A Fresh Start novel Chapter 4

I was almost convinced by Charles.

Who hasn't been young and reckless? Who hasn't thrown themselves into love like a moth to a flame?

Okay, maybe I haven't.

But maybe this is something that has to be experienced in youth.

Mature people need to learn how to self-process...oh no, I mean, self-forgive.

I called the jeweler who had made my wedding ring and took out the gemstone bracelet I had broken in anger.

"Can it be repaired?"

The jeweler held a piece of it and fell silent.

"Money isn't an issue," I quickly added.

The jeweler sighed, pieced together the five fragments, and shook her head.

I felt disheartened.

"So, you're saying that it can't be mended?"

"No, Ms. Walker, you misunderstood. This is an artificial gemstone, full of flaws and poor quality. It's hard for me to find such low-grade material at my shop."

"..."

"If you give me fifty dollars, I can go to the antique market nearby and find you something just like this," she shrugged. "Oh, and that fifty includes the round-trip fare."

"Usually, you don't even look at anything under five figures, Ms. Walker. I can't believe you got scammed like this."

"..."

I was completely speechless.

Now, Gianna and Luca are renting a place together in an old community that's less than 538.2 square feet.

Looking at her social media, she posted a picture of one dish and one soup.

The caption read, "He cooks, and I wash the dishes. We're free, and happy."

Happy???

I felt like my values were being twisted.

Does she mean that living in a detached villa, studying in London, being picked up and dropped off by car, and getting a secure job wasn't happiness?

Charles obviously couldn't understand it either, but he tried to gently guide me while trying to comprehend it himself. "It's like when you get tired of gourmet food... hiss... junk food can taste good too? But who can live on junk food forever, Mom? Just be patient a little longer."

Okay, I believed him.

But then, during a business outing, I stumbled upon Luca working as a gigolo in a bar.