Chapter 71: I don’t regret what I did

The bakery was unusually lively that afternoon. The moment Clara stepped inside, she dramatically held up a folder above her head like a trophy.

"Ladies!"

Everyone looked up from their work.

"I have wonderful news." She waved the papers excitedly.

"We got the contract!"

"What?!"

Silvia, Lily, and even Gen froze.

All three rushed toward her at once.

"You actually got it?" Silvia asked in disbelief.

"No way!"

Lily quickly snatched the papers from Clara’s hands and carefully read through them.

Her eyes grew wider with every line.

"It’s real..."

She looked at Clara in complete amazement.

"Madam, you really did it!"

Clara proudly placed both hands on her hips.

"I told you."

"My desserts never lose."

Silvia let out a whistle.

"Our bakery is officially moving up in the world."

Clara nodded enthusiastically.

"Girls!"

She threw both arms into the air.

"Our first major order!"

"Then another!"

"And another!"

She pointed dramatically toward the ceiling.

"And before you know it..."

"We’ll all become millionaires!"

Silvia blinked.

Then raised a hand.

"Madam..."

"Hmm?"

"Aren’t you already a millionaire?"

Lily nodded seriously.

"Actually... probably several times over."

"Young Master’s companies practically print money."

Clara huffed.

"So what?"

"I still want to help my husband."

She folded her arms proudly.

"He’s worked so hard all these years."

"It’s finally my turn to support him."

Silvia and Lily exchanged helpless looks.

If a stranger had walked in just now...

They would’ve been deeply moved.

What a devoted wife.

Working hard to ease her husband’s burden.

Unfortunately...

The two of them knew the truth.

The only burden Young Master carried...

Was convincing his wife that she didn’t need to work.

Silvia coughed to hide her laughter.

"Madam..."

"I’m pretty sure Young Master isn’t exactly struggling."

Clara waved her hand dismissively.

"That’s not the point."

"I want him to know his wife can make money too."

Lily smiled.

"...Poor Young Master."

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

Lily immediately shook her head.

Clara clapped her hands together.

"Alright!"

"Enough talking."

"Let’s close early today."

"We’re going out for dinner."

Silvia’s eyes sparkled.

"A celebration?"

"Exactly!"

Lily hesitated.

"But Madam..."

"Shouldn’t we celebrate after the charity event?"

Clara nodded.

"We absolutely should."

She grinned mischievously.

"So we’ll celebrate twice."

"Today’s celebration is for getting the contract."

"The next one will be for completing it."

Silvia immediately threw both fists into the air.

"I support this plan!"

"As expected of Madam."

Lily laughed.

"I don’t think anyone has ever found this many excuses to celebrate."

"The more reasons, the better."

Clara replied without a hint of shame.

The three women smiled before returning to finish their work.

Clara was about to head toward the office when a hesitant voice stopped her.

"Madam..."

She turned around.

Gen stood a few steps away, nervously twisting her fingers together.

Her head remained lowered.

"There... there’s something I need to tell you."

Clara’s smile softened.

"What is it?"

Gen took a shaky breath.

"It’s about..."

She swallowed hard.

"...the money."

She finally gathered enough courage to continue.

"Why did you tell everyone you had taken it home?"

Her voice trembled.

Slowly... she raised her head to meet Clara’s eyes.

She had spent the entire night thinking about it. If Clara already knew the truth... there was no point hiding anymore.

Clara looked at her quietly for a few moments. Then... a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Because... I knew you had taken it."

Gen’s breathing stopped.

Clara continued gently. "You hid the money yourself. So people would think that man stole it."

Gen’s pupils shrank.

"W-What...?"

"And..." Clara took another step closer.

"I also know... who that man really is."

Silence filled the bakery. Clara’s expression remained calm.

"But..."

She looked directly into Gen’s tear-filled eyes. "I don’t want to hear the truth from others. I want to hear it from you."

The words struck Gen’s heart like a hammer. The wall she’d spent years building around herself finally shattered.

Tears blurred her vision. One drop... then another. Soon they streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

For the first time in years... someone had seen through all of her lies... and still chose to wait for her truth.

***

A short distance away from the bakery, Clara and Gen sat quietly on a wooden bench in the nearby park.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes. The only sounds were the cheerful laughter of children, birds chirping in the trees, and the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves.

Clara quietly unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and handed it to Gen.

"Here, drink some water."

Gen accepted it with trembling hands.

"...Thank you." She took a small sip before resting the bottle on her lap. Her gaze slowly drifted across the park.

Children ran freely across the grass. Some chased one another. Others laughed while playing with their friends.

Nearby, a little girl squealed with delight as her father gently pushed her on a swing.

The man laughed every time she shouted, "Higher!"

For a brief moment... a faint, bittersweet smile appeared on Gen’s lips. But it disappeared just as quickly.

She lowered her gaze. Silence settled between them once again. Finally, Gen spoke.

"I know what you’re probably thinking." Her voice was calm, almost emotionless.

"Now that you’ve caught me lying..." She let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "...you must think I’m a terrible person."

She tightened her grip around the water bottle.

"But... I don’t regret what I did."

Her eyes slowly lifted to meet Clara’s. This time... there was no guilt in them. No hesitation. Only a chilling determination.

"I wanted that man behind bars." Her voice was cold enough to send a shiver through the air.

"If framing him was the only way to make that happen... I would’ve done it again."

She looked away, her jaw clenching tightly.

"I don’t care if people call me heartless. I don’t care if they think I’m a liar. But that man..." A flash of hatred crossed her eyes. "...deserves to pay."