Page 109 of Stuck with the Billionaire Celebrity

I swallow, feeling the weight of her words. “That must have been terrifying.”

“It was. But you do what you have to do.

You find a way to survive.

I wish there had been a place like this shelter back then.

I think... I think a lot of women stay in those bad situations because they believe they can’t survive on their own.

And most can’t, because there isn’t the help they need.

I thought about going back so many times because my daughter and I were living in a car.”

I blink back tears, my heart swelling at her words. “I can’t even imagine how hard that must’ve been for you, Maggie. But I’m so glad you got out.”

“It wasn’t easy. It took years to get back on my feet. Years of moving from place to place, always looking over my shoulder. And I was lucky. Not everyone gets that lucky.”

“Maggie, thank you for sharing that with me,” I say softly. “I can’t imagine what you and your daughter went through.”

She smiles gently, her eyes soft.

“I would love to.

I’ve always believed that helping others helps you heal, too.

And Grace, that’s what you’re doing here.

You’re giving people a chance they might not have had otherwise.”

That’s what all of this is about.

“What could have made it easier for you and your daughter back then?” I ask.

“If there was one thing that would have helped you, something practical, what would it have been?”

Maggie doesn’t hesitate.

“Gift cards,” she says firmly. “For groceries, for clothes, for anything.

When you’re in a situation like that, you don’t have money. You don’t even know how you’re going to eat tomorrow.

Having access to a gift card could have made things feel like we had some control over our situation. It would have given us dignity.

And grants—if I had known about programs that could help with apartments or even paying bills, it would have made it easier to keep a roof over our heads.

It was hard to get into a place when I didn’t have credit, a job, or enough for first and last month’s rent.”

I scribble down some notes, my mind whirring with possibilities.

“Okay, so we get gift cards for things like groceries and clothing,” I say, more to myself than to her. “And grants for helping people get into apartments or pay their bills. That could be huge.”

Her face brightens.

“Exactly. And don’t forget about the little things—transportation assistance, phone plans, and even things like school supplies for kids.

When you’re starting over with nothing, those small things can make a world of difference.”

“I love that,” I say, my mind racing as I jot down more notes.

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