Lara stood in Sweet Haven's kitchen, her hazel eyes scanning Ms. Harper's new contract—no creative control, just a stake in the bakery's expansion (Chapter 21). Her curly brown hair was tied back, her pink apron on, her heart racing with hope. Ethan leaned against the counter, his green eyes warm, his black hair messy, his white shirt rolled up at the sleeves, his hand resting on hers, a silent support.
"I think we should take it," Lara said, her voice steady, her hazel eyes meeting Ethan's. "We keep my recipes, my vision, and we get the funds to rebuild—maybe even open a second location. It's a win."
Ethan nodded, his smile soft, his green eyes sparkling. "I'm with you, Lara. Let's do this—together." They signed the contract, Ms. Harper's investment a lifeline after the fire, Victor's sabotage, and Claire's drama (Chapters 13–19). The funds arrived fast, and they got to work—new ovens, fresh paint, fairy lights twinkling across the ceiling, Sweet Haven coming back to life stronger than ever.
To celebrate, they had a playful baking date that night, the bakery quiet except for their laughter, the smell of vanilla in the air. Lara smeared frosting on Ethan's cheek, giggling, "You're a mess!" He grinned, pulling her close, his green eyes teasing, "Your mess," before kissing her, the frosting sweet on their lips, their love deeper than ever. They dreamed of their future—a chain of Sweet Haven bakeries, Ethan's photography studio thriving, maybe a little house together one day, their hands intertwined as they planned.
But as they locked up, a familiar figure appeared—Claire, her blonde hair sleek, her blue eyes cold, her red coat a warning in the moonlight. "I found something," she said, holding up a letter, her voice sharp. "Proof Ethan lied about our past. He never paid me back—he's a liar, Lara."
Ethan's face paled, his grip on Lara's hand tightening, his green eyes flashing with anger. "That's not true, Claire!" he snapped, but the letter in her hand—a supposed IOU—looked real, and Lara's heart fluttered with doubt, their fresh start suddenly under threat again.
To be continued…