Chapter 4

The kitchen was bathed in the soft glow of early morning light, the air thick with the scent of melting chocolate and fresh raspberries. Isabella moved with practiced precision, her hands deftly layering rich chocolate ganache between velvety sheets of mocha-infused sponge cake. The sound of her knife scraping against the stainless steel workbench provided a comforting rhythm, punctuated by the occasional soft clink of utensils against ceramic bowls.

“Almost there,” she murmured to herself, her breath visible in the chilly air as she carefully arranged the final touches. The cake was a masterpiece—a towering structure of dark chocolate and…