The young enchantingly beautiful bride dressed in a white voluminous gown with a corset was nervously sipping water from a clear glass in the kitchen fanning herself with a towel every minute she dialed the number of her fiance his parents but no one answered all she heard was the automated voice message saying the subscriber was out of the service area frustrated Shelly threw her phone on the table and exclaimed What's going on it's already 1:10 and Carl and I were supposed to get married at City Hall exactly at 1:00 we're already late where did everyone go
my mom is probably already there waiting for us and she's going to call me any minute what am I supposed to tell her that my fiance still hasn't shown up and on top of that we have a restaurant booked for 4:00 and lots of guests are supposed to come Kim please tell me he didn't decide to break up with me like This he couldn't have done this to me I refus to believe it her friend understood that this was most likely the case but didn't want to upset the bride so she tried to comfort her
Shelly stop crying I spent a long time doing your makeup and you're going to ruin it with your tears why are you worrying so much maybe he's just running late because of some accident on the road things happen wait your Carl will definitely come for you don't worry but half an hour later No one had arrived to pick up the bride however Shelly finally managed to reach the groom's mother who harshly replied stop calling us the wedding is off I've canel everything Carl has changed his mind about marrying you he doesn't love you stop stressing
us out stop calling and forget about my son hearing this Shelly broke down in tears by this time her mother had arrived at her daughter's home not having seen them at City Hall now she and Kim were both trying to Comfort the devastated bride mom why did this happen why am I so unlucky maybe I'm cursed everything was going so well between Carl and me and now he's changed his mind about marrying me it's humiliating I won't be able to get over this everyone will see me as a failure now why did they do this
to me am I not pretty enough or maybe I'm fat or stupid the former bride sobbed Dorothy gently hugged her daughter's shoulders and rocked her slightly like a little girl Soothing her with soft words why are you saying such awful things about yourself there's no curse on you you just fell in love with a deceitful person that's all he only listens to what his mother says in their family his mother makes all the decisions you saw that yourself you you are a very beautiful and intelligent girl you manag to study and work at the same
time forget about that irresponsible guy and try not to think about him and as for what people will Say don't worry they'll talk about it for a bit and then forget you'll definitely meet a good guy one day Kim agreed with her and added Shelly your mom's right I've stopped thinking about men altogether they just caused too many problems you know what I'm going to open a bottle of champagne and we'll drink to the start of your new happy life without Carl then we'll go to the mall and distract ourselves from everything that happened today
we'll stop by a cafe and Have some ice cream everything's going to be fine my friend you just have to believe it so let's raise our glasses and toast to Carl never showing up in your life again just imagine what it would have been like living with such an indecisive guy Shelly quick downed her glass of champagne wiped away her tears with her veil and started to calm down instead of Despair a surge of anger took over and she confidently declared you're right I'm not going to cry over him Anymore I will become a successful
and happy woman and he'll regret ever deciding to leave me her mother stayed with her for a few more days and once she saw that Shelly had calmed down a bit she returned to her home in a small town where she worked as an accountant in the water supply to Department she asked Kim to keep an eye on shell since the young woman had gone through a significant amount of stress Shelly and Kim worked together in a small flower Boutique they loved their work tenderly caring for the flowers arranging delicate bouquets and helping customers choose
the perfect Arrangements the clients were always satisfied and the boutique's owner often praised the girls for their dedication the salary was modest but for two young women juggling work and study it was enough Kim felt guilty about what had happened in shelle's life knowing that she was the one who introduced her to Carl Kim had known Carl's family for a long time their parents had been friends for years she also got along well with Carl so when he came into the flower shop to buy a bouquet for his mother Kim introduced him to Shelly he
began complimenting her and showing interest which led to them dating but Kim never imagined things would end so badly she felt terrible for Shelly and tried to distract and cheer her up 3 weeks later Kim rushed to work nervously Sharing some startling news Shelly you're not going to believe this I found out everything yesterday I overheard my mom talking on the phone with Carl's mother it turns out they canceled your wedding on purpose because another bride came to visit Carl she's a foreigner with her own business overseas Miranda found her somehow invited her over and
introduced her to Carl and of course he couldn't say no to his mother there's such deceitful people I never thought Carl would turn out to be like this this woman has a lot of money and is ready to invest in Carl's parents family business that's why all of this happened you're not to blame for any of it stop thinking about it Shelly was in shock she turned pale and began nervously fiddling with the shiny r in paper meant for the flowers a new bride came to see him was he dating both of us at the
same time this is humiliating so Carl chose money over me Kim this is Disgusting I just want to run away from this city it feels like everyone is staring at me and gossiping about my failed wedding maybe I should quit my studies and job and move to my mom's small town I feel so awful Kim I don't even want to wake up in the mornings she wiped a tear from her cheek trying to keep her emotions in check I'm sorry to bring you such bad news but I thought it would be better if you heard
