CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT - Picking Up the Pieces After War

  Ella smiled, feeling a glimmer of their old spark. "I love you, you know that?" He leaned in, kissing her softly. "I love you too. Now, let's go show this spirit – real or imagined – that the Montgomerys don't scare easily." With Sophia safely in the care of a trusted babysitter, Ella and Lucas headed to Montgomery's, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them. As they approached the restaurant, they saw a small crowd gathered outside, a mix of curious onlookers and news crews. "Here we go," Ella muttered, squeezing Lucas's hand. They pushed through the throng, ignoring shouted questions about hauntings and curses. Once inside, they found the staff huddled in the dining room, speaking in hushed tones. "Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Lucas called out. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to them expectantly. Ella stepped forward. "We know these past few weeks have been... challenging, to say the least. We want to thank you all for sticking with us through t