Peyton scratched her head before she put the phone to her ear.

“Peyton!” Jenny cried out hysterically.

Peyton stilled. “Jenny, are you okay?” she asked desperately.

A million scenarios on Jenny’s safety ran through Peyton’s head. She couldn’t lose Jenny. She couldn’t lose anyone else.

“Jenny, please talk to me.”

There was a loud bang in the background, and Peyton looked at Callum. He was just as confused as she was.

“What’s going on?” Callum asked.

Peyton shook her head to tell him that she didn’t know.

“Peyton…”

“I’m right here, Jenny. Tell me that you’re okay. Do I need to come get you?” Peyton asked as she threw back her blanket and stood up from the bed. Then she walked to the hook near the door and grabbed her dressing gown, slipping it on over her silk nightdress.

Jenny let out a sob. “It’s the hotel, Peyton.”

Peyton froze. “The hotel?”

Callum was by her side instantly, holding her. His supporting touch couldn’t stop Peyton’s throbbing heart. Fear overtook every inch of her body. Flooding she could fix. A fallen tree on a cabin would dent her finances, but it wasn’t impossible. A broken window would be easy to replace.

“It’s on fire, Peyton. The hotel’s on fire.”

The phone slipped out of her hand and fell onto the floor. Numb. That’s what she felt. Her heart had stopped functioning and she was sure her lungs had, too. She was breathing, but her lungs weren’t inhaling the oxygen.

Callum let go of her and bent down to pick up her phone. Before he could even stand, she bolted out of her room and the house.

Shoes weren’t important. More clothes to protect her from the winter night weren’t a concern. She ran. Faster and harder. Stepping on sharp rocks as she desperately sprinted to the lake. She felt pain. In her chest, her lungs, the side of her body, and her feet. But she didn’t care. She heard her name being yelled out from behind her, but she kept her legs moving up the hill and to the lake. She didn’t stop to see if there was smoke or flames—she just kept running.

The moment she reached the path to the hotel, she slowed down, taking careful steps towards the hotel. Tears ran down her face as she painfully willed her body forward. Flames and smoke. That’s all she saw. Dark, black smoke filled the sky, providing the backdrop for the fire that engulfed the building.

She had never felt so helpless. In front of her, she watched everything she had ever loved and treasured die before her very eyes. Each memory of her parents, Jenny, the staff, and Callum. The flames were destroying the future she had carved for herself. It was symbolic. The hotel’s burning down was a reflection of her future—she didn’t have one.

When a part of the hotel collapsed, she fell to her knees, sobbing. And when she heard voices around her, all she could do was stare at The Spencer-Dayle sign as it burned before it fell to the ground.

She was voiceless. All that came out were sobs and strangled sounds she had never made. Her hopes and dreams were dying. The last four years of keeping the hotel alive were now a waste. A loud explosion blew out some windows and she heard people gasp the moment parts of the building started to collapse. The fire was relentless in its destruction of her hotel. Arms were around her, but she didn’t have to turn to know it was Callum.

“Don’t just stand there. Save it! Do something!” Jenny screamed.

Peyton cranked her neck to see her manager pointing at the burning building. Timmy, the firefighter Peyton had gone to school with, looked conflicted as he held the hose. When his eyes met Peyton’s, there was an apology in them.

“I’m so sorry, Peyton,” Callum whispered as he put his hand on the side of her head and brought her to his chest.

“It’s gone,” she managed out.

The tears continued to fall—the only form of water near the hotel. Peyton focused on the firefighters to see them standing there watching the fire consume The Spencer-Dayle.

“Why aren’t you trying to save it? It’s your job!” Jenny cried.

Timmy flinched and his eyes averted hers. Peyton followed his stare to see him looking at Jay as if he were asking if it was okay to put out the fire.

“They’re just standing there, staring at Jay,” Peyton cried unbelievably.

After what seemed like for the first time, she blinked, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn’t. The fire still burned and the smoke entered her nostrils.

She watched Jay shake his head at Timmy. She knew Callum had seen it too when his arms loosened around her. Timmy’s older brother, Thomas, had been Jay’s best friend in high school. And growing up, Timmy had idolised his brother and Jay, doing anything to received their approval.

“Stay here,” Callum instructed.

Before she could stop him, Callum stood up and marched over to Jay. Callum didn’t say anything as he punched Jay in the jaw. Jay stumbled back, holding the side of his face.

“Right now, Timmy. Put out that fire!” Callum yelled.

When Timmy didn’t move, Callum shook his head, walked to the firefighter, and pulled the hose out of his hand. Then he pointed the water to the building, but it did nothing to extinguish the flames. The hotel was far too gone to be saved.

Peyton walked over to Callum. His eyes met hers and she could see the refusal in them. He didn’t want to give up on trying to save it. And for that, she fell in love with him all over again. She blinked away the tears as she stepped next to him. Giving the hotel one last look, she mentally said goodbye to it and her parents. She wrapped her hands around the hose and pulled it away from him.

“No, Peyton! I can save it. I can save it!” he cried.

She shook her head. “It’s gone, Callum.”

Tears filled his eyes. “You don’t deserve this.”

She dropped the hose and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s not about if I deserve it or not. It’s happening.”

Callum wrapped his arms around her and apologised numerous times. That’s when Peyton closed her eyes, knowing that everything she would love would leave her. The last thing that remained was the man in her arms. Soon, she’d say goodbye to him, too. She held him tighter because in this moment he was the only tangible thing she could hold onto.

“I love you,” she said into his chest, knowing it could be one of the last times she’d say it out loud.

“I love you, too, Peyton.” He kissed her head before he said, “Come on. Let’s get you to safe distance.” Then he unwrapped his arms from around her and took her hand.

This was their moment of defiance against the town. They could take away her hotel but they couldn’t take away what they had. In the near future, it would be Peyton and Callum who’d destroy what they had. Not the town.

A ute pulled up near them, and Graham and Madilynne got out of the car. If Peyton weren’t so broken, she’d smile at the sight of them together. The moment Graham raced towards them, Callum let her hand go in time for Graham to wrap his arms around her. She couldn’t cry in his embrace. It was like she was dry inside.

“Why the fuck are they just standing there?” Graham growled in her ear.

Peyton tensed. Graham was never one to cuss. Suddenly, he pushed past her. Peyton pivoted to see him storm off towards the firefighters.

Timmy was saying something, but she was too far.

Graham picked up the hose and slammed it into Timmy’s chest. “Do your job! You listen to Jay again and I will make sure you lot see a commission!”

The firefighters all nodded and went to their engine, pulling out the equipment. But she knew it was too late. With a heavy sigh, she walked towards them and looked at the men who would rather see her hotel die than save it. She would be the bigger person, no matter how much they had scarred her. It wasn’t because they deserved to be pardoned but because her aunt and uncle had taught her forgiveness. And Callum taught her that sometimes, it’s better to just let go.