it from me rather than someone else don't start Planning to move to a small town what would you even do there there's no decent work so what if he found himself a foreign girl let him live with her I know his mother very well you wouldn't have been able to get along with her anyway she always acts Superior even with my parents we'll find you someone much better than him Kim tried to console her Shelly shook her head and said firmly no I don't need another fiance I'll never be able to trust a man With
my feelings again I don't want to be betrayed like this ever again thank you Kim for your support I couldn't have gotten through this without you let's get back to work before the flowers Wilt sometimes it seemed like Shelly was destined to keep running into Carl she had already seen him twice at the mall with his new fiance he proudly walked with her holding her hand tightly and trying to please her in every way Shelly couldn't Understand what he saw in this woman she looked older than him and was much taller her face always seemed
displeased and her eyes were perpetually squinted yes she was dressed expensively and fashionably but is that what happiness is about it was painful for Shelley to watch and she always hurried into the crowd so they wouldn't notice her at the same time shell was studying remotely at a university training to become a Chef Cooking was her passion and she dreamed of one day working in a famous restaurant but for now she sold flowers as she needed the money for rent and food however after breaking up with her fiance something in her changed she no longer
wanted to eat or wake up in the morning mornings at night she often cried clutching Carl's shirt unable to forget him one day everything changed Shelly's mother arrived at her home unexpectedly brimming with excitement And a sense of urgency shell had never seen her mother so animated before and it was clear she had important news to share Shelly I have something incredible to tell you look at these papers and read what's written there it turns out that and Sylvia passed away and we had no idea it was sudden a heart attack and remember her Cafe
by the seaside we visited her once when you were just a little girl well Aunt Sylvia left the house and the cafe to me in her will can You believe it she was a solitary woman always focused on her business she never married because no man could handle her difficult personality for long she didn't have any children either I feel a bit guilty honestly because we rarely spoke and I hardly expected this to happen Shell's mouth dropped open in surprise so what are you going to do now are you going to move there Mom it's
so sad that Aunt Sylvia passed away she wasn't even that old that's why I came To see you dear I don't need the CA and I don't want to leave my small town I've lived there my entire life and at my age I'm not interested in moving besides I only have about 5 years left until I can start collecting my pension I thought you might want to move there instead we can go to the notary tomorrow and transfer everything into your name you're young ambitious and studying online this could be your business and moving there
might help you get over Carl more quickly what do you think Shell's face lit up with joy as she began to thank her mother thank you mom who could say no to such an offer this is like a dream come true it may not be a restaurant but it's my own Cafe I'm so grateful that Aunt Sylvia remembered us her distant relatives when she made her will of course I'll move there honestly I've been thinking about leaving this place anyway I just can't stay here anymore I can't believe that Soon I'll be living by the
Sea we haven't been there in so long will you come visit me this is the happiest day of my life this marked the beginning of a completely new chapter in shelle's life in the first few days she spent much of her time swimming in the warm sea finding comfort in its soothing Embrace she bassed in the sun's gentle Rays took long walks along the shore and gradually let go of her past troubles as she began to settle into Aunt Sylvia's House she also started getting familiar with her new business the cafe had been temporarily closed
following her aunt's passing when Shelly stepped inside the cafe for the first time she took a careful look around the interior was well-crafted and cozy with charming light colored tables covered in white lace tablecloths the overall Ambience of the cafe was quite respectable she examined the menu displayed on the wall noticing That all the dishes offered were simple home style meals the menu is two basic Shelly thought to herself she decided that she would definitely add a new dish to the menu something that would Delight all the customers but that would come later first she
needed to find new staff Shelly posted job vacancies online but she received a lot of help in this matter from Bruce a kind elderly man with a cane and a neatly trimmed Gray beard who was a friend and neighbor of Her late Aunt Sylvia Bruce seemed to know everyone in town and assisted Shelly in electing the right candidates for example during one interview Shelly was impressed by a woman who presented herself very well as a chef however Bruce quietly advised her I wouldn't recommend hiring her she's worked at many places and was fired from each
one for stealing food from the kitchen you don't need that kind of trouble she'll cause you a lot of Problems at another interview a young scruffy looking man begged Shelly to hire him for any job though she wasn't impressed by his appearance but Bruce urged her don't judge him by his looks he comes from a troubled family and never had a proper childhood which is why he appears that way but Todd is a good person I'm sure he won't deceive you last year he saved my grandson's life pulling him from the water and Reviving him
I offered him money and Help but he refused saying he couldn't have done otherwise a person like that won't betray you trust me take Todd on as an assistant cook in the kitchen he'll be loyal to you believe me I wouldn't steer you wrong with the help of Aunt Sylvia's friend Shelly was able to assemble a team for the cafe she was upfront with everyone letting them know that this was her first time running a business and that they all needed to work together to make it profitable and In turn to earn good salaries after
