Chapter 45

**A Line Crossed**

The Hayes family was unraveling. The town council’s injunction had struck a blow to their last hope of public opposition, and the once-united front that Claire and Ethan had presented was now fractured beyond recognition. Claire spent her days at the shop, trying to salvage what little remained of their dream, while Ethan wrestled with the impossible decision that could save them financially but destroy everything they had worked for.

For days, Ethan kept the developers’ contract on his desk, the documents taunting him with every glance. They promised stability, security, and a future for his family—but at the cost of the shop’s identity. Claire’s words echoed in his mind, her pain and frustration evident every time they spoke. But with each passing day, the council’s bulldozers drew closer, and the pressure mounted.

Samuel and Lillian watched their parents with growing concern, feeling helpless as the family they had always relied on seemed to crumble before their