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.”

up for things with cash? That was just like him–seeming thoughtful, but cold at his core, a total train

confused by my calm. She leaned in, her voice serious. “Yvonne was so cozy with that woman. If I didn’t

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

get a paper cut.

milk. I’d call lactation experts every day, let them prod and poke until my skin was raw, and still nothing. I had cried through that whole first month,

She thought having my “precious little girl” stolen by another

anymore. She’s six–old enough to understand right and wrong. Kids aren’t puppets I can control forever. Someday she’ll find

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

school, stuck together through college, and now we’re living in the same city. I’m still me–I just let some things

You’re my friend, and

to pay, but the waiter told her Jared had already covered the bill. She looked at me and shrugged. “I was supposed to treat you, but your husband beat

and nodded.