8
She presented a lot of evidence, claiming that the surveillance footage was Al–generated and bribed one of the competition organizers to accuse me of using backdoor connections.
The number of people in the Live Stream skyrocketed. Many uninformed netizens online assumed that Grandpa and I were abusing our power.
Online public opinion began to intensify, and I was subjected to a massive online attack. Sophia called to taunt me. “Mia Johnson, you’re destined to be defeated by me.”
I took a deep breath, fingering a stack of documents beside me. Once, I didn’t understand the grudge Sophia held against my family.
It wasn’t until I hired a private investigator that I discovered that the Lee Family and my family initially cooperated.
My Grandpa used high–quality Dessert ingredients, but the Lee Family, greedy for profit, insisted on using inferior substitutes, causing food poisoning.
<
Grandpa immediately severed ties with the Lee Family, who bore a deep grudge and turned to the Thompson Family for investment. Oliver’s parents, misled by slander, joined forces with Sophia’s parents to go against my Grandpa.
At the time, Grandpa was ostracized by his peers and vilified by the media. Mom desperately tried to prevent Grandpa from reopening the Pastry Shop. This was also the reason my Mom and Dad argued daily, eventually leading to their divorce.
I was too young then to understand the complexities and had no idea of the deep entanglements between our three families.
I cleared my throat and asked her, “What do you really want? I have no personal grudge against you. Why did you cause my Grandpa’s death and ruin my chance to make Desserts for life?”
“Hah, because your Johnson Family thought too highly of yourselves and blocked my path. Now everyone online is cursing you and your Grandpa. If you want me to stop, transfer fifty million to me.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“No money? Get it from Oliver Thompson. He still cares about you, so hit him up for a big sum. After all, you’re disabled now, perfect for playing the victim!”
The call abruptly ended. Little did she know, I had secretly recorded her words. Then I started a Live Stream, releasing the recording of Sophia’s extortion attempt.
Netizens began to question her, saying that if she were really innocent, she wouldn’t threaten me for money.
Sophia furiously cursed me. “Oh, playing dirty with recordings, huh? If you have the guts, face me in a straightforward competition!”
I smirked internally. She had no right to talk about straightforwardness. So, I immediately accepted the challenge.
We set the competition in the park between our two shops, making Pastries on the spot and letting every passerby serve as Judges.
Since Sophia claimed we had plagiarized her Recipe, I decided to face her publicly. Even though Grandpa’s Recipe had been burned by Sophia, I had watched him make Desserts since childhood and memorized every step.
The only difference was the taste. I didn’t replicate Grandpa’s work completely but chose to innovate and create my own unique Dessert. Seeing this, Sophia laughed heartily. “Your Grandpa’s Recipe has long been burned by me. I want to see what trash you can make without it!”
I calmly responded, “Let’s wait and see.”
I couldn’t use my hands, so I instructed a hired Dessert Master to be my hands. Soon, plate after plate of fresh Pastries emerged. The aroma of my Pastries drew in passersby, while Sophia’s side also gathered a crowd.
Initially, Sophia was confident, claiming she had memorized Grandpa’s Recipe and I couldn’t possibly beat her. But soon, she was proven
wrong.
Diners disdainfully tossed her Pastry plates into the trash.
“Ugh, why does it taste like industrial flavoring?”
“The Johnson Family’s traditional Pastries are so much better. Sophia Thompson’s are just full of artificial flavors, giving me a headache and nausea!”
“Exactly, Sophia Thompson is heartless. Her Pastries even contain Poppy Seed Pods. Disgraceful!”
The opinion of the public speaks volumes. More and more people are visiting my shop to enjoy pastries.
Sophia Thompson’s true nature has been revealed.
The previous rumors were dispelled, and she fled before the competition concluded. Afterward, many advocates for justice came forward, exposing her scandals of selling substandard products and defrauding customers at the pastry shop.
10:45 AM
