Chapter 332: A Seed Of Hope

A few weeks later, on a Saturday afternoon, Isobel dropped by Leon and his family’s place in the downtown district.

The grocery store on the ground floor was thriving. What had started as a small neighborhood shop had quickly gained a loyal customer base, thanks to its convenient location and growing selection of goods.

Residents of their condominium building had become regular customers, while people from neighboring residential towers often stopped by to pick up groceries on their way home.

Business had picked up so much that Leon had decided to expand the store’s services. Taking Alena’s suggestion, he had converted an unused corner near the entrance into a small grab-and-go section, complete with a few tables and chairs.

It offered a convenient spot for busy residents to grab a quick breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee, or have a sandwich before heading to work.

Others dropped by for a quick snack after a long day at the office.

The modest addition had turned out to be a smart move, bringing in more customers and giving the little grocery store an unexpected edge over its competitors.

The idea had proven surprisingly popular.

"Uncle, business is booming!"

Isobel remarked as she sat at one of the small tables, sipping her milk tea. Her gaze swept across the store, where two customers were waiting near the counter.

"I didn’t know you had such a knack for business."

Leon chuckled as he arranged a few items on the nearby shelf.

"I used to manage the cooperative store in our village. It’s not much different from this, although we have more customers here."

"Well, you’re doing a great job. At this rate, you might need to hire additional staff."

Leon laughed, clearly pleased by her compliment.

"Maria and me are sufficient for now. Alena is also helping out at the cashier."

Isobel didn’t stay downstairs for long. After chatting with Leon for a while, she made her way up to the second-floor living quarters to see Randy and Yana.

Since it was Saturday, the two children were helping with the household chores. Randy was pushing a mop across the tiled floor, while Yana stood on a small stool, carefully wiping the dust from the furniture.

The moment they spotted Isobel, however, their enthusiasm for housework vanished.

"Aunt Bel!"

The two children dropped what they were doing and rushed toward her, wrapping their little arms around her thighs.

"We missed you!" they exclaimed almost simultaneously.

Isobel laughed and bent down to embrace them.

"I missed you two, too. Look how big you’ve grown!"

She gave each child a kiss on the forehead before glancing around the living room.

"Where’s your mom?"

Her eyes briefly settled on the closed door of Alena’s bedroom.

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

She hadn’t forgotten what Alena had gone through. Although her cousin had seemed to be doing better during their last conversation, Isobel knew that recovering from emotional trauma wasn’t something that happened overnight.

Was Alena still struggling? Had she simply learned to hide her pain whenever someone came to visit?

"Mommy is making clothes for us!" Yana announced excitedly.

Before Isobel could respond, the little girl grabbed her hand.

"Come, Aunt Bel! I’ll show you. Mommy made me a beautiful dress!"

Randy followed closely behind as Yana practically dragged Isobel toward the bedroom.

"Yana, wait!" Isobel laughed.

But the little girl was already pushing the door open.

Inside, Alena was seated beside a sewing machine, concentrating on a piece of pale pink fabric. The steady mechanical hum filled the room, occasionally interrupted by the soft snipping of scissors.

She looked up in surprise when the door suddenly swung open.

"Bel?"

"Surprise!"

Alena blinked before a smile slowly spread across her face.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?"

"I wanted to surprise you."

Isobel’s eyes wandered around the room, and she couldn’t help but stop in amazement.

The bedroom looked considerably different from what she remembered.

Pieces of colorful fabric were scattered across the bed and floor. Several spools of thread, a measuring tape, and a pair of fabric scissors occupied the small table beside the sewing machine. A half-finished garment rested on the mannequin in the corner.

Along the wall stood a clothing rack displaying several handmade outfits.

There were little dresses in pastel pink, powder blue, and cream, each with its own distinctive design. A few miniature shirts and trousers for Randy were arranged beside them.

The room smelled faintly of freshly cut fabric and machine oil, mixed with the clean scent of laundry hanging near the window.

"Oh, my goodness, Alena!"

Isobel approached the clothing rack and lifted one of the dresses from its hanger.

"Did you make all of these?"

Alena nodded, a little shyly.

Isobel examined the dress more closely. The fabric wasn’t particularly expensive, but the craftsmanship was impressive. The neckline was delicately finished, the seams were neat, and the small decorative details gave it a charming appearance.

What impressed her most was the design.

It was pretty without being overly elaborate, with a comfortable cut that would allow a little girl to run around and play without feeling restricted.

"This is beautiful!" Isobel exclaimed. "You could easily sell something like this!"

"Do you really think so?"

Alena stood beside her, looking at the dress as though seeing it through someone else’s eyes.

"I took dressmaking as an elective back in high school. I thought I could make something special for the children when they started school."

She reached for another dress, gently smoothing a wrinkle along its skirt.

"I wanted them to have clothes that were pretty but comfortable. Something they could wear without worrying about getting dirty whenever they played."

Isobel turned to look at her cousin.

There was something different about Alena.

Her eyes were brighter. Her voice no longer carried the same heaviness that had accompanied her conversations before. Even the way she stood seemed different, as though she had found something that gave her a reason to get out of bed each morning.

Perhaps this was what Alena needed.

Not pity. Not constant reminders of what happened to her.

She needed something that belonged to her. Something that could give her a sense of purpose despite her dark past.

Something beyond being an abandoned wife or someone’s plaything...