Chapter 8
Two days later, Samuel recovered.
Alejandro prepared to return to Miami to grow the family business.
Before leaving, the twins said goodbye to their friends.
Sharon prepared the gifts, a Barbie doll and a toy car.
The children who received the gifts were a bit disappointed.
“These are old-school. I loved those teddy bear cakes your mom made. Where are they?”
Lynne and Hyman’s best friends couldn’t help but mutter.
Lynne bit her lip.
She thought, “Mom made those cakes.
“It was quite complicated.
“She’d burned her hands making them.
“Auntie Sharon doesn’t know how.
“If only Mom were here…”
Hyman also felt a bit down.
Since Lynne blocked her, the calls had stopped.
The boy wondered, “I miss Mom’s voice.
“I miss Mom.
“But we’ll see her soon.
“Though with Mom back… less time with Auntie Sharon.”
Alejandro knew nothing of their thoughts.
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Knowing Alejandro’s plan, his butler called. “Mr. Calderon, Mrs. Calderon hasn’t returned home in a week. Should we inform her you’re coming back?”
Alejandro frowned.
Later, his expression cooled.
“No. Clear the master suite. The children, Sharon, and I will move in.”
Back then, he’d only returned to the marital home to see the children.
Since Concetta was giving him the cold shoulder, she’d forfeited her right to return.
Meanwhile, Concetta settled into her old apartment.
She started growing flowers on the balcony. Her gardening skills were mediocre.
Yet freed from her marriage’s constraints, she felt lighter.
Her neighbor, Adolfo Tate, winced at her struggling plants and scowled.
“Girl, quit drowning those flowers!”
After he took care of the plants, her neighbor explained, “Don’t take it personally. His grandson refuses to marry. They fought, so he’s hiding here.”
Concetta just smiled.
The Calderon family’s rigid rules had once suffocated her.
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< Chapter 8
Though stubborn, Adolfo’s gruff advice helped her plants thrive.
Gradually, they became unlikely friends.
That evening, Tracy Nash, Concetta’s college mentor at New York University, invited her out.
Learning that Concetta would attend the Neo-Tradition Gala, she immediately offered to join.
Concetta studied design at university.
Her ideas were brilliantly unconventional.
In college, Connie joined Tracy’s studio and created stunning pieces. But the marriage ended that chapter.
Tracy, however, built the studio into a powerhouse. An invitation was inevitable.
When Concetta arrived, she saw Tracy glowing amid admirers.
She’s gained quite a name for herself over the years. In her field, she’s built a solid reputation.
Many people went up to interact with her.
When a woman achieved great success, she always shone brightly.
Even men were mere accessories.
Watching, Concetta lowered her gaze.
Over the years, she devoted herself to Alejandro and the children, almost forgetting her path.
“Could I ever reclaim that spark?” she thought.
Just as she was thinking, Tracy approached.
“This gala’s full of fresh talent like you back then. I always regretted you leaving Oculus Studio…”
Oculus Studio was Tracy’s company, born from their college venture.
Concetta smiled bitterly.”Oculus Studio thrived without me.”
Geniuses came and went.
Nobody could thrive forever.
Besides, she’d not designed in years.
“Disagree.” Tracy lit a cigarette and smiled.”Concy, Oculus Studio runs fine without you. But the design itself loses something without your voice. A woman like you, talented and smart, shouldn’t let anything stop her.”
