| BOOK ONE IN THE ENEMY SERIES |
❝ Old grudges clash with new ambitions, threatening to shatter everything she holds dear. ❞
In the quaint town of Valedge, Cassidy Bennett's Sugar & Spice Bakery is the heart and soul of her dream. The smell of fresh...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The kitchen was lit by the harsh, unyielding light of a single bulb dangling above me. Its harsh light cast long shadows that twisted and turned around me like dark ghosts. The papers Landon had strewn across the table were more than mere documents; they were the physical manifestation of my deepest fears and my most fragile hopes, and the weight of their meaning weighed on my chest. I stared at them, my vision blurring as a flood of emotions surged through me, trying to process the meaning of the offer that had been laid before me.
The rain pattered relentlessly against the window, each drop a reminder of the tempest brewing within me. The rhythmic drumming was almost hypnotic, creating a cruel juxtaposition to the chaos roiling in my mind like a violent sea. I felt ensnared in an oppressive silence, the kind that envelops you when faced with a decision that could irrevocably alter the course of everything you hold dear. Each raindrop echoed my unease, amplifying the weight of uncertainty pressing down on my chest. I yearned to reach out, to find some semblance of clarity amid the swirling turmoil that threatened to consume me.
I dialed Grace's number, my fingers shaking slightly as they touched the cool surface of my phone, each beep reflecting the uncertainty raging inside me. When she answered, her voice enveloped me like a lifeline, warm and familiar. Yet even her soothing tone couldn't quell the gnawing fear gripping my chest, a relentless flutter that made it difficult to breathe. I could almost feel the weight of my worries pressing down on me, each heartbeat a reminder of the storm raging inside me.
»Grace, I need you,« I said, my voice breaking despite my efforts to keep my composure. The words tumbled out of me, heavy with urgency and fear. »Landon made an offer, and I'm torn. Can we talk?«
She answered immediately, a warm thread of concern weaving through the static. »Of course, Cassidy. What's going on?«
I took a deep breath and forced my voice to calm down, feeling the weight of my dilemma pressing down on me. »Landon came to see me today. He's proposing protections for local businesses — financial support and a commitment to incorporate some of our stores into the mall's design. That sounds generous, but I can't shake the feeling of skepticism. It feels like a ploy, a clever maneuver to get me to give in. I'm caught in this whirlwind of doubt, unsure whether I should trust him or if this is just a strategic move to appease me.«
There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Grace's mind spinning, her head running through the implications. »This is definitely a significant move on his part. But you're right to be cautious. He's made his intentions clear in the past. What's your gut feeling about this?«
I bit my lip, trying to quell the flood of emotions that threatened to overflow. »Part of me wants to believe he's genuinely trying to find common ground. He's been talking a lot and maybe he's finally ready to listen. But another part of me screams that it's a trap — a strategic maneuver designed to get me to stop fighting while he pushes his agenda. I feel like I'm being played like a chess piece, and if I flat-out reject the offer, I risk losing everything we've fought so hard for.«
