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

Chapter 219

A glance at the clock: not even six. Resigned to wakefulness, I pulled on running gear and headed downstairs.

The complex lay hushed in the pre–dawn light. Head down, focused on my rhythm, I nearly collided with another runner.

The runner who had just passed me slowed, turned, and jogged back. “Ms. Murphy?” A voice called out, clear and bright against the quiet morning

I halted mid–stride, staring. Ryan?

Just then, an elderly man jogged up, slightly breathless. He opened his mouth, seemed to reconsider, and snapped it shut.

“Ryan? Are you staying here?” I asked with surprise.

Ryan threw a companionable arm around the old man’s shoulders. “Just crashing with my great–uncle for a bit,” he explained easily. “He lives alone, so I’m keeping him company.”

The old man blinked, momentarily flustered, and then nodded with perhaps excessive enthusiasm. “Yes! The boy’s been very attentive.”

of doubt surfacing, but dismissed

C,” Ryan answered, jerking a thumb towards

See you.” Then I resumed

prepared to work. Around eight, my phone buzzed–a

I’d treated him last night, I was surprised Jared wasn’t furious. Instead, he’d orchestrated the return of my

was rush hour right now, not a cab in sight. Glancing at the overflowing bus stop nearby,

the back seat. “Thanks, Ms. Murphy. Seriously, you’re a lifesaver,” he

gave a small, dismissive smile. “Just

team.”

hop out a block from the office

at my office door, placing a Starbucks cup on my desk. “Fare payment,” he

as fare, refusing

whisking her away on a vacation. True to form, my phone lit up today with a barrage of photos from Yvonne–snapshots flooding in from her trip. I

sent a dramatic close–up of a scraped knee, followed by a deluge of weepy, woebegone