When Love Meets Wealth
ge of the gala invitation. The elegant cardstock felt heavy in her hands, a tangible reminder of the night ahead-an event th
drawings covered the refrigerator, and the aroma of leftover pancakes lingered in the air. It was a far
hrough her thoughts. He stood in the living room, wrest
iving room, kneeling beside Ethan to help him fit the pieces together. "You know, I used to lov
?" Noah chimed in, joining them
d with a smile. "But someti
ed, his innocence a comfortin
d, ruffling his ha
e clock. It was early for a visitor, but she stood up to answer it. Open
filling the room like sunlight. She had her curly chestnut hair tied
asked, feigning surprise, though she secre
he gala. You're going, right?" Hazel's v
replied, her heart sinking at t
phina, it's a gala hosted by your ex-husband. This is your chanc
countered, a sense of dread creeping in. "What
on't know until you go. Besides, you deserve to ha
ave anything to wear. I can't show up looking like this.
s go shopping! We can find you something amazing, s
I don't know, Hazel. W
chance to show Alexander you're thriving, that you're not just sitt
na nodded. "Okay, let's do it.
ing out her phone. "I'll text your favorite café and get some sandwic
epping into a world filled with glamor made her stomach churn. But at the same time, the
-
ound herself in a department store, surrounded by racks of glamorous
p a stunning emerald green dress th
wide. "That's beautiful, but I d
oddess," Hazel insisted, nudging her towa
she slipped it on, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. The dress hugged her cu
when Seraphina emerged.
ge of confidence she hadn't felt
kling with excitement. "This is the new you, Seraphina! You're
f pride. She could almost picture herself walking into that
wiches and refreshing iced tea under the shade of a large oak tree. The boys
leaning forward. "What are you
What if I see Alexander and all those old feelings come rushing back?
five years ago. You've grown, and you have two amazing boys
't handle it?" Seraphina's voice t
lone in this," Hazel reassured her, reaching across the table to squeeze Sera
eight of the upcoming gala. As the day drew to a close and they returned home, s
-
xcitement and dread, often finding herself lost in thought while the boys played. The e
orrow?" Noah asked one evening,
," she replied absently, st
y?" Ethan chimed in, looki
ht of how her decisions affected her boys. "It'
Noah insisted, tilting his he
"I might," she admitted, her heart tightening. "But it doesn
than asked, a glimme
ied honestly. "I guess I'm jus
ss hanging in the closet. As she ran her fingers over the fabric, memories
ver her? She had fought hard to build a life for herself and her boys. The thou
, breaking the silence. It
tomorrow? Remember,
s unwavering support providing a sense of co
Thanks for always
ournal, a habit she had picked up during her toughest
Jour
maybe it's time to face my past. It's been five years since I