All Chapters of Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy: Chapter 261 - Chapter 270

Vienna’s POVThe day flew by in a blur of flour, sugar, and customers. I’d never seen Petit Paris this busy, not even on my original opening day. Clearly, Fred’s advertisement had reached far more people than I ever could have on my own.Tray after tray of croissants vanished, éclairs sold out in minutes, and the line never seemed to shrink. Every time I glanced out the window, more people were joining the end of it. My staff and I moved like clockwork—refilling, serving, smiling, thanking. It was chaos, but the best kind.I had to admit… Fred had done something extraordinary for me. He’d not only helped me quietly cover up the cockroach disaster, but also turned my re-opening into an event the whole town was talking about. I owed him more than I could ever repay.And yet… every time I thought of him, Ashley’s face came back to me like a dark cloud over the sunshine. God, how could he date her? Why the hell would he ever forgive her for what she’d done?The bell above the door jingl

Vienna’s POVMy mind was spinning with memories. The nights I’d sat across from Warren years ago, telling him about the orphanage. I’d told him how outdated the buildings were, how terrible the maintenance, how underfunded and forgotten the place felt. Had he really done this? For the children who came after me? Without ever telling me?"Warren… He did this…" I murmured, my voice barely audible.Bella’s eyes widened. "Woah. That’s… that’s pretty big of him.""Yeah," I breathed.I let my gaze wander over the grounds. Children running barefoot across soft grass, squealing with laughter. Climbing jungle gyms that hadn’t existed before, their faces glowing with joy. My heart clenched. "You wouldn’t say so now, but when I lived here, this was one of the most depressing places you could imagine. Broken swings, cracked floors, walls peeling with damp. It felt… hopeless."Noah shook his head, looking around as though he couldn’t believe what I was saying. "No way. So sorry you had to go thr

Warren’s POVI was buried in paperwork when a soft knock tapped against my office door."Come in," I called, not looking up right away.The moment I did, my chest lurched—then dropped just as quickly. For half a heartbeat, I thought it was her. That mahogany hair always fooled me, sending my mind straight to Vienna before reality set in."Lauren," I said, keeping my voice measured, though irritation prickled beneath my skin. "What brings you here this time?"She breezed in with a confident smile, holding up two steaming cups like a peace offering. "Coffee, of course," she said brightly.I sighed and leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Lauren, I have an assistant for that. You don’t need to bring me coffee every day."Her lips curved in that knowing smirk of hers. "Maybe I want to." She set one cup down neatly on my desk.Yesterday, it had been worse—she’d shown up with a bag from Petit Paris. I’d nearly choked on air when I spotted the logo.She’d smiled, explain

Vienna’s POVFamily dinner came before we knew it. Celestine and I had been cooking for hours."You’ve been awfully quiet today," she said gently as we worked side by side. "Something on your mind?"I sighed, wiping my hands. "It’s Ashley. I keep telling myself I’m fine with her coming tonight, but… I’m not. I’m nervous. Angry, even. I don’t want to be, but I can’t help it."My mother nodded, slicing into a loaf of bread. "It’s understandable, sweetheart. She hurt you. Badly."I leaned against the counter, staring out the kitchen window. "I keep thinking about that first day at Royal Taste," I murmured. "She was the first one to really talk to me. She helped me after the whole cream explosion—God, I was so embarrassed." I let out a small laugh. "She was sweet back then. Kind, caring. But then Fred and I got closer, and suddenly everything changed."Celestine looked at me knowingly. "Jealousy has a way of twisting people.""Yeah," I said softly. "Part of me thinks the only reason she’

Vienna’s POVWhen Warren reached the front of the line, I tried to act busy. Pretending to check the pastry display, adjusting a tray that didn’t need adjusting."Hey, V. I’d, uh… I’d like a cappuccino," he said, his voice calm but careful. "And one almond pastry, please."I nodded, tapping the order into the register without looking up. "Coming right up."When I finally met his eyes, he added softly, "Would you join me for a minute?"I froze. A dozen thoughts collided at once. Say no. Stay professional. But the word that came out of my mouth betrayed me."…Sure."He smiled faintly and found a small bistro table near the window. I asked Ashley to cover for me, then reluctantly made my way to his table.Warren’s eyes followed me. "Thanks," he said quietly as I sat down.I nodded, wrapping my hands around my cup.He glanced around, taking in the soft hum of chatter, the scent of warm pastries, the golden light spilling through the windows, reflected by the grand chandelier. "The bakery