Page 42 of A New Love

Amelia leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with interest. "That sounds amazing, Mom. You’re not buying it, are you? No way."

Charlotte's eyes danced as she described the inn in vivid detail. "Way. The building itself is over a century old, with beautiful wooden beams and intricate stained-glass windows. There's a lovely garden out back, perfect for afternoon teas and lazy summer evenings. And the location... Amelia, it's just steps away from the ocean. I can hear the waves crashing against the shore."

"Wow, Mom, it sounds like a dream come true," Amelia gushed, clearly captivated by her mother's vision. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this more than anyone I know."

"Thank you, sweetie," Charlotte responded, her eyes misting with emotion. "I've been waiting so long to find something like this, and now that it's finally within reach, I can't help but feel like everything is falling into place."

"You're going to turn that inn into the most magical B&B anyone has ever seen," Amelia said, her voice filled with certainty. “And then, I’m going to be super snobby to my college friends and mention our English estate all the time.”

Charlotte felt a warmth spread through her chest. This connection with her daughter – this beautiful, unbreakable bond they shared – was what truly mattered. It was the reason behind every decision she made, every step she took toward carving out a better life for herself and Amelia.

"Mom," Amelia said, her expression turning serious. "You've always been there for me, supporting me and believing in my dreams. Now, it's my turn to support you and believe in yours. I know you can make this B&B something special. You sacrificed a lot for me, growing up. It’s your time now."

"Your faith in me means the world, Amelia," Charlotte whispered, tears glistening in her eyes. "I promise I won't let you down."

"Never doubted it for a second, Mom," Amelia replied, her smile returning. "Now go out there and work your artistic magic on that inn!"

Charlotte smiled back at her daughter, her heart swelling with gratitude and love.

"Watch me, sweetie," Charlotte said, her voice filled with determination.

The warmth of their conversation still lingered in the air, when Charlotte's phone suddenly rang, cutting through the cozy atmosphere like a knife. The familiar, yet unwanted ringtone sent a shiver down her spine, and she could feel her heart rate quicken as she glanced at the screen. It was Daniel.

"Mom? Who is it?" Amelia asked, concern furrowing her brow at the sight of her mother's sudden unease.

"Daniel—your dad," Charlotte replied hesitantly, her fingers hovering above the screen as she weighed her options. A part of her wanted to ignore the call, to continue basking in the love and support of her daughter, but she knew that avoiding him wouldn't solve anything. "I... I have to take this, sweetie."

"Alright, Mom," Amelia said, her voice filled with understanding. "Just remember, whatever he says, he’s the jerk."

"Thank you, Amelia," Charlotte said, trying not to laugh as she reluctantly tapped the green icon to answer the call on speaker.

"Charlotte, we need to talk," Daniel's voice came through the phone, tense and curt. The sharpness of his tone rattled her nerves, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her.

"Hello, Daniel," Charlotte responded, doing her best to keep her voice steady and neutral. "What do you want?"

Daniel snapped, his irritation plain for all to hear. "I’m still waiting to know when you’ll be back.”

“I won’t. In fact, I bought an inn. Chew on that.”

His voice exploded through the phone. “Buying an old inn without even discussing it with me first? What were you thinking? "Have you lost your mind?"

"Actually, Daniel," Charlotte began, force seeping into her voice despite the lingering nervousness, "it was never your decision to make. This is my life, and I've decided to start over by turning that inn into something beautiful and welcoming."

"Charlotte, I just want what's best for you and Amelia," Daniel implored, his voice softening as though she would be swayed by feigned concern. "You don't have to prove anything to me."

"Prove?" Charlotte scoffed, her eyes blazing with indignation. "This has nothing to do with proving anything to you. This is about reclaiming my life, my dreams, and my happiness – something that was stifled during our marriage."

"Fine," Daniel sighed, his voice laden with concern, whether genuine or feigned. "But you still need to think about the financial aspect. Where will you get the funds to renovate and run this place?"

"Actually," Charlotte began, her voice strong and unwavering despite the pounding of her heart, "I've decided to sell our house. After all, it was always more mine than yours. As for the profit, I intend to keep it for myself and invest it into the inn."

"Wait just a minute!" Daniel protested, his voice sharp with disbelief. "That's our home. You can't just sell it without discussing it with me first!"

"Considering everything that's happened, Daniel, I think it's only fair that I take control of my own life and finances," Charlotte stated firmly, her voice growing stronger as she faced her estranged husband's resistance head-on. Her chest swelled with the unfamiliar feeling of empowerment, and she knew she could no longer allow him to dictate her choices.

"Charlotte," Daniel began, his voice strained as he attempted to regain control of the conversation. "You can't just—"

"Daniel, I won't be swayed by your fear or skepticism," Charlotte interrupted, her voice steady and resolute. "This is my decision, and I'm going to see it through. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to Amelia."

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