purchasing the necessary supplies Shelly reopened the cafe under its original name and the team got to work the chef Ethan turned out to be a true professional any fish dish he prepared was a culinary Masterpiece his stuffed squid with mushrooms and cheese quickly became the cafe signature dish Shelly also took an active role in the kitchen working alongside her staff she was eager to Learn from the professionals and found that her presence motivated the team to work even harder and stay focused Todd who was about her age proved to be a genuinely good guy he
was never lazy and always took his responsibilities seriously Shelly and Todd became close friends often going to the beach together and talking a lot Todd shared his life story with her without holding back you know Shelly we used to live well when I was a kid my dad was a Fisherman so he often went out to see I also had a younger sister my mom used to sell Goods at the market and back then she was a completely different person she laughed a lot was kind and gentle I remember my dad's hands vividly they were
rough and callous but they were familiar and comforting but one day my dad and three other fishermen didn't return from the sea their boat got caught in a storm and they all drowned after that our family's luck seemed to Run out 2 years after my dad's funeral my younger sister died her body couldn't fight off a severe illness that left just me and my mom she changed a lot after losing my dad and sister and it felt like she forgot I even existed she started drinking and would yell at me all the time I was
a teenager then and I was so angry with her I wanted her to care about me to have a real conversation with me but I didn't know how to tell her that eventually she Stopped working and we had no money to live on I started taking odd jobs just so we could afford some food food and clothes then different men started coming to our house it made me so mad I'd argue with them and even get into fights by the time I barely managed to finish school I signed up for the Army right away I
needed to get away from that house but when I came back things had gotten even worse the house was a mess and my mom could hardly walk Anymore because of all the alcohol that's why I was desperate to find a job I need to buy medicine for her and take care of her I pity her and still love her but we've become strangers it's a horrible feeling Shelley felt sorry for Todd and tried to support him without realizing it she ended up sharing her own story of betrayal by her fiance with him a year passed
quickly and shell had grown accustomed to running the cafe which was thriving under her leadership She gradually began to forget about her past troubles as she was constantly busy managing the business one day Shelly was overseeing preparations for a banquet the staff was bustling about setting up tables two people entered the cafe an older woman wearing dark glasses and a wide brimmed Beach hat and a young man with a suitcase a waitress rushed into the kitchen and quietly told shell there are some people here to see you they said They need to talk to you
personally surprised Shel went out to the dining area when she saw Carl and his mother she was shocked they were standing by the bar looking at her with pleased Expressions good afternoon Shelly you've changed so much you look even better and your Cafe is so cozy Carl and I came here to talk to you Miranda said politely Shelly frowned and replied I'm not happy to see you and I'm very busy right now why have such important people Come to visit an ordinary flower shop clerk get to the point I really don't have time we're about
to start a banquet here Carl looked at her with a pained expression and began speaking hesitantly Shelly I know I wronged you please forgive me I'm begging you Christina seduced me back then and because of her I left you what I did to you was terrible but she turned out to be a con artist after I started seeing her she took everything from us and then left to Live abroad again now my mother and I are officially bankrupt we have no money left a very sad story am I supposed to cry now and why do
I need to know all this you have your own life now and I have mine what exactly do you want from me or do you think I'm foolish enough to forgive you after everything you've done Shelly replied seriously Carl blushed unable to find the right words while his mother pleaded no Shelly you're not foolish we never Thought that you've proven yourself you're a cafe owner now you've shown everyone that you're a successful woman we came to ask you to give us jobs any jobs we have no money left to live on please don't turn us
away Shelly suddenly smiled slightly and suggested you'll work any job you say Miranda will you wash dishes and Carl will you deliver supplies to the cafe those are the only positions I have available right now I don't need managers or Executives but I doubt the pay will suit you you're used to a life of luxury Miranda immediately agreed we'll take it when can we start we just need to rent an apartment and then we can begin working Shelly please understand we're really in a terrible situation right now forgive us for how we treated you back
then thank you for not turning us away we won't deceive you and we'll do our best to fulfill our duties Shelly pitted them and decided to hire them as Carl Did look quite unwell and pitifully gazed at her this time she didn't see the same hypocrisy in them that she had seen before perhaps they really were in trouble after their meeting Shelly couldn't help but remember the love she once had for Carl but she still found it hard to believe that this was all really happening could things be so bad for them that they'd accept
such low paining jobs at first everything seemed fine Carl was delivering supplies to the cafe Without any issues and was trying to reconnect with Shelly even Miranda surprisingly wasn't slacking off she silently and diligently performed her tasks however Shelly still didn't trust Carl she kept her interactions with him minimal making sure he didn't get the impress that he had been forgiven yet deep down she had already forgiven him she was so exhausted from being alone from handling everything on her own that she began to wonder if they should give Their relationship another chance especially since
