Could I really make it happen? I had some experience managing finances, and a basic understanding of running a business, thanks to my father. But the thought of doing it all on my own was daunting.
Yet, the more I thought about it, the more the idea took root. It was risky, but it was also an opportunity to finally follow my own path. The uncertainty was scary, but the potential for freedom and fulfilment was tantalizing. I mentally ran the numbers.
I had saved up around $15,000 from my part-time job as a waitress and selling a few art pieces over the past four years. Setting up the gallery would likely cost around $8,000 to $9,000, leaving me with just enough to cover basic living expenses for a couple of months.
It would be tight, but manageable if I was careful. I could find a part-time job to help with the costs, or focus more on selling my art. The thought of taking that leap was both exhilarating and terrifying, but I found myself seriously considering the possibility, even if it meant facing their inevitable disapproval.
As my mother droned on about the Christmas gala and her endless plans, my thoughts drifted until I suddenly caught the mention of Sebastian’s name. My attention snapped back, confusion settling in. I interrupted her mid-sentence, “Wait, what did you just say?”
There was a brief pause, and I could almost feel her frustration through the phone. “I was saying,” she repeated with a touch of annoyance, “you and Sebastian can go to the gala together. It would be nice to see you two there as a couple.”
I felt a sharp pang of hurt, the wound still too fresh, and I let out a bitter, shaky laugh. “Mom, that’s not happening. We broke up, and you know that. It’s still so recent, and I can’t believe you’d suggest something like that.” My voice cracked slightly, hurt and frustration spilling over. “It’s like you’re pretending it never happened, and it’s not fair.”
My mother scoffed, her voice tinged with impatience. “Oh, Lavinia, don’t be dramatic. It’s not too late to fix things. How long has it been, really? A couple of weeks?”
I mumbled, correcting her softly, “Actually, it’s been three months.”
She dismissed my correction with an exasperated sigh. “Three months, three weeks—what’s the difference? The breakup never made any sense to me. You two were perfect together. Sebastian is everything a girl could want, and you know he misses you. This isn’t something you should throw away so easily. You need to call him and sort this out.”
I felt a twinge of guilt, knowing she was right about one thing: Sebastian did miss me. He had made that abundantly clear through the constant stream of texts he sent, telling me how much he regretted everything. Eventually, I had to mute them. I couldn’t bear to read them anymore. And then there were the ‘I’m sorry’flowers, the ‘let’s talk and sort it out’ chocolates, and the most absurd of all—a diamond necklace with a note saying, ‘I love you.’ He was trying in the only way he knew how, by throwing gifts and sweet words at the problem.
But none of it could fix the four years of emotional highs and crushing lows. The rollercoaster of a relationship that had drained me. Sebastian’s grand gestures felt hollow now, unable to bridge the gap that had grown between us. They were just band-aids on a wound that needed more than material apologies to heal.
My mother’s voice took on a persuasive tone, relentless in her push for reconciliation. “Lavinia, you need to consider the bigger picture. Sebastian has been so involved with our family; he’s practically part of it already. And now, with his recent promotion at Sterling Enterprises, you’ll be seeing a lot of him at work, too.”
The mention of his promotion hit me like an icy wave. I hadn’t known about it, and the news filled me with a sudden sense of dread. The idea of returning to work and being forced to see him, especially after everything, was suffocating. My mother’s words continued, but my mind was already spiralling at the thought of being in such close proximity to Sebastian,day in and day out. It was like a trap I hadn’t even realized was being set around me.
She paused, as if to let that sink in, before continuing. “You know, Sterling Enterprises has just signed a major partnership agreement with Carlisle Enterprises.It’s a strategic alliance that will have the two companies working closely on several projects. Your father has been planning this for years, ever since you and Sebastian started dating. The idea was always for the two of you to eventually get married, which would make the merger of our businesses seamless and beneficial for both families. It makes perfect sense, Lavinia. You two were meant to be together, both personally and professionally.”
Her words weighed heavily on me, highlighting the long-established expectations. Sebastian had been working under his father, learning the ropes with the aim of one day taking over the family business. It was all part of a grand plan—two powerful families merging. not just in their personal lives, but with their similar business empires. In their eyes, my relationship with Sebastian wasn’t just a love story, it was a strategic move. A way to solidify alliances and ensure mutual success.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to voice my feelings, though my voice was still timid. “What if I don’t want any of that, Mom?”
She laughed. A light, dismissive sound. “Don’t be ridiculous, darling. Of course, you do.”
Her casual dismissal stung, a familiar pain that sparked anger deep within me. For years, my parents had dismissed my desires, and I had often let it slide for the sake of keeping the peace. But this time, something felt different. My mother continued, seemingly oblivious to my rising frustration.
“Sebastian’s mother agrees with me. She thinks this breakup is just a silly phase. We all do. You’re just going through something and, once you’re back, everything will be fine again.”
I clenched the phone tighter, trying to keep my voice steady. “Mom, Sebastian and I weren’t working. We had different goals, and it wasn’t fair to either of us. I need to figure things out on my own. This isn’t just a break, it’s a breakup, and I need you to understand that.”
She continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “Sebastian is a great catch, Lavinia. At your age, I was already married and expecting you. Maybe your father and I have been too lenient, letting you pursue that art degree and giving you too much freedom. Perhaps that’s why you’re acting this way.”
Her words felt like a slap, the blame on my choices and passions cutting deep. I gritted my teeth, trying to maintain my composure. “Mom, I—”
“Maybe I should talk to Sebastian’s family. We’re seeing them for dinner next week, and they might help you see reason. You’re clearly not thinking straight. You can’t just walk away from this.”
The pressure in my chest built until it was unbearable. “Just stop!” I yelled, my voice echoing in the quiet cottage. The silence that followed was heavy, my mother’s stunned reaction palpable even through the phone. There was a muffled sound as she likely covered the receiver, and I heard the click of a door closing. It was a familiar move, masking any sign of discord in front of others.
“Well,” she finally said, her voice trembling slightly, “things must be worse than I thought. I’ve never heard you speak to me like this before.”
“You weren’t listening to me. You never do,” I said, my voice strained with frustration and hurt. “It seems like you care more about appearances, and your social circle, than your own daughter.”
“Darling—” my mother began, but I cut her off.
“No, let me finish. If you knew me at all, if we actually had a two-sided conversation, you would’ve seen how miserable I was with Sebastian. This past year washell! You were too busy with your friends, or at those fancy dinners with Dad, to notice me coming home in tears because Sebastian stood me up again. At your galas, you were so obsessed with keeping up appearances that you missed the nasty comments from Sebastian’s friends, the ones who made me feel like I didn’t belong!”
I sighed, the anger easing into a weary sadness. “You knew I was seeing a therapist. You paid for it! But you never asked why. It was because of Sebastian, and partly because of you and Dad. I felt alone and depressed. I was so isolated, without friends of my own—just the same social circles as Sebastian. He didn’t like the girls I met in college, and he always made me cancel plans with them. I was so lonely, and all I wanted was for you to notice, to be there for me, but you weren’t.”
