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Chapter 81
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MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 82
**Finding Her Way**The soft morning light filtered through the blinds as Lillian stirred in her bed. For a moment, she lingered in that space between sleep and wakefulness, the warmth of her blankets cocooning her. But as her eyes blinked open and the memories of last night crept back in, the familiar ache settled in her chest. The image of Luke and his fiancée flashed through her mind again—his smile, the happiness in his eyes, the life he had moved on to. But today, it felt different. Less sharp. More distant.Sitting up, Lillian rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched, glancing at her phone on the nightstand. She hesitated, knowing the temptation to check it again, to scroll through more pictures and fall back into that spiral of “what ifs.” But instead, she left it there, untouched.Today was a new day.She slid out of bed, padded over to the window, and pulled the blinds open. The sun was shining, birds chirped outside, and the quiet town seemed to hum with the steady rhyth
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 83
** A New Path**Lillian stared at the acceptance letter in her hands, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been holding her breath for what felt like hours, the envelope now torn open, the words blurring slightly as she read them again and again.**Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission to the University of Brighton.**She let out a shaky breath, a mixture of disbelief and excitement swirling inside her. She had applied to the University of Brighton on a whim, encouraged by Claire and Ethan to start thinking about her future. At the time, it felt like just another step in moving forward, a distant possibility that didn’t feel real. But now, as she held the acceptance letter in her hands, it hit her: her future was no longer some abstract concept—it was here. Tangible. Real."Lil, are you okay?" Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, watching her with concern. "You’ve been staring at
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 83
** The Ties That Bind**The kitchen was unusually quiet the next morning, the usual bustle of breakfast preparation replaced by a heavy silence. Lillian sat at the table, slowly stirring her cup of coffee, her mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. The letter from Brighton, the unexpected visit from the private investigator, and the revelation about an uncle she never knew she had—it was all too much.Claire was moving around the kitchen, but even she seemed distracted, her movements slower, more deliberate. Ethan had already gone outside to clear his head, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a tension that Lillian hadn’t seen in him since they escaped from Derrick’s men. They had survived so much, fought so hard to build a new life, and now it felt like the past was clawing its way back in.Samuel came bounding into the kitchen, oblivious to the tension, and plopped down at the table with his cereal. “Morning!” he chirped, his voice cutting through the thick silenc
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 85
** The Unwelcome Reunion**The air in the house felt tense, like a storm cloud hovering just overhead. Claire was in the kitchen, washing dishes that didn’t really need washing, her hands moving mechanically as her thoughts churned. Ethan paced in the living room, his face lined with worry, and Lillian sat at the kitchen table, staring at her untouched cup of tea. The weight of their impending decision pressed down on all of them.The private investigator’s visit had shaken everything up. David—Ethan’s estranged brother—had resurfaced, offering help at a time when they had finally started to find stability. But the timing felt off, too coincidental, and none of them knew whether they could trust him. After years of running, betrayal, and rebuilding, the last thing they needed was another wrench thrown into their fragile peace.“I think we should meet him,” Claire said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm but carried a sense of urgency. “If he really can help us, we need
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 86
**A Line in the Sand**The car sped through the quiet streets, the night pressing in on all sides. The headlights cut through the darkness, but inside the car, the tension was thicker than Lillian could bear. She stared out the window, her mind still racing from what she had seen on David’s phone. **Derrick.** That one name had sent her entire world crashing down again, just when she thought they were finally safe.Beside her, Ethan’s grip on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles had gone white. His jaw was clenched, and the muscle in his cheek twitched with barely-contained anger. Claire sat in the passenger seat, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and fear. None of them had expected this. David was supposed to be family, someone who could help them end the nightmare they had lived through. But instead, he had betrayed them—**again.**“He was working with Derrick the whole time,” Lillian whispered, breaking the tense silence. “I saw the message. There’s no other explanation
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 87
** Uncertain Meetings**Lillian’s heart raced as she parked her car outside the small café where she was supposed to meet Luke. She hadn’t seen him in months, not since she’d stumbled upon his engagement announcement online. After everything that had happened, their lives had diverged so drastically, and she hadn’t expected him to reach out—especially not now, with so much chaos swirling around her.The café was quiet, the midday lull leaving only a handful of customers inside. Lillian hesitated before stepping out of her car, wondering if meeting Luke was the right decision. Part of her wanted to turn around, to avoid reopening a chapter of her life that she had tried so hard to close. But there was something in Luke’s message from last night that had unsettled her—a sense of urgency, of something unspoken.Taking a deep breath, Lillian stepped inside the café, the familiar scent of coffee filling the air. Her eyes scanned the room until she spotted Luke sitting at a corner table, hi
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 88
