Sunny arrived at Bloom & Grow just as the morning sun slipped between the buildings, gilding the shop windows in soft gold.
She stopped short when she noticed an elderly couple waiting outside, seated neatly on the bench beside the door.
They looked refined, composed, and entirely out of place in the quiet street.
"Oh—good morning," Sunny said warmly, fumbling for her keys.
"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting."
She unlocked the door and held it open.
The couple entered slowly, their movements dignified, deliberate.
They chose the chairs closest to the entrance.
"What can I get for the both of you?" Sunny asked, tying her apron.
"Don't bother, dear," the man said gently. "We're waiting for our granddaughter."
Sunny blinked. "I… I think there's been a mistake. I don't believe your granddaughter is here."
The woman chuckled softly. "He means Olivia."
Recognition struck like a spark. Sunny's ears warmed with embarrassment.
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know. Please—let me get you some tea."
She hurried behind the counter, hands slightly unsteady as she prepared two cups.
When she returned and set them down, the woman's gaze sharpened.
"So you're the reason she refuses to get back together with Juliet."
Sunny froze. "Pardon?"
"Mi amor," the man murmured.
"Oh, please," the woman waved him off. "Don't give her that innocent act."
"Don't ambush the poor girl," he scolded softly.
"I truly don't understand what you're talking about," Sunny said.
The woman leaned forward.
"How much would it take for you to disappear from the picture?"
Sunny's breath caught. "Ma'am?"
"Call me Abuela. And him, Abuelo."
"I—I'm sorry," Sunny said quietly. "I already have an Abuela. It would feel… confusing."
The woman smiled thinly. "Then call me Nichole. And he's Pedro."
She tilted her head. "Now don't pretend you didn't hear my question."
Sunny tried to swallow, but the lump in her throat refused to move.
"I… I don't… huh?" Her voice cracked.
The door suddenly flew open.
"Abuela? Abuelo?"
Olivia stood in the doorway, beside the same woman from two days ago.
"What are you doing here?" Juliet asked in surprise.
"We wanted to surprise you," Nichole said sweetly.
"How did the date go?" Pedro asked.
"Good," Olivia replied stiffly.
"Come sit with us," Pedro said warmly. "Your employee made us tea."
Olivia's eyes drifted to Sunny, who had already begun stepping back.
"Come join us, Sunny," Nichole said with a smile so bright it felt dangerous.
Sunny's stomach dropped. She had never told them her name.
"Why should she?" Juliet snapped. "This is a family affair. Outsiders aren't allowed."
Sunny seized the escape. "Excuse me, I need to take a call."
She slipped outside, heart racing.
She hid behind the building, her phone vibrated.
"Hello?"
"Yanyan…"
The voice was weak.
"Uncle?" Sunny whispered. "Where are you? What happened?"
"You aren't safe there," Pengxi said. "Leave. Now."
Sunny spun in place, scanning the alley. "What do you mean?"
"They'll kill us both."
Her lungs refused to work. The world tilted.
"What's going on?" she cried.
He groaned in pain—raw, helpless.
The line went dead.
"Ah," Nichole's voice purred behind her. "Now I finally know your weakness. Family."
Sunny turned slowly. "You did this?"
"I knew you wouldn't accept money," Nichole said. "So I planned ahead."
"You hurt him?"
"No. I proved a point. So tell me—who matters more? Your job, or your uncle?"
"Does Olivia know about this?"
"I do whatever it takes to protect my grandbaby."
Sunny closed her eyes. "What would you have me do?"
"Leave. Olivia is meant to marry Juliet. I won't tolerate distractions."
"You want me to quit because I scare you?" Sunny whispered bitterly. "Rich people are disgusting."
Nichole's smile sharpened. "Careful."
"If I leave… you'll let him go?"
Nichole nodded.
Sunny's teeth clenched as tears burned behind her eyes.
"You better keep your word."
"You have it."
"Give me a minute."
Nichole returned inside. Sunny slid down the wall, collapsing onto the ground.
"Why do I always fall for people I can never have?" Her tears finally came.
Alejandra and her homophobia. Now this.
She stood, wiped her face, and returned inside.
She removed her apron and placed it gently on the counter.
"Is everything okay?" Olivia asked.
Sunny looked at Nichole. Then back at Olivia.
"Everything's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Don't bother her," Pedro said. "She said she's fine."
Sunny walked out. "Wait," Olivia called, following her. "What's going on?"
Sunny forced a smile. "Nothing. I just need coffee."
"Don't take long."
"I won't." Sunny watched her return inside. She smiled bitterly.
Then she turned and walked away. Bloom & Grow disappeared behind her and so did the life she wanted.
Two days.
Sunny had been gone for two days.
Olivia told herself it shouldn't matter. Employees quit all the time.
People walked out, moved on, found better things. That was normal, logical, expected.
So why did the shop feel like it had lost its heartbeat?
Bloom & Grow smelled the same—lavender, soil, morning dew—but everything felt… wrong.
The counter looked too empty. The back room too quiet.
No soft humming. No clumsy jokes. No gentle voice asking if she wanted coffee.
Olivia stood behind the register, staring at the door for the fifth time that hour.
She hadn't called, she hadn't texted. She hadn't even left a note.
Sunny had simply vanished. Juliet noticed.
"You've been zoning out all morning," she said.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
Olivia didn't answer because how could she explain the hollow ache in her chest?
How could she admit that she missed a girl she had never allowed herself to want?
Her grandmother's voice echoed in her mind. Distractions.
That was what Sunny was to them but Sunny had never felt like a distraction.
She had felt like safety. Olivia walked into the storage room and opened the small drawer where Sunny used to keep her phone during work. It was empty.
But a folded piece of paper lay inside.
Her breath caught, she unfolded it slowly.
I'm sorry for leaving like this. You deserve peace, not problems. Thank you for being kind to me when no one else was.
— Sunny
That was all. No explanation, no goodbye.
Just… gratitude. Olivia's hands trembled.
"Why would you leave me like this?" she whispered.
The memory hit her suddenly— Sunny's forced smile. Sunny's trembling hands. Sunny saying she needed coffee.
Sunny walking away. It hadn't been normal. It had been goodbye.
Olivia stormed out of the shop and dialed the only person she knew would tell her the truth.
"Abuela."
Nichole answered calmly. "Yes, cariño?"
"What did you do to her?"
Silence.
Then a sigh. "I protected you."
"You hurt her."
"I removed an obstacle."
Olivia's chest tightened painfully.
"She was never an obstacle. She was a person."
"She was a threat."
"To what? To Juliet? To your perfect future for me?"
"You belong with your kind."
Olivia's voice broke. "I belong with whoever makes me feel like I can breathe."
Nichole scoffed. "You'll thank me later."
Olivia ended the call. She leaned against a wall, shaking.
For the first time, she understood.
Sunny hadn't left because she wanted to.
Sunny had been forced and Olivia had let it happen.
That night, Olivia lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment she had ignored.
Every look Sunny gave her. Every pause, every time she had almost said something—and didn't.
"I'm sorry," Olivia whispered into the dark.
Two days. Two days too late and somewhere in the city, Sunny was carrying her pain alone.