The flower shop suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too tense.
Madison stared at Victor Lang as if he were a ghost from a life she desperately wanted to forget.
Because in many ways, he was.
New York.
The scandal.
The collapse of her career.
The sleepless nights.
The humiliation.
Victor was connected to all of it.
Clara looked between them.
Clearly sensing the tension.
"Should I be worried?"
Victor offered a polite smile.
"Only if you're responsible for the flowers."
Clara didn't smile back.
"Didn't answer my question."
Madison almost laughed.
Nobody intimidated Clara Bennett.
Nobody.
Victor seemed to realize that too.
He raised his hands slightly.
"I'm not here to cause trouble."
"Funny," Madison said coldly. "Trouble usually follows you."
For the first time, Victor's smile faded.
Good.
Madison wasn't interested in pretending.
Not with him.
Not after everything that happened.
Victor glanced toward the shop entrance.
Then back at her.
"We need to talk."
"No."
"Madison."
"No."
His jaw tightened.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"And you're making assumptions."
Clara suddenly stood.
"Oh, I like her answer."
Madison almost smiled.
Victor sighed heavily.
Then lowered his voice.
"The contamination wasn't an accident."
The room froze.
Every sound seemed to disappear.
Even Clara stopped talking.
Victor continued.
"Someone paid a lot of money to make sure your restaurant failed."
Madison's heartbeat thundered inside her ears.
Not because the information was new.
Noah had already suggested it.
But hearing it from Victor made it real.
Dangerously real.
"Who?"
Victor hesitated.
That single pause told her everything.
He knew.
Or at least suspected.
But before he could answer—
The flower shop door opened.
A familiar figure entered.
Ethan.
For a brief second relief washed over Madison.
Unexpectedly strong relief.
His eyes immediately found Victor.
Then narrowed.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Victor noticed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because for the first time since arriving, Victor looked uncomfortable.
"Ethan Hayes."
Victor extended his hand.
Ethan ignored it.
Completely.
Madison nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Victor slowly lowered his hand.
Awkward.
Very awkward.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan asked.
His voice remained calm.
But Madison knew him well enough now to recognize the warning underneath.
Victor noticed too.
"I'm speaking with Madison."
"About?"
"Personal matters."
Ethan's expression didn't change.
Yet somehow the room felt colder.
Madison suddenly realized something.
Ethan didn't trust Victor.
At all.
And judging by Victor's reaction...
The feeling was mutual.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Eventually Victor looked back at Madison.
"I'll be staying in town."
Her stomach sank.
Wonderful.
Just wonderful.
"As I said earlier, there are things you need to know."
Madison crossed her arms.
"Then tell me now."
Victor's eyes flickered briefly toward Ethan.
"No."
"What?"
"Not here."
Madison stared.
Victor sighed.
"Some conversations require privacy."
Before she could respond, he handed her a business card.
Then walked out.
Just like that.
Leaving behind questions.
Again.
Madison hated people who did that.
Especially rich people.
Outside the window, Victor climbed into a black luxury sedan and drove away.
The moment he disappeared, Clara spoke.
"I don't like him."
Neither Ethan nor Madison argued.
Because they didn't like him either.
Not even a little.
---
Later that afternoon, Madison sat inside the restaurant office trying to focus on menu development.
It wasn't working.
Victor's appearance kept replaying in her mind.
The contamination wasn't an accident.
Someone paid for it.
The statement felt like a bomb waiting to explode.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Ethan entered carrying coffee.
Madison immediately accepted it.
"You're becoming predictable."
"How?"
"You always bring coffee."
His mouth twitched slightly.
"You always need coffee."
Fair.
Very fair.
For a few moments silence settled between them.
Comfortable silence.
Then Ethan spoke.
"Don't meet him alone."
Madison looked up.
"What?"
"Victor."
His expression was serious.
"I don't trust him."
Madison studied him carefully.
"You know him?"
"A little."
That answer wasn't convincing.
At all.
"Ethan."
"What?"
"That's a terrible lie."
For a moment he looked caught.
Which was rare.
Very rare.
Eventually he sighed.
"We met last year."
Madison frowned.
"Why?"
"Business."
That surprised her.
Victor worked almost exclusively with luxury restaurants.
Not orchards.
Not farms.
Restaurants.
A strange feeling formed in her stomach.
"Ethan."
His eyes met hers.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Silence.
A long silence.
Then—
"I contacted Victor after your scandal."
Madison froze.
The world seemed to stop.
"What?"
Ethan looked away briefly.
Almost embarrassed.
Then back at her.
"You disappeared."
The words landed softly.
Yet somehow hit harder than anything else.
"You stopped answering messages."
Madison looked down.
Because that part was true.
After everything happened in New York, she'd cut herself off from almost everyone.
Family.
Friends.
Everyone.
Ethan continued.
"I wanted answers."
Her throat tightened.
"So you investigated?"
A small nod.
Months ago.
While she'd been hiding from the world.
Ethan had been searching for the truth.
For her.
The realization made her chest ache.
Not painfully.
Just... deeply.
Why?
Why would he do that?
Why would he care that much?
The answer appeared immediately.
And scared her.
Because Clara's words suddenly returned.
That man has been in love with you since high school.
Madison quickly looked away.
No.
No.
She wasn't ready to think about that.
Not yet.
Not when her emotions already felt like a disaster.
---
That evening, construction crews finally completed the restaurant's main frame.
The building stood proudly against the sunset.
Still unfinished.
Still rough.
But real.
For the first time, Madison could truly picture the future.
The dining room.
The kitchen.
The guests.
The grand opening.
A dream becoming reality.
Workers celebrated with a small barbecue near the orchard.
Music played.
People laughed.
For a few hours, everyone forgot about sabotage and scandals.
Even Madison relaxed.
She stood near the edge of the gathering watching the sunset.
A peaceful moment.
Until Noah appeared beside her.
"Thinking?"
"Unfortunately."
He laughed.
Then followed her gaze toward the restaurant.
"You know, Ethan's been planning this for years."
Madison blinked.
"Really?"
Noah nodded.
"Long before I got involved."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Years?
The project was that old?
Noah smiled.
"He never admitted it, but I think this place became his excuse."
"Excuse for what?"
Noah glanced at her.
Then smirked.
"Oh, that's not my secret to tell."
Madison groaned.
"I hate when people do that."
"Good."
Before she could press further, shouting erupted nearby.
Everyone turned.
A construction worker came running.
Panic covered his face.
"Ethan!"
The entire gathering fell silent.
Ethan immediately stood.
"What happened?"
The worker looked terrified.
"The restaurant."
Madison's stomach dropped.
"What about it?"
The worker pointed toward the building.
Smoke.
Thin gray smoke.
Rising from the roof.
For one horrifying second nobody moved.
Then someone shouted—
"FIRE!"
And chaos exploded.
To be continued... 🔥📖❤️