My Heart only Beats for You (Natalie Godfrey)

"We should all be grateful for those who were kind to us, especially our parents. How could you not care for them? Trash like you shouldn't exist!" "That's right. If this is how you treat your parents, I see no point in supporting your business again!"

"Yeah! I can't believe how wrong I was to praise you guys for using the best ingredients in your pastries! If she can't even treat her parents well, she definitely wouldn't treat us the same as well! They might even be using some low-grade ingredients!" Anger and hatred filled the air.

Hearing everyone's accusation and slanders at the patisserie, Preslie was livid with tears.

With a flushed face, she shouted, "We use the freshest and most expensive ingredients we can get here. We would never do anything against our conscience in our business. You guys don't even know the full story with my parents!"

"There is no doubt I would provide for my parents, but what they want is the shares of the store that my friend and I have partnered up to open. But I have done nothing to contribute to the funds and the skills we used. It was all thanks to my friend that I'm even a partner. How could I have the audacity to give the shares to my parents? If I did, how could I face my friend?"

Everyone fell silent at her words.

For a moment, they didn't know what to say. Then Celine shouted again, "Do you actually believe my daughter's words? Do you think such a generous friend exists to partner with a friend who won't contribute upfront?"

"It's because of my daughter's skills that the pastries here are so good. It's because of her that their business is booming! She's only saying this because she isn't willing to give us the shares. We know she won't give us any money to support us, but all we want is some financial assurance from the shares! But who would've thought she wouldn't even give us that. Don't you all think she's ungrateful too?!"

Letting his emotions get the better of him, Calter started making up stories, "That's right! And where else did our daughter get her skills? It's from her mother, my wife! My wife is such a great cook that our daughter learned from her. But look at her now, kicking us away, cutting all ties with us!"

Her parents' shameless accusation got her flabbergasted.

She knew they were shameless, but she didn't know they were THIS shameless. They were even making up stories now!

Hearing that, everyone began criticizing Preslie again.

"They're right. How hard is it for you to give them some shares? You're not going to support them anyway! They have to have something to fall back to, don't they?"

"Do you think we'd believe your friend would want you as a partner without any upfront contributions? You must have given half the funds, didn't you? Seeing you're so young, there's no way you'd have the money. You must've gotten them from your parents, haven't you? No wonder they want a slice of the cake; how can you be so ungrateful!"

Hearing that, Celine immediately used it to her advantage, "We did use a lot of money to nurture her since we have no sons!"

Just like that, her words ignited everyone's emotions.

"So that's how it is! Your parents did give you money to open up the store, but now you change your colors after the business is doing well! Do you even have a heart?!"

"How can you do this?! What a heartless boss! I will never visit your store again!"

More and more criticisms could be heard.

There was even an elderly lady who went up to Preslie and said to her earnestly, "Young lady, this isn't nice. Your parents did so much to bring you up and let you start a business. You can't just throw all those behind your head. Listen to me, okay? Give your parents some shares. Be a good girl."

Many agreed with the elderly.

Preslie wanted to explain, but the overwhelming accusation drowned out her voice.

In the face of accusation and attack, she was mad and aggrieved. Her blood was boiling, and she felt like a seedling withstanding a thunderstorm and would fall anytime.

Right on cue, Yesseca pulled Preslie into the car.

After seeing the situation outside, Yesseca knew they could do nothing to explain the situation.

She quickly hailed a taxi.

As soon as it arrived, she closed the shop and squeezed into the crowd to take Preslie away.

During their car ride home, Preslie was still trembling.

She seemed to want to say something but couldn't bring herself to say a word.

After returning home, Yesseca poured a cup of water for Preslie.

She said, "Here, have some water to calm down."

Preslie accepted the water from her.

But she didn't drink it.

After a while, she placed the cup on the table and threw herself into Yesseca's arms. And her tears fell like the never-ending waterfall.

She cried, I'm sorry, Yesseca. You shouldn't have opened a store with me. I did nothing to help you and ever brought so much trouble. I'm so sorry."

Regrets filled her heart.

If she knew this would happen, she would never have partnered up with Yesseca.

She didn't know her parents could be that greedy and shameless.

They blatantly slandered them in front of so many people!

"Don't worry." Yesseca consoled her, "There's nothing to be sorry about. Since we're partners, it's our problem to solve together."

Heartbroken, Preslie said, "But

they're slandering us. Our customers

hate me now; they'll never come back anymore. I ruined our store, Yesseca. I took down everything we worked so hard to build." "Look at you, talking nonsense again," Yesseea comforted, "There were only so many who heard your

ele

parents' words today. Even if they don't visit our patisserie anymore, it won't affect our business. Look on the bright side; it's a good thing if we have a customer or two less with how popular our patisserie is doing. We won't have to break our backs every day, no?"

However, her words only made Preslie even more guilty.

She'd rather Yesseca scold or blame her for everything.

But Yesseca was as gentle as ever and even comforted her. It made her sad.

"Yesseca!" Preslie suddenly announced. "I'll quit! I'll leave the partnership. That way, they won't be able to ruin the business anymore."

"No way!" Yesseca rejected immediately. "This patisserie is our baby. You and I have to do this together!"

"But having me around will only ruin

the store Preslie said with puffy eyes, "You've poured all your blood, sweat, and tears into this patisserie;

I can't let them ruin it! Never!

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