Carl kept asking her for just that but soon strange things started happening at the cafe first a few menus went missing then recipes for their signature dishes began to disappear followed by an entire financial report shell was baffled who could possibly want these things when their competitors started offering the same dishes at lower prices she realized what was happening there was a Traer Among her staff Todd 2 became increasingly vocal often warning Shelly you shouldn't have hired your ex fiance and his mother they're bad news I overheard them talking recently they're planning something against you
probably trying trying to take over the cafe you should fire them before it's too late Shelly couldn't believe it and responded irritably Todd they can't do anything to me how could a mere driver and a dishwasher possibly harm me it's absurd I think you're wrong hasn't Miranda been doing a great job she washes the dishes quickly and thoroughly and Carl he's been fulfilling his duties well he unloads the truck himself and Carries all the boxes to the storage what reason would I have to fire them sure they were different people in the past but I
can see they've changed besides I helped them out in a tough situation why would they betray me nevertheless Shelly became more cautious she started locking Her office door when she stepped out and paid closer attention to the behavior of the new employees after all her problems had only started after they joined the cafe but little did she know this was just the beginning one day Shelly was reviewing the payroll reports and Counting the cash she had taken from the safe at that moment Todd unexpectedly entered her office with a cup of coffee he began warning
her again about Carl And his mother Todd thanks for the coffee but I need you to go back to work I'm really busy right now we can talk later Shelly replied annoyed after Todd left Carl knocked and entered the office office Shelly I've brought the supplies but Anna isn't at her station who's going to check them in I can unload them myself but I need someone to verify everything and sign off all right I'll come out and fill in the paperwork myself just wait for me outside for a Bit Shelly responded afterward she got caught
up with other tasks and didn't realize until the next morning that the money from the safe was gone all of it oh my God what's happening how am I supposed to pay my staff now who could have done this Shelly cried out in her office she gathered all the employees in the hall and demanded that they show their bags but nothing was found no one was willing to admit to stealing the money either Shel was in a terrible mood such an unpleasant incident had occurred at her Cafe just then Miranda pulled her aside and whispered
I know who stole the money if it was Todd I found out something about him he has a criminal record it was definitely him you need to fire him before he causes any more trouble Shelly snapped back I'll find out who did this myself Miranda get back to work Shelly then called Todd the suf into her office and asked Todd be honest with me did you Take the money from the safe don't lie to me you were in here yesterday right when I was counting it and another thing do you really have a criminal record
why didn't you tell me about this I thought we were friends I trusted you Todd turned pale and began to defend himself Shelly how could you think that I would steal from you it hurts to even hear that I've been working here for a year now I care about you if you must know I would never do Anything to harm you and yes I do have a record but it was a suspended sentence when I was a kid my friend stole a car stereo from a neighbor's car but I wasn't the one who did it
it was my friends the jury cleared me was I supposed to tell you about that I'm ashamed to even think about it Shelly tossed her pen onto the desk and responded sharply I just don't understand who could have taken the money and why I'll have to go to the Police that was a lot of money meant for payroll God I'm so tired we've had constant inspections lately competitors have stolen our menu and now this theft if this keeps up we'll go bankrupt and I'll have to close the cafe Todd couldn't hold back any longer and
said why don't you see what's really happening Carl is deceiving you he was in your office yesterday too remember so he knew about the money why won't you listen to me we just need to watch him And his mother I'm sure they took the money nothing ever happened at this Cafe before they showed up you can't be so trusting especially with those who have already betrayed you once Shelly thought about it and decided to consult with Bruce she was confident he would give her the right advice after work she went to see him and told
him everything he was silent for a long time tapping his Cane on the floor and then he replied Shelly you're a very kind-hearted girl Aunt silia wouldn't have let Miranda and Carl into the cafe that's for sure you felt sorry for these people and now they're doing something bad to you Todd is absolutely right you need to keep a close eye on them and in fact I need to talk to them personally I can tell right away if someone's lying let's go visit them now I'll meet them and then we can decide what to do
next in their rented apartment mother and son were having dinner and arguing loudly mom can't we Stop deceiving everyone we've almost done everything we need to let's just leave how much longer do I have to humiliate myself in front of Shelly and work as a chauffeur my hands are aching from carrying those heavy crates and I'm sick of living in this shabby apartment Carl complained Miranda gave her son a displeased look and replied how much more whining can you do exactly we've almost done everything but we need to finish the job what's not clear about
That you say you're tired do you think I'm not look at my hands I hate that Shelly but I have to smile at her every day you think I enjoy this be patient it'll be over soon and then we'll live comfortably again but why did she decide to visit us today and she brought some man with her too Shelly politely introduced Bruce and asked if they could have some tea as they sat at the table they began to chat shell was amazed at how skillfully the elderly man asked Questions that seemed completely ordinary yet they
