Lara scrambled around Sweet Haven, her hands shaking as she pulled out receipts, ingredient labels, anything to prove the bakery was safe. The health inspector's sharp eyes scanned every corner, her pen scratching notes, her presence a ticking clock. Ethan worked beside Lara, his green eyes focused, his black hair sweaty, his white shirt stained with flour as he scrubbed the counters, his voice low, reassuring. "We've got this, Lara. We're clean—Victor's lies won't stick."
The inspector found minor issues—a cracked tile, a sticky fridge handle—but nothing major, thanks to their hard work after the fire (Chapter 13). But the stress tested them—Lara snapped at Ethan over a misplaced label, and he fired back, "I'm doing my best, Lara!" The teens watching whispered, their phones out, the drama unfolding in real time, but also rallying, helping clean, their support a lifeline.
With the inspection done, the inspector left, her verdict clear: "You pass—barely. Fix the tile, or I'll be back." Lara collapsed onto a stool, her hazel eyes teary, her curly brown hair a mess, relief washing over her. Ethan sat beside her, his hand on her back, his voice soft. "We did it," he whispered, pulling her into a hug, her head on his chest, his heartbeat calming her.
To lighten the mood, they baked together—a batch of silly-shaped cookies, hearts and stars, laughing as they messed up, flour dusting their faces, their love holding strong. "You're my star, Ethan," Lara said, holding up a cookie, her smile bright, his green eyes warm as he kissed her, the teens cheering, snapping pics, their love a viral moment.
But the peace didn't last. Late that night, a video hit social media—Claire, Ethan's ex, had leaked it, a grainy clip from years ago, showing a drunk Ethan yelling at her, his words harsh, his past painted in a terrible light. The comments exploded—"Ethan's a jerk!" "Lara deserves better!"—and Lara's heart raced, her trust shaken again as the teens turned, their support wavering, the bakery's future on the brink once more.
To be continued…