CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX - Truth Revealed in the Heat of Battle

One evening, as they closed up after a particularly successful night, Ella found Lucas standing in the empty dining room, a faraway look in his eyes. "Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, slipping her arm around his waist. Lucas smiled down at her. "Just thinking about how far we've come. A few weeks ago, I wasn't sure we'd survive this." Ella nodded, understanding. "It's been a rollercoaster. But we made it through, together." "We did," Lucas agreed, pulling her closer. "You know, when I first opened Montgomery's, I thought I knew what success looked like. But now..." "Now?" Ella prompted gently. Lucas gestured around the restaurant. "Now I realize that true success isn't just about profit margins or glowing reviews. It's about building something meaningful, something that can weather any storm." Ella felt tears prick at her eyes. "We've certainly weathered our fair share of storms." "And we'll face more, I'm sure," Lucas said, his voice thoughtful. "Victor Hale is still out t