Chapter 126: Samantha's Struggles

The summer sun filtered through the lace curtains of my office at the gallery, casting a warm glow on the desk cluttered with papers and sketches. I was just about to take a break when my phone buzzed, its screen lighting up with a message from Samantha. **Samantha:** Hey Lily, do you have a moment to talk? It’s urgent. Worry prickled at my mind. Samantha wasn’t one to use the word "urgent" lightly. I quickly dialed her number, hoping everything was okay. "Lily, I’m so glad you called," Samantha's voice came through, tight with stress. "Samantha, what's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked, concern lacing my tone. "It's the boutique. Sales have been dropping, and there's so much competition now. I don't know how much longer I can keep it afloat," she confessed, her voice breaking slightly. "Oh, Sam," I sighed, my heart aching for my friend. "Can you come over to the gallery? We can talk more here." "Sure, I'll be there in twenty minutes," she agreed. As I waited, I couldn’t help but r