it takes a few days and sometimes there are still some parts lacking for him.

“Don't you have to rest for a moment Chal? You already have a few employees to replace you.” Tiffany said and looked at her best friend worriedly.

“That's Tiff, I was so afraid Kate would feel what I felt first.”

Tiffany and Philip now looked at Clara with concern, Clara looked out the window, staring at some white blobs that were now starting to descend quite profusely. Today it is entering the middle of winter, where the cold is really piercing to the bone.

“But you yourself know that affection is so needed right, Chal?” Clara looked at Tiffany. Tiffany was right, she never even thought that far.

“Do you know how Jack's current condition is Tiff?”

Tiffany took a deep breath and glanced at Philip. This was Clara's personal matter, and Tiffany was sensitive enough that Clara did not want Philip to hear their conversation any further. Sensing Tiffany now glancing at him, Philip cleared his throat and began to stand up.

“I have to buy some stuff outside Dear, I will pick you up again later.”

Philip said and put his phone on the table. Tiffany nodded and looked at the husband who was out of the cafe. Tiffany smiled broadly, Philip is indeed such a sensitive man.

“Really, a. I don't mean to expel Philip.”

Clara and looked at Philip. Really, he's not happy to say anything about Jack. Philip might be uncomfortable. Philip doesn't know Jack either.

“No Chal, I drove him.” Tiffany. Clara and Tiffany looked at each other and started laughing.

“A few weeks ago I heard Jack out of custody.”

Clara's laughter stopped when she heard Tiffany's words. Tiffany now looked at Clara intensely. Clara knew that, deep down, Tiffany must still have hatred for Jack. Clara knows how much Tiffany loves Shawn and thinks of him as her own sister.

“But I don't think Jack will look for you Chal, Mr. Hilton won't let him.”

“You're right Tiff, I'm stupid for still expecting it.” Clara smiled wryly.

To be continue...