Chapter 17 Better Together

• The next morning, Roselyn was up bright and early, bustling about the kitchen with an apron wrapped around her waist. I had to admit, it was a sight to behold. This cocky, rich heiress was now scrambling to make sense of our modest kitchen. Her attempts at cooking were, well, let's just say they were an adventure. The bacon was a tad too crispy, the eggs were a little runny, and the toast was slightly charred. But, you know what? It was the thought that counted. There was something cute about it anyway.
• She also insisted on helping with the housework. Now, this was truly a show. She tackled the vacuum cleaner with the same enthusiasm she usually reserved for a new designer handbag. Her attempts at dusting were less than efficient, but her heart was in the right place. As she bustled about the house, her expensive silk blouse threatening to rip at any moment, my mother and I exchanged amused glances. We knew that this was a side of Roselyn that the world rarely got to see. Despite the laughter and light-heartedness of the moment, there was also a sense of warmth and camaraderie. Roselyn's willingness to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in showed a down-to-earth quality that was endearing. It was a reminder that, beneath the wealth and privilege, she was just a regular person, eager to help and be a part of our household.
• But we weren't just focused on our new home dynamics. Roselyn also made sure to make some phone calls to her father's lawyers; she requested the services of a private detective as well, in order to track down Samantha’s elusive moves. Unfortunately, she didn’t have access to her bank account anymore, therefore, she had to sell some of her jewelry and expensive clothes to cover all her legal fees. She couldn’t pay for her college tuition either, so she wasn’t able to resume her last semester. It came as a relief to her, surprisingly. After all, she was too dang proud to show up in public and admit she had lost everything. Some of her former, fake friends were probably laughing about it, and she simply wouldn’t allow them to see her sweat.