( Scarlett's POV ) More Rewards > The afternoon sun filters through the café windows as I watch Lily color at the corner table . She insisted on bringing her entire crayon collection , and now there's a rainbow explosion across the white tablecloth . Dorian doesn't seem to mind . If anything , he looks charmed by her artistic chaos . " Purple elephants are definitely the best kind , " he tells her seriously , examining her latest masterpiece . Lily beams . " Mama says I can use any colors I want because art doesn't have rules . " " Your mama is very wise . " Something warm spreads through my chest at the easy way he talks to her . No talking down , no forced enthusiasm . Just genuine interest in whatever four - year - old wisdom she wants to share . " More coffee ? " The waitress appears beside our table . " Please . " I need the caffeine . Between reopening the bakery and staying up late worrying about Virginia's threats , I've barely slept . Dorian waits until the waitress leaves before leaning forward slightly . " You look tired . Is everything okay ? " I could lie . Smile and say I'm fine , like I always do . But something about his steady gaze makes me want to be honest . " Just some leftover stress from the whole health department thing ." I fidget with my coffee cup . " It's hard to trust that it's really over . " " Has there been more harassment ? " My phone buzzes in my purse , and my stomach clenches , I've been getting messages from blocked numbers all week . Nothing directly threatening , just enough to keep me on edge . " A few weird texts . Probably nothing . " Dorian's expression darkens . " Scarlett , if someone's targeting you- " " I'm handling it . " The words come out sharper than I intended . " Sorry . I just ... I'm used to dealing with things on my own . " 1/5 < Chapter 24 : More Rewards > " You don't have to anymore . " The simple statement hits me harder than it should . When was the last time someone offered to share my burdens instead of adding to them ? " Anyway , " I say quickly , needing to change the subject . " You mentioned something about your business ? " Dorian glances at Lily , who's moved on to drawing what appears to be a rainbow unicorn , then back to me . " I've been wanting to talk to you about this for weeks . " " Oh ? " " I own Davidson Chain Supermarkets . Fifteen locations across the state . " My coffee cup freezes halfway to my lips . " You own Davidson's ? " " My grandfather started with one store . My father expanded to five . I've been working on growing the business since I took over eight years ago . " I stare at him , pieces clicking into place . The expensive clothes he wears casually . The way he talks about having " connections " like they're nothing . The confidence that comes from never having to worry about money . He's not just successful . He's wealthy . Really wealthy . " Why didn't you tell me before ? " " Because I like the way you look at me when you don't know . " His smile is soft , almost shy . " Like I'm just Dorian who likes your bread . Not Davidson's heir . " Heat floods my cheeks . He's right . I do look at him differently now . Can't help calculating the distance between my small bakery and his business empire . " The reason I'm telling you now ," he continues , " is because I have a proposition . " " What kind of proposition ? " " I want to put your bread in my stores . All fifteen locations . " The words hit me like a physical blow . " Are you serious ? " " Completely . I've done the market research . There's huge demand for artisanal baked goods . Your quality is exactly what my customers are looking for . " My mind races . Fifteen stores . That would mean ... 2/5 : Chapter 24 " How many loaves are we talking about ? " More Rewards > " To start ? Maybe two hundred loaves per store , three times a week . That's six hundred loaves total . " " Six hundred . " The number makes me dizzy . " Dorian , I barely manage fifty loaves a day now . " " You'd need to expand . Hire employees , get industrial ovens , maybe move to a bigger location . " He leans back in his chair . " I'm not talking about a hobby bakery anymore , Scarlett . I'm talking about a real business . One that could support you and Lily for life . " The dream he's painting is beautiful . Financial security . A real future . The ability to provide for Lily without constantly worrying about making rent . But it would also mean changing everything . The personal touch that makes each loaf special . The relationships with individual customers . The small , intimate space where Lily can do homework while I work . " I don't know if I want to be that big ," I admit . Dorian nods like he expected this answer . " I understand . Mass production isn't for everyone . " " It's not about the work . I just ... " I search for the right words . " When I started the bakery , it was about creating something meaningful . Each loaf tells a story . If I'm making six hundred at a time ... " " They become just products instead of art , " he finishes . " Exactly . " " What if we found a middle ground ? Maybe start with just two or three stores . See how it feels . " The offer is generous . More than generous . And I know I should be grateful . Should jump at the chance to secure my future . But something holds me back . " Can I think about it ? " " Of course . Take all the time you need . " Lily looks up from her drawing . " Mama , I'm hungry . " " We should order food . " I reach for the menu , grateful for the distraction . " Actually , " Dorian checks his watch , " there's a food truck festival in the park . Lily might enjoy 3/5 < Chapter 24 that more than café food . " " Food trucks ! " Lily bounces in her seat . " Can we , Mama ? Please ? " More Rewards > I look between them - Dorian's hopeful expression , Lily's excitement - and feel something in my chest loosen . When was the last time I did something just for fun ? " Okay . Food truck festival it is . " Twenty minutes later, we're walking through the park , Lily skipping between us like she's claimed us both as her personal entertainment committee . The festival is bigger than I expected - dozens of colorful trucks selling everything from Korean tacos to gourmet grilled cheese . " Everything looks so good ," Lily declares , spinning in a circle to take it all in . " What sounds good to you ? " Dorian asks her . " Ice cream ! " " Food first , then ice cream , " I say automatically . " How about we split the difference ? " Dorian points to a truck decorated with cartoon cows . " Mac and cheese ice cream . " Lily's eyes go wide . " That's a thing ? " " Apparently . " We end up with a ridiculous amount of food - Korean BBQ bowls , funnel cake , fresh lemonade , and yes , the mac and cheese ice cream , which turns out to be surprisingly good . " This is the best day ever , " Lily announces , orange cheese sauce decorating her chin . I use a napkin to clean her face , my heart full in a way it hasn't been in years . This feels normal . Like family . Like the kind of Saturday afternoon I used to dream about when I was married to a man who treated weekends like another workday . " Look , Mama ! " Lily points across the park . " There's a face painter ! " " Maybe after we finish eating ," I start to say , but Dorian's already standing . " Come on . Life's too short to eat responsibly all the time . " Lily grabs both our hands as we walk toward the face painting booth . Other families are scattered across the grass - couples with children , grandparents chasing toddlers , teenagers sharing carnival food . 4/5 < Chapter 24 We look just like them . Just like a normal family having a normal day . More Rewards > The thought should scare me . Instead , it fills me with something dangerously close to hope . " I want to be a butterfly ! " Lily declares when we reach the front of the line . The artist , a college - aged girl with purple hair , grins . "I do excellent butterflies . What colors ? " " All of them ! " As Lily settles into the chair , chattering excitedly about wing patterns , I feel eyes on me . That prickly sensation that makes the hair on my neck stand up. I turn casually , scanning the crowd . And my heart stops . Jasper . Violet Moon # Vote # ! 5 Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) >