Chapter 117: Nelson's Return

The morning air was crisp as I made my way to Samantha's boutique, a sense of anticipation buzzing in the air. Today was a special day—Nelson was coming home. After months of long-distance, he had made the surprising decision to return permanently, prioritizing his relationship with Samantha over his career. I knew how much this meant to her, but I also knew that their reunion would be fraught with unresolved issues they needed to work through. As I entered the boutique, I found Samantha meticulously arranging a display of handcrafted jewelry. She looked up, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a hint of nervousness. "Lily! You're here early," she said, setting down a delicate necklace and coming over to hug me. "I couldn't wait to see you," I replied, squeezing her tight. "How are you feeling?" "A mix of everything," she admitted, pulling back and running a hand through her hair. "Excited, anxious, happy, scared... it's a lot." "That's understandable," I said, leading her to the