**Truth Unraveling**Lillian sat in her car, her pulse thundering in her ears as she stared at the message on her phone. **David.** The brother who had reappeared, offering help, only for her to discover he was tied to Derrick. And now, after everything, he wanted to talk. The irony was so thick it almost made her laugh. But there was nothing funny about any of this.She leaned back in her seat, her fingers gripping the steering wheel as her mind raced. Luke’s confession still rattled in her chest, echoing over and over again: **Derrick’s men are closing in.** And now David was reaching out again. Could it be a coincidence? Was this all part of some elaborate trap that she couldn’t yet see?Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of her phone again. Another message from David: **“It’s urgent. Please. Trust me.”**Trust. That word meant so little now, after everything she and her family had been through. She had trusted Luke once, and look where that had gotten them. She had wante
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 89
**Beneath the Surface**The drive back to the house was eerily silent. Lillian’s thoughts spiraled as the words David had spoken echoed in her mind: **Someone higher than Derrick. Someone who’s been watching your family for years.**The weight of it all made her chest tight. They had been running from Derrick for so long, convinced that he was the one orchestrating their misery. But now? Now there was an even greater threat lurking in the shadows, and worse—whoever it was, they thought the family had something valuable. Something worth all this pursuit, all the pain, and fear.Lillian’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel. Her phone buzzed on the seat beside her, snapping her back to the present. She glanced down. It was Claire.**"Are you okay? Come home soon."**Lillian quickly typed back, **“On my way.”** But the truth was, she wasn’t sure if "okay" was something she’d ever feel again. Not with the revelation that there was another player involved, someone even
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MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 170
**Full Bloom**The tension in the air was palpable. Richard stood at the edge of the garden, his dark eyes narrowing as he trained his gaze on the wooden box in Nicholas’s hands. The glint of the gun in his grip was impossible to ignore, its presence casting a menacing shadow over what should have been a moment of triumph.“Put it down,” Richard demanded, his voice cold and sharp. “Now.”Clara stepped forward, her chin lifting despite the fear coursing through her. “This land doesn’t belong to you, Richard,” she said firmly. “And neither does what’s inside that box. It’s part of this garden, part of my family’s story. You have no right.”Richard sneered. “Your family’s story?” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “Your ancestor, Henry Harper, made a deal with my grandfather. He didn’t honor it. This garden is mine, along with everything in it.”Nicholas tightened his grip on the box, his jaw clenched. “Whatever deal your grandfather and Henry had, it doesn’t erase the fact that t
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 169
**A Battle for Legacy**The morning was crisp, with the promise of another bright day, but tension hung heavy in the air. The community had gathered in the café, their murmurs creating a low hum as they discussed the unfolding drama. Clara stood at the center, flanked by Lillian and Nicholas, as they prepared to present the new evidence uncovered by Margaret Fielding.This was their last chance to protect the garden, the legacy Henry and Eleanor had poured their hearts into.Richard Bennett arrived sharply at ten, his air of confidence unshaken. He strode into the café as though he already owned the place, a sleek leather briefcase in hand and a smirk on his face.“Well, have you reconsidered my offer?” he asked, his voice smooth but cutting.Clara stepped forward, her resolve unwavering. “No, Mr. Bennett. We’re here to show you why this land doesn’t belong to you—or your family.”Richard raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “This should be interesting.”Lillian opened her laptop a
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 168
**A Letter from the Past**The summer air was thick with the scent of roses and lavender, the garden alive with color and buzzing with life. Lillian and Nicholas had just finished a busy morning tending to customers in the café, their shared dream now a thriving reality. The café’s outdoor seating was filled with locals and visitors alike, sipping tea and enjoying pastries under the dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees.Everything seemed perfect. Peaceful. Settled.But that sense of calm was shattered when Clara appeared at the café’s counter, her face pale and her hands clutching a yellowed envelope.“Lillian, Nicholas,” she said, her voice trembling. “You need to see this.”Nicholas set down the tray he was holding, concern flashing across his face. “Clara, what’s wrong?”Clara slid the envelope across the counter, her eyes wide. “I was going through some of my mother’s old things this morning. I thought I’d found everything there was to find about her and Henry, but the
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 167
