Brought, Not Broken
Prologue
Rain poured heavily against the windows of the black luxury car.
Theo sat quietly in the back seat, clutching a worn recipe notebook against his chest.
It was old.
The corners were bent.
Several pages were stained with flour.
But it was the only thing he had left.
A guard sitting beside him glanced over before clicking his tongue.
Guard 1
Stop squeezing that thing.
Guard 1
It's not going anywhere.
Theo lowered his gaze to the notebook.
Theo Bennet
💭 It's all I have left.
He remained silent.
The guard rolled his eyes.
Guard 2
What did you expect?
Guard 2
The kid was sold by his family.
Theo's grip tightened.
His chest ached.
But he refused to react.
Theo Bennet
💭Even now, that word doesn't feel real.
The car continued moving through the storm.
Outside, the familiar city had long disappeared.
Everything looked foreign now.
The driver suddenly spoke.
Guard 1
We're almost there.
Theo instinctively looked out the window.
Dark roads.
Tall trees.
Nothing he recognized.
A small smirk appeared on the guard's face.
Guard 1
The man who brought you isn't someone ordinary people get to meet.
Theo slowly lifted his head.
For the first time since entering the car, he spoke.
Theo Bennet
.... Who is he?
The guards exchanged glances.
Then brush into laughter.
Guard 2
You really don't know?
Guard 1
Maybe it's better if you sta clueless.
Theo Bennet
💭What kind of person buys another human being?
Before anyone could answer, the car suddenly slowed.
Theo looked forward.
His breath caught.
massive iron gates stood before them.
The gates slowly opened.
Beyond them stood a mansion.
No.
A palace.
The estate stretched father then Theo could see.
Lighting flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating the enormous building.
For a moment, it looked less like a home..
and more like a kingdom.
Guard 2
Welcome to the Blackwood Estate.
The name sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Yet he couldn't remember why.
The car rolled through the gates.
Every second made his heartbeat faster.
The mansion grew larger.
Closer.
More intimidating
Silent filled the vehicle.
Nobody moved.
Theo stared at the mansion through the Rain-covered glass.
Then slowly lowered his eyes to the notebook in his hands.
The last piece of his old life.
The proof that Theo had once been just an ordinary boy.
A Baker.
A dreamer.
A son.
Theo Bennet
💭 If only I knew this wasn't the end.
His fingers brushed against the worn cover.
Theo Bennet
💭 It was only the beginning.
Theo Bennet
💭 The beginning of everything.
The car door opened.
And Theo's world changed forever.
Pookie
This is my second story
A Baker's Dream
Theo Bennet
My name is Theo Bennet.
Theo Bennet
I'm nineteen years old.
Theo Bennet
I work at a small bakery.
Theo Bennet
And I have a dream.
Theo Bennet
A stupidly expensive dream.
Theo Bennet
I want to own a bakery someday.
Theo Bennet
That was all I cared about three days ago.
The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.
Warm sunlight streamed through the bakery windows.
Fresh pastries filled the display shelves.
Customers chatted while enjoying their morning coffee.
For Theo...
There was no better place in the world.
Mr. Harris
The croissants are ready!.
Theo hurriedly toward the oven and carefully picked up the tray.
The warm smell instantly made him smile.
He carried the tray to the display counter.
Several customers immediately looked over.
Customer
They smell amazing.
Theo Bennet
Fresh out of the oven.
Theo Bennet
Just be careful. They're still hot.
Customer
You're always so sweet.
Mrs. Carter
Good morning, Theo.
Theo Bennet
Good morning, Mrs. Carter.
Mrs. Carter
You already know what I want?
Theo Bennet
One black coffee.
Theo Bennet
And the cinnamon roll
Mrs. Carter
You never forgot.
Mrs. Carter
You're going to make someone very happy one day.
Theo nearly dropped the coffee cup.
Theo Bennet
W-What kind of statement is that?
Mrs. Carter
You're a good boy.
Theo rubbed his back of his neck.
The bell above the bakery door suddenly rang.
A loud voice followed immediately.
The entire bakery turned.
Theo closed his eyes.
Theo Bennet
💭 Too early for this.
Noah rushed over.
His hair looked like he'd fought a hurricane and lost.
Theo Bennet
You overslept again.
Noah Hayes
That's not important.
Theo Bennet
It literally is.
Noah Hayes
I have good news.
Theo Bennet
What happened?
Noah Hayes
I woke up before noon.
Theo Bennet
That's your good news?
Noah Hayes
It happens twice a year.
Theo Bennet
Go clean the tables.
Noah Hayes
Yes, your majesty.
A few hours later, the bakery finally became quite.
Theo and Noah sat by the window with a plate of left over pastries..
