apped. "Don't s

ack inside witho

ehind the kitchen. Her apron still smelled like garlic and lemon

bench and stare

ds kept ringi

ant... about

l spot on a quiet corner. She'd worked for years just to afford the lease. She painted the walls herself. S

s going t

e wors

adn't ev

she felt. Like he'd been punched

ds together, tryin

or creaked op

i

look up. "D

ything," Lily

hey're going to tear it down. E

Lily sat besid

il

f it's true. And if it is, we'

. "It's the Cole fam

ned sharp. "Then

. She didn't trust

"Come on. Let's find out what deal they'r

er face and n

olling through news sites and real

ade a massive investment into a redevelopment project. New hotels and New shops. And, just as Vanessa

l," Elara

on the phone. "They sig

said bitterly. "He didn't

print. You know how those families work. His

new or not, it doesn't change anything. He left me onc

ed her. "So

ing this kitchen. Then I go home.

for a long second,

at, and walked out into the quiet kitch

Marco near the

he call

stop

appened," he sa

shru

ke sauce. But I can't teach you how to sta

him a w

remind you of this, you'

ve

e nineteen and still made it to head

wed. "Than

yti

n. This time, it didn't bother her. She liked the way

umbled with the keys, but her hand stopped w

mi

fr

y anything," he said

she said

ara. I swear. I didn't know your r

and angry. "You didn't read

e final papers. I

u trusted your team but not

la

You don't get to say my

ened. "I know

me. You left without saying a word. You promised

it was bett

ou disappeared. I had to start over with nothing. I built my life from scratch.

w," he said a

now y

st him and unl

t try to

d open the door,

n fix

ed slowl

father. I'll st

m. "You really thi

"And for once, I want to

want to feel better abo

ant to feel close to you again. Even i

kipped once

to the car and

. She sat there, hands on the wh

mian still

hing

dn't open

the key and

until she reach

ning, Elara

missed calls from an unkno

ted: "Check t

ened her

here

Sudden Reversal on

ared,

held an emergency meeting with his father and grandfather late last night.

oned Elara's

ands

don

tually

at to think. Relie

wildly until a kno

t expecti

the door slowl

stood

oked like he hadn't slept.

I'd fix it

opened, but

pped i

need to tell you something.

d back, he

he door b

leave because of fear. I left because my

t ch

her straight

.. or lose the

heart

stunned, breath c

osen hi

w he w

to take