For years, my husband mocked my plump figure. To cope with our troubled marriage, I often turned to food. One day, his cruel jokes went too far—he compared me to a slim, beautiful woman in front of everyone. That was the moment everything changed for me.
I had always been passionate about baking and dreamed of becoming a skilled pastry chef. The kitchen was my sanctuary, the one place where I felt at peace. I spent countless hours perfecting my desserts. But tasting everything became a part of the job, and soon, the extra pounds piled on faster than I could have imagined.
Each time I looked in the mirror, I felt like a stranger stared back. And my husband, Bryce, didn’t make things any easier. “Maybe if you spent more time at the gym and less in the kitchen, you’d look better in that dress,” he’d say with a smirk. Those words cut deep. I often heard him chuckle on the phone with his friends, making jokes about my weight, thinking I couldn’t hear. But I always heard. And it hurt.
Once, I was by Bryce’s side at every event, his perfect, supportive wife. But as the pounds piled on, my confidence plummeted. I stopped accompanying him altogether and hid away in the kitchen while Bryce lived his life without me. “Is this it? Is this all I’m meant to be?” I felt lost, drowning in self-doubt and loneliness.
One day, I had to attend an important event, the first one I was catering as a chef. My desserts would be the highlight of the evening, something I had been dreaming of for months. Bryce attended since it was a party hosted by his business partner, Rowan. As we arrived, I noticed Bryce’s attention drifting away from me toward a slim, attractive woman named Elise. Bryce’s words stung as he nodded toward Elise, “Now that’s how a woman should look in a dress. Maybe you should ask her for some tips, sunshine.”
As the evening wore on, Bryce found every excuse to be near Elise, laughing at her jokes and complimenting her while I stood in the background, feeling more invisible than ever. I hid in a corner and that’s where I met Rowan. With a warm gaze and gentle humor, he put me at ease. “Not much for the crowd, huh?” he asked. “Not really. I guess I’m more comfortable behind the scenes,” I replied. “Well, you’ve certainly outdone yourself tonight,” Rowan said, looking at the dessert table. “Did you make all of those?”
Rowan listened with genuine interest as I talked about my love for baking. Then, something unexpected happened. Rowan told me about his boulangerie and suggested I try to win the tender to develop the dessert menu for his restaurant. Before I could respond, Bryce appeared out of nowhere. “Well, if it isn’t the star of the show,” he said loudly. He turned to Rowan, “Thanks for the invitation, but we need to head home. Gotta drop Elise off as well, you know how it is.”
On the way home, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Bryce, how could you suggest Elise to Rowan? What about me? Don’t you think I’m capable?” Bryce shrugged, “Oh, come on, sunshine. It was just a suggestion. Don’t take it so personally.” “Not take it personally? Do you have any idea how much this means to me!” I asked, feeling a new resolve. “Look, if you were good enough, you wouldn’t need me to speak up for you, right?” Bryce replied nonchalantly.
Determined to prove my worth, I accepted Rowan’s offer and threw myself into the task of developing the dessert menu. I followed a strict schedule for baking and taking care of my health, starting every morning with a run and working out at home. Bryce continued to throw out snide comments, but I ignored him. This was something I had to do for myself.
The day of the competition finally arrived. I felt nervous surrounded by seasoned chefs, and suddenly I saw Elise looking even more stunning up close. “Well, well, if it isn’t the pastry princess,” she said. “Shouldn’t the buns be in the bakery, not hanging off the baker?” I followed her gaze and saw Bryce chatting with some guests—not here for me, but for her.
Just as I was about to walk away, Rowan appeared by my side. “Clara, I have high hopes for your dessert,” he said. “But if you’re too weak to continue, you should leave now. I need a strong team. If you can’t handle the pressure, there’s no place for you here.” His words reignited the fire within me. “I’ll do this,” I whispered, pouring my heart into every detail of my desserts. By the end of the competition, I had given my best.
When the results were announced, I stood in disbelief. I had won the contract! Me! Bryce stood there, speechless. An unexpected reward came with the prize—an opportunity to study in Paris, the culinary capital of the world. Bryce hissed, “You did all this behind my back? This nonsense? You need to stop this right now and come home where you belong.”
Before I could respond, Rowan stepped forward. “Bryce, Clara is a remarkable woman. From the moment I met her, I knew she was special. I’ve seen how she’s changed over the past month. Her determination and hard work have yielded incredible results. I’m more certain than ever that I’ve fallen in love with an extraordinary woman.”
Bryce was stunned into silence. I found my voice. “I am a free woman, Bryce,” I said. “I deserve more than to live in your shadow. I want a divorce, and you can go to Elise if that’s what you want.”
Bryce’s face flushed with anger, but he couldn’t find any words. Rowan gently handed me a beautiful bouquet. “Shall we?” he asked. He revealed another surprise—a pastry chef position waiting for me in Paris, and after my training, I could stay there if I wished. “I hope by then, you’ll have wrapped up your affairs here, and maybe you’ll want to start fresh in a new country,” he said, “I’ll be there by your side, supporting whatever decision you make.”
A wave of happiness washed over me. The world was at my feet, ready to offer me a new life filled with love and creativity.