managed to uncover a lot of interesting information she noticed that by the end of the conversation Miranda was getting nervous despite trying to appear calm as they left the apartment Bruce quietly said now I'm certain they're the ones causing trouble at your Cafe no doubt about it here's what I propos oose tomorrow morning we'll go to a spot where we can keep an eye on this house and we'll see Everything clearly we also need to visit a friend of mine his son is an investigator and he'll help us get to the truth I promised Aunt
Sylvia I would help you and I will don't worry Shelly we'll find out everything and prove their guilt Carl stood silently behind the door in the hallway listening to their conversation he went back to his mother and told her everything I didn't like that old man from the Start he kept trying to find something out you're right son we need to finish this now get dressed and do exactly as I say Miranda said decisively the next day Shelly postponed all her tasks and got into Bruce's car they hit the road and then the unthinkable happened
Bruce pressed the brake pedal but the car kept moving forward I can't stop the car the brakes aren't working but I just had the car serviced a few days ago everything was fine my God what should we do we're Going to crash Bruce shouted realizing that a collision was inevitable Shelly screamed and closed her eyes then there was a loud crash followed by Darkness Todd couldn't calm down all morning he kept calling Shelly but her phone was off Something's Happened to Shelly I can feel it she's never late for work it's already 2: p.m. and
she's still not here her house is locked up too this is my fault I should have called the police yesterday I'm sure Shell's absence has Something to do with Carl and Miranda I can't just sit here and do nothing I'm going to the police right now to Peter he quickly ran to the police station and began telling the investigator everything the officer known for his honesty and integrity had once helped Todd before and all the locals trusted him the investigator listened carefully made a phone call and then said Shelly right I'm afraid I have bad
news Todd she's in the hospital currently Unconscious the doctors performed a complicated surgery on her it's good that you came to me we're already investigating the cause of the accident we need to notify her relatives do you know anything about them oh thank God she's alive which hospital is Shelly in I need to go there immediately she doesn't have a car how could she have been in an accident what happened Shelly has a mother her number is saved in her phone we need to call her and let her Know what's happened the investigator grabbed his
jacket and said let's go to the hospital together it'll be faster I'll explain everything on the way Shelley was driving with her neighbor Bruce on the highway today and his car's brakes failed an investigation is underway but it's already clear that the brake line was tampered with someone wanted them to crash and die do you have any idea who might want her dead it's not common for something like this to Happen in our town of course I know who could have done this that's why I came to you we worked together without any problems for
a whole year Our Cafe staff is like a family everyone respected Shelly she's a genuinely good person she cooked with us was always friendly and paid us all on time with bonuses too everything was fine until those two showed up and then the trouble started Todd told the investigator about shelle's former fiance Carl and his Mother describing how they had treated Shelly badly in the past and what had been happening at the cafe the investigator suddenly stopped the car looked in intently at Todd and said I've noticed you seem quite knowledgeable about your boss's personal
life did she tell you all this herself this seems odd Todd blushed and honestly replied well we were very close friends and we often went to the seaside together we talked a lot not just about work I shared details About my life and she shared hers honestly I've been in love with her for a long time but I don't know how to confess why would she want someone as ordinary as me but I'm very worried about Shelly and want to help her you can find out the truth about Carl and his mother right otherwise Our
Cafe will close I'm sure they stole the money from the safe and caused the accident please help us Peter I promise I will get to the bottom Of this and you Todd call Shell's mother and have her come here someone needs to manage the cafe while Shel is in the hospital she should know everything that's happening Peter said convincingly at the hospital Todd learned that Bruce had only a broken leg however Shell's condition was much more serious she remained unconscious and the doctors were doing everything they could to save her life Dorothy felt terrible that
day she was dropping things and was Overwhelmed she decided to call her daughter to check on her but Shell's phone was off when Dorothy finally saw an incoming call from Shelly she immediately began shouting into the phone Shelly how are you why couldn't I reach you are you okay this is shelle's Mother hello my name is Todd I'm an assistant chef at the cafe your daughter manages please don't worry but I have some bad news shell was in an accident and is currently in the hospital Unconscious you should come to her right away I'm sure
her ex Beyonce Carl is behind this she shouldn't have sympathized with him and hired him Dorothy was shocked by the news she slowly sank into a chair she couldn't move her legs and her heart began to race I'm going to my daughter immediately I don't understand why Carl is in your town what's going on there which hospital is my daughter in Todd quickly gave her the hospital address And said I'll meet you at the station just let me know when your train arrives we're eagerly waiting for you Shelly needs your help now she won't be
able to manage without you Todd met Dorothy at the station and they went straight to the hospital to see Shelly the woman cried for a long time upon seeing her daughter unconscious it looked as though shell was simply sleeping it looked as though shell was simply sleeping her lips were Pale and lifeless and she was surrounded by numerous wires and beeping monitors don't worry shell is Young and we all hope that her body will recover quickly her condition will stabilize the doctor tried to reassure her Dorothy quietly whispered to her daughter get better Shelly I
