Riley nods, inwardly hoping her mother feels a pang of disappointment directed towards Lily. "Yes, Mom, can you believe it? She's already married and pregnant shortly after graduation. It's shocking, isn't it?"
Diane exhales deeply, her tone tinged with a mix of admiration and frustration. "Just look at how fortunate she is. But then again, isn't luck a form of curse as well? She worked her way through school because her wench of a stepmother couldn't care less. She juggled multiple part-time jobs while excelling academically, unlike my daughter who had it much easier. And now she's married to a wealthy man? You should have taken a page from Lily's book, Riley! I wish you were more like her. How can you be friends with someone like Lily and have nothing to show for it? You should have str
