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

Chapter 26

Nathan’s insight surprised me. He seemed to know me better than I’d realized.

“Have you been checking up on me?” My smile faded. The collapse of my marriage was painful enough without strangers poking through the remains.

“Sorry, I overstepped,” Nathan blurted out, uncharacteristically flustered. “Just heard some things in passing. No background checks, I promise.”

“Lovely meeting you.” I gave him my best polite dismissal and walked away.

Nathan stayed frozen where he stood.

Back at our table, Melissa was still nervously eyeing the handsome stranger at the other table, clearly working up the courage to talk to him.

“Melissa, ready to go?” I asked, already gathering my things. Nathan’s lingering gaze and that unsettling confession had me suddenly desperate for an exit.

She rose with obvious reluctance, just as Nathan came back inside.

I pulled Melissa forward. “Mr. Hallman, meet Melissa–legal genius and my best friend. Keep her number handy for when you inevitably need a lawyer.”

“Victoria…” Melissa hadn’t expected me to be so forward. She turned bright red, wishing she could vanish on the spot.

I shot her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. Mr. Hallman and I know each other.”

Nathan handed Melissa a business card. “Ms. Jenkins, my company could use legal counsel. If you’re interested, reach out to my assistant, Zachary Chandler.”

“Hello,” said Zachary, the handsome guy across the table, raising his hand. He slid his card toward her. “Just give me a call.”

Melissa took both cards, her face burning. “Nice to meet you,” she murmured, and then yanked me out of the restaurant at lightning speed.

at her tomato–red cheeks and burst out

ask for their contacts like that? Now I can never show my

her. “You’ve got their cards now.

up on something strange and grabbed my arm. “You know Mr.

you two meet?”

froze, caught off guard by her

squinted. “Don’t even try denying it. I can see it in his eyes–the way he looks at you isn’t

and I didn’t want to hide things from her. So I told her everything–about volunteering

yours created a tech mogul?” She’d seen his business

star who was killing it in

who he was. Back then, people talked about

the time. When

real gift for investments. Your instincts are spot–on,” Melissa said, giving me an impressed

smile. “It was Jared’s money, not mine.

is perfect. Jared financed his own romantic competitor.

quickly covered her mouth. “Keep your voice down. If

you’re really divorcing Jared? Need me to handle the paperwork?

expression made me laugh. “Alright, draft something up

Jared will give you half?” Melissa asked, her

“Probably not. I don’t expect half. Even ten percent of his fortune would last me

Honestly, he’d probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.” Melissa studied me,

Victoria… when you walked down that aisle, did you ever think it would end in

were all in, picturing silver anniversaries, matching rocking chairs, a house full of

too much,” Melissa interrupted. “Truth is, it’s just a

losses early,”