Chapter 154: Support System

The days had grown long and stressful as Jason and I navigated the gallery’s financial struggles. Bills piled up, and foot traffic had slowed considerably. We did everything we could to keep our heads above water, but there were moments when it felt like we were fighting a losing battle. One evening, as Jason and I sat at the kitchen table, poring over numbers for the umpteenth time, he sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. “We’re running out of options, Lily,” he said, his voice laced with worry. I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “I know, but we’re not giving up. We’ve built something special with the gallery. We just need to find a way to get through this rough patch.” As we continued to brainstorm, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Samantha. Samantha: Hey, I heard things are tough at the gallery. Can we talk tomorrow? I have an idea. I felt a flicker of hope and quickly responded. Me: Of course, Sam. Come by the gallery around noon? The next day, Sam