Days passed, and finally, the hotel and bakery were almost ready. It wouldn’t be long now—just a little longer. Julia looked at the newly renovated building, feeling her heart race. She had done it. They had done it.
The sun shone high in the sky, reflecting off the crystal-clear sea of the coastal town. A fresh breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm bread coming from the bakery’s kitchen. Julia looked at the finished building before her and felt her chest swell with emotion.
Let’s play a little game with those who only read the comments. Type hotdog in the comments. Only those who make it this far will understand.
After months of hard work, the hotel and bakery were finally ready. Julia looked around the main entrance, admiring every detail she had helped design. The large windows let in plenty of natural light. The chairs and tables were arranged in a cozy way. And the sweet aroma of the pastries she had baked that morning filled the air with warmth.
Across the street, William was talking to some of the hotel staff. He looked lighter, more complete than ever. The happiness on his face was impossible to miss. When he finished his conversation and walked over to Julia, she smiled.
“Looks like we did it,” she said, taking in everything around her.
“We didn’t just do it,” William replied, taking her hand. “We created something incredible.”
“I’m nervous.”
“Why?”
She let out a deep sigh. “What if it doesn’t work? What if no one shows up?”
William squeezed her hand gently, as if to reassure her that everything would be fine. “Trust me, it’s going to be a success.”
Julia smiled, trying to absorb his confidence. She wanted to believe that everything would turn out well.
The grand opening started at noon. The bakery doors opened to the public, and little by little, the first customers arrived. Julia stayed busy, preparing orders in the kitchen while the servers brought coffee and pastries to the tables. The feeling of seeing people taste her recipes for the first time was indescribable.
“This cake is divine!” a customer exclaimed while taking a bite of lemon pie.
“I’ve never had coffee this well-made before,” another commented.
Each compliment warmed Julia’s heart a little more. William moved through the hotel, talking to guests and making sure everything was running smoothly. When he passed by the bakery and found Julia, he smiled.
“I told you it would be a success.”
She laughed. “Maybe you were right.”
He winked. “I’m always right.”
Julia rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. Hours later, as night fell and the last customers left, Julia and William sat at one of the outdoor tables, watching the ocean under the moonlight.
“It was a good start,” William said, crossing his arms.
“It was amazing.” She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe this really happened.”
“Believe it. You worked hard for this.”
Julia smiled, feeling the weight of the past months finally lift. She looked at William, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to slow down. “I never really thanked you,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “Thank me for what?”
“For believing in me.”
William placed his hand over hers on the table. “I always believed in you.”
Julia felt warmth spread through her chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
He smiled, watching her for a few seconds before responding. “Me neither.”
And for the first time, Julia felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
The next morning, Julia woke up early and went to the bakery before opening time. She wanted to make sure everything was ready. As she arranged a few things on the counter, she heard the door open. She turned around and saw William standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“What’s this?” she asked, surprised.
“Just a gift for the owner of the best bakery ever.”
Julia laughed, taking the bouquet. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m pretty sure I exist.”
She took a deep breath, looking at him. “Are you happy?”
William stepped closer, gently cupping her face. “I’ve never been this happy.”
Julia felt her heart race. “Me neither.”
And then, without hesitating, William leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft, tender, as if sealing everything they had been through. And in that moment, Julia knew. She knew that after all the challenges, doubts, and changes, this was just the beginning of something even bigger. Something that, for the first time, didn’t need labels or guarantees. Because with William, she had finally found what she had been searching for.
The bakery and hotel were running better than Julia and William could have imagined. The first few days had been a success, and the coastal town was already seeing their businesses as a new gathering place for both locals and tourists. Julia was busier than ever, but every day of work felt worth it. Preparing pastries, talking to customers, and watching people enjoy her coffee was a kind of fulfillment she had never experienced before.
William, on the other hand, was involved in every detail of the hotel. He made sure to check every room, follow up on guest feedback, and ensure that each visitor’s experience was flawless. What started as a shared dream had become a reality.
But fate always has a way of testing happiness. That afternoon, while Julia was reorganizing the kitchen supplies, her phone rang. The number wasn’t saved, but something inside her told her she should answer.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice on the other end made her heart stop for a moment. “Julia? It’s been a long time.”
She felt her fingers tighten around the phone. “What do you want, Eric?”
On the other end, the man let out a low chuckle. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing. I heard your bakery is doing well.”
Julia felt her stomach twist. The last person she wanted to hear from at that moment was Eric, her ex-boyfriend. He was part of a past she wanted to forget, a past full of empty promises and disappointments that taught her not to trust so easily.
“I don’t know how you got my number, but please don’t call me again,” she said firmly.
“Julia, wait. I just wanted to talk.”
But she had already hung up. Her heart was beating too fast. She didn’t need this. Not now. She took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. But even after a few minutes of ignoring it, the discomfort lingered.
Later, when William walked into the bakery and found her distracted, he knew something was wrong. “Is everything okay?”
Julia hesitated for a moment before answering. “Nothing serious. Just an unwanted call.”
He frowned. “Did someone bother you?”
She forced a smile. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
William placed his hand over hers on the table. “If someone upset you, I want to know.”
She sighed, feeling like she couldn’t hide it from him. “It was my ex.”
William was silent for a moment. “Does he want something?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out.”
William nodded, but Julia noticed the tension in his jaw. “You trust me, right?” she asked.
He looked into her eyes. “Of course I do.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
He forced a small smile. “All right.”
But Julia knew William wouldn’t let this go so easily. The next day, while Julia was busy at the bakery, William decided to do some digging on his own. He didn’t like the idea of someone from Julia’s past coming back to disturb her. And when he finally found out who Eric was, his blood boiled. Eric wasn’t just any ex-boyfriend. He was a man who had belittled Julia’s dreams, who hadn’t supported her when she needed it most. William wasn’t going to let someone like that come back into her life.
That night, as he waited for Julia to close the bakery, he decided to say what was on his mind. “I want you to promise me something,” he said, crossing his arms.
Julia looked at him, surprised. “What?”
“That you won’t let this man ruin what we’ve built.”
She frowned. “William, he means nothing to me.”
“Then why have you been so upset since he called?”
She looked away for a moment. “Because he’s part of a past I’d rather forget.”
William took her hand. “Then forget it. You have a future to build.”
Julia’s eyes softened. “And does that future include you?”
He smiled slightly. “If you want it to, yes.”
She took a deep breath before squeezing his hand. “I do.”
And at that moment, Julia realized that the past no longer had power over her. The future was what mattered now. And she knew exactly who she wanted to share it with.
The sun was setting over the coastal town, painting the sky with shades of orange and gold. A light sea breeze gently swayed the bakery’s curtains as Julia finished the last details of the day. Business had been busy, but she couldn’t complain. Things were going better than she had ever imagined.
William walked in, leaning against the counter with a quiet smile. “Are you tired?” he asked.
Julia let out a sigh and smiled. “A little, but it’s worth it.”
He noticed the sparkle in her eyes. “I never doubted that.”
She looked at him warmly. “I never would have made it this far without you.”
William took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. “You would have, but I’m glad we did this together.”
The silence between them was filled only by the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Then William took a deep breath, as if carefully choosing his words.
“Julia, have you ever thought about the future?”
She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” He hesitated for a moment before smiling. “Do you see yourself with me in 10, 20, 50 years?”
Her heart raced. “Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
William smiled slightly and let go of her hand for a moment. “That’s good, because I do too.”