Chapter 2
When Lily turned two that winter, I finally scored my first major deal.
A chain of beauty salons set its sights on PureGlow Group's hyaluronic acid masks, wanting a long-term partnership.
They wanted 100,000 boxes in the first batch.
I answered the call in the kitchen and spoke quietly.
"Alright, I'll send you the contract tomorrow," I said.
My heart raced after I hung up.
Lily called out from the living room, "Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Coming, sweetie," I replied.
I warmed up some baby food for her and then grabbed a cold bread roll for myself.
Later that afternoon, my friend, Sophie Lane, called me.
"Emma, did you lock in that order?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's all set," I replied.
"See? I told you. You're letting your genius go to waste if you don't do business. Need me to connect you with the factory?"
"No, I've already got it sorted out."
Sophie was quiet for a couple of seconds.
"David still doesn't have a clue, does he?" she asked.
"Nope," I replied.
"You're not going to tell him?"
"There's no point."
"Emma, I can't stand seeing you live like this with his family."
"Sophie, I know what I'm doing."
She sighed. "Alright, it's your call. But remember, you deserve better than this."
As soon as I hung up, I heard the front door open.
David walked in.
"My mom wants you to go over tomorrow and help her clean up for Christmas," he said directly.
"Tomorrow? I already have plans," I said.
"What plans?"
"I'm meeting a friend."
He frowned. "Christmas cleaning is important. Can't you meet your friend some other time?"
I stayed quiet.
"That's settled then," he said. He kicked off his shoes and headed inside.
*****
The next day, I dropped Lily off at Sophie's place and headed over to Margaret's house.
I spent the whole day scrubbing windows, mopping floors, washing sheets, and cleaning the greasy range hood in the kitchen. I was at it from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon.
Margaret sat on the couch, watching TV.
She said, "Make sure you wipe behind the stove. It's super greasy there.
"Toss that pile of old newspapers in the corner.
"Take down the curtains and wash them, too."
I did everything she asked without saying a word.
When I was about to leave, she called out, "Come back tomorrow and clean up the balcony."
"I don't have anyone to watch Lily tomorrow," I said.
"Bring her over. She'll be fine playing by herself for a while," she replied.
I nodded.
Once I stepped outside, I sent an email to the contract manufacturer, confirming the production schedule for 100,000 boxes of masks.
That was the first time I truly believed that one day, I'd walk away from all of this.
*****
Lily was three now.
It was time for her to start preschool.
I picked a neighborhood preschool close by for 900 dollars a month.
David complained about the price.
"The public one near us is only around 300 dollars a month," he said.
"No way we can get into that popular one," I replied.
"Ask my mom to pull some strings."
"She already said last time she wouldn't help."
He scratched his head in irritation. "Fine, let's stick with this one."
*****
On Lily's first day of preschool, she clung to my leg, crying.
"Mommy, don't go," she sobbed.
I crouched down and held her hand.
"Lily, I'll come pick you up this afternoon," I said.
"Promise, Mommy?" she asked.
"I promise," I replied.
She sniffled and reluctantly let go of my leg.
I stood at the preschool entrance, watching her tiny figure disappear into the classroom.
Then I turned and got into a taxi.
"Brightfield Industrial Park, please," I said.
That was where PureGlow Group's contract manufacturer was located.
That day, I signed our second long-term deal with the factory manager, and we ramped up to three production lines.
Once Lily started preschool, I had six hours a day all to myself.
Within half a year, PureGlow Group's monthly online sales soared past 600 thousand dollars.
I registered the trademark, filed for three formula patents, and launched our flagship store online.
I never breathed a word of any of this to David.
Every day, David came home with the same line. "I'm dead tired."
Then he'd flop onto the couch, mindlessly scrolling on his phone.
Now and then, he'd toss out a question. "Was Lily good today?"
"She was," I'd say.
He never bothered to ask what I did all day.
*****
One Saturday, the Carter family gathered for dinner.
Brian Carter grinned from ear to ear at the table. "My new barbecue place opened, and business is booming."
Margaret clapped excitedly. "See? I always said Brian would go far."
Jessica cozied up to Margaret's arm. "Margaret, Brian wants to snag the shop next door and make the place bigger."
"How much will that cost?"
"30 thousand dollars."
Margaret thought it over. "Alright, I'll cover 30 thousand dollars. You two figure out the other 20 thousand dollars."
I lowered my head, quietly picking at my food.
David nudged my foot under the table.
I didn't look up.
*****
On the way home, David said, "My mom gave Brian 30 thousand dollars."
"Yeah," I replied.
"She didn't give us a single cent for our wedding."
"Yes."
"Aren't you angry?"
I stared out the window at the streetlights.
"Is there any point in getting mad?" I said.
He went quiet.
I checked my phone in my pocket and saw a message from the bank. [PureGlow Group's monthly profit: 120 thousand dollars.]