beg you and know that today I will fire that despicable person from the cafe he will be punished everything will be all right your mother is here with you together we will get through This the woman was very angry and unexpectedly went to the cafe Carl and Miranda were surprised by her visit seeing them Dorothy firmly said well are you already celebrating have you decided to ruin my daughter's life again you're fired and I don't want to see either of you here again surprisingly Carl agreed quickly and he and his mother left the cafe quietly
Dorothy whispered to Todd Todd call the investigator and let's follow them I'm sure they're hiding the Stolen money somewhere I won't let them leave without facing consequences Carl and Miranda spent the evening in their rented apartment and only decided to leave at night they looked around and quickly squeezed through a rotting fence of an abandoned Children's Center they walked around the main building and headed towards the annexes after removing a couple of bricks from the building they retrieved a Dusty sports bag Carl then made a Phone call speaking in a whisper yes I got everything
we'll meet where we agreed I remember everything the cafe will burn down tonight and I'll hand over the documents when we meet do whatever you want after that after the call Miranda waited for someone at the Children's Center while Carl wearing a black cap went to the cafe there he retrieved a canister of gasoline he had hidden in the bushes and began to douse everything around he then tried to light A hatch but it wouldn't ignite nervously he was suddenly blinded by the headlights of a car police officers rushed out of the van and quickly
handcuffed the shocked criminal who didn't even try to escape in his Panic well we caught you just as you were about to commit another crime we've been watching you and your mother for a while you and your mother made quite a team you worked together very efficiently you nearly killed the cafe owner almost Burned the place down scanned all the documents to sell to competitors and took all the money stolen from the safe if you had managed to do everything as planned I might never have found you but Todd spoiled everything he came to the
police station in time and asked for help why did you Carl decide to act this way you were once a businessman and now you've become a criminal I'll make sure you and your mother get the maximum prison sentence for these actions Peter Said with a smirk the Cowardly Carl trembled and to everyone's humiliation wet his pants he immediately began to justify himself I didn't want it to end like this my mother forced me to do it let her go to prison I swear I didn't want to kill shell and I didn't want to burn down
the cafe if I cooperate with the investigation can my sentence be reduced shell is alive and I didn't get a chance to set anything on fire I'll tell you everything as it really Happened Miranda was detained at the same time and all the stolen money and documents were retrieved from her sports bag the enraged woman screamed bad words about Shelly and struggled with the police officers even biting one of them during the arrest Shelly you ruined everything for me again it seems you found loyal friends who are trying to save you I hope you die
you poor florist as soon as she entered our family we started having problems She even inherited something from her relatives for nothing she had nothing before and now she owns a cafe is that fair Carl and I are now ruined and she has everything and I'm supposed to accept this I was constantly thinking about how to destroy her and take everything from her and I almost managed to do it I still don't understand why you hate Shelly so much she hasn't done anything to you and she even moved to another city why are you taking
revenge On her Peter asked Miranda continued to fume and replied agitatedly you don't understand anything that girl wanted to take my only son away from me she wanted to be part of our family and Carl fell so in love with her that he started spending less time with me I struggled so much to give birth to him he was sick often as a child and I spent my whole life living only for him I couldn't let him marry that poor girl I barely convinced him not to marry her and Canceled their wedding I persuaded him
that I found a better bride than Shelly but I was wrong Christina deceived me we thought she would merge our company with her firm as we had agreed but she turned out to be a fraud and took all the business from my son and me I had been in this business for a long time so all the partners started laughing at me I was depressed and my son blamed me me for ruining his life then I found out that Shelly inherited money moved to the Seaside and became the manager of a cafe I envied her
when I learned this I knew she was a very kind girl who always sympathized with and helped others that's why I decided to take revenge on her the investigator was shocked after a moment of silence he responded you're a mentally ill person consumed by Vengeance you need treatment colleagues take her away in the car I have nothing more to discuss with this crazy woman now I understand everything Carl and Miranda were imprisoned and their trial was scheduled soon Dorothy along with Bruce and Todd began sorting out the issues at the cafe Dorothy being a skilled
Economist handled the financial reports while Bruce's strong entrepreneurial skills helped them resolve the caf's problems quickly eventually the staff were paid and the cafe returned to its normal operations Dorothy and Todd took turns staying by shelle's hospital bed praying For her speedy recovery they read books to her and talked with her frequently Shelly could see only Darkness but she wasn't afraid she felt as if she were lying on a soft mattress with no pain or sensation suddenly she distinctly heard Todd's voice Shelly I've never told you this before because I was afraid you you wouldn't
