And then something in John’s demeanor shifted. His chewing halted abruptly. Slowly, he lowered his fork, blinking a few times as his face began to turn an alarming shade of green. Ariel covered her face with her hands in mortification, while Leroy leaned past her with a sense of urgency.

"Face that way!" he urged, directing John towards the aisle with a concerned look.

"I'm fine," John gasped, clutching at his stomach as Leroy thrust what remained of Ariel's cold coffee into his hands. "Here, drink—get it down!"

"Oh, does he need my napkin?" Miss Marlowe offered, waving it in a futile gesture.

A loud cackling erupted from the kitchens, and Ariel sank deeper into her seat, her embarrassment reaching new heights.

"I've officially lost my appetite," Taylor declared, tossing her napkin onto the table in a gesture of resignation.

After a moment of chaotic commotion, John composed himself, sipping the dregs of Ariel's coffee with an air of determination.

"Thank you," he murmured, emerging from his ordeal with a sigh of relief.

"You're welcome," Leroy replied, settling back into his chair with a wide-eyed look at Ariel. Ariel met his gaze with a narrowed frown.

This isn't my fault!

Or was it? With her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding, Ariel surveyed the dismayed faces around her and wished fervently for the floor to open up and swallow her whole.

"Well, that was embarrassing. I must apologize," Miss Marlowe said suddenly, placing a hand over her chest as though genuinely shocked.

Ariel stared at her in confusion.

Apologize?

"If I had known that my presence would cause such a commotion at your breakfast," the heiress continued, her tone dripping with false sincerity, "I would have preferred to let you enjoy it without me."

"No," Jasper interjected abruptly, his voice cutting through the tension. "This has absolutely nothing to do with you. Ariel seems to have deeply offended the owners of this inn. I apologize on her behalf."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The harshness of his words ignited a fiery indignation within Ariel. Unable to contain herself, she stood abruptly, nearly toppling her chair in the process.

"Well, then. Let me restore peace to the table by leaving it."

With one last seething glare at Jasper, she stormed out of the room.

"Ariel!" Leroy called after her, but she was already halfway across the room.

Ignoring the curious stares and whispers from the other diners, Ariel marched towards the dining room doors and swung them open with a forceful shove.

That Jasper!

Fury fueling her steps, Ariel strode down the nearly empty hallway toward her room. She flung her door open and slammed it shut behind her, collapsing onto her bed with a frustrated huff. As she stared at the disheveled sheets, a faint sparkle caught her eye. Blinking in surprise, she traced the glittering dust with her fingers.

What…?

Ariel’s gaze shifted to the floor just beneath her, where the dress Mandy had lent her lay in a crumpled heap. The festival. The Magnolia!

Amidst the chaos of the morning and her dream, she had almost forgotten the mysterious gift left for her. Sitting up, Ariel glanced at her nightstand. There it was, no longer glowing but still as tangible as the photograph beside it. Carefully, she picked it up, examining the delicate pale petals with a mix of curiosity and unease.

Who would give me this?

As she closed her eyes in thought, the first person who came to mind was Noah. It seemed the most plausible that he would leave her such a token of affection. Yet hadn’t he said that night that he wanted to remain friends? And what about his choice of Shiloh that morning? Ariel opened her eyes.

No, not Noah. But who…?

Just then, there was a knock at her door.

“Ariel, you in there?” Leroy’s voice called from the hallway.

“Uh—” Ariel responded, glancing at the moon Magnolia in her hands.

She quickly hid it beneath her pillow just as Leroy walked in.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked, observing her closely.

Ariel forced a smile, rearranging her pillow innocently.

“Yeah. I just needed a moment.”

Leroy’s eyes flicked to the pillow hidden behind her.

“Well, if you’re done punching your pillow, we should probably get going.”

Ariel shot him a pointed look as she carefully got up from her bed.

“I wasn’t punching my pillow.”

“No? I’m sure you were imagining Jasper,” Leroy grinned, opening the door for her.

Ariel sighed and shook her head.

“Sometimes, Leroy.”

They emerged into the empty hallway and walked in comfortable silence—until Leroy’s stomach growled loudly.

“I know you didn’t want to marry the guy, but couldn’t you have played along a little while?” he complained as another rumble resonated from him.

Ariel gave him a firm look despite her own hunger.

“I’m sorry your stomach was a casualty of the dislike I’ve apparently garnered from this inn. I’ll be sure to let you enjoy your breakfast in peace tomorrow,” she recited with a hint of sarcasm.

The monk’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Ariel, do I detect a hint of jealousy?”

Ariel narrowed her eyes at him.

“All you detect right now is hunger.”

Leroy raised an unconvinced eyebrow, but before he could respond, they continued down the hallway, the echo of their footsteps a small comfort amidst the chaos of the morning.