The Sweet Beginning

Riley twirled in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting her pink designer dress. The morning sun streamed through the windows of her Maple City mansion, making everything sparkle like jewels.

"Perfect day for shopping," she said to herself, grabbing her matching pink purse.

Outside, the maple trees were turning their gorgeous fall colors. Riley loved how the red and gold leaves made her feel like she was living in a fairy tale. She had everything a girl could want - beautiful clothes, a stunning home, and enough money to buy anything that caught her eye.

At the town square, the smell of fresh pancakes made her stomach rumble. She bought three stacks with extra syrup, then stopped at the candy shop for chocolate truffles. The bakery's cinnamon rolls looked irresistible too.

"One more won't hurt," Riley laughed, taking a big bite. Life was sweet, and she planned to enjoy every delicious moment of it.

Sweet Dreams and Tight Seams

Weeks passed, and Riley's trips to the town square became daily adventures. She discovered every bakery, candy shop, and restaurant in Maple City. Her pink outfits grew tighter, but she simply bought bigger sizes in her favorite color.

"Just a quick stop at Sweet Dreams Bakery," Riley told herself one morning, parking outside the cheerful shop with its red and white striped awnings.

Inside, the baker smiled warmly. "Back again, miss? The usual dozen chocolate croissants?"

"Make it two dozen today," Riley laughed, patting her rounded stomach. "And throw in some of those strawberry tarts."

The friendly baker, a plump woman with flour-dusted aprons, packed everything carefully. "You sure do love your sweets! My name's Martha, by the way."

Riley nodded, already biting into a warm croissant. "I'm Riley. Food just makes everything better, doesn't it?"

Martha's smile faltered slightly as she watched Riley finish three pastries before leaving the shop. But Riley didn't notice. She was too busy planning her next stop at the ice cream parlor.

Her mansion felt smaller these days, and climbing stairs left her breathless. But Riley pushed those thoughts away, focusing instead on her next delicious meal.