Madison didn't sleep.
Again.
But this time it wasn't because of stress.
Or the newspaper.
Or the investors.
It was because of Ethan.
More specifically...
"Because you're worth fighting for."
The sentence replayed in her mind over and over.
Every time she tried to think about something else, it came back.
The look in his eyes.
The sincerity in his voice.
The way he said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Madison groaned and buried her face in a pillow.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Because for the first time, she wasn't questioning Ethan's feelings.
She was questioning her own.
---
The next morning, the restaurant site was unusually busy.
Despite the setbacks, construction continued.
Workers moved supplies.
Contractors inspected repairs.
Everyone was trying to make up for lost time.
Madison spent the morning reviewing kitchen equipment.
At least until Clara appeared.
Which immediately ruined any chance of productivity.
"You like him."
Madison didn't even look up.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Madison."
"Clara."
"You spent the last ten minutes smiling at a coffee cup."
Madison froze.
"...I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Wonderful.
Just wonderful.
Clara looked entirely too pleased with herself.
"Tell me."
"No."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Tell me."
Madison sighed dramatically.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
Unfortunately, Clara was right.
As usual.
A few minutes later, Clara's expression softened.
"He's good for you."
Madison looked down.
Because deep down?
She knew that too.
Ethan made her feel safe.
Supported.
Seen.
Not as the chef who failed.
Not as the woman from the headlines.
Just...
Madison.
And somehow that meant everything.
---
Meanwhile, Ethan was having a terrible day.
Not that anyone could tell.
Years of responsibility had made him good at hiding stress.
But inside?
He was furious.
The investors leaving wasn't random.
The newspaper attacks weren't random.
The sabotage wasn't random.
Someone was orchestrating everything.
The question was who.
And why.
Noah entered the office carrying a stack of documents.
"You won't like this."
Ethan sighed.
"Wonderful."
Noah dropped the papers onto the desk.
"I traced some of the investor withdrawals."
Ethan immediately looked up.
"And?"
Noah's expression darkened.
"They all received calls."
A chill settled over the room.
"From who?"
Noah hesitated.
Then answered.
"Victor Lang."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Of course.
Of course it was Victor.
The timing was too perfect otherwise.
The articles.
The investors.
The pressure campaign.
Everything pointed toward him.
But one question remained.
Why?
Victor didn't care about small-town restaurants.
He didn't care about orchards.
So why was he targeting this project?
Noah seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Because his next words made Ethan's stomach drop.
"I don't think Madison is the real target."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
Noah crossed his arms.
"I think someone is using Madison."
The room went quiet.
Because suddenly everything looked different.
Very different.
If Madison wasn't the target...
Then who was?
---
That afternoon, Madison was testing recipes in a temporary kitchen area.
The work felt familiar.
Comforting.
For the first time in years, she was creating something purely because she loved it.
No expectations.
No critics.
No pressure.
Just food.
Exactly the way cooking should be.
She had just finished plating a sample dish when applause erupted behind her.
Madison nearly dropped the plate.
"What the—"
Clara.
Liam.
Noah.
Several workers.
And Ethan.
All standing nearby.
Watching.
Madison stared.
"Why are there people?"
Clara laughed.
"Because we're hungry."
Noah grabbed a fork.
"For research purposes."
Liam nodded seriously.
"Very scientific."
Madison rolled her eyes.
Thirty minutes later everyone was tasting dishes.
Offering opinions.
Arguing over favorites.
Laughing.
The atmosphere felt warm.
Happy.
Like a family.
At one point Madison looked around the room.
Really looked.
And suddenly realized something.
She hadn't thought about New York once all day.
Not once.
The realization hit unexpectedly.
Because months ago she'd believed her life was over.
Now?
She was laughing again.
Dreaming again.
Living again.
And a large part of that was because of the people around her.
Especially one person.
As if sensing her thoughts, Ethan looked up.
Their eyes met.
And neither looked away.
Not immediately.
The room seemed to fade.
The voices became distant.
Everything narrowed to a single moment.
A single look.
A single heartbeat.
Then—
CRASH!
Everyone jumped.
A loud noise echoed outside.
Instantly the atmosphere changed.
Ethan stood.
"So much for a peaceful afternoon."
The group rushed outside.
A delivery truck sat near the construction entrance.
Its front tire had exploded.
The driver looked shaken but unharmed.
Relief washed through everyone.
Until Noah noticed something.
His expression immediately hardened.
"What?"
Noah crouched beside the damaged tire.
Then looked up.
"It's not an accident."
Madison's stomach dropped.
Again.
"How do you know?"
Noah held something up.
A long metal spike.
Deliberately placed.
The tire had been sabotaged.
Silence fell over the group.
Because everyone understood.
This was becoming impossible to ignore.
Someone was actively attacking the project.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Ethan took the spike.
His expression remained calm.
But Madison recognized the warning signs now.
The clenched jaw.
The narrowed eyes.
The dangerous silence.
Someone had pushed too far.
And Ethan Hayes was done being patient.
---
That evening, after most people left, Ethan remained alone at the construction site.
The sunset painted the unfinished restaurant gold.
For several minutes he simply stood there.
Thinking.
Planning.
Waiting.
Then a voice came from behind.
"You know who it is."
Victor Lang stepped out from the shadows.
Ethan wasn't surprised.
Not even slightly.
"I was wondering when you'd show up."
Victor smiled.
"You're smarter than most people give you credit for."
Ethan folded his arms.
"What do you want?"
Victor looked toward the restaurant.
Then toward the orchard.
Then finally back at Ethan.
"What I wanted twenty years ago."
The words hit like a punch.
Because suddenly Ethan understood.
Not just the sabotage.
Not just the pressure campaign.
Everything.
The keychain.
The fire.
The timing.
All of it.
His expression darkened.
"No."
Victor's smile widened.
"Oh yes."
For the first time in years, genuine hatred flashed across Ethan's face.
Because the past he thought was buried...
Had just come back to life.
And somehow...
It was connected to Madison.
To be continued... ❤️📖🔥