Shattered Dreams 

As soon as Franca was done inspecting the last batch of pastries, she rushed into her office and began freshening her makeup. The inspection had been a bore. Now she couldn't wait to rush over to Mitchell's house for lunch and the latest news about Gina.

Bella Mills came in. "Are you done with the inspection, sweetheart?" She asked.

"Hours ago," she complained. "What kept you?"

"Sorry, sweetie, it was traffic. Are you ready for lunch?"

"For the past hour,"

"Let's go to Spotlight. I hear a new house special is being served today."

"Go ahead; I'm off to the Mitchell's for lunch."

Her mother sighed.

"Sweetie, you need to stop going there. Forget about Kingsley," Bella told her. "I know you love him; I like him too; who won't? He's the perfect gentleman, but he doesn't feel the same about you."

"That's not true, mom," Franca protested. "KK loves me very much. All his family does. That gold-digger is the problem, but he's going to divorce her very soon."

Bella raised her eyebrows. "And you know how?"

"Mabel is going to make it happen. She has assured me,"

Bella rolled her eyes. "Mabel is my friend. We've been friends since high school, and we would both love you guys to get married, but you need to face reality. Kingsley loves Gina. Nothing can change that."

"He doesn't," Franca said stubbornly. "He only married her because she claimed he knocked her up, but I know she's lying. Now the baby is no longer there. KK will throw her in the gutter where she belongs."

"Can you hear yourself?" Her mother asked incredulously. "So if Kingsley did divorce her and propose to you, would you accept him? Agree to be a second option."

"I'm his first option and will always be."

"You need to stop this, Franca! Face it! Kingsley doesn't love you, he's moved on. You should too. You are rich and beautiful, men would be honored to have you."

"I don't want men! I want Kingsley, and will have him. I'm not going to lose my man to a gutter rat like Gina." She grabbed her bag and stormed out.

With a deep sigh, Bella sank into a chair. 

"This isn't going to end well," she muttered.

Franca's rage had largely subsided by the time she reached the Mitchells' house. She sat in her car, taking calming breaths.

Everything was going according to plan. In a week or two, Kingsley would hand Gina divorce papers and throw her out. Mabel had assured her of that. Franca would now move in to console him; this time she was determined not to blow her chance. She would seduce him, if possible, and get pregnant. Once that was done, Noble Kingsley would have no choice but to marry her, and Mabel would see to that too. She was determined to marry him; he was her dream man. When she'd heard about his marriage to Gina, she'd cried for days until Mabel promised to do everything to end the shame. Her mom would soon realize how wrong she had been.

Feeling better, she approached the mansion and rang the bell. No answer. She looked at her watch. She was late for lunch, no thanks to her mom. She rang again and again with no answer. Was nobody home? 

The door was opened by a worn-looking Mabel, who seemed embarrassed to see her.

"Hey Franca, how are you? How is your mom?" Mabel asked awkwardly.

"Great. Sorry, I'm late for lunch. I had a lot to do at the bakery."

Franca waited for Mabel to stand aside so she could come in, but instead she stood staring at her.

"Well, I'm here," Franca continued. "I can't wait to hear the latest news about that worm."

"Sorry, Franca, but that won't be possible."

Franca was taken aback. "What? Why?"

Mabel sighed. "Franca, you shouldn't come here so much."

Franca stared.

Mabel continued. "I love you like a daughter, but Kingsley is married to Rachel. They need to be happy. Please go and stop coming here."

She closed the door. Franca stood dazed, then she made for her car. What the hell had happened? What had come over Mabel? She sat in her car, chewing on her nails, thinking hard. Mabel had been anxious to have her marry Kingsley; why the sudden change? Was her mom right? No, she had to do something. She couldn't lose Kingsley. She pulled out her cell and called Lucy.

"Hey Lucy, where are you?"

"Hi Fran, I'm at a friend's place. I can't stand the craziness at home; something is wrong with mom."

"Yeah, that's why I'm calling. I came by for lunch, but she wouldn't let me in."

"Seriously?"

"I'm telling you. She told me to stop coming and said I was ruining KK's marriage. What's going on with her? Since when did she and that rat Gina become best buddies?"

"I have no idea, but I'm going to get to the bottom of it, I promise you."

"Okay, keep me posted."

"Will do,"

She hung up. The conversation with Lucy hadn't calmed her. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Kingsley to a nobody like Gina. This was a war, and she would win, even if it cost a life.