Noah immediately grabbed three.
Theo Bennet
Leave some for me.
Noah Hayes
And I'm eating them.
Theo Bennet
You're impossible.
Noah Hayes
You tell me that everyday.
Theo Bennet
Because it's true every day.
Noah grinned.
Then his eyes landed on the notebook beside Theo.
Theo instantly grabbed it.
Finally, Theo sighed and opened the notebook.
Inside was another sketch.
A bakery.
His bakery.
Noah smiled.
Noah Hayes
You drew another one.
Theo Bennet
It's different.
Noah Hayes
It has same door.
Theo Bennet
The door is important.
Noah Hayes
You'll get it one day.
For a moment, Theo simply stared at the drawing.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
Theo Bennet
💭 I really hope so.
That evening, Theo returned home.
The small house looked exactly the same as always.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Home.
The moment he stepped inside, his mother's voice greeted him.
Theo's mom
Wash your hands.
Theo's mom
Dinner is almost ready.
His father was already sitting at the table.
Theo smiled back.
Everything felt normal.
Safe.
Peaceful.
Exactly the way he liked it.
He didn't notice the worried look his parents exchanged.
He didn't notice the unpaid bills hidden beneath a stack of papers.
And he didn't notice the fear slowly growing inside their hearts.
Because at the moment...
Theo was simply a baker with a dream.
And he had no idea that his world was about to change forever.
Pookie
here is the photo which Theo draw of his bakery
Pookie
and the important door Noah spoke about
Pookie
See you in next chapter.
The things we didn't notice
Theo Bennet
Back then, I thought ordinary days would last forever.
Theo Bennet
I thought tomorrow would be exactly the same.
Theo Bennet
I didn't know some things can change overnight.
The next morning arrived like any other.
Theo woke up early, got ready for work, and left home after a quick breakfast.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Nothing seemed different.
At least..
Not yet.
The bakery was already busy when Theo arrived.
Fresh bread lined the shelves. .
Customers filled the tables.
The familiar smell of coffee and pastries welcomed him.
Mr. Harris
You looked tired.
Theo Bennet
I stayed up late.
Mr. Harris
One day that bakery of yours is going to become real
The bell above the bakery door rang.
Theo didn't even need to look.
Noah Hayes
Good morning, beautiful people.
Several customers laughed.
Noah Hayes
And you're boring.
Noah Hayes
Good morning to you too.
Noah grinned and dropped into the chair beside him.
Noah Hayes
I brought breakfast.
Theo Bennet
We work in a bakery.
Theo Bennet
So why did you bring breakfast?
Noah Hayes
Because I wanted to.
Theo stared at the convenience store sandwich in Noah's hand.
Theo Bennet
You brought a sandwich.
Theo Bennet
We literally sell bread.
Noah Hayes
Don't judge me.
The morning passed quickly.
Customers came and went.
Orders piled up.
And for a while, Theo forgot about everything else.
Later, during lunch break, Theo and Noah sat outside behind the bakery.
The weather was warm.
A light breeze passed by.
Noah Hayes
If you open a bakery one day.....
Noah Hayes
Make me manager.
Theo Bennet
Absolutely not.
Theo Bennet
You'd bankrupt me in a week.
Theo Bennet
It's accurate.
Noah Hayes
I'll remember this betrayal.
The smile on Noah's face slowly faded.
Noah Hayes
You've been distracted since yesterday.
Theo Bennet
It's really nothing.
Noah studied him for a moment.
Then sighed.
Noah Hayes
If something's bothering you...
Noah Hayes
you know you can tell me.
That evening, Theo returned home.
The moment he stepped inside, he noticed something strange.
The house was quite.
Too quite.
Normally, his mother would already be preparing dinner.
Normally, his father would be watching TV.
Today....
Neither of them were there.
Silence.
Theo frowned.
Then he heard voices coming from the next door.
Low voices.
Tense voices.
Theo's mom
We can't keep doing this.
Theo's mom
Then what are we supposed to do?
Theo froze..
Something about their voice felt wrong.
Before he could hear more, a chair scrapped against the floor.
Theo quickly stepped into the room.
His parents immediately looked at him.
Then they smiled.
Too quickly.
Too natural.
As if they hadn't been arguing just moments ago.
Theo's mom
Dinner will be ready soon.
Nobody mentioned what he had heard.
Nobody explained anything.
And somehow...
That bothered him more than the argument itself.
Theo Bennet
💭Something's wrong.
Theo Bennet
💭I just don't know what.
For the first time...
Theo began to wonder if the life he loved was starting to crack.
Pookie
Do u want Noah to be manager in Theo's Bakery?.🤣
Pookie
Don't forget to comment about this chapter.
Pookie
See u in next chapter.
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