After Being Reborn, I Decided Not to Love Him Anymore Chapter 07

After Being Reborn, I Decided Not to Love Him Anymore Chapter 07

Three years later. Vancouver.

I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my new office, looking out over the city.

Beyond the glass were snow-capped mountains and blue bay.
Sunlight streamed through the windows and hit my nameplate: Nancy Monroe, Design Director.

Six months since I started. Promoted from regular designer to director. Some people weren’t happy about it.

Last week at a meeting, a male colleague challenged my proposal in front of everyone.

I spread my drawings across the table, drowned him in data, and crushed him with logic.

He didn’t have a word to say back.

When the meeting ended, the department VP made the call: “Nancy’s proposals don’t need a second review from now on.”

Before I finished my degree and came back, my advisor Harper asked me, “Are you sure you want to go back? There are plenty of opportunities in London.”

I said, “I’m sure.”

Not because anyone was waiting for me. Because I wanted to go back. I wanted to stand up again in the place that had beaten me down.

Today was the launch of my first major project as lead designer. Over two hundred companies sent representatives.

When I walked onstage, the cameras flashed like crazy.

Forty minutes. No stumbles. No filler words.

When it was over, the CEO of our partner company came up to shake my hand. “Nancy, your team is the best we’ve ever worked with.”

Back in the conference room, my colleagues were celebrating. Bottle after bottle of champagne.

I leaned against the window with a glass in my hand. Someone patted my shoulder. “Nancy, say a few words.”

I raised my glass. “Everyone did their job. Everyone earned their place. Next project? Same thing.”

Afterwards, I stepped outside to get some air.

My phone rang. Lily.

“Nancy! Congratulations! I saw you on the news. That huge Vancouver real estate project—you designed it!”

I smiled. “News travels fast.”

“Marcus sent it to me,” Lily said, then paused. “He saw it and forwarded it. He’s… never mind. How are you? Have you lost weight?”

“I haven’t. I’m good.”

“You free this weekend? Let’s do afternoon tea.”

“I’m free. You bringing your boyfriend?”

Lily paused, then laughed. “How’d you know?”

“That bouquet you tweeted? You didn’t buy that for yourself.”

“Nothing gets past you.” Lily laughed again. “Okay, yeah. I’ll bring him. You can vet him for me.”

I hung up and went back to the conference room. My colleagues were still going strong. Someone had opened a third bottle.

I set my glass down and grabbed my bag. “I’m heading out. You guys have fun.”

“Nancy, you only had ONE drink!”

“I’ve got a proposal to revise tomorrow.” I waved. “See you Monday.”

The weekend came. Sunny as could be.

When I got to the café, Lily was already there. Beside her sat a gentle-faced man in a dark blue sweater and wire-rimmed glasses. He looked clean-cut and kind.

“Nancy!” Lily stood up and waved. “This is Leo Lawson. Leo, this is Nancy—she’s like a sister to me.”

Leo stood up, smiled, and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you. Lily talks about you all the time.”

I shook his hand and smiled back, sizing him up. “Nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you. The real thing is even better.”

Lily’s cheeks went pink. She shoved me. “Knock it off.”

We spent the whole afternoon there. Leo worked in finance. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, it counted. I noticed he tested the temperature of Lily’s water before handing it to her. When he spoke, he looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

Lily was telling us about her oil painting class and how terrible she was at it. Leo listened with a small smile. Then he said, “She’s not that bad. Her first painting is hanging in my office right now.”

Lily glared at him. “That thing is hideous. Take it down.”

Leo just smiled and shook his head. “No.”

I took a sip of my coffee and watched them. And just like that, the last knot in my chest loosened.

Lily deserved this kind of happiness.

We stayed until sunset. Leo went to get the car. Lily and I stood outside the café, waiting. The evening light turned the whole street orange.

“Nancy,” Lily said suddenly. “Are you still on your own?”

“I’m fine with it.”

“What about that Sean guy…?”

“Just a friend. Always has been.” I looked at the clouds. “He’s got his eye on someone else. Not me.”

Lily was quiet for a moment. “Have you ever thought about coming back? Not just to visit, but for good? Coming back here to live?”

I shook my head. “I’m good in Vancouver. I like my job. My life’s simple.”

“And… your love life?”

“I’m not settling for someone who isn’t right. And if I never find the right one? Being alone is fine too.”

Lily looked at me. Her eyes got red. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but in the end she just smiled. “Okay. As long as you’re happy.”

Leo pulled up. Before Lily got in, she turned back to me and said, very seriously, “Nancy. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For saving my life. For helping me find Leo.” She smiled. “And thank you… for finally living for yourself.”

I stood there in the sunset and smiled.

The car drove away. I turned and walked slowly down the street.

I passed a bookstore. My reflection looked back at me from the window—short hair, black coat, flat boots. Clear eyes.

A world away from the meek, trembling Nancy Monroe from that other life.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Sean: “The launch was a hit. Congrats. Let me take you to dinner sometime.”

I smiled and typed back: “Okay.”

I put my phone away and kept walking.

Behind me, a city full of lights. Ahead of me, an open road.

I didn’t look back.

The sun fell on my face, warm and bright.

I’d finally become the person I wanted to be.