Chapter 14 - TWO YEARS LATERTime passed.
Jessica worked two retail jobs.
Her wages were partially garnished for restitution.
She lived in a tiny studio.
The designer bags were gone.
The expensive vacations were memories.
Her life was no longer glamorous.
But Margaret did not follow her.
She didn't check her social media.
She didn't ask about her.
She simply moved forward.
David did something different.
He worked.
Hard.
He eventually earned a promotion at the logistics company.
He lived modestly.
He saved money.
He paid his debts.
And he began becoming someone Margaret could respect.
They weren't close.
But on birthdays and holidays, they exchanged brief messages.
It wasn't the relationship they once had.
Perhaps it never would be.
May you like
But it was real.
And sometimes real is better than perfect.
Related Stories
Chapter 15 - A SECOND CHANCESix months later, Margaret attended a charity gala in Boca Raton.
Chapter 16 - THE GOLDEN YEARSArthur took her sailing.
Chapter 17 - THE CALLOne evening, Margaret's phone rang.
Chapter 18 - THE WOMAN WHO WONOn the deck of Arthur's yacht, Margaret watched the sunset.
Chapter 19 - WHAT SHE LEFT BEHINDMargaret eventually returned to Atlanta for the first time in years.
Chapter 20 - THE DOOR THAT REMAINED OPENThat night, Margaret sat on her balcony overlooking the Atlantic.
