Her Ex Took Everything in the Divorce—Now He’s Ordering Coffee From Her (2 of 3)

Allison stared at him in disbelief. “And the children?”
“You’re their mother. You’ll figure it out,” he shrugged.

By nightfall, he was gone—clothes packed, number changed. Overnight, Allison’s life collapsed. She found work as a mall cleaner, leaving her children with a neighbor. Exhausted, she took on night shifts just to afford food and clothing.

One evening, little Lily looked up at her and asked,
“Mommy, why are you always at work? I miss you.”
Allison’s throat tightened. “I’m doing this for us, sweetheart.”
“And Daddy? Doesn’t he help?”
Allison had no answer.

Then came the call that changed everything. A lawyer informed her that her late grandfather—quiet and frugal all his life—had been buying company shares for decades. He left it all to his beloved granddaughter.

Allison wept. She remembered his words: “Save your pennies. One day, they’ll matter.”

She didn’t waste a moment. Allison took professional courses, returned to her old field, and invested part of the inheritance into a small neighborhood café. She ran it with care—chatting with customers, making sure the place felt warm and alive.

One afternoon, she spotted two new guests walking in. She greeted them with her usual smile—then froze. It was Ethan, with a stunning blonde at his side.

“Good afternoon,” Allison said evenly. “What can I get you?”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “Allison? You work here?”
“Yes,” she replied calmly. “So—your order?”

“Two cappuccinos and croissants,” he smirked. “I thought you were still cleaning floors. Guess this is… an upgrade.”

She ignored the jab and brought their order. Ethan chuckled again. “Maybe serving coffee is your calling?”