House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
This is where Lily Bart's situation gets a little complicated. Lily makes deals with many of the characters introduced to us in previous chapters. An initial financial deal with Mr. Trenor leads to Lily having to gain the favor of Rosedale so that he entrusts his wealth to Mr. Trenor. This would be no problem for Lily if she was only seeking wealth. However, Lily realizes that she would have to lie and alienate Selden, which she has a problem with doing. Lily has realized her true feelings for Selden, but marrying him would lead to financial restrictions. The decision comes down to financial future for abandoning her love, or marrying who she adores for giving up luxury.
While Lily is in personal turmoil, Gryce realizes how he is losing the favor of Lily Bart. He begins seeking out other potential suitors. Lily sees that she is losing Gryce so she puts her energy into saving that relationship, all to no avail when she finds that Gryce is engaged to Evie Van Osburgh. Now, Lily faces new challenges. Her financial future is in peril, her vanity has betrayed her, and she now has to make a life altering decision between Mr. Trenor, Mr. Gryce, and Mr. Selden. Trenor would give her financial stability and success, Gryce would provide a wealthy yet shallow and vain life, and Selden would give Lily Bart a modest and happy life. Lily was saddened to realize that "If anything was needed to put the last touch to her self-abasement it was the sense of the way her old life was opening its ruts again to receive her" (Wharton, 62).
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