Key trembling in hand , I unlock the door for the first time as the owner . The sign above my head gleams in the morning sun - my name , my dream , all coming to life . The smell of fresh - baked bread fills the air . I've been here since four AM , pulling batch after batch from the ovens . Cinnamon rolls golden and perfect , sourdough loaves with crispy crusts , chocolate croissants that would make a Parisian chef weep . Everything has to be perfect . This is my shot at a new start . " Mama , can I flip the sign ? " Lily bounces on her toes , pointing to the " Closed " sign in the window . " Go ahead , sweetheart . " She turns it to " Open " and grins like she's just launched a rocket to the moon . My brave little girl , who helped me paint these walls , who swept flour off the floor without being asked , who believes in me even when I don't believe in myself . " Here we go , " I breathe . The first customer walks in before I can even get behind the counter . " Oh my goodness ," she gasps , looking around at the warm lighting and display cases full of pastries . " This is beautiful . When did you open ? " " Today . Right now , actually . " " Well then , I'm your very first customer ! " She claps her hands together . " What do you recommend ? " Pride swells in my chest as I point to my signature items . " The honey wheat bread is made with local ingredients . The cinnamon rolls are my specialty - I developed the recipe myself . And those chocolate croissants are made with Belgian chocolate . " She orders one of everything . By ten AM , there's a line out the door . Word spreads fast in this neighborhood , and apparently , good food spreads even faster . My phone buzzes constantly with notifications- someone posted about us on social media , and it's already being shared . " Scarlett , I can't keep up ! " calls Maya , my part - time baker , from behind the counter . 1/5 < Chapter 14 More Rewards > " I'm coming ! " I rush over with a fresh tray of muffins . " Chloe , can you help ring people up ? " " On it ! " Chloe grabs the register , but in her excitement , she trips over the step stool I left out . Papers fly everywhere as she catches herself on the counter . " You okay ? " " Fine , fine ! Just my usual grace , " she laughs , scrambling to pick up the scattered receipts . Meanwhile , Lily has appointed herself official greeter . She stands by the door in her little apron , saying " Welcome to Mama's bakery ! " to everyone who walks in . Customers can't get enough of her . " She's adorable , " an older woman says , pulling out her phone . " Can I take a picture ? This is so sweet . " " Of course . " Before I know it , half the customers are taking photos . Of the bakery , of the food , of Lily being the most charming three - year - old in existence . The lunch rush hits like a tidal wave . Office workers from nearby buildings , stay - at - home parents with their kids , construction workers who heard about us from the morning crowd . I'm pulling sandwich ingredients as fast as I can when I hear Chloe yelp . " Lily , no ! " I look up to see my daughter with chocolate all over her face , a half - eaten croissant in her hands . She's sitting cross - legged on the floor behind the counter , looking completely content . " I was hungry , " she says matter - of - factly . " She grabbed it when nobody was looking ," Chloe says , but she's trying not to laugh . " I turn around for two seconds ... " " It's fine . She's been working hard too . " I wet a napkin and clean Lily's face . " But next time , ask Mama first , okay ? " A customer at the counter pulls out her phone . " This is too cute . Can I post this ? The little owner sneaking treats from her own bakery ? " " Sure . " Within an hour , that photo has a hundred likes . By evening , it's in the thousands . #CutestBaker is trending locally , and my phone won't stop buzzing with online orders . " This is insane ," Chloe says as we finally lock up at closing time . " Look at this . " She shows 2/5 < Chapter 14 me her phone screen - review after review , all five stars . " The bread here is incredible . Like nothing I've ever tasted . " " Hidden gem ! Best bakery in the city . " " The owner is so sweet , and her daughter is precious . " I sink into a chair , exhausted but glowing . " We did it . " More Rewards > " You did it , " Chloe corrects . " This is all you , Scarlett . Four years ago , you could barely get out of bed . Now look . " I look around my bakery - empty display cases , flour scattered on every surface , chairs pushed in for the night . It's messy and chaotic and absolutely perfect . This is mine . I built this . " Mama , are we rich now ? " Lily asks , curled up on the bench by the window . " No , habibti , it'll take a while for us to become rich . But better than that , we now have something to rely on ." ( Jasper's POV) Another month passes , and I'm still nowhere near finding Scarlett . Grabbing the tray Mrs. Patterson sat on the table , I take a bite of the honey loaf , and something inside my chest tightens . The texture , the subtle sweetness , the way it melts on my tongue - it's familiar in a way that makes my hands shake . " Where did you get this ? " I ask , trying to keep my voice steady . Mrs. Patterson looks up from wiping down the kitchen counter . " There's a new bakery on Main Street . Sunrise Bakes . Everyone's talking about it . " " When did it open ? " " About a month ago . The line was so long I almost didn't wait , but the smell ... " She sighs happily . " I haven't had bread this good since my grandmother's kitchen . " I stare down at the loaf in my hands . The crust is golden - brown , perfectly baked . When I press it gently , it springs back just right . " The owner must be very skilled , " I say carefully . " Oh yes . And she has the sweetest little girl . About three years old , maybe four . Helps her 3/5 : < Chapter 14 More Rewards > mama in the shop like a tiny adult . " Mrs. Patterson pulls out her phone . " I took a picture . So adorable . " She shows me the screen . Dark hair in pigtails . Serious brown eyes . A small face with delicate features and a stubborn chin . The phone slips from my hands and clatters to the floor . " Sir ? You look pale . Should I call a doctor ? " " The address , " I shake my head . " Do you have the address of this bakery ? " Mrs. Patterson looks worried , but she picks up her phone and shows me the location . " It's on Main Street , between the flower shop and the bookstore . Mr. Blake , are you sure you're- " But I'm already grabbing my keys , running toward the door . My hands shake so badly I can barely start the car . Main Street . I know exactly where that is . I've driven past that corner a hundred times over the years . If she's who I think she is ... I shake my head . It's not possible . Scarlett has been gone for four years . It's probably just a coincidence that the pastries of this new shop taste like hers ... But ... it doesn't hurt to be sure . The drive takes forever and no time at all . I park across the street and just sit there , staring at the cheerful yellow storefront with " Sunrise Bakes " painted in elegant script across the window . I get out of the car on unsteady legs and cross the street . The bell chimes when I push open the door , and the smell hits me like a physical force . Yeast and butter and cinnamon , mixed with something else I can't name . Love , maybe . The way Scarlett's kitchen used to smell when she was experimenting with new recipes , humming while she worked . " Welcome to Sunrise Bakes ! " Violet Moon # Vote # ! 4/5 < Chapter 15