๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
Chapter 71
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2024-09-20 17:17:26
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MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 72
**No Place Left to Hide**The message in Ethanโs hand felt like it was burning through his skin. **โYou can run, but youโll never be free.โ** The words echoed in his mind, a cruel reminder that no matter how far they went, no matter how many miles they put between themselves and Derrickโs syndicate, they werenโt safe.Claireโs heart pounded in her chest as she stepped toward Ethan, her eyes locked on the note. โWhat does it say?โ she whispered, though the sinking feeling in herThe road stretched out before them, dark and winding, with nothing but the thin beam of the headlights cutting through the blackness. Claireโs heart pounded in her chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of her seat as Ethan sped down the narrow road. The weight of Michaelโs warning hung heavy in the air, the knowledge that Adamโsomeone they had trustedโhad been betraying them from the start.Betrayal. It had become an all too familiar companion on this journey.โWhere are we headed?โ Ethan asked, his voice
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-20MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 73
** Faces in the Dark**The air inside the cabin was thick with tension, the sudden weight of Ethanโs words hanging between them like a fog. Claire stared at him, her mind spinning. **Adam?** The man they had just learned was betraying them, the one they thought they had escaped. How could he be here?โAdam?โ Claireโs voice wavered, her throat tightening. โAre you sure?โEthan nodded grimly, his face pale in the dim light. โI saw him. Heโs outside, just standing there. Heโs aloneโฆ for now.โA wave of confusion and fear washed over Claire. โWhy would he come here? What does he want?โโI donโt know,โ Ethan said, running a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed in thought. โBut if he found us, then itโs only a matter of time before Derrickโs men do too.โThey both fell silent, the sounds of the forest outside seeming to grow louderโthe distant call of an owl, the rustling of leaves in the wind. Claire could feel the seconds ticking by, each one making the situation more dire. They had b
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-21MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 74
**A Tenuous Trust**The night air was crisp and biting, the kind that cuts through your clothes and settles into your bones. Claireโs heart raced as she followed Adam through the dense trees surrounding the cabin, Lillian and Samuel close behind her. Ethan kept a firm grip on the flashlight, guiding their path, though his eyes rarely left Adamโs back. Trust was a luxury they no longer had, and each step forward felt like walking into a deeper web of uncertainty.The darkness seemed to press in from all sides, swallowing the sounds of their hurried footsteps as they moved through the undergrowth. Claire kept glancing over her shoulder, half expecting to see Derrickโs men storming through the trees behind them, their cold, calculating eyes catching every movement. But for now, there was only silenceโthick, suffocating silence.โWhat exactly is this place youโre taking us to?โ Ethan asked after several minutes of tense walking, his voice low and laced with suspicion.Adam glanced back br
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-21MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 75
** Into the Depths**The heavy wooden trapdoor groaned as Adam lifted it, revealing a set of worn, narrow steps that descended into the darkness below. A damp, earthy smell wafted up from the tunnel, and Claireโs heart raced at the thought of what lay beneath them. The air down there felt thick and stale, like the breath of something long forgotten.Ethan peered over Adamโs shoulder, his brow furrowed. โThis tunnelโฆ you said it hasnโt been used in years. How can we be sure itโs safe?โAdam met Ethanโs gaze, his face solemn. โWe canโt,โ he admitted. โBut Derrickโs men are closing in. If we stay here, weโll be caught.โThe truth of his words settled heavily over them. There was no easy way out. Staying meant certain danger, while the tunnel offered a slim, uncertain chance of escape. Claire felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her, but she knew they had no choice. They had to keep moving, no matter how terrifying the unknown seemed.โMom?โ Lillianโs small voice broke through
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-22MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 76
**The Light at the End**The figure in the tunnel slowly turned, the faint lantern light flickering over their worn and weathered face. Claireโs heart raced, the tension in her chest tightening with every second that passed. But as the figure stepped closer into the light, her fear began to ebb, replaced by a strange sense of familiarity.It wasnโt Derrickโs men. It wasnโt another trap. It was someone much older, a man with deeply lined skin and tired eyes. His clothes were ragged, as if he had been living in the tunnels for years, forgotten by the world above.โYou shouldnโt be here,โ the man repeated, his voice rough but not threatening.Adam stepped forward cautiously, his hand still gripping the flashlight. โWho are you?โThe man eyed them warily, as if unsure whether to trust them. โIโve lived down here for a long time,โ he said slowly. โKeeping to myself, away from the world. But youโฆ youโve brought something with you. Trouble, Iโd guess.โClaire exchanged a glance with Ethan, t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-22MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 77
**Building from the Ground Up**It had been three weeks since they arrived in the small town. Each morning brought with it a sense of normalcy that Claire had never thought possible after months of running. She and Ethan had found a small rental on the outskirts of townโjust two bedrooms and a tiny kitchen, but it felt like a palace compared to the uncertainty they had left behind.Ethan stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt. He was getting ready for yet another job interview. This time, it was with a local contractor who needed help with carpentry work. It wasnโt perfect, but it was a start.Claire watched him from the kitchen, where she was packing Lillian and Samuelโs lunches for school. They had settled in more quickly than she expected, already making friends in the neighborhood and adjusting to life without the constant threat hanging over them.But there was something in Ethanโs eyesโa restlessness, a frustration that he was trying hard to hide.โYou l
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-23MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 78
