Ariana paced the length of the living room, her mind racing as she gathered the courage to talk to her sister. After everything that had happened over the past few months, it felt like she was finally starting to heal, slowly but surely. There was still so much to unpack emotionally, but as she tried to move forward, one thought kept creeping back into her mind—her bakery.

Before all the chaos, running her little bakery had been her pride and joy. It was her escape, her passion, and a dream she had built from scratch. The smell of fresh pastries, the warmth of the oven, and the satisfaction of creating something with her own hands had been her comfort. But after being kidnapped by the Italians and enduring months of captivity, she had been forced to abandon it, and that loss had weighed heavily on her heart.

Now, she was ready to take it back.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Isabella walked into the room, her presence immediately commanding attention. She was holding a cup of tea and raised an eyebrow when she saw Ariana standing in the middle of the room, lost in thought.

"Everything okay?" Isabella asked, setting her tea down on the coffee table.

Ariana hesitated for a moment before nodding, taking a deep breath. "Yeah... Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Isabella sat down on the couch, giving Ariana her full attention. "What's on your mind?"

Ariana took a seat next to her, nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I’ve been thinking... about the bakery."

Isabella’s expression softened instantly. She knew how much the bakery had meant to Ariana before everything went sideways, and it was something her sister had rarely spoken about since her rescue. The fact that Ariana was bringing it up now was a good sign—it meant she was beginning to reclaim parts of herself that had been lost.

"You want to restart it?" Isabella asked, a smile tugging at her lips.

Ariana nodded slowly, her eyes filled with hope. "Yeah... I think I do. I miss it. It was my dream, you know? And I feel like... like maybe getting back into it could help me heal. It was always something that made me happy."

Isabella reached out and took her sister’s hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Of course, Ariana. I think it’s a great idea."

Ariana’s eyes lit up, relief flooding her expression. "Really? You think so?"

"Absolutely," Isabella said with a warm smile. "You’ve been through so much, but you’re strong, and if going back to your bakery is something that will bring you joy again, then I’ll do everything I can to help. I’m so proud of you for even thinking about it."

Ariana felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she grinned at her sister, tears of gratitude brimming in her eyes. "Thank you, Bella. I wasn’t sure if it was too soon, but it feels right, you know?"

Isabella nodded, her eyes gleaming with pride. "It’s never too soon to chase your dreams again. We’ll get everything sorted, and soon enough, that bakery will be up and running. And when it is, I expect some of your famous croissants."

Ariana laughed, wiping away a stray tear. "You’ll be the first to get them, I promise."

Just then, Taehyung strolled into the living room, whistling a light tune as he passed by. He glanced at the two sisters, catching the end of their conversation, and shot them a curious look.

"Something good happening here?" he asked, flashing his usual charming smile.

Isabella’s eyes followed him as he passed, her expression growing serious for a moment. Ariana didn’t notice, but Isabella’s protective instincts kicked in as she rose from the couch and gestured for Tae to follow her.

"Hey, Tae, can I talk to you for a sec?" Isabella asked, her voice calm but firm.

Tae raised an eyebrow but didn’t hesitate to follow her into the hallway, sensing that she had something important to say. Once they were out of Ariana’s earshot, Isabella turned to face him, her expression softer than it had been the last time they had spoken.

"Look, Tae," Isabella started, her voice steady. "About what I said before... I want to make something clear."

Tae’s smile faded slightly, and he nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I meant what I said about protecting Ariana," Isabella explained. "I will do anything to make sure she never goes through something horrible again. But I also don’t want you to think that I’m against whatever might be happening between you two."

Tae blinked, a little surprised. "I didn’t take it that way," he said honestly. "I know you’re looking out for her. I would too if I were in your position."

Isabella sighed, her expression softening further. "I care about you too, Tae. You’ve been like a brother to me, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m discouraging you from being in Ariana’s life. I’ve seen the way you look at her, and I think... I think you might actually be good for her. She needs someone who cares about her as much as you do."

Tae’s eyes widened slightly, his heart skipping a beat. Isabella had always been intimidating in her protective role, but hearing her say that gave him a sense of relief he hadn’t realized he needed.

"I just want to make sure you’re serious," Isabella continued, her voice growing softer but still firm. "Because if you’re not, then I’ll be right back to giving you hell."

Tae chuckled softly, nodding in understanding. "I get it, Bella. I really do. And I promise you, I am serious. Ariana means a lot to me."

Isabella studied him for a moment, then finally offered him a small smile. "Good. Then we’re on the same page."

Before they could say more, Ariana peeked around the corner, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Are you guys plotting something without me?"

Tae and Isabella exchanged amused glances before Isabella waved her off with a grin. "Just making sure Tae doesn’t screw up."

Ariana rolled her eyes, clearly used to Isabella’s teasing ways. "Of course you are."

Tae smiled as he walked back toward Ariana, leaving Isabella behind. There was a newfound sense of ease between them now, a silent understanding that Isabella trusted him with her sister’s heart. It was a weight off his shoulders, but it also made him more determined to be someone Ariana could rely on.

As the day went on, the three of them spent time together, but Tae found his thoughts drifting back to Ariana whenever he could. He knew he had a long way to go before things between them could truly be something more, but he was patient. Ariana had been through too much to rush things, and the last thing he wanted was to overwhelm her.

Later, when Isabella had left the room, Tae sat next to Ariana on the couch, his heart beating a little faster than usual. She was flipping through a magazine, looking relaxed, but there was a quiet tension in the air between them.

"So," Tae said, trying to sound casual. "I hear you’re thinking about reopening your bakery."

Ariana glanced up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. Bella’s going to help me get it back up and running."

Tae smiled warmly. "That’s amazing, Ariana. I bet it’ll be even better than before."

She blushed slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hope so."

They shared a quiet moment together, and Tae couldn’t help but feel a spark of something more between them. It was subtle, but it was there, and he knew that as time went on, that spark could grow into something deeper.

For now, though, he was content to just be by her side, supporting her as she rebuilt her life—one step at a time.