Chapter 8
Two Christmases later, Austin was promoted to captain for his outstanding performance.
My pearl business was also thriving, beginning to export overseas and opening counters in major department stores.
I was planning to establish my own jewelry brand.
Austin supported my career but found it difficult to endure our time apart, insisting on transferring back to Chicago.
This led to a big argument between us. More accurately, I gave him a one–sided lecture.
I said, “Don’t you realize that if you transfer back to Chicago now, all your hard work in Florida will be wasted? You only have one Christmas left in your term. Can’t you just hang on a little longer?”
He replied, “But I miss you, darling.”
I glared at him. “Deal with it! You need to wait at least one more Christmas. Even if you transfer back to Chicago, I won’t have time for you anyway. I’m busy building my brand.”
Austin reluctantly agreed. One Christmas later, he was promoted to a position in New York.
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Chapter 8
Two Christmases later, Austin was promoted to captain for his outstanding performance.
My pearl business was also thriving, beginning to export overseas and opening counters in major department stores.
I was planning to establish my own jewelry brand.
Austin supported my career but found it difficult to endure our time apart, insisting on transferring back to Chicago.
This led to a big argument between us. More accurately, I gave him a one–sided lecture.
I said, “Don’t you realize that if you transfer back to Chicago now, all your hard work in Florida will be wasted? You only have one Christmas left in your term. Can’t you just hang on a little longer?”
He replied, “But I miss you, darling.”
I glared at him. “Deal with it! You need to wait at least one more Christmas. Even if you transfer back to Chicago, I won’t have time for you anyway. I’m busy building my brand.”
Austin reluctantly agreed. One Christmas later, he was promoted to a position in New York.
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After careful consideration, he called to discuss with me: “Darling, would it be possible to set up your brand headquarters in New York?”
I laughed heartily through the phone. “Of course!”
Dylan and Ella also moved to New York. During Christmas, our family enjoyed a harmonious dinner together.
I brought out two red velvet boxes from the house, one containing a pearl necklace for Ella and the other a brooch for Dylan.
Dylan had retired and often wore suits to accompany Ella to dances.
I added an accessory for each of them, and Dylan and Ella couldn’t stop smiling. “Sienna, you’re so much better than Austin. You’re so thoughtful!”
Austin, nearly thirty, made faces behind Ella’s back.
He said jealously, “Of course, Sienna is your biological child, while I was just picked up.”
Seeing his jealousy, I waved my hand pretending to be overwhelmed by his attitude.
Ella watched our playful banter with amusement.
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Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, “Sienna, I heard Alayna came looking for you before. Is everything okay?”
I put aside my playfulness and answered Ella seriously, “Everything’s fine, Mom, don’t worry. She won’t be coming to find me anymore.”
Since I returned home to repay the money, Alayna had completely given up on the SAT exam.
She took that money to Los Angeles to seek her fortune, actually to play the stock market.
With her experience from her previous life, she thought she could make a lot of money, but she ultimately wasn’t cut out for stock trading.
In the end, she lost everything and even had to borrow money for a train ticket home.
Gavin and Natalia told her to hurry up and marry someone, suggesting she pick any older man in the village, but she refused and left again.
The next time I saw her was in a human trafficking case.
Austin’s comrade heard her repeatedly calling my name and contacted Austin.
When I went to see her, she begged me to save her, but there
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was nothing I could do.
Dozens of young girls had lost their youth at her hands over the years. She didn’t deserve forgiveness.
Austin’s comrade asked if I knew her. I shook my head and walked away.
That year, the maximum penalty for trafficking women and children was death.
After returning home, I sent Gavin and Natalia a final sum of money, a substantial amount that would ensure they lived comfortably for the rest of their lives.
But I didn’t tell them about Alayna.
They didn’t know, and no one would ever visit them again.
They would spend the rest of their lives waiting for Alayna in that old house.
As for me, I had finally escaped that family that had exploited
- me.
My career was flourishing, with my brand’s advertisements appearing on television.
Austin who loved me, and Dylan and Ella who treated me like their own daughter, were all healthy and by my side. That was
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enough.
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I was content with this life. The little grain of sand had finally transformed into a dazzling pearl.
All this glory and happiness was what I deserved.
For every day in the future, I would only shine brighter and live more brilliantly.
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