Lara sat on the bakery counter, her phone in hand, scrolling through the comments under Claire's leaked video of Ethan (Chapter 19). The grainy clip—Ethan drunk, yelling at Claire years ago—had blown up online, with teens split: "Ethan's trash, Lara deserves better!" vs. "Give him a chance, people change!" Her hazel eyes were tired, her curly brown hair a mess, her heart racing with doubt. Ethan stood nearby, his green eyes downcast, his black hair messy, his white shirt wrinkled, the weight of his past crushing him.
"Lara, I need you to hear me out," Ethan said, his voice low, raw, as he sat beside her, his hand reaching for hers but stopping short. "That video—it was a low point. Claire and I had a huge fight; I'd just lost a big photography gig, and I was a mess. I'm not that guy anymore. You've made me better."
Lara's heart ached, her hazel eyes meeting his, searching for the truth. "I want to believe you, Ethan," she whispered, her voice shaky. "But this hurts—everyone's watching, judging us, judging you. How do I know there aren't more secrets?"
Ethan took her hand this time, his touch gentle, his green eyes pleading. "There's nothing else, I swear. I love you, Lara. I'll do whatever it takes to prove it."
They posted a joint video online—Ethan explaining his growth, Lara standing by him, their hands clasped, their love on display. Some teens rallied, "Team Lara/Ethan forever!" while others stayed skeptical, "He's still sus." But the damage was done—Victor, the rival baker (Chapter 17), used the drama to poach their customers, offering discounts at his shop, drawing crowds away from Sweet Haven.
Lara watched the empty bakery, her heart sinking, the online hate and Victor's sabotage hitting hard. Ethan pulled her into a hug, his arms strong, his voice soft. "We'll fight back, Lara. Together." But Victor's smug grin as he passed by the window promised more trouble, his shop packed while theirs stood empty, their dream hanging by a thread.
To be continued…