Chapter 96 - Healing the Wounds
Three months later, the rugged coastline of Maine was drenched in the early warmth of late spring.
The small coastal town of Havenbrook had returned to its sleepy, peaceful rhythm. The black SUVs, the surveillance drones, and the tactical operatives that had once descended upon its foggy shores were now distant memories. The locals had heard rumors of an international arrest involving massive corporate fraud in Europe, but to Havenbrook, life went on as it always had.
At the corner of Harbor Street, the little white sign with painted green vines swung gently in the ocean breeze: *Sinclair’s Petals & Blooms*.
The shattered windows had been replaced with crystal-clear glass. The wooden shelves were once again lined with terracotta pots, blossoming hydrangeas, fragrant lilies, and freshly pruned roses. The bell above the door chimed softly.
Alexander Sterling walked through the door carrying a heavy wooden crate of potting soil. He wore worn denim jeans, sturdy work boots, and a simple flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The ruthless CEO who once dictated global trade routes was now cheerfully sweating under the weight of peat moss and garden fertilizer.
"Put that by the back terrace, Alex!" Old Thomas called out from the counter, a pipe resting in the corner of his mouth as he trimmed stems. "And don't drop it this time. Mrs. Higgins is coming for her seasonal begonias at noon!"
"Yes, sir," Alexander replied with a grin, hoisting the crate with ease.
Elena watched him from across the shop, laughing softly as she arranged a bouquet of white lilies. Seeing Alexander—the man who once refused to enter a boardroom without a five-thousand-dollar tailored suit—covered in dirt and laughing with the town carpenter was a sight she had never imagined possible.
"He's getting better at this," Thomas muttered, nudging Elena with a wink. "Though his pruning technique still leaves something to be desired. Ruined three stems of lavender yesterday."
May you like
"Give him time, Thomas," Elena smiled warmly, glancing at Alexander as he wiped his brow. "He’s still learning how to let things grow."
---
