Breaking Mr. Cold (Giselle and Donovan) novel Chapter 438

Giselle looped her arm through his and led him to a corner of the living room where a bar counter stood. She pointed to the large box resting on the counter.

"Here it is. Go on, open it."

Donovan wasn't particularly interested. After all, it was just a cake. Still, out of courtesy, he tugged at the ribbon and lifted the lid.

What he saw inside made him pause.

It was a cake, yes, but nothing like the usual layered desserts. This one was crafted into a miniature landscape.

Undulating mountains, stretches of blue sea, ships sailing across the waves. The whole scene was vivid, three-dimensional, so realistic it looked as though it had been sculpted from clay rather than buttercream.

As Donovan stood silently taking it in, Joanne stepped forward with a bright smile. "Mr. Kane, this is an artisanal landscape cake made entirely by Mrs. Kane herself. She spent ages on it.

"To finish in time for your birthday, she stayed up working until five this morning. She wouldn't even let us help. And look how it turned out. It's better than anything you'd find at a professional bakery. Isn't it incredible?"

Giselle had known his birthday for a while and had racked her brain for a gift.

A man like Donovan already had more than enough luxury in his life. Another watch, another car, another rare collectible—none of it would mean anything.

So she decided to give him something money couldn't buy. Something made with her own hands.

She settled on the challenge of the artisanal landscape cake.

He didn't need anyone to explain the magnitude of the work. He could see it in every curve and contour. The effort it demanded, the skill it required, the relentless focus—only someone who had poured her heart and soul into it could have achieved such perfection.

Donovan drew in a long breath.

Though his chest swelled with emotion, his face betrayed almost nothing. Instead of praise, he rubbed his nose with a feigned casualness and teased, "A cake with mountains and seas. What's next—some kind of epic fairy tale blessing?"

Giselle couldn't help but laugh. "Of course not."

"Remember the first time we met?" she said. "It was in Haleona. I was surfing alone in the deep water when a shark came at me. You just happened to be out on a speedboat, and by pure chance, you pulled me out and saved my life."