understand but now I want you to know I love you I love you Shelly I want to be with you for the rest of my life and protect you I'm willing to do Anything just to see you wake up and get better we need you and your mom needs you after this the darkness around Shelly began to slowly dissipate and she managed to open her heavy sticky eyelids she felt a strong desire to wake up to live and to love again Todd watched in astonishment as Shelly opened her eyes and tried to move her hand
he could hardly believe it and called for the doctor Shelley turned her head confused about her Surroundings she saw she was in a hospital with a doctor shining a light in her eyes and asking her questions Todd stood by the door waving joyfully tears shining in his eyes Shelly couldn't believe that almost a month had passed since the accident it felt like only a couple of days had gone by seeing her daughter Dorothy cried kissed her and wiped the tears from her cheeks my daughter you're finally awake everything will be all right now I'm here
we're all So worried about you the first words and steps after a long coma were incredibly difficult for Shelly it felt like she was learning to walk and talk all over again like a small child every movement was painful Todd stayed by her side feeding her with a small spoon and genuinely rejoicing when she ate well he showed her attention and Care always looking devotedly into her eyes during her Rehabilitation Shelly began to see this simple kind man in a new light and Constantly said I was so foolish how did I not notice this before
Todd has been loyal to me from the very start doing everything to make me see and feel his love and what did I do I thought everything was as it should be and paid no attention to him I trusted Carl again and he ruined my life once more Todd warned me and tried to protect me but I didn't want to listen or believe what he said now I must be happy a month later Shelly was discharged from the hospital Her mother Dorothy set up a special dinner at home and invited their closest friends Bruce and
Todd to celebrate Shell's return during the meal Dorothy cheerfully updated Shelly on the cafe face progress don't worry about anything my dear and don't blame yourself for the mistake we've fixed everything the cafe is doing great now we have a steady flow of customers and sometimes Ethan can barely keep up with the orders we also decided to refresh the caf's interior Todd suggested we transform it to make it look like a ship I've already ordered nautical themed uniforms for the waitresses I think this will attract even more people at least none of our competitors have
anything like it what do you think of the idea that's a fantastic idea mom you've done a great job I wouldn't have managed without you I guess I'm still lacking life experience which is why I've been so easily deceived by bad People after all I was the one who hired that family and they nearly ruined the cafe I don't want you to leave it will be easier for us to manage the cafe together besides you're an experienced accountant and can spot errors in the financial reports immediately Shelly replied with a smile Dorothy sat contentedly glancing
oddly at Bruce then decided to share her news with her daughter Shelly we have one more piece of news for you I didn't tell you Earlier because I wanted to wait until you recovered and came home I've resigned from my job sold the apartment and I'm moving here I really enjoyed working at the cafe and you need help but that's not the most important thing I wanted to let you know that Bruce and I are now living together I'm enchanted by this wonderful man's intelligence and gallantry and you know he proposed to me and I
accept it I didn't expect to meet an honest person who would love me at my Age I'm even embarrassed to admit it but your mom has fallen in love like a young girl we've decided to marry and will be living close to you in his house house I hope you'll understand and not judge me Shelly looked in Surprise from her mother to Bruce noticing how happy they both seemed and how much her mother had brightened up with joy she responded what a surprise why would I be against your marriage I want you to be a
happy woman Mom and I'll be delighted to celebrate your wedding you're absolutely right Bruce is a great person and a loyal friend I'll be happy if he becomes my step father Todd also congratulated Dorothy and Bruce on their upcoming wedding he nervously sat in his chair clearly wanting to say something to Shelly but hesitant to do so Shelly took a glass in her hand and began to speak I want to say something to Todd I remember your confession the day I woke up in the Hospital I remember every word you said you know your words
were probably what brought me back to life hearing them made me want to wake up live again and love I'm sorry for not understanding before I love you too truly and I would like to be with you if you still want that and are not against it Todd couldn't believe what he had just heard it was beyond his Wildest Dreams he quickly stood up from the table dropping his Fork to the floor and joyfully Exclaimed I will do everything for you just to be by your side I want to see you every day to wake
up and fall asleep next to you today is the happiest day of my life young people Dorothy and I were planning to go to the city hall on Monday to apply for our marriage license maybe you too would like to apply for your marriage license with us we could celebrate both weddings together I wouldn't mind at all after my wife passed away 15 years ago I never thought I'd meet a woman whom I proposed to and invite into my home I had come to terms with my life as a widower your aunt Sylvia and I
were lifelong friends I won't hide from you that she suggested we live together but we both knew we were very different people she was always focused on her business and made all decisions on her own I couldn't live with her because I also have a strong personality we even had such Fierce arguments that we broke glasses so we Decided to remain friends but when I met Dorothy I knew she was the woman for me so what what do you think of my proposal Bruce asked Shelly laughed and nodded replying you're right as always Bruce why
