---- Chapter 40 Aweek passed. Liv was recovering well, her strength returning. Finn was thriving. Elizabeth and Mr. Hayes prepared to leave the island, confident that Liv and Finn were safe and well cared for. "That new chef, Martin, he's a treasure, Liv," Elizabeth said as she packed. "The food has been wonderful. So thoughtful." "Yes, he's very good," Liv agreed. She had only caught glimpses of him - a quiet, bearded man who kept to himself. But his meals had indeed been a comfort. "You should thank him properly before we go," Mr. Hayes suggested. "He seems a bit shy." A flicker of curiosity sparked in Liv. She hadn't really interacted with any of the temporary staff beyond polite nods. "Maybe | will," she said. Later that day, after her parents had departed by helicopter, Liv felt a strange restlessness. She decided she would speak to the chef, to thank him personally for his care. She asked the housekeeper to send "Martin" to the main sitting room. In the kitchen, Michael received the summons. His heart leaped into his throat. She wanted to see him. To meet him. ---- Nervousness, sharp and intense, gripped him. Fear mixed with a desperate, long-held hope for... he didn't even know what. Reconciliation was impossible. Forgiveness, a distant dream. But to see her, to speak to her, even as "Martin," it was a terrifying, irresistible prospect. He had imagined this moment a thousand times, rehearsed a hundred different apologies, a hundred different explanations. Now, it was here. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing pulse. He smoothed his simple chef's whites, ran a hand over his unfamiliar beard. This was it. His final chance. For what, he wasn't sure. Perhaps just to see her face one last time, to hear her voice, before he disappeared from her life forever, his silent vigil over. Or perhaps, a foolish, desperate part of him still hoped for a miracle. A final rejection was more likely.