Kyra sat on the subway panting, her phone vibrating in her palm like a trapped heartbeat.
She let it buzz, watching the blur of the tunnel walls until her fingers finally stopped tensing. Only then did she look down.
A notification from her mom glowed against the glass.
[Have you eaten something?]
Kyra stared at the words longer than necessary. For a brief moment, the roar of the subway faded, replaced by an invisible pressure tightening around her ribs.
Her lips curved slightly, but the movement felt stiff—a doll's smile, forgotten and forced.
"I had waffles and bubble tea," she typed back.
[Good… focus on your studies now. Don't forget to bring snacks for Lumina and Ava. They were craving them.]
Ding....
{Your Alipay has been credited with $50.}
Kyra blinked at the screen.
Before she could process the digital weight of it, another message arrived: [I sent you money. Buy snacks for your sisters. The remaining is your pocket money.]
Her fingers tightened around the phone. Warmth spread through her chest, slow and cautious, like sunlight reaching a place that had been frozen for too long.
She cares, Kyra whispered to her inner self, trying to smooth over the jagged edges of her day. Look, Kyra. She still cares for you.
The subway screeched to a halt, the sound of metal on metal jarring Kyra back to reality.
She tucked her phone into her pocket, the weight of the $50 feeling more like a debt than a gift.
As she climbed the stairs out of the station, the humid city air hit her.
She pulled her jacket tighter, adjusting the collar to hide the faint discoloration on her neck.
Every person who brushed past her made her flinch, a lingering reflex from the morning's shadows.
She walked quickly, head down, counting her steps until the familiar awning of the café appeared like an island in a grey sea.
Pushing the door open, the scent of roasted beans and vanilla acted as a physical balm. Here, she wasn't just a daughter or a victim; she was part of a team.
The bell chimed.
Ashley spotted her instantly. Abandoning an order, she rushed over. "So late! Where were you? Lady Boss was waiting, but she went out ten minutes ago and instructed—"
Ashley stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes froze, her breath hitching as she slid her spectacles off to see better. "Kyra… what happened? Have you been crying?"
Kyra flinched as Ashley's gaze traveled down. It stopped at the bruised lip, then moved to her shoulder as Kyra's jacket shifted.
The red swelling and black-blue patches blooming against her skin which were as white as snow looked brutal.
"Did your boyfriend do this?" Ashley's voice sharpened into a blade. "Kyra, have you gone blind? I'm calling Sam. We're going to teach that bastard—"
"No—it's not him!" Kyra grabbed Ashley's hand, her pulse spiking.
"Then who?" Ashley frowned, pulling her toward the staff room. "Kyra, tell me. Why are you silent?"
"My marks were bad," Kyra whispered, the lie tasting like ash. "Mom was angry. It was just a slap."
"And the shoulder? Don't tell me that was her, too!"
Kyra's mind fractured. For a second, the café vanished. She was back against a cold wall, Millie's shadow looming, the air thick with threats and the smell of iron.
She shivered, her face turning ashen. "The subway was crowded… I was shoved into a seat. That's all."
Ashley looked at her for a long, silent beat. She didn't believe it, but she saw the glass-brittle look in Kyra's eyes.
She sighed and pulled her into a tight hug. "Okay. You don't have to tell me. But don't bottle it up, Kyra. I'm here."
Kyra froze, then slowly leaned in, burying her face against Ashley's neck. A single tear escaped.
For a moment, she wanted to scream everything—the threats, the horror puzzle locked in her mind. But the fear held her tongue.
"Maybe… when I'm in a better mood," Kyra murmured, forcing a weak smile.
Ashley patted her head, choosing not to push. "Okay. Now come. You need to apply these."
She pulled out masks, muscle sprays, and skincare.
"Why?" Kyra blinked.
Kyra blinked. "Huh....why??"
"Have you not seen Mrs. Morgan's message? Mr. Bennet is coming with her and likely he would come till 04:30pm."
Looking at the confused Kyra, Ashley knew she hadn't seen messages from yesterday morning in chat group.
Ashley shook her head as she pulled her to a chair and started applying the mask while telling her details.
"Don't you know? Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Bennet— our country's first chef and K&N Allied CEO— and also one of the Six Princes of Capital— are selecting a pastry chef in our city. Our café came in the top ten nationwide."
"Huh… but why here not in capital?" Kyra asked softly,her voice muffled through the mask.
"Because Mr. Bennet's grandfather is retiring and wants a disciple. The capital is messy with forces and politics, so they're selecting suddenly from cities," Ashley explained.
Kyra paused.
"But Ash… how do you know so much?"
Ashley paused but then start saying, "Sam said to me don't you know he is from capital but because of some family affairs he came here for his high school."
"Oh...i didn't know before...it seems you both are doing well." Kyra said teasingly as her attention shifted.
Ashley feeling guilty for saying half truth and half lie, blushed and said, "No.... it's not."
"Hehe.." Kyra chuckled as gazed at door where Sam was hiding but listening with focus.
