Chapter 2

Today, unlike usual, Dan was feeling delighted. He has not been this excited for years now. He guessed that he was pretty curious about seeing the mystery girl, who caught his eyes, although he had not seen her face. She had been on his mind ever since he had a glimpse of her, but he was too caught up in his work to go to the cafe again. He was busy preparing a presentation to show to the owner of ‘The Brunch.’

Hopefully, today he will be able to see who she was. He doesn’t know, but he feels like he knows her or has some kind of connection with her for some unknown reason. Well, only time will tell.

Things have always been busy for Ella. The workload in the café and the home was increasing day by day. She also had to take care of Lily. So, she had been juggling the work of the cafe and home for the past seven days.

Though her life can be pretty hectic sometimes, she loves every bit of it. Ella enjoys her post as a manager at the cafe, and Lily also makes her life tolerable at home. After all, being a single mother is not that easy.

Like yesterday, Dan and Tim ordered their coffee even today and were waiting for Mr. Thompson to arrive.

Dean Thompson is the owner of this cafe, but his daughter and her best friend manage it. Dan and Tim came before time to enjoy the delicious coffee of this place. While sipping coffee, he was looking out for the mystery girl, but there was not a single trace of her.

Dammit!! Where is she?

Fifteen minutes more to go.

So, to kill time, he thought about checking out the book section. He walked towards the book portion of the cafe, and there he finally saw that mystery

girl trying to keep a book on the top shelves. But her petite height did not allow her.

‘No, Dan stops it. You can’t think about her now. Not after all those years.’

He blocked the thought of her and went towards the mystery girl to help her out.

He took the book from her hand and placed it in its destined place.

“Thank you so much,” she said.

That sweet, angelic voice. Dan doesn’t even need to think hard to recognize that voice.

“Shortcake,” he whispered.

Ella doesn’t need to turn around to see who helped her out. Only one person called her that. She hoped that she had heard wrong or that her mind was

playing games, but unfortunately, she clearly heard the person calling her Shortcake.

“Danny,” she whispered, but no voice came out. She was speechless.

She didn’t dare turn around. She was too scared to see that person. Thousands of thoughts were going through her mind.

What is she supposed to say to him after six years?

How is she supposed to react?

How is he going to react?

And most importantly, what had she gotten herself into?

Panic rushed through her. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing all this was a dream.

Danny found her body stiffening in front of him when he whispered Shortcake. At first, he was too shocked to react. But then his reaction was an impulse.

As she was not turning around, he grabbed her shoulder and turned her towards him to ensure he was not delusional. His breath got caught in his throat.

Never had, he would have ever thought that the mystery girl was none other than his Shortcake, Ella.