After being reborn, I make up my mind to stop chasing after my husband and daughter

Melissa froze for a second, and then her eyes lit up. She clinked her glass against mine, tears still shimmering. “To new beginnings. And may everything go your way.”

I smiled from the bottom of my heart.

While we were eating, a waiter showed up with three fancy–looking dishes.

Melissa blinked. “I didn’t order these. Must be a mix–up?”

The waiter smiled, “Compliments of Mr. Holcomb. Your bill’s taken care of.”

Melissa’s head snapped to me. “Jared sent these?”

I took a bite. “Not bad. Let’s eat–no sense wasting good food.”

Melissa laughed awkwardly. “One of these probably costs more than my entire meal.”

he felt guilty and was trying to make up for things with cash? That was just like him–seeming thoughtful, but cold

leaned in, her voice serious. “Yvonne was so cozy with

would ask this. She’d watched me hover over Yvonne like a helicopter parent, terrified the kid

get a paper cut.

and poke until my skin was raw, and still nothing. I had

say Yvonne was my entire world. She thought having my “precious little girl” stolen by another

my head. “Maybe once. Not anymore. She’s six–old enough to understand right and wrong. Kids aren’t puppets I can control forever. Someday she’ll find her own path. If she’s happier with someone

She let out a soft sigh. “Wow, Victoria. You’re totally different now. If it weren’t for your face, I’d swear

you off guard sometimes. Melissa, we’ve known each other since high school, stuck together through college, and now we’re living in the same city.

my friend, and that’s not

at me and shrugged. “I was supposed

and nodded.