Chapter 79

Chapter 79
MADDIE

The next morning, the bright summer sun woke me up.

I opened my eyes to the faint sound of music and cheerful voices drifting through my open bedroom window. Disoriented, I rubbed my temples, threw on a light sweater, and stepped outside toward the town square.

What I saw made my heart leap into my throat.

The heavy orange barricades were gone. The white city utility vans and police cruisers that had held our town hostage were nowhere to be seen.

Over at the daycare, the bright yellow lights were beaming through the windows, and the sound of children laughing echoed across the park. Down the street, Mrs. Higgins was already putting out fresh, steaming loaves of bread on the bakery racks, the water running freely from the outdoor hose as she washed the pavement.

"Sofi!"

Annie came running up to me, her face glowing with a massive, disbelieving smile. She grabbed both of my hands and started bouncing on her heels.

"You won't believe it!" Annie gushed, her voice buzzing with excitement. "Around four in the morning, the city crews just packed up and left! The water pressure is back, the electricity is fully restored, and the health inspector's office sent an official email lifting all the temporary closure notices!"

Julian walked over, holding two cups of coffee, a look of profound relief—and intense confusion—written across his features.

"It gets weird," Julian said, handing me a cup as he glanced around the bustling square, his eyebrows knit together in confusion. "I talked to a contact at Mayor Clinton's office an hour ago. Word on the street is that the whole rehabilitation project for Oakridge has been completely shelved. No more zoning bans, no more buyouts."

"Really?" I murmured, sipping my coffee to hide the trembling of my lips.

"Yeah," Julian muttered, rubbing the back of his neck before looking straight at me. "The rumor is that Grant Enterprises pulled out of the city contract entirely overnight. The Mayor's people are scrambling, saying your husband suddenly cancelled everything... without any explanation."

Annie leaned in closer, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Sofi... did something happen last night? Did you talk to Hades?"

Julian held my gaze, searching my face deeply for answers. His dark eyes softened, but beneath his concern was a flicker of something far more painful—a quiet, unrequited longing he had been trying so hard to hide ever since I arrived in Oakridge.

"Did he do this because of you?" Julian asked, his voice dropping into a low, tentative whisper. He took a small step closer, his knuckles whitening around his coffee cup as he braced himself for my answer. "Are you... are you going back to him, Sofia?"

The hesitation in his voice spoke volumes. He wasn't just asking as a friend fighting for the town; he was asking as a man who was terrified of losing the woman he had slowly fallen in love with—a man who knew he couldn't compete with the vast empire and history of Hades Grant, but still hoped, against all odds, that I would choose to stay by his side.

I looked past them toward the grand oak tree in the center of the park. The town was alive again. Safe. Free. And Hades had kept his promise—not as a ruthless billionaire enforcing his power, but as a man choosing to respect my choices.

"No, I'm not going back to the estate," I said, my voice steady and grounded as I looked back at Julian, meeting the silent heartache in his eyes with gentle reassurance. "I'm staying right here. Nothing like that is going to happen. I am still the Sofia Collins you’ve always known, and Oakridge is my home. We're all fine now... everything is going to be okay."

By noon, the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the town. The atmosphere was light and peaceful. Inside the community center near the daycare, the Smiths were busy in the kitchen preparing the usual simple lunch of vegetable soup and freshly baked bread for the children and staff.

I was helping set up the small wooden tables outside the daycare when the low rumble of heavy engines echoed down the street.

Two sleek, black SUVs pulled up right in front of the daycare entrance, drawing immediate silence from everyone nearby. My breath caught in my throat. For a horrifying second, I thought Hades had gone back on his word.

But instead of armed guards or city inspectors, men dressed in immaculate dark suits stepped out and opened the trunks. They began unloading massive, elegant wooden crates and insulated catering boxes.

Led by Marcus, the men marched straight toward the daycare pavilion.

