Clara attended private art classes.
Elena worked weekends at Vivian’s event-planning business because “family members contributed.”
When Elena earned a scholarship to study architecture and fire-safe design, Vivian complained that the university was too expensive even though the scholarship covered nearly everything.
“You already have a home,” she said. “Why do you need a career that takes you away from us?”
Elena went anyway.
She became fascinated by how buildings protected—or failed—the people inside them.
During her final year, Vivian’s husband offered her an internship at Hartwell Safety Consulting, a company that inspected hotels, offices and entertainment venues.
Elena believed the opportunity meant Vivian finally respected her.