** The Next Bloom**The morning light broke over Port Haven with a gentle glow, casting long shadows across the garden. The air was fresh, the scent of dew and lavender filling the breeze as the town began to stir awake. Lillian stood by the café’s outdoor counter, wrapping her hands around a warm mug of tea as she watched the first customers of the day wander in, their faces lit with anticipation.Today was no ordinary day. It marked the beginning of something new—a special partnership with Margaret Fielding to host the first public event centered around the story of Henry and Eleanor. The exhibit Margaret had crafted was simple yet powerful: letters and photos paired with small artifacts like the locket and gardening tools from the past. It was an intimate tribute to the love that had inspired so much beauty and resilience.Nicholas joined her, wiping his hands on a towel after setting up fresh trays of pastries in the café. He leaned against the counter and took a moment to survey
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 166
**Growth Beyond the Garden**The weeks following the council’s decision were filled with celebration and relief. The garden, officially declared a protected space, seemed to bask in the joy of the people who had fought for it. The townsfolk of Port Haven came together like never before, offering their time, skills, and resources to help bring Clara’s vision to life.Lillian and Nicholas, energized by the victory, threw themselves into the next phase of their journey. The plans for the expanded garden and café were finally put into motion. By early summer, the garden buzzed with activity as volunteers, friends, and neighbors worked side by side to build the foundations of what was to come.---A Place for EveryoneOne warm afternoon, the sound of hammering filled the air as Nicholas and Henry worked to assemble the café’s framework. Lillian stood nearby, her hands dirty from planting a row of sunflowers along the garden path. Clara, wearing her wide-brimmed gardening hat, carefully arr
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 165
**The Seeds of Change** The day of the council meeting arrived, bringing with it a mix of nerves and determination. Lillian, Nicholas, and Clara were up early, packing their carefully compiled evidence—letters from neighbors, Mrs. Aldridge’s historic documents, and even photographs of the garden’s history. They were dressed sharply but comfortably, ready to face what felt like the biggest challenge since they’d first arrived in Port Haven. “Do you think they’ll listen to us?” Clara asked as they loaded everything into the truck. Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to mask it with a confident smile. “They have to,” Nicholas said firmly, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “We’re not just fighting for a garden. We’re fighting for everything this place represents.” Lillian reached over and gave Clara’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “We have the truth and the community behind us. That’s more powerful than any proposal for commercial development.” The council meeting wa
MY FIRST LOVE chapter 164
**A New Beginning**The morning sun filtered through the soft lace curtains of Lillian and Nicholas’s home, casting golden rays over the cozy living room. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint aroma of lavender from the garden. Today felt different—lighter, as if the weight of the past months had lifted, leaving room for something new.Lillian stood by the kitchen counter, slicing fresh bread she had baked earlier. The quiet hum of the radio filled the air with a cheerful tune. Nicholas entered, carrying a basket of ripe apples from the orchard. He set them on the counter with a grin.“The apples are perfect this year,” he said, taking one and biting into it. “Crisp, sweet, and exactly what the bakery needs for Clara’s famous pies.”Lillian laughed, shaking her head. “You sound like a walking advertisement for the farmer’s market.”Nicholas winked. “Well, if the shoe fits.”The playful moment was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. Wiping her hands on her a
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 163
**An Unexpected Discovery**It was an unseasonably warm day in early spring, and the gentle hum of life returning to Port Haven filled the air. Lillian and Nicholas were in their garden, as they often were, preparing for the first bloom of the season. The lavender they’d planted weeks ago had started to sprout, and the small orchard on Clara’s former property was beginning to show tiny buds of promise.“I think the apple trees are going to be incredible this year,” Nicholas said, stepping back to admire the row of young saplings they had planted the year before. “Imagine all the pies and cider we’ll make.”Lillian smiled as she knelt in the dirt, carefully transplanting a cluster of wildflowers she had started in the greenhouse. “And imagine the market. I can already see the stands filled with flowers, baskets of apples, and jars of Clara’s jams. It’s going to be beautiful.”As they worked, they chatted about their plans for the garden, the bakery, and the upcoming farmer’s market. Bu
MY FIRST LOVE Chapter 162
** Dreams in Bloom**The frost of winter began to ease as early spring tiptoed into Port Haven. The sun lingered a little longer in the sky each day, teasing the frozen ground awake. The garden, once a still canvas of snow, now showed signs of life. Tiny green shoots began to push through the earth, and the greenhouse buzzed with quiet activity as Lillian and Nicholas spent their days preparing for the season ahead.It was early morning, and the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains of the cottage. Lillian stood by the kitchen window, cradling a steaming cup of coffee as she watched the first light of spring stretch across their garden. Nicholas was still asleep upstairs, and she relished these quiet moments of solitude before the day began.As she looked out over the land, she felt a familiar sense of gratitude wash over her. Their lives had grown so much fuller over the years—like the roots of their plants, spreading deeper, intertwining with the soil and people of Port H
