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

Chapter 17

I never called myself the prettiest girl on campus, but I was nominated for it once in college. Later, I lost to another girl from a wealthier family–not that I cared, though it gave the gossip mill plenty to churn over.

“The runner–up belle,” I said with a self–deprecating smile.

The man hosting us was Lloyd Johnson, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed corporate success.

People crowded around him, laying on the praise. He wore the smug look of a man who’d made it, though his gaze kept flickering to me.

Truth was, only Melissa knew I’d married Jared. The rest just assumed I had a rich husband and left it at that.

“Victoria!” A voice cut through the chatter. I turned to see the class loudmouth–a guy who’d once tried to date me.

successful careers while I stayed home. My bank account

just as a group of people emerged

probably over six feet–in a tailored navy suit and gold–framed glasses.

door cast a glow over his face,

Lloyd nearly stumbled in his haste to approach. “Hello, Mr. Hallman, I’m Lloyd Johnson from Luminovate Tech–we met several

“Mr. Hallman” nodded and took the

flicked toward me

help it–amid a crowd of unremarkable men, a

practically tripped over himself to close the car

Lloyd vanished the moment

a stage for male bravado while we women

mom,” I answered when asked about work. Then the conversation died