**Rebuilding from the Ground Up**Ethan stood in front of the half-built house, the frame of it rising high against the backdrop of the morning sky. His breath was steady, though his hands trembled slightly as they held the worn hammer. It had been a long time since heโd been on a job site like this, with the smell of freshly cut wood and the sound of construction all around him. But now that he was here, it felt oddly familiar. Comforting, even.Mark, the contractor who had hired him, walked over, his gruff demeanor softened by the dayโs progress. โNot bad for your first week back on the job,โ Mark said, nodding toward the framework that Ethan had been working on.Ethan gave a small smile, wiping the sweat from his brow. โFeels good to be back,โ he said, though the words held a weight he didnโt fully understand until now.It wasnโt just about the work, though that was important. It was about proving to himself that he could build something again, after everything had been torn down.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-23MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 79
**Ghosts of the Past**The soft hum of the kitchen sink filled the small house as Claire stood by the window, gazing out at the early morning light spilling across their modest yard. The kids were still asleep, the house quiet and peaceful, but her thoughts were miles away, trapped in the echoes of what they had left behind.The town was beginning to feel like home. Lillian and Samuel were making friends, Ethan was settling into his new job, and the weight of constant fear had started to lift. Yet, some mornings, Claire couldnโt shake the memories that clung to herโthe life they had before everything went wrong.Her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of her coffee cup as her thoughts drifted to the shop they had lostโthe small cafรฉ that had been her pride and joy. The rich smell of freshly brewed coffee, the laughter of customers, the joy of building something with her own hands. She could still picture the sunlight streaming through the windows, the tables set neatly, the feeling
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-09-24
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MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 Nicholasโs 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.โPut it down,โ Richard demanded, his voice cold and sharp. โNow.โClara stepped forward, her chin lifting despite the fear coursing through her. โThis land doesnโt belong to you, Richard,โ she said firmly. โAnd neither does whatโs inside that box. Itโs part of this garden, part of my familyโs story. You have no right.โRichard sneered. โYour familyโs story?โ he said, his voice dripping with mockery. โYour ancestor, Henry Harper, made a deal with my grandfather. He didnโt honor it. This garden is mine, along with everything in it.โNicholas tightened his grip on the box, his jaw clenched. โWhatever deal your grandfather and Henry had, it doesnโt erase the fact that t
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 cafรฉ, 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 cafรฉ as though he already owned the place, a sleek leather briefcase in hand and a smirk on his face.โWell, have you reconsidered my offer?โ he asked, his voice smooth but cutting.Clara stepped forward, her resolve unwavering. โNo, Mr. Bennett. Weโre here to show you why this land doesnโt belong to youโor your family.โRichard raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. โThis should be interesting.โLillian opened her laptop a
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 cafรฉ, their shared dream now a thriving reality. The cafรฉโs 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 cafรฉโs counter, her face pale and her hands clutching a yellowed envelope.โLillian, Nicholas,โ she said, her voice trembling. โYou need to see this.โNicholas set down the tray he was holding, concern flashing across his face. โClara, whatโs wrong?โClara slid the envelope across the counter, her eyes wide. โI was going through some of my motherโs old things this morning. I thought Iโd found everything there was to find about her and Henry, but the
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 cafรฉโs 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 newโa 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 cafรฉ. He leaned against the counter and took a moment to survey
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย Chapter 166
**Growth Beyond the Garden**The weeks following the councilโs 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 Claraโs 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 cafรฉ 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 cafรฉโs 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 LOVEย ย ย 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 evidenceโletters from neighbors, Mrs. Aldridgeโs historic documents, and even photographs of the gardenโs history. They were dressed sharply but comfortably, ready to face what felt like the biggest challenge since theyโd first arrived in Port Haven. โDo you think theyโll listen to us?โ Clara asked as they loaded everything into the truck. Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to mask it with a confident smile. โThey have to,โ Nicholas said firmly, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. โWeโre not just fighting for a garden. Weโre fighting for everything this place represents.โ Lillian reached over and gave Claraโs hand a reassuring squeeze. โWe have the truth and the community behind us. Thatโs more powerful than any proposal for commercial development.โ The council meeting wa
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย chapter 164
**A New Beginning**The morning sun filtered through the soft lace curtains of Lillian and Nicholasโs 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 differentโlighter, 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.โThe apples are perfect this year,โ he said, taking one and biting into it. โCrisp, sweet, and exactly what the bakery needs for Claraโs famous pies.โLillian laughed, shaking her head. โYou sound like a walking advertisement for the farmerโs market.โNicholas winked. โWell, if the shoe fits.โThe playful moment was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. Wiping her hands on her a
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 theyโd planted weeks ago had started to sprout, and the small orchard on Claraโs former property was beginning to show tiny buds of promise.โI think the apple trees are going to be incredible this year,โ Nicholas said, stepping back to admire the row of young saplings they had planted the year before. โImagine all the pies and cider weโll make.โLillian smiled as she knelt in the dirt, carefully transplanting a cluster of wildflowers she had started in the greenhouse. โAnd imagine the market. I can already see the stands filled with flowers, baskets of apples, and jars of Claraโs jams. Itโs going to be beautiful.โAs they worked, they chatted about their plans for the garden, the bakery, and the upcoming farmerโs market. Bu
MY FIRST LOVEย ย ย 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 yearsโlike the roots of their plants, spreading deeper, intertwining with the soil and people of Port H
