Chapter 16
As Hazel mentioned Lilian’s name, my chest tightened.
The name I had tried so hard to forget echoed in my mind, dragging along memories I had buried deep.
I steadied my breath and forced myself to maintain a neutral expression, though it was clear Hazel had noticed my discomfort.
“I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up,” she said cautiously. “I didn’t want to upset you, but I thought you should know, Lilian has been talking about you recently.
A lump formed in my throat, but I managed to ask, “What does she want?”
Hazel hesitated, as if weighing how much she should reveal. “Well, we got to know
each other better because we’re both
from Providence, and I used to visit her
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boutique while studying in Paris.”
The mention of Paris brought a faint smile to my lips.
Hazel had always been ambitious, determined to make a name for herself.
After graduating from high school, she earned a prestigious scholarship to a fashion school in Paris.
Her success was no surprise, Hazel had been brilliant and driven even as a child at the orphanage.
I nodded, urging her to continue.
“She didn’t know you were Gale’s wife at first,” Hazel began, her tone gentle.
“She…well, she thought Gale was single when she came back. Once she found out, she felt terrible about how things unfolded and wanted to apologize to you.”
Her words hung in the air. My fingers.
tightened around my cup as I processed
what Hazel had said.
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Apologize? I wanted to scoff at the idea, but something in Hazel’s voice made me
pause.
“What else did she say?” I asked cautiously.
Hazel sighed. “She told me about her miscarriage and the challenges she faced in her marriage. I think… I think she came back to Providence because she was desperate for familiarity, for something that reminded her of happier times. She truly regrets the way things turned out.”
I remained silent, my emotions churning.
On one hand, I could understand why Lilian might have been lost and searching for solace.
On the other, she had knowingly walked into my marriage and, despite discovering the truth, had not stepped back
immediately.
“Hazel,” I began carefully, “I know you‘ re trying to mediate this, and I
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appreciate it. But I can’t just forgive her overnight. Let time do its work. Maybe someday…”
Hazel nodded empathetically. “Of course. I understand.”
Lilian made mistakes, but I also know it was not entirely her fault. Gale let her in.
If Gale had valued our marriage, he would have set boundaries with Lilian. Instead, he welcomed her back with open arms.
As I mulled over my thoughts, an image of Gale’s face at the press conference came to mind, the look of heartbreak when
Lilian chose Brian.
That moment had made one thing clear; I had never been the woman in his heart. I
had been a placeholder, a substitute for the love he had lost.
Hazel’s voice broke through my reverie.
“Rachel, are you okay?”
Before I could answer, Louise returned, his
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cheerful presence breaking the tension. “Why do you both look so serious? What’s going on?”
Hazel quickly covered, flashing a playful smile. “Oh, nothing! Just debating the best places to go shopping. You know how women are, honey.”
I played along, smirking. “Yeah, we get very serious about these things. Men like you wouldn’t understand.”
Louise chuckled, shaking his head at us. The atmosphere lightened, and from that day on, Hazel seemed to understand that I did not want to talk about Lilian anymore.
A few months later, I received an exciting opportunity. One of my professors, who had often praised my work, invited me to display my paintings at an upcoming art exhibition.
Thrilled, I threw myself into preparing my pieces, working tirelessly to perfect each.
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one.
Of course, I did not forget to invite Hazel and Louise to the event.
When they arrived, Louise was effusive in his praise. “Rachel, this is incredible! I’ll be buying a few for my office, no question.”
“Thank you,” I said, my cheeks flushing with pride.
Hazel chimed in, talking excitedly about her own final project. We spent the evening discussing art, dreams, and the paths that had brought us to Italy.
Though we often spoke about the future, there was one topic I avoided. It was my inevitable return to Providence after
graduation.
The thought of going back to a city filled with painful memories and the shadow of Gale weighed heavily on me.
One evening, as we chatted over coffee,
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Louise offered a suggestion. “Why not come live with us at Kim Manor? My parents adore you. They‘ ve been fans of your work for years. They’d be thrilled to have you there, and there’s a studio you can use for painting.”
Hazel nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! It would be perfect. And don‘ t worry about running into Gale. You can focus on your work and take your time figuring things
out.
Their offer was generous, and their sincerity touched me. While I had not made a decision yet, their support reminded me that I was not alone.
For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about the road ahead.
My life was no longer defined by what I had lost, but by what I was building, a future shaped by freedom, creativity, and the people who truly cared for me.
“I’m so happy to have both of you in my
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life,” I said, my voice warm with gratitude.
“But I might need some time to think about it. Life in Italy has been so peaceful. for me, and I’m not sure I’m ready to leave that behind just yet.”
Hazel reached over and squeezed my hand gently. “Of course, Rachel. Take your
time. We still have a few months until graduation, so there’s no rush.”
I nodded, grateful for her understanding.
**
The weeks passed quickly as graduation. approached, and I found myself cherishing every moment in Italy.
Then, the day before our graduation, Hazel and I decided to treat ourselves to a day at
the salon.
While flipping through magazines and waiting for our hair treatments, I noticed a news broadcast on the television. The
headline caught my attention immediately.
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