Meredith came over to the table and took the girls’ orders as Isla and Felicity walked into the pub and headed straight towards their table. Ella had met Felicity and was soon introduced to Isla, who she instantly clicked with.

‘You’re the owner of the alpaca farm.’ Ella had noticed the comical creatures grazing in the field. ‘They are gorgeous things.’

‘That’s me, tired housewife to one, mother to two, with my mad granny living with us.’

‘Sounds like fun to me,’ replied Ella, thinking everyone was so welcoming and that Isla was lucky to have a family.

‘So tell me what brings you to Heartcross?’ asked Isla innocently, taking a seat at the table.

Ella and Callie looked between each other.

Silence.

‘What have I said?’ asked Isla, looking around the table. ‘Have I said something I shouldn’t?’

‘It’s not you,’ reassured Ella. ‘I’ve just come out of a really difficult relationship, that’s all.’

‘Tell us more,’ chipped in Felicity. All eyes were on Ella.

Ella had already opened up to Roman and getting it all out in the open was like her own form of therapy. She felt better talking about it and having the support of the people around her. The more she voiced what had happened between her and Alex, the more it made her determined to make something of her life, pay off those debts and get her life back on track.

‘Well, in a nutshell… after my parents passed away, I fell in love with a doctor at the local hospital who helped me through all my grief. He was the love of my life and moved into my home. We talked marriage, kids and even started to look for a place together. Then one day he went to work and never came back…’

Everyone’s jaw hit the floor at the same time, trying to take in exactly what Ella was telling them. ‘This is awful – and is he still missing? What have the police said?’ asked Isla tentatively.

‘Oh, he’s still missing, alright… along with Ella’s inheritance and a brand-new Range Rover! It turns out he’s not a doctor, he never worked at the hospital and we have no clue who the man was,’ chipped in Callie.

‘Shit! No way, are you serious?’ asked Eleni, not mincing her words. ‘This is the type of stuff you read about in the newspaper.’

‘It’s all true, I’ve no clue who this man is, what his real name is…’ Ella blew out a breath. ‘It turns out everything was a lie.’

Felicity raised an eyebrow. ‘And I bet you’re spending your whole life looking over your shoulder and scrutinising everyone you pass in the street.’

Ella nodded. ‘I was… I did, but somehow I don’t think I’ll be bumping into him in Heartcross.’