CHAPTER FIFTY THREE - Secrets Buried Beneath the Surface

They glared at each other across the table, the tension palpable. Finally, Lucas stood up with a sigh. "I need some air. I'm going for a walk." As the door closed behind him, Ella sank back into her chair, wondering how their exciting plans had turned into yet another argument. The next few days were tense, with Lucas and Ella tiptoeing around each other at home while throwing themselves into their respective restaurants. But their plans were thrown into disarray when Lucas received a call from his head chef at Montgomery's. "What do you mean you're leaving?" Lucas asked, his voice echoing through the kitchen of Montgomery's. "Pierre, we've been working together for years." He listened for a moment, his face growing increasingly grim. "La Belle Vie offered you what? ... I see. No, no, I understand. It's a great opportunity for you. I just wish... Never mind. Good luck, Pierre." As he hung up, Lucas noticed one of his senior servers hovering nearby. "Is everything okay, Mr. Montgom