The bell above the bakery door chimed, cutting through the heavy silence left by Adrien Moretti’s departure. Lena let out a long, shuddering breath, her fingers still resting on the glass counter where the blank check had been.

Three months later, the morning sun poured through the freshly repaired windows of Heart and Honey, casting a warm, golden glow over the glass counter.

The bell chimed at exactly eight fifteen.

The man in the immaculate dark suit walked in, bypassing the line of waiting customers and taking his usual seat at the small table beside the brick wall.

Lena emerged from the back kitchen, wearing a clean, honey-colored apron, carrying a small silver plate. She set it down in front of him.

A single slice of orange almond cake, dusted with powdered sugar and adorned with a single candied orange peel.

Adrien looked up at her, a rare, genuine smile softening the hard lines of his face. He picked up his fork, taking a small bite.

"Well?" Lena asked, leaning against the edge of the table, crossing her arms. "Did my uncle's downfall ruin the flavor?"

Adrien swallowed, setting his fork down slowly. He reached across the table, his warm, strong fingers wrapping gently around her hand.

"It tastes like justice," he murmured, his dark eyes locking onto hers with a heat that had nothing to do with the oven. "And victory. But mostly... it tastes like home."