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.

took one look at her tomato–red cheeks and burst out laughing,

“How could you just ask for their contacts like that? Now I can never show my face around

her. “You’ve got their cards now. It’d be a waste not

something strange and

you two meet?”

off guard by

Mr. Hallman like you?” Melissa squinted. “Don’t even try denying it. I can

I didn’t want to hide things from her. So I told

of yours created a tech mogul?” She’d seen his business card–the same guy I’d helped was

a 27–year–old rising star who was

I didn’t even know who he was. Back then, people talked about this genius kid- how his family went

charity work at the time. When I heard his story, I donated 250

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

gave a wry smile. “It was Jared’s money, not mine. If anyone deserves credit,

burst out laughing, slapping her knee. “This is perfect. Jared financed his own romantic competitor. Imagine how pissed he’ll be when he finds

your voice down. If anyone hears you, we’re through as

in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “So… you’re really divorcing

serious expression made me laugh. “Alright, draft

you half?” Melissa asked, her eyes alight

head. “Probably not. I don’t expect half. Even ten

probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.” Melissa studied

that aisle, did you ever think it would end in divorce?” For all her blunt humor, she

divorce?” I said bitterly. “We were all

Melissa interrupted. “Truth is,

your losses early,”