Chapter 13: Secrets Revealed

Chapter 13: Secrets Revealed

"Done!" Lydia Moore carefully removed the tantalizing cheesecake from the oven, the aroma so enticing that she couldn't help but swallow hard. After adding a few simple fruit garnishes, she clapped her hands in satisfaction and carried the freshly baked, mouth-watering cake out of the kitchen on a tray.

"Fourteen minutes." Aaron King glanced at Lydia as she approached, carrying a cake named "Loch Ness Secret." He hadn't expected that someone as seemingly ordinary as her, who was not only skilled at playing the violin but also a top-notch baker, could create such a masterpiece. The saying "never judge a book by its cover" seemed to fit her perfectly.

"Sorry for the wait. Here is your 'Loch Ness Secret,' please enjoy." She placed a beautifully crafted crystal spoon on the plate with the cake, her face beaming with a radiant smile.

Sunlight filtered through the thick banyan leaves, casting dappled shadows on the black cheesecake, which was crafted to resemble a castle and a lake intertwined. The cake emitted a slight warmth, and the shimmering light made it appear so exquisite and dreamlike that one would hesitate to touch it, feeling a strong impulse to treasure it instead. The transparent, clean crystal plate scattered a rainbow of colors.

Aaron King slowly picked up the crystal spoon and gently scooped a piece from the castle's top. As the delicate and smooth cheesecake melted in his mouth, the taste... It stirred something deep within him, causing his long-dormant heart to tremble. For a brief moment, the heavy gray velvet that shrouded his painful memories was pierced by a brilliant, diamond-like light. Fragments of memories, lost yet unforgettable from before he was eight years old, suddenly flashed in his mind. And all this was because of the fresh, slightly sweet taste of the cake melting on his tongue.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with it?" His dazed expression made Lydia Moore worry that she had made a mistake in the baking process. She hurriedly asked, concerned. However, she had been meticulous in every step of the cake's preparation, so there shouldn't have been any errors. Or perhaps... the taste of the cake reminded him of past memories. She had heard that a person's character is inevitably shaped by their past experiences and memories. Could his past have left a shadow in his heart, making him the arrogant and domineering man he is now?

"Aaron King." Tina had never seen him like this before. In her mind, Aaron King was always proud and aloof, never revealing any emotions on his face, making it impossible to see beneath his cold mask. But at this moment, she seemed to sense the vulnerability hidden deep within him.

The white porcelain cup was decorated with blueberry and iris patterns, with transparent glass ice cubes floating on the water's surface. Tiny droplets of water slid down the side of the cup, dripping onto the round wooden table covered with a white cotton cloth. The cake shop was so quiet that one could hear the birds flapping their wings outside the window.

The boy sitting by the window stared blankly at the cake on the table, his nose forming a delicate arc, resembling that of a Western noble. The stud in his right ear was a bright blue, shining with the brilliance of the ocean.

"Does the cake remind you of something?" After a moment of hesitation, Lydia Moore spoke softly, "Actually, the 'Loch Ness Secret' is inspired by a Western myth." She looked up at the road outside the window, surrounded by green trees, occasionally interrupted by the swift passage of cars. Her smile was serene, her voice gentle as a whisper: "A long time ago, the god of astrology ruled the land of Losoma in Europe. However, due to his cruelty and arrogance, he ignored the suffering of the local residents. The only water source in Losoma quickly dried up. To save his children, the god's father, the god Vicki, sacrificed his life to become the lake on the land of Losoma, known as Loch Ness. I believe that the 'Loch Ness Secret' symbolizes the selfless love of parents. No matter when, parents are always willing to give everything for their children, to care for them and protect them, regardless of any mistakes they may have made. This love is eternal and unchanging."

"Love?" Aaron King pondered the word repeatedly. He sneered, placing the crystal spoon heavily on the plate, casting a scornful glance at Lydia Moore, and asked sarcastically, "Do you still believe in such a thing?" He even doubted whether they had ever truly loved him. Since his eighth birthday, he had sworn never to believe in true love again.

Otherwise, how could they have been so cruel to him? Growing up, his numerous relationships with women only further revealed their various ugly sides—shallow and hypocritical. They tried every possible way, using every trick, going to great lengths to be with him, but only for his looks, noble status, and wealth. The so-called "love" was nothing more than a cheap tool they used to satisfy their insatiable desires. If one day he lost everything, who would still "love" him?

"I believe that true love still exists in this world." Lydia Moore's tone was firm as she looked steadily into his scornful and indifferent dark eyes, a warm and radiant smile forming on her lips: "And one day, you will believe in it too. Because one day, you will meet a girl who truly loves you, who is willing to give everything for you, and she will be worth you letting go of all your insecurities and reservations to love. She will teach you what true love really is."

She was dressed in a light-colored t-shirt and apron, her skin fair as she looked at him and laughed softly, her lips curling up to reveal a cute, white canine tooth on the left side.

His fingers curled, blue veins lightly swelling, and a fleeting confusion flashed in his dark ink-colored eyes.

At that subtle moment of eye contact between the two, he seemed to see a bright, warm ray of sunlight streak across the blue sky, with white flowers blooming on the lush green vines.

The sun shone down on the quiet corner of the summer street, with blue and white clouds flowing like light gauze across the bright sky. The air was so hot it felt like liquid flames, and the breeze brushed against the dragonfly's transparent wings among the branches, the shimmering light making one forget the scorching heat of midsummer, as if they were in a beautiful, dreamlike world.