Chapter 3

Five years had passed since Elarie’s world had come crashing down. But now, her life revolved around a new center—Daniel, her son. It wasn’t the life she had imagined for herself. But it was a life she had embraced with all the love she had to give.

It was late afternoon when Elarie stood by the kitchen counter, carefully decorating a small cake. It wasn’t much, just a simple vanilla cake with a few colorful sprinkles, but she knew it would bring a smile to Daniel’s face. Beside the cake sat a plate of spaghetti, his favorite dish. Today was his birthday. And despite the tight budget, she had managed to pull off this small surprise.

Moments later, the door clicked open, and Daniel bounded into the apartment. His bright, five-year-old energy filled the room. Elarie smiled at the sight of him. His backpack was nearly as big as he was. She had picked him up right after finishing her shift at the café. She was already tired but was happy to see her boy.

“Happy birthday, Daniel!” she exclaimed, stepping forward with the cake in her hands.

Daniel’s eyes lit up as he saw the cake and spaghetti. “Mommy! Is that for me?” he asked with his little voice full of excitement.

Elarie chuckled and nodded. “Of course, it’s for you! I wanted to surprise you on your special day.”

Without another word, Daniel rushed into her arms, wrapping his small arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. “Thank you, Mommy! I love it!” He pulled back slightly and kissed her on the cheek, then planted another kiss on her forehead. Elarie laughed as he continued showering her with kisses, giggling in pure joy.

Elarie stroked his hair. Her heart was swelling with love. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you a gift this year, sweetheart,” she muttered. “Things have been a little tough lately.”

But Daniel shook his head. “It’s okay, Mommy. I don’t need a present. This surprise is the best ever!” His face beamed with innocence and understanding, making Elarie’s heart ache with both pride and sadness.

They sat down together at the small dining table, sharing the spaghetti and cake in celebration. The small apartment was far from the grand mansion she had grown up in, but it was filled with love. And for Daniel, that was enough. He didn’t ask questions about his father or the family Elarie had left behind. For him, it was just the two of them, and that was their whole world.

After dinner, Elarie tucked Daniel into bed. “Did you have a happy birthday, sweetheart?” she asked as she pulled the blanket up to his chin.

“It was the best, Mommy,” Daniel replied sleepily. His eyes was already starting to droop.

Elarie leaned down and kissed his forehead. She brushed a hand through his soft curls. “Goodnight, my love.”

“Goodnight, Mommy,” he mumbled. Then a while later, he already drifted off into sleep.

Once Daniel was sound asleep, Elarie quietly slipped out of the room and made her way back to the small dining area. She cleaned up the remnants of their modest birthday dinner. Once the dishes were done, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. She stared blankly at the steam rising from the cup.

The truth weighed heavily on her mind. Her regular job at the café was coming to an end because the business was closing its doors for good in the next week. All she had left now was a part-time job at a local grocery store. But the hours weren’t enough to cover rent and bills. She couldn’t afford to fall behind, especially not with Daniel in school now. The thought of losing their apartment, of not being able to provide for him, kept her awake at night.

Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her phone, opening her email. She had spent countless hours updating her CV and sending it out to every company she could think of, hoping and praying for a chance. But so far, nothing had come through.

Elarie sighed deeply, taking a slow sip of her coffee. Five years ago, when she had been disowned by her father and banned from their estate, she had never imagined how difficult things would become. She had begged him for help, desperate and afraid, but her father had turned his back on her completely. Since then, it had been a long, grueling fight to keep her head above water. She worked any job she could find, living paycheck to paycheck, all for Daniel.

She glanced at the pile of bills sitting on the table. Her chest tightened with anxiety. “God, please help me,” she whispered. She needed a miracle. Something to keep her and Daniel afloat. She couldn’t let him down. He deserved so much more than this.

As the night wore on, Elarie finally dragged herself to bed, exhausted but still unable to quiet her mind. She had to find a way. There had to be something out there.

One week later, after she sent Daniel off to school with a kiss and a lunchbox in hand, Elarie sat down with her laptop, determined to keep trying. She opened her inbox. Her fingers were ready to send out more applications, but then something unexpected caught her eye. A notification flashed at the top of her screen. 

An email from Scott Corporation.

Her breath hitched as she clicked it open.

“Dear Ms. Newton,” the email began, “We would like to invite you for an initial interview for the secretarial position you applied for. Please confirm your availability…”

Elarie’s eyes widened as she read the words. She could hardly believe it. She had applied to Scott Corporation a week ago, one of the many companies she had reached out to in a desperate bid to find something stable. But she had never expected to hear back, especially not from a company as prestigious as Scott Corporation.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the realization set in. This was the chance she had been waiting for. The position wasn’t just a part-time gig. It was a full-time job with benefits, something she hadn’t had in years. If she got this job, it could change everything. She could finally give Daniel the stability he deserved.

Without thinking, Elarie screamed in excitement, jumping out of her chair. Her hands flew to her mouth in disbelief. “Oh my God,” she whispered, pacing around the room in a daze. “This can’t be real. This can’t be real!”

Her mind raced with possibilities. If she aced the interview, she could finally stop worrying about how she would pay the rent each month. She could afford to get Daniel new clothes, maybe even save up for a small vacation one day.

Elarie quickly typed her response, confirming her availability for the interview. As she hit send, a wave of hope surged through her. She had been fighting for so long, working tirelessly to keep their little family afloat. And now, finally, it felt like things were starting to turn around.

She stood by the window, looking out at the busy street below. Then smiled to herself. This was the break she needed. Maybe things were finally about to get better.