Chapter 221 - Miracles & Murmurs

Vienna’s POV

A week had passed, and the bakery’s renovations were nearly finished. It looked… incredible. The dream I’d carried for years had blossomed into something even better.

Harold and Célestine came by with Oliver that afternoon. Oliver squealed in delight at the sight of the shiny new pastry display.

Célestine clasped her hands together the moment she took it all in. Her eyes widened, and she gasped.

"Mon Dieu… Vienna, it’s just like stepping back into Paris."

I couldn’t help but smile, warmth flooding my chest. "That’s exactly what I was going for. A little piece of Paris, here."

She walked further inside, trailing her fingers over the polished counter. "The light, the colors, even the floor tiles—this is art. You’ve outdone yourself."

She turned back to me. "And what about the progress with the fire inspection?"

I scoffed. "What progress? They keep delaying. At this rate, I’ll be lucky if I can open in two months. My goal was two weeks."

"Bureaucracy," sighed Harold. "It’s th