Mabel leaned against the door, trying to control the pain and anger fighting inside her. Now her chance for revenge has slipped away, no thanks to Gina. She marched into the living room and poured herself a drink. A marriage between Franca and Kingsley would have been the chance to get back what Bella Mills had stolen from her. She and Bella had been friends since high school. Back then, Bella had gone by Karen. Together with Sophie, they had formed an inseparable trio. Then Sophie and her family moved away, and Mabel and Bella grew closer until Bella betrayed her. It happened years ago. Bella had offered to help her buy some bags of flour, and a couple of days before the opening of her bakery, she had come to deliver it to her.

"All set to make your dream come true?" Bella asked her.

"I'm all set and so excited. Karen, Sweet Bakes will be the talk of town."

"It's Bella; I've changed my name, remember?" Bella reminded her.

"Sorry. You've been Karen since high school. I keep forgetting you changed your name.

"It's okay. I bought the flour, it's in the store."

Mabel hugged her. "Thanks so much. You're a big help."

She went to take a look and broke into a smile on seeing the main ingredient; then the smile was replaced by dismay.

"Bella, the flour is past its sell-by date," she pointed to the label.

Bella's eyes widened. "No way! Oh my Gosh! Why didn't I see it?

Mabel began to tremble. "I can't use this."

"What will you do?"

"I don't know." Mabel panicked. "I need flour today; the bakery opens tomorrow. What will I do? My timetable will be ruined."

"Use it," Bella suggested.

"What! I can't! It's against the law. I could get in a heap of trouble with the health department."

"Who is going to tell them? It's only a month past the sell-by date; it won't kill anyone, and besides, you will use it all in no time."

"Gee, I don't know. You think it's a good idea?"

"Trust me, no one will know. You can't afford the loss. Next time, we'll be more careful."

Well, okay, I just hope it won't cause any trouble."

"It won't. You'll see,"

It had come as a shock to Mabel when, hours before opening, a group of health inspectors walked in and demanded to see the flour bags. She knew instantly who had ratted her out.

"Believe me, I didn't know it was past the sell-by date," she lied when the date was discovered.

"Really? We've heard otherwise," one of the inspectors told her. The deception made her punishment worse. She was fined and denied permission to open for nearly a year. Worse was the disgrace she'd caused her family. They were shocked and disappointed. But it was nothing compared to her shock when Bella opened a replica of her bakery and called it Classic Bakes. It became the biggest in town. Mabel went to confront her. 

"You never told me you were planning to open a bakery with my ideas," Mabel said furiously.

"I had the idea too; I just decided to go ahead with it since yours has been put on hold."

"Yeah, because someone ratted me out," Mabel was seething.

"You don't think it's me," Bella said, shocked. "I would never do that to you. I'm your friend."

Mabel now knew Bella had planned this all along. Buying the expired flour has been no accident. She held back all the horrible things she would have liked to tell her and stormed out instead.

She had to modify her bakery since Bella had taken the original design. By the time she finally got the go-ahead to open Sweet Cakes, she was too far behind and found it impossible to catch up with Classic Bakes. 

Bella's betrayal hurt her deeply, and she vowed to get back at her and retake Classic Bakes. To do that, she had to be as sneaky as Bella had been. So she went back and put on an act.

"Sorry for my bad behavior the other day; I was just upset. I'm really happy for you, Bella. I know you'll be a success."

"Thanks dear. I know you will too when you eventually open."

They hugged. Years later, they both got married. Mabel had a son, and Bella had a daughter. Mabel decided a marriage between their kids would be the solution. First, she advised Bella to leave most of the running of Classic Bakes to Franca, who did it reluctantly, even though she had a huge share in the business. As her mother-in-law, she hoped to suggest giving her a hand and, in time, persuade Franca to sell her share to her. It would have been the perfect revenge and a huge blow to Bella.

Now everything was ruined, no thanks to Gina. She finished her drink and poured another. She would have to think of a new plan. Bella had to pay. But she had a bigger problem. Gina. How had she discovered her secret? The only person who knew had died a month ago and taken the secret to her grave, hadn't she? And how much did Gina know? 

Her thoughts returned to Bella.

Looking back now, she's always been jealous of me. She thought painfully that Sophie was my true friend, and Karen or Bella wasn't.

Her pain would worsen when she learned the full extent of Bella's betrayal.