CHAPTER EIGHTY - Betrayal from the Closest Friend

"I know, love," Lucas soothed, stroking her hair. "And we're going to fight for it. Together. But I need you to remember that no matter what happens with the restaurant, we'll be okay. We have each other, and we have Sophia. That's what's truly important." Ella nodded, burying her face in his chest. Lucas held her close, his own fears and frustrations momentarily pushed aside as he focused on comforting his wife. As the weeks wore on, the sabotage continued. Equipment mysteriously malfunctioned, reservations vanished from the system, and supplies went missing with alarming regularity. The financial toll was mounting, and Lucas found himself spending more and more time on the phone with their accountant and lawyer, trying to mitigate the damage. Ella, meanwhile, was running herself ragged trying to keep the restaurant afloat. She worked double shifts, filled in wherever she was needed, and spent her rare moments of free time brainstorming ways to win back their disillusioned customer