Margaret took a deep breath as she stepped down from the truck, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to muster a smile, but it wavered, uncertain as the path she now faced. Standing before Thomas and his father, she felt small yet hopeful, clinging to the possibility that this new chapter might offer something different, something unexpected.
“Welcome, Margaret,” Thomas said warmly, extending his hand to her. His voice was gentle, not at all what she had imagined from a man who had essentially purchased her future. She shook his hand hesitantly, surprised by the genuine kindness in his eyes.
“Thank you,” Margaret replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
