CHAPTER TWENTY - A Chance for Healing

In the days that followed, the backlash began to take its toll in a way neither Ella nor Lucas had anticipated. The restaurant, which had been thriving in recent months, saw a noticeable dip in customers. At first, they attributed it to a normal lull in business, but as the trend continued, they couldn't ignore the reality of the situation. Ella overheard a conversation between two regular customers one afternoon that made her heart sink. "I just don't feel comfortable eating here anymore," one woman said to her friend. "Knowing that the owner is involved with one of his employees... it just doesn't sit right with me." Her friend nodded in agreement. "And what about poor Ella? A local girl getting mixed up with a wealthy outsider like that. It's bound to end in tears." Ella retreated to the kitchen, fighting back tears of her own. She found Lucas there, poring over the books with a worried expression on his face. "Lucas," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I think... I think p