They occasionally dined together, sometimes even opening a bottle of wine. Roger seemed knowledgeable about wine, with a particular preference for red wine.
Sophia would usually only take a small sip; she wasn't particularly fond of the taste of red wine—it was too acidic, too intense.
She couldn't help but think of the sweet white wine Capone had stocked up for her, the Black Label that had once floored both him and Lucas, and the brandy she had specially added to the tiramisu she made for him...
Their relationship was like that—not lacking in intensity, with a bit of sharpness on the first taste, but leaving a lingering aftertaste.
She would sometimes get lost in these thoughts, and Roger wouldn't press her, giving her the time and space she needed. After all, she wasn't the same blank-slate girl he had first met; she had gone through a lot, leaving marks on her heart. He knew he'd have to patiently wait for those marks to fade, or perhaps be sealed away over time.
Dining together wasn't as enjoyable as the times they spent huddled in the shop, brainstorming new dessert recipes.
After the shop closed and the other employees had left, it was just the two of them. Sometimes they'd settle for the simplest pasta and mineral water before diving back into work.
Sophia had seen Roger in his work attire, with the tall chef's hat, deeply focused on his craft. His skilled hands could shape chocolate into masterful designs and create entirely different cakes from the same ingredients. He was stern and distant then, as if she were an amateur shrimp who could never become an outstanding pastry chef.
But he was also incredibly generous, teaching her every detail, guiding her by hand through challenging orders. Perhaps admiration was where it all started, little by little, building up like grains of sand forming a tower.
But life is unpredictable, and after half a year apart, seeing him again in his white uniform, with his chiseled profile and that distinctively handsome look of a man with mixed heritage, she felt entirely different.
Besides warmth, there wasn't a trace of excitement.
"What are you thinking about?" His voice was as clear as ever, with a hint of familiarity, like a bit of honey dissolving in a mountain spring.
His presence was close, just beside her neck. Sophia instinctively shrank her shoulders.
"Oh, nothing… Did you put your cake in the oven?"
"Yeah! Spring is a bit dry, so I added some refreshing elements to the new recipe. Your mousse looks good too; I'd like to be the first to try it once it's done!"
"Of course, but if it doesn't taste good, remember to give me a little grace!"
When Sophia was playful, her eyes seemed to speak. Roger, entranced, reached out and gently touched her cheek. "You said we should stay low-key at work, to keep personal and professional matters separate. So… would you say this still counts as work time?"
He wanted to kiss her, in this space that belonged to just the two of them, longing to taste her soft, rosy lips.
Sophia had always thought she didn't mind his touch. After all, simply being by his side made her feel warmth and care. Yet, when his palm pressed against her skin, the faint warmth made her body involuntarily stiffen. It was as if an empty spot in her heart had turned into a growing black hole, vast and bottomless, like one wrong step would send her plummeting into an endless abyss.
His face moved closer, until he was just a millimeter away from her lips, ready to envelop them, to kiss her deeply and completely, like Capone had once done…
In a flash, her instincts made the choice for her. She pushed Roger away with force, retreating to the corner like a startled animal, turning her face away with embarrassment and caution.
"I'm sorry, I was too forward! Sophia, are you okay?"
Roger assumed she had some trauma from a past experience, perhaps a lingering fear of intimacy, something that needed time to heal. He regretted his impatience, feeling both remorseful and concerned.
But the more understanding he was, the guiltier Sophia felt. She couldn't even handle his touch or kiss!
He was her boyfriend, a good man she could rely on for life. How could she still be haunted by memories of another man while with him?
"I'm sorry, it's my fault… I'm the one who's wrong… Roger, I—"
"Sophia, don't be like this! There's no need for a girl to apologize in situations like this! You did nothing wrong—it was me who was too impulsive!"
If she had any fault, it was only in being too beautiful, too alluring, making it impossible for him to resist.
He didn't blame her; they had a lifetime to work through her reservations. He could wait.
Even so, this incident left Sophia shaken, and she remained dazed even after returning home.
