Chapter 4
Evalina was up late, packing her stuff. Once the divorce papers were signed, she’d gotta vacate.
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Her family’s finances tanked, her dad was gone, and all they’d got was a tiny apartment. Her mom was sick and needed her. Evalina’d got to get back on her feet, shake off the blues, and start raking in the dough.
She spotted her senior Walden Clarke’s number on the table, thought about it for a sec, and then dialed.
“Evalina, seriously? You coming to our studio?” Walden sounded stoked. “That’s awesome! The prof always raved about you being the top architect. You dropped off the map after graduation, but we’d be psyched to have you back. We’ll throw you a welcome–back party or something.”
Hearing Walden’s voice, Evalina felt a rush of feelings. “Walden. I appreciate this chance,” she said, her voice sincere.
Back when she got hitched to Hugo, she was on cloud nine. He was like a rare gem, a real hottie from a fancy town. She thought she hit the jackpot, landing a guy like him. But now, she realized how silly she’d been back then.
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Afterward, Evalina headed to her mom Rosa’s place.
“Are you serious? You’re thinking about calling it quits with Hugo Rosa was all riled up, swatting at Evalina and blubbering like crazy. “You’ve been his wife for years, but our family got nothing from him.
“Now we’re in the red, and you should go beg him not to walk out on you. You should be pleading with him to throw us a lifeline. How can you even think about ending it?”
Evalina just stood there, like she couldn’t feel a thing. She looked at her mom and said, “Mom, it’s not me wanting out. It’s his ex coming back into the picture. He’s the one who’s ready to hit the road.”
But Rosa wasn’t having any of it. She just said, “How can you be so dang clueless? You’ve been with him for three years, and you still can’t get him to stick around? I’m not with you this time. No divorce.”
Evalina had to hold Rosa back as she was flailing around. “I’ll sort out the money. Tomorrow, come hell or high water, I’ll bring some home. But this marriage? I’m done. I’m outta here.” Evalina then turned and walked out the door.
***
Evalina swung the door open and stepped inside, her eyes landing on the closet. She started pulling out all those designer clothes, shoes, and bags the Hayes family had showered her with over the past three years. They’d mostly just sat there, collecting dust.
She got in touch with a clerk to sell the whole kit and caboodle. The cash would give her family a little breathing room. Then she’d hustle to land some design gigs. Once she started raking in the design dough, life would be a whole lot sweeter.
At the mall, the clerk eyed the clothes, then Evalina’s no–frills outfit, and gave her a skeptical–look–a plain jane with a bunch of high–end gear? She was on–the fence. “These all legit?”
Evalina didn’t bite on the clerk’s snark. “Every last one’s the real deal. If there’s one phony, I promise you’ll get all this for free:
The clerk still wasn’t sold, but the goods looked solid.
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Chapter 4
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“Evalina, seriously? Selling knockoffs to rip people off?” A dainty wrist with a fancy watch swooped in, plucked a piece of clothing, gave it the stink eye, and dropped it like it was trash–it was Olive.
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