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