Without hesitation, Be took the medication.


    Seeing Be’s nonchnce, Elizabeth sighed, feeling relieved and happy.


    Little did Be know, there was more to those meds than met the eye and they would mess with her nerves long-term.


    If she continued to take them regrly, Be would forget the past for good.


    Elizabeth, concealing her excitement, asked, “Mom, why are you up sote?”


    “I’m checking out some designs,” Be said, keeping it short.


    “The contest deadline’s closing in so I have to scope out thepetition.


    ”Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “Mind if I tag along? I hope you find a sessor pronto so that then you can spend more time with Dad and me.


    ”


    Be weed thepany.


    She craved more moments with Elizabeth too.


    “Pull up a chair, honey.


    ”


    Elizabeth plopped down beside Be, eyeing the emails.


    “Have you found anyone good yet?”


    Be clicked away, shaking her head.


    “No, nothing.


    Just the run-of-the-mill stuff so far.


    ”


    A sigh slipped from Be’s lips, her disappointment weighing heavy.


    The hunt for a sessor gnawed at her.


    ‘s BunnyBookery


    Scrolling through a string of submissions, Be felt the weariness creeping in.


    Still, she soldiered on, clicking to the next.


    This time, she lingered a little longer on the email.


    As she analyzed every detail, her satisfaction grew with each passing moment.


    “Wow! This one’s top-notch! Overflowing with the designer’s vision,”


    Be praised genuinely.


    Spotting the designer’s signature, she murmured, “Ste.


    No wonder.


    She’s got talent, alright.


    ”


    Elizabeth’s envy peeked through but she masked it with a smile, nudging Be gently.


    “There will be plenty more fish in the sea.


    Keep reeling, Mom.


    ”


    Be caught Elizabeth’s subtle distaste for Ste but chose to stay mum, diving back into the pile of submissions.


    When she saw Devyn’s design, Be’s brows knitted, shock rippling through her.


    Devyn’s piece mirrored Ste’s work, from concept right to the core design.


    Elizabeth seized the opportunity to step into her role.


    Pointing at Devyn’s work, she feigned surprise.


    “Why’s this so simr to Ste’s? It looks even better, though.


    ”


    Be’s expression soured.


    Then, Elizabeth acted as if she had found something fishy.


    Comparing the two, she eximed, “Check it out! Devyn’s was submitted a day before Ste’s!”