delay the wedding I'm sure I won't find a better husband than Todd so I agree maybe this time I'll have a proper wedding as long as my fiance doesn't change his mind and run away Todd hugged shell tightly and said tenderly thank you Shelly I will never change my mind About marrying you I'll be the best husband I've loved you from the first moment we met a month later two weddings took place at the same time an elderly groom with a cane LED An Elegant lady in a long fitted pastel dress down the aisle next
to them a Charming young man with a smile on his face held the hand of the local CAF owner Shelly was deeply anxious remembering her previous failed marriage she clung tightly to Todd as if afraid he might disappear or vanish the Locals were curious about what such a beautiful and successful woman saw in an ordinary guy like Todd especially since he had no money only Shelly understood her own choices she had come to realize that true happiness isn't about money real happiness lies in facing life's challenges together celebrating New successes and knowing you won't be
deceived or betrayed no matter what happens Shelly and Todd continued to work together at the cafe Remarkably in their cohesive team there were no bosses or subordinates everything was done collectively whoever was free helped out in the kitchen Shelly enjoyed preparing the most complicated dishes with Ethan and she took special pleasure in watching the customers sample them from behind a screen Todd became her assistant but his attitude towards work and people remained unchanged he was still willing to peel Large pots of potatoes or great carrots for soup no one was better at cleaning fresh fish
than he was Dorothy handled the accounting and kept track of the reports while Bruce was responsible for hiring staff all their competitors envied Shelly and couldn't understand how she managed to run the cafe without theft and with satisfied employees who never left the customers were always thrilled it was truly remarkable Dorothy and shelle often tended to Aunt Sylvia's Grave thanking her each time for not only leaving them in inheritance but also for helping them start a new Happy Life 5 years passed Miranda accustomed to a life of luxury constantly obsessed over Revenge eventually she was
declared insane and placed in a psychiatric institution she had become a Madwoman Carl during this time served his prison sentence he was beaten Often by fellow inmates and forced to perform humiliating tasks they immediately saw That he was cowardly and unable to defend himself Carl who had been frail since childhood suffered from pneumonia multiple times in prison and his wounds from beatings healed poorly when he was released from prison he was a sick and worn out man in his town he was no longer needed so he moved closer to the Sea Finding Normal work was
out of the question after his prison term a sympathetic old fisherman also unlucky took him in and now they both went Fishing at Sea during this time Carl had a lot of time to reflect and come to terms with his past surprisingly he harbored no hatred towards Shelly unlike his deranged mother he had never thought badly of her but his timid nature had always led him to do what his mother said Carl often regretted how harshly he had treated Shelly knowing she had truly loved him devotedly one early morning Carl was cleaning up the beach
he was poking at trash with a stick collecting Empty bottles there were no swimmers on the beach at that hour suddenly a family arrived mom dad and a little girl around 3 years old the adults did their exercises on the shore and took turns enjoying a swim in the clear sea meanwhile the girl was happily building a sand castle after swimming the couple embraced and basked in the sun's warmth Carl couldn't help but be captivated by the woman whose ouet seemed strangely familiar when she spoke to her husband He realized it was Shelly how beautiful
she looked after giving birth instead of the thin girl he remembered there was now a stunning woman with attractive curves beside her was a Tann athletic man who lovingly whispered in her ear while she laughed sweetly Carl longed to run up hold her hand for just a moment and gaze into her kind eyes again but he knew it was impossible now now he was almost homeless missing three teeth dressed in a dirty tank top and worn out Sweatpants no he couldn't let Shel see him like this he quickly gathered his belongings and went to store
them in a small building on the beach wiping his tears with his dirty hands he buried his face in his hands and began to bite his lips until they bled realizing he had ruined everything for himself Shelly was relishing motherhood and was utterly happy after the wedding there didn't forget Todd's mother Greta together they convinced her to check into a clinic and Undergo a lengthy treatment for alcohol addiction many times Greta wanted to start drinking again experiencing aggression hysterics and a strong urge to run away and drink but she managed to endure it for her
son's sake Greta saw that Todd had found a good woman and desperately wanted him to no longer be ashamed of her she finally understood that alcohol couldn't return her to her past life her son was Now by her side loving and caring for her for the first Time in her life she thanked Todd for everything she cried for a long time asking for his forgiveness her Reckless life had robbed Todd of a normal childhood another person might have forgotten such a mother long ago but not her son he continued to care for her believing he
had no right to abandon the woman who gave him life therefore she couldn't betray him again Greta managed to overcome her alcohol addiction and with the birth of her granddaughter her Life found new meaning she no longer had time to mourn her past with the help of her son and daughter-in-law she cleaned up her house and began gardening the elderly woman frequently took her granddaughter home cherishing their time together and remembering her late daughter Grandma I love you Angela would say extending her tiny hands towards Greta the grandmother would hold her tightly stroke her light
hair and Whisper I love you too my dear Granddaughter how about we go for a walk look I bought you a ball shall we play with it outside now the extended family often celebrated holidays at their Cafe on such days all the staff would be relieved of their duties and join them at one large table enjoying themselves chatting and truly feeling like part of Shell's family
