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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Rival Arrives
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The capital's most renowned dessert shop, Marygold, was always bustling.
From the moment it opened, customers poured in nonstop, leaving no time to breathe.
"Hurry up and get things ready! The customers are waiting!"
Pam sharply scolded her workers.
Not a single one of them met her standards, so she had to oversee everything from start to finish herself.
"H-head pastry chef!"
In the midst of the chaos, Linda, the cashier, rushed over.
The cashier position was crucial.
She couldn't tolerate anyone leaving their post like this during business hours.
"What is it? If it's not important, you're in for it."
"Th-the shop opening across the street... you know about it, right?"
She saw the construction every day on her way to and from work, so of course she knew.
"I do. They're opening soon, aren't they? What's that got to do with anything?"
"It's a dessert shop."
Pam felt like she'd been struck on the head by Linda's words.
"What? The shop across from us is a dessert place?"
"Yes."
"Daring to open one right in front of my Marygold?"
Rage surged first.
'What arrogant fool, so bold!'
She couldn't believe someone had the gall to plant a dessert shop squarely opposite her top shop.
Heat rushed to her head for a moment, but it quickly cooled.
Truth be told, this wasn't the first dessert shop to open near Marygold.
They all tried to leech off her fame by setting up nearby.
But none lasted more than a few months before folding.
The empire Pam had built wasn't something nameless upstarts could breach.
This one would tire itself out and vanish too, no doubt.
"Forget it. Leave them be. Think they'll even turn a profit?"
Even as she signaled for Linda to leave, the woman didn't budge.
"B-but right now, a ton of customers are flooding the shop across the street."
"What? Customers are swarming there?"
"Yes. They're running this huge event. Buy one, get one free. That's drawing everyone in."
Linda muttered anxiously.
Pam tensed at first upon hearing it, but soon scoffed.
'Foolish move.'
Making desserts wasn't cheap on ingredients.
And it took a ton of labor.
Given the shop's size, they'd have to prepare a lot, which meant ongoing labor costs.
The reason Pam turned such profits was her use of apprentice pastry chefs.
They were slow and unskilled, but cheap.
They groveled to learn from the master, Pam.
The recipes were hers anyway, so she just exploited them.
She saved on labor costs and pocketed the gains.
Selling cheap would just lose them money.
"It's devaluing their product, a strategy that won't last. The more they do it, the more they lose."
Pam concluded coldly.
"And how many dessert shops have opened near mine? This isn't the first."
"True, but... this is the first time one's drawn crowds like this on opening day."
"They won't last, I tell you. I'm Pam. Don't worry—just go."
Pam exuded confidence, but Linda still looked uneasy.
"Not going? Get back to your station!"
Pam snapped irritably, startling Linda, who hesitated as if she had more to say.
"Um..."
"What?"
Linda glanced around the kitchen, then leaned in close.
Pam frowned at the secretive air, but Linda whispered anyway.
"Actually... I saw Bell at the shop across the street."
'Bell?'
The familiar name made Pam freeze.
She whipped her head around in shock, spotting the apprentices who'd been peeking—they hastily bowed their heads.
One of them was her own fiancé.
Pam grabbed Linda's arm and dragged her out of the kitchen.
Only once they reached the private office and shut the door did she ask.
"What? Bell? The Bell I know?"
"Yes. The Bell who used to work here."
Bell was one Pam remembered vividly.
Even setting aside that she was her fiancé's ex-fiancée, she was unforgettable.
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Positive."
Pam was floored by Linda's firm reply.
"Fine. Get out."
"Huh?"
"Go do your job!"
Pam bellowed, and Linda scurried away.
Pam Ember.
Her recent life was pure glamour.
Her shop, Marygold, was the capital's premier dessert spot, raking in money hand over fist.
Dozens of aspiring pastry chefs revered her.
She was set to marry her younger fiancé soon.
Life was bliss.
But Pam's life hadn't always been this way.
It was all the result of her own talents.
Born the overlooked daughter of an obscure baron's family, she had nothing.
No great family backing.
No striking beauty.
She'd changed her fate—from a life of mediocrity and a marriage like being sold off—through sheer will and effort.
Her palate had always been exceptional, and she knew cooking was her only path.
So she threw herself into it obsessively.
Her first venture was a small restaurant, but with no preparation, it failed.
Her family gave her scraps of help, then scorned her for the flop.
