The phone continued ringing.
For a moment, neither Madison nor Ethan moved.
The atmosphere inside the dark office was still charged from what had just happened.
That brief accidental embrace.
The way their eyes had locked.
The way neither had pulled away immediately.
Madison's heart was still beating far too fast.
Ethan cleared his throat and answered the call.
"Yeah?"
His expression changed instantly.
The warmth vanished.
Concern replaced it.
"What?"
Madison frowned.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ethan straightened.
"When did this happen?"
A pause.
Then—
"I'm coming."
The call ended.
"What happened?"
Ethan grabbed his jacket.
"One of the storage buildings."
Madison stood.
"What about it?"
"Someone broke in."
The room went silent.
Immediately, both thought the same thing.
Sabotage.
Again.
Outside, rain continued pouring from the sky.
Within minutes they were driving across the orchard.
Lightning illuminated the fields.
Thunder echoed overhead.
The atmosphere felt eerie.
Unsettling.
As though the storm itself knew something bad had happened.
When they reached the storage building, several workers were already gathered outside.
Noah stood near the entrance.
His expression was darker than Madison had ever seen.
The moment Ethan stepped out of the truck, Noah spoke.
"The locks were cut."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"What was taken?"
"Nothing."
Madison blinked.
"Nothing?"
Noah nodded.
"That's the strange part."
Everyone entered the building.
Flashlights swept across shelves.
Equipment.
Boxes.
Everything appeared untouched.
Until Madison noticed something.
Near the back wall.
A large wooden crate lay overturned.
Broken.
Ethan walked toward it.
Then stopped.
His expression hardened.
Madison followed his gaze.
A symbol had been painted on the wall.
Black paint.
Rough strokes.
A large X.
The room became silent.
"What does it mean?" Madison asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Noah spoke.
"It's a warning."
A chill ran through her body.
"A warning from who?"
Noah looked toward Ethan.
Ethan didn't answer.
That worried her more than anything.
Because it meant he already had someone in mind.
And whoever that person was...
They were dangerous enough to make Ethan concerned.
The drive back was quiet.
Very quiet.
Madison sat beside Ethan in the truck.
Rain continued falling.
Wind shook the trees.
Yet neither spoke.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"You know who did it."
Ethan stared at the road.
"No."
"Liar."
A small smile briefly appeared.
Then vanished.
Madison crossed her arms.
"Ethan."
He sighed.
"There are people who aren't happy about the restaurant."
"Who?"
"The Wilson family."
Madison frowned.
The name sounded familiar.
Then she remembered.
The Wilsons owned several businesses throughout the county.
Hotels.
Stores.
Restaurants.
A lot of restaurants.
Realization struck immediately.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
The restaurant wasn't just a dream.
It was competition.
And competition meant enemies.
Especially when money was involved.
Madison leaned back.
"Do you think they'd really sabotage construction?"
"I don't know."
His answer sounded honest.
But not convincing.
There was more he wasn't saying.
She could feel it.
Unfortunately, before she could ask another question, they arrived back at the orchard.
The storm had finally begun to weaken.
Only light rain remained.
Madison climbed from the truck.
Then paused.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Her eyes moved across the parking area.
The construction site.
The nearby fields.
Nothing unusual.
Yet the feeling remained.
As though someone was watching.
She slowly turned.
Nothing.
Nobody.
Just darkness.
Eventually she shook her head.
Maybe it was stress.
The past few days had been overwhelming.
Anyone would feel paranoid.
Right?
The next morning, Magnolia Creek exploded with gossip.
By breakfast, half the town already knew about the break-in.
By lunch, several wildly inaccurate versions of the story existed.
According to one rumor, armed criminals had attacked the orchard.
Another claimed federal agents were investigating Ethan.
A third somehow involved alien activity.
Small towns were incredible.
And completely ridiculous.
Madison was walking through Main Street when Clara appeared beside her out of nowhere.
"Did you hear?"
Madison sighed.
"Which version?"
"The alien one."
"Clara."
"What? It's my favorite."
Madison laughed despite herself.
The two entered Clara's flower shop.
The familiar scent of roses immediately filled the air.
For the first time in days, everything felt normal.
Until the shop bell rang.
Both women looked toward the entrance.
A stranger walked inside.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Expensive coat.
Sharp blue eyes.
Definitely not local.
The man scanned the room.
Then his gaze landed on Madison.
And smiled.
Madison immediately felt uncomfortable.
Because she knew him.
Unfortunately.
"Madison Carter."
Her stomach dropped.
"No."
Clara frowned.
"You know him?"
Madison wished she didn't.
The man approached calmly.
Confidently.
Like someone who always got what he wanted.
"Long time no see."
Madison's expression hardened.
"What are you doing here, Victor?"
Clara's eyes widened.
Victor Lang.
The name alone was enough to ruin her mood.
Victor Lang was a famous restaurant investor from New York.
One of the people connected to the scandal that destroyed Madison's career.
And judging by his smile...
His arrival wasn't a coincidence.
Not even close.
Victor glanced around the flower shop.
Then back at her.
"I've been looking for you."
The words immediately set off alarm bells.
Madison crossed her arms.
"Why?"
Victor's smile widened.
"Because there are some things you deserve to know."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Every instinct told Madison she wasn't going to like what came next.
Not one bit.
Because whatever secrets Victor brought from New York...
They were about to drag her past back into her life.
And this time, there would be no escaping it.
To be continued...