Sophia's parents and older brother knew about her relationship with Roger and were supportive. Sophia didn't want to let them down. After all, any girl who had been through a kidnapping and a series of humiliations would become a worry for her family, who feared her reputation had been damaged and that her future happiness was in jeopardy. She truly was lucky—despite how things looked, she still had a good man like Roger willing to accept everything about her without ever asking about what happened over the past six months, just to avoid causing her pain.
Yet, waves of guilt kept overwhelming her, and she began to doubt her own ability to love.
Who could tell her how to love another man when her heart was still left with Capone?
Sophia struggled to sort out her feelings, but fortunately, Roger happened to have to go to Beijing. As someone who had previously won a pastry competition, he was no stranger to facing challenges from domestic and international experts, recording TV programs, and so on, so he wasn't at the shop every day.
Now, his main concern wasn't the business but rather that there wouldn't be anyone to walk Sophia home after work.
"Get home early after work, or call your sister-in-law and the others to go shopping or chat—don't work late alone, okay?"
Sophia laughed as she held her phone. "Got it, housekeeper!"
On the other end of the line, Roger sighed softly. She was his sweet burden, yet he accepted it gladly.
"Sophia, when I get back, I want to take you to meet my parents and family. If possible, I'd like to visit your family too. Could you think about it seriously?"
He spoke earnestly, though in a rather gentle way. Meeting each other's families formally suggested that things were moving towards marriage. Sophia still felt a slight sense of distance between them, perhaps because she lacked confidence in their future together. Marriage might be a bit too soon, but they could at least get engaged, which would show her his commitment. That way, they might become closer as a couple.
Sophia understood his intentions. She had thought about it too. If they got engaged or even married, there would be no turning back. No matter how painful or difficult, she would have to pull her heart away from that shadow of the past and try to love anew.
But whether she could succeed, she couldn't be certain. Roger was betting his entire life's happiness on her, which was unfair to him.
"Alright, I'll think about it carefully, and we can discuss it when you come back."
She hadn't refused, and that was already the biggest hope.
Even though the boss wasn't around, work continued as usual. Fortunately, Roger's pastry shop wasn't very large, and the few employees he had were all diligent and didn't need constant supervision. Since business was good, they always closed before dark, so working hours were predictable, and no one ever left early.
Now, everyone was mindful of Sophia's relationship with Roger and saw her as half the "lady boss." Even with Roger absent, no one dared slack off.
Only Amy remained indifferent to her, though her sharp remarks had lessened. She still maintained an arrogant, disrespectful attitude.
Today, however, was different. Amy had hardly spoken all day, except to take two phone calls in secluded spots. This wasn't like her usual behavior, and she seemed distracted, even setting the oven to the wrong temperature. Fortunately, Sophia noticed in time.
"Is something wrong? If there's an issue at home, feel free to go early. I can handle things here."
Sophia's kindness startled her, and Amy turned to look at her, the panic on her face even more obvious.
"N-no… it's nothing. I probably just haven't been sleeping well lately, feeling a bit off."
Sophia didn't press further. She'd heard that sometimes Amy stayed out late playing mahjong with friends after work, maybe she just hadn't rested enough.
With winter giving way to spring, the warmer weather had brought in more business. They sold out even before the usual closing time, and like everyone else, Sophia tidied up and prepared to leave on time.
She remembered Roger's advice, and with the recent new products doing well, she planned to keep selling them for a while and wouldn't rush to develop new ones until he returned.
Amy didn't help clean up; instead, she grabbed her bag and hurried out, glancing nervously around the door before heading in a direction she didn't usually take.
Sophia's curiosity grew, but she didn't follow. After all, it was Amy's private matter, and she didn't want to be nosy.
The weather was lovely. She looked up at the deep blue twilight sky, tinged with shades of indigo, Capone's favorite colors, much like the feeling he left her with. She couldn't help but remember him, not knowing when she'd finally be able to let go.
Pulling her scarf tighter, Sophia walked along the road. Several small shops nearby had their doors open for business, and just ahead was the main road and the metro entrance. The streetlights cast her shadow long and thin.
Suddenly, a force pulled her into a nearby shop. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth, and the face that came into focus was the one she'd just been thinking about.
"Don't be afraid, stay quiet. I'm taking you to watch a show."