"Miss Sofia," Marcus greeted respectfully, stepping forward with a crisp bow. "Mr. Grant requested that we deliver a special lunch and gifts specifically for you, the daycare staff, and the children today."

The Smiths and Annie gasped as the men opened the boxes. It wasn't just ordinary food—it was a lavish gourmet spread tailored for a celebration. Steaming trays of mild, kid-friendly artisanal pasta, mini sliders, fresh fruit platters, delicate pastries, and a spread of gourmet dishes for the adults were neatly arranged on the tables. Beside the food were crates filled with colorful wooden toys, educational kits, brand-new hardcover storybooks for the daycare library, and boxes of rich, imported chocolates.

Marcus turned to me, pulling a thick, cream-colored envelope from his inner pocket and handing it over with both hands.

"This is for you, Miss Sofia," Marcus said softly before turning back to his men. "Set everything up and leave silently."

My hands trembled slightly as I broke the wax seal on the envelope. Inside was a handwritten card in Hades' sharp, elegant cursive:

Sofia,

Don't skip your lunch. I had my chefs prepare something special for you, the daycare staff, and all the kids today. Please share it with them. 

Eat well today.

— Hades

A heavy, stunned silence hung over the group as Marcus and his men drove away, leaving behind a feast and gifts fit for royalty.

"Holy... sweet mother of pearl," Annie breathed out, her jaw practically dropping to the floor as she looked from the tables loaded with gourmet food and bright new toys to the letter in my hand. She grabbed my arm, shaking me slightly. "Sofia... what in the world is going on?! Is the monster... tamed? Did Hades Grant seriously just send a five-star lunch, new books, and toys straight to our daycare?!"

Mrs. Smith clapped her hands over her mouth, looking at the fresh books and wooden toys with tears in her eyes. "Oh my goodness... the kids have been asking for new storybooks for months. Is your husband really doing all this for the daycare, Sofia?"

"I... I think so," I murmured, staring at the note in my hands, my heart doing a strange, unfamiliar flutter.

"This is a joke," Julian snapped suddenly, his voice laced with venom.

We all turned to look at him. Julian’s face was dark, his shoulders tense as he stared bitterly at the luxury spread and the excited kids gathering near the toys. His eyes burned with raw jealousy and anger as he looked at me.

"You guys actually believe this?" Julian said, stepping forward, his knuckles white as he gestured wildly toward the delivery. "This is Hades Grant we’re talking about! He doesn't do 'nice'! This is a tactic! A sick, calculated psychological game to lower your guard so he can pull you back into his web!"

"Julian, calm down—" Annie started, but Julian cut her off.

"No, Annie, look at it!" Julian’s voice cracked slightly, his heartache bleeding into his frustration as he locked eyes with me. "He tries to destroy our town one day, and the next day he plays the hero sending gourmet food and toys to the kids? He’s buying us off! He’s trying to show you that no matter where you run, his money and power will always follow you. He’s marking his territory!"

"Julian..." I said softly, stepping closer to him, my voice pleading. "He promised me he wouldn't force me back. He lifted the bans."

"And you believe him?!" Julian choked out, looking at me with a mixture of anger and deep, agonizing desperation. "He’s a ruthless billionaire, Sofi. Men like him don't change overnight. He’s doing this because he knows it’s working—he knows he’s getting under your skin again."

Annie looked between me and Julian, sensing the heavy tension and the silent battle happening between Hades' grand gesture and Julian's desperate care for me.

"Look," Annie said quietly, trying to ease the air. "Whatever his motives are... the town is safe today, the daycare kids are happy with their new toys, and we have food. But Sofia... Julian has a point. You need to be careful. A tamed wolf is still a wolf."

I looked down at the handwritten note in my fingers, feeling the tug-of-war inside my chest. Hades was changing the rules of the game, and whether it was a tactic or a genuine attempt to win me back, one thing was certain—he wasn't letting me go easily.