Chapter 149: Relationship Strains

The gallery was unusually quiet as I walked through the sunlit space, my thoughts preoccupied with the upcoming expansion plans. Just as I reached my office, my phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Samantha. **Samantha:** Can we talk? Things are tough right now. My heart sank. Samantha and Nelson had always been a strong couple, but their recent work commitments had been stretching them thin. I quickly typed a response. **Me:** Of course. Come over to the gallery. We can talk here. Within an hour, Samantha arrived, looking frazzled and exhausted. Her usual sparkle seemed dimmed, replaced by a weariness that tugged at my heart. "Lily," she greeted me with a weak smile. "Thanks for seeing me on such short notice." "Always, Samantha," I replied, pulling her into a hug. "Let’s go to my office where we can talk in private." Once we were settled, I looked at her with concern. "What’s going on?" Samantha sighed heavily, running her fingers through her hair. "It’s Nelson and me