Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

428 Desperate Times

428 Desperate Times

(Cass)

+25 BONUS

The first few nights were rough-I stayed in the smallest, cheapest hostels I could find, the kind where you barely feel safe enough to close your eyes. The money I had quickly dwindled away, gone on overpriced vending machine snacks and cramped rooms. Desperation and the reality of being broke in a foreign country hit hard, but I didn't let it break me. Instead, I started traveling by train, hopping from one small country town to another, offering to wash dishes or clean tables in exchange for a meal or a warm place to sleep. Getting just enough money to get me to my next destination, edging ever close to Brussels. It might be a luxury, but it's me. I'm doing it. I'm being independent and I like it.

It isn't glamorous, but it's kept me going. I travel as far as the money I have will get me and try to keep a little for some food.

Upside, I've lost some pounds, and I've tried so many new foods I didn't even know existed. Downside, language barrier is a struggle and it's been two days since anything decent hit my stomach.

Europe, as I discovered, is full of little pockets of culinary magic. Even in the tiniest towns, food is made with care, with heart, and it stirred something in me.

I've always had a passion for plant-based dishes. I'm learning that simple ingredients, when treated with respect, create something extraordinary. I started paying attention, soaking in every bit of knowledge I could.

And yeah, I'm still using a little bit of pot here and there. Just to take the edge off. I can stop anytime I want and it's not a problem.

It's not like I'm popping pills anymore-that's something, right? Baby steps. But I am aware of what I'm running from. That last day, the man was killed, God, I don't want to go to jail.

more job and I'll have the fare to Brussels. This town seems the smallest so far. I clutch my backpack and

of shops,

some work. I have a little

heavy wooden door creaks as I push it open, and I'm hit by the mouthwatering aroma of deliciousness. My stomach growls, a painful reminder that it's been far too long

pints and I see each table is laden with food. It seems strange, this village doesn't seem

can squeeze me

2 chairs and I make my way to

way higher than I expected for a tiny place

1/2

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428 Desperate Times

don't have any options left. I'll order the cheapest thing,

not going to be fussy about what's in the soup. This will be the end of my money, so I need to get some work and it looks like this is the only option, for tonight anyway. A waitress

you speak

and says something in a

to the dish

down

I say. "Just the soup." I spread my last few coins out on the table and point to them and the

understood and takes