Afterward, she tiptoed into the nursery. Cheryl slept peacefully, tiny fist tucked beneath her cheek. Lily felt something in her chest soften. She adjusted the blanket, brushing a kiss against her daughter’s warm forehead.
In the living room, Alex barely glanced at her.
“Mom says you’re late again,” he said, eyes glued to the screen.
“Yes. Tomorrow matters,” Lily began.
“I know,” he interrupted. “Important presentation. By the way, tomorrow’s Friday.”
Her stomach tightened.
Friday meant the bank.
“So?” she asked carefully.
“What do you mean, so?” Alex frowned. “Mom needs to go to the salon. Her skin’s been rough lately.”
Lily stared at him. “We have unpaid bills. Cheryl needs new clothes.”
Alex waved a hand dismissively. “Mom deserves something nice. She’s had a hard life.”
Lily swallowed the response burning on her tongue. “I’m going to bed.”
The weeks that followed blurred into exhaustion. Lily arrived first, left last. When others took holidays, she stayed behind, navigating tense negotiations with a difficult client who eventually doubled their contract.
One Wednesday afternoon, Henry asked her to come into his office. The CEO was already seated.
“We are impressed with your results,” the CEO said. “Especially Art Media. Therefore, the key account manager position is yours.”
Lily felt dizzy. Papers slid across the desk. A new contract. A new salary.
Thirty percent more.
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