Chapter 1003:
Millie looked down at Leda’s tear-streaked but radiant face and felt her heart clench with both joy and sadness.
If only she and her mother had received this kind of help and kindness during their own desperate times, maybe their story would have had a completely different ending.
With that bittersweet thought in mind, she managed a warm smile. “Leda, your success is entirely because your pastries are absolutely delicious. I didn’t really do anything special to help.”
“But you were the one who discovered me!” Leda insisted with fierce determination. “Before you came along, hardly anyone except those from my neighborhood knew my little shop even existed!”
She was clearly determined to make sure Millie understood and accepted her gratitude, even though homemade pastries were all she had to offer as thanks. Seeing how sincere and passionate Leda was about expressing her appreciation, Millie let out a soft sigh of understanding.
Then an idea occurred to her. “You know what? Why don’t you start making regular deliveries here to the Elliott Mansion as well?”
Myron, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, immediately nodded his agreement. “That sounds perfect. I’ll have our housekeeper get in touch with you.”
Leda’s mouth fell open in complete shock. “Oh no, I didn’t come here tonight trying to get more business from you!”
She looked genuinely horrified that they might think she had ulterior motives for visiting.
Millie laughed softly at her obvious distress. “I know you didn’t come here for that reason. But I genuinely love eating your pastries. Are you seriously planning to refuse to sell them to me?”
“No, no, of course not!” Leda said quickly. “But there would be no charge for anything I bring you!”
𝒢𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝑒𝓍𝓉 → 𝓰aⳑ⧫𝗇𝗈⧫ν𝖊𝗅⧫𝘀⧫ⅽ⧫𝗈⧫𝗆
“Absolutely not,” Myron said with a gentle but firm smile. “If you don’t let us pay you properly, Millie won’t feel comfortable accepting anything from you.”
Leda finally nodded reluctantly.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, she spoke again with quiet emotion. “You both have shown me such incredible kindness. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
Millie shook her head dismissively. “There’s nothing to repay. Why don’t you come inside for a while? We could sit and chat over some tea.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly,” Leda replied quickly. “It’s already so late, and you must be exhausted after your big event tonight. You need to get your rest.”
Seeing that Leda was determined to be polite and not overstay her welcome, Millie and Myron finally said their goodbyes and headed toward the front entrance.
But before they had gotten very far, someone came hurrying out of the house to catch up with Leda, who was still standing by the gate.
“Ms. Harris? Would you mind coming inside for just a few minutes? We’d like to discuss the details of that pastry delivery arrangement.”
Leda’s face brightened immediately, and she nodded eagerly as she followed the staff member back toward the house.
As their car continued up the long driveway toward the main residence, Millie found herself staring down at the box of pastries in her lap with a mixture of emotions swirling through her heart.
.
.
.