"Okay...done!" Ashley said as she also applied it in her own face, "Now just stay silent here for ten minutes..ok, then I will remove it...just look at you...how have you wasted this beautiful face...Now taking care it is my responsibility."
As Ashley said while patting her chest but felt her looking towards door distracted,she also turned her head.
When she saw Sam hiding there,she blushed even more fiercely.
Feeling embarrassed, she paced towards door as she angrily grabbed Sam's ear and said,
"Why are you hiding here and eavesdropping??hmm...you have got some nerve; you blockhead!!"
"Ouch...ouch!! Sorry, Sorry madam please don't pinch my ear...it's hurting" Sam said as he acted pitiful.
"No...you will not learn your lesson if i don't teach you a lesson!!" Ashley said as she tried to jump and grabbing his hair.
While Sam started circling around chair where Kyra was sitting, "No...no; oouch don't grab my hair... I'm sorry... ma'am I will never eavesdrop."
Ashley chased him while Kyra watched, smiling faintly.
Listening to Ashley's endless chatter and Sam's apologies.
Kyra felt envious as she thought of her relationship with lucifer.
But also felt that the best decision she has made to join here to work part time secretly and making friends with Ashley and Sam.
She laughed softly to herself, but her chest ached sharply as she thought of Lucifer's behaviour in today's afternoon.
By afternoon, the café buzzed.
As the time of Mr. Bennett came near staff moved around making preparations.
At exact 04:35 pm., A Bentley stopped outside.
The heavy door opened with a sharp mechanical click.
A man stepped out looking gentle and easy going as a smile on his face made him look like a gentle Prince, walking out of a palace.
Behind him followed a stern middle-aged man and an elder with eyes sharp and narrowed like eagle.
As Charles entered, he even nodded politely to staffs who were standing at front door.
The female staff's blushed at him, when he passed by them.
Behind them, followed Mrs. Morgan, who looking at blushing girl felt amused and instructed them to go to their own work.
Inside, Ashley and Sam with manager james greeted them.
"Good evening, Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Bennet."
Charles Bennet entered calmly, yet his presence pressed invisibly against the room. His gaze paused to two familiar faces, amusement flickered in his calm eyes.
As Mrs. Morgan stepped beside him.
"Let the other staff step aside," he said while pointing at Ashley and sam. "These two come with us."
Mrs. Morgan paused as she swept her eyes towards ashley and sam and looking at their striking faces.
She thought maybe even Mr. Bennett liked good looking faces as she touched her face and sighed.
Time really made her old.
Listening to Charles commanding tone, Ashley almost protested, but Sam held her hand and shook her head.
As remembering their disguise, Ashley paused then walked towards Charles.
As she silently stepped on his shoes with her sandals and said, "It's our honour to take you to seat."
Looking at the mischievous girl, Charles eyes held a smile.
He looked at Sam who also shrugged his shoulders slightly, his eyes seemed to say — don't look at me, I can't do anything.
And then grabbed Ashley and pulled her slightly as he also said, "Please...sir!"
Then charles and their group followed them to the judges area.
Soon, the participants were called in as judges sat.
Mrs. Morgan announced the rules first.
"Make the best dessert within your capacity,"
And then advised as she ordered the staff for starting the timer.
"Ninety minutes. Start."
The alarm sounded.
Kyra walked toward her station, her face hidden behind an unblinking Panda mask.
It was a mask of contradictions—pure white and deepest black.
In her deep wine-colored dress, she was a silhouette of burgundy and ink. standing among middle-aged professionals, she looked like a child, yet the air around her was different.
The "weak" Kyra was gone; in her place was a legendary artisan.
So different that even if Lucifer, Millie, or even her own parents were standing right there, they wouldn't have recognized her unless she chose to reveal herself.
Standing among the crowd of adults and middle-aged professionals, she appeared out of place—like a child trying to sneak into a grown-up world.
Yet, despite her youthful appearance, no one dared to underestimate her.
She was a legend in culinary circles, though strangely, her name remained a secret known only to a few of the old folks.
As she reached her station, Kyra scanned the ingredients.
Seeing the chocolate chips, milk, and strawberries, a spark of inspiration took hold.
Light and darkness.
Her hands moved with a terrifying, rhythmic precision. Cooking was the only place where the corrupted files of her memory couldn't hurt her.
As she shaped the chocolate into swirling patterns, a fragment flashed—ropes on her wrists, mocking laughter—and her hands reacted instinctively, altering the flow of the design.
As she finished and the alarm sounded for stop.
Kyra stepped back, looking at a dessert that was beautiful, but undeniably dark.
She hesitated but still followed to submit it as everyone went.
As her name was called after some contestants.
She walked to the judges' table and lifted the silver lid.
The silence that followed was a vacuum as everyone looked at the dessert which was like a art presented.
The room held its breath.
Even Charles Bennet, who had been looking on with polite boredom, froze.
He looked at the plate, then looked up at the girl behind the panda mask, his eyes narrowing in sudden, sharp interest.