Chapter 47

**Broken Promises**

The atmosphere in the Hayes household was tense and fraught with unresolved emotions. The revelation of the town council’s corruption had given Claire a fleeting sense of hope, but with the developers pulling out and Mr. Allen’s smug threats, it felt like the walls were closing in faster than ever. The video that Samuel had found was their last weapon, but without the backing of the developers, the lawsuit loomed over them like a dark cloud.

Ethan had spent the night at the shop, going through the motions of preparing for a normal day, even though nothing felt normal anymore. He had always found comfort in routine, in knowing that he was working toward a goal, but now every task felt hollow. Signing the contract had been the worst decision of his life, and every time he looked at Claire, the weight of his mistake hit him all over again.

Claire, meanwhile, was struggling to keep everything together. She had poured herself into rallying the community, determined to