She gritted her teeth, worked harder, and built this proper dessert empire.
When her family came crawling back late, she cut them off coldly.
She couldn't forget how they'd belittled her.
The taste of hard-won success was sweet.
Earning money was a joy.
Being adored by the ignorant was even better.
That was why.
She'd crushed any sprouts of competition early on.
The first time she spotted real talent:
-Head chef, I made this new one. How's the taste?
Seeing those sparkling eyes, Pam felt unbearable anxiety and rage.
This success she'd fought for.
She couldn't let anyone steal her top spot.
-That's all you can do?
-What's this? You copied mine!
-No one would buy slop like this—I told you how many times!
She trampled them again and again.
-I'll quit. I can't take it anymore.
Until they couldn't endure and left.
-No talent anyway. No patience or grit? Fine, go. You won't succeed at anything!
Thoroughly, so they couldn't go anywhere else.
Pam had steadfastly held her throne by eliminating rivals.
Bell was one she'd gotten rid of that way.
Pam had been stunned by Bell's first dessert.
It took her example and flawlessly removed the flaws.
'I have to boot her. She's one I must get rid of.'
From the first taste, she knew.
-Can't you make it right?
-I said stick to what's assigned! Can't even do that?
-Who do you think you are, making new menu items already?
Despite the constant abuse, Bell endured stubbornly, which grated.
She'd crumble one day, only to show up smiling the next.
-Please take care of me today too.
Hating that infuriating face, Pam approached Bell's fiancé.
He was soft-hearted and weak-willed.
-Jerry, good work today.
-Jerry's so diligent.
-Jerry, you'll make it big soon.
-Jerry, want to try this? I made it special—just for you first.
He fell easily to small kindnesses and temptations.
-Compared to Pam's, yours is trash.
He delivered beyond Pam's expectations.
-How could you do this to me...
Bell shattered at her fiancé's betrayal.
She submitted her resignation that very day and vanished.
Pam thought she'd never resurface in this world.
Yet here she was.
Right across from Pam's shop.
This was provocation.
Undoubtedly a bid for revenge.
If it were anyone else, Pam would've ignored it.
Assumed it'd fade away soon.
But she couldn't let a challenger slide.
She had to tear them apart so they'd never show their face again.
Steeling herself, Pam rushed back to the kitchen.
"Maya, Nadia, Rabin, Sylvia—stop what you're doing and come with me."
She picked ones overflowing with admiration for her.
"Yes."
The called ones tidied up and prepared to go.
Pam paused as she was about to head out.
She glanced at her fiancé watching her, and a great idea struck.
"Jerry. You should come too."
Pam said kindly.
"Me? Got it."
Clueless, he agreed readily.
Pam smiled smugly.
She trusted he'd play his part perfectly again.
* * *
Jackpot!
Real jackpot!
Peeking through the door crack at Mabel's figure, my heart pounded wildly.
The moment we started the opening event, customers came in ones and twos—now it was packed.
"So many customers for real. The event's a huge hit."
Billy, peering with me, sounded utterly stunned.
"It's human nature—something cheap makes you want it, even if you don't need it."
The power of discounts is mighty!
I barely held back from shouting it with arms raised.
"But this'll get Mabel's name out there, right?"
"Not yet. Most are here from curiosity and the deal. Billy, keep an eye on their reactions mainly."
"You can see it—they're shocked. Like, 'This delicious?' Can't you tell?"
I covered my mouth to stifle the bursting laughter.
"Even Billy sees it that way?"
"Yeah. They weren't expecting much, but they're blown away by the taste."
"They'll all be regulars, right?"
"Not regulars yet, but they'll definitely come back."
A grin like I'd conquered the world kept bubbling up.
Billy and I were glued to the door, watching outside.
May looked swamped.
Not just market-style selling—customers were sitting and eating, making it even busier.
First day, so the staff's coordination was off; I noted those spots carefully.
'I'll compile it later and tell May.'
She was too slammed now to notice.
Even after the discount ended, customers would keep coming—I could feel it.
'I'm rich! Gonna be rich from now on!'
My excitement peaked.
Ding!
Six people entered.
"Customers, party of six, right?"
The leader ignored the staff's question, haughtily scanning the interior.
Like he was appraising it.
Then he snorted loudly and barked arrogantly.
"Whatever. Who's the owner here? Get the owner."
