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

Chapter 545

The chill from outside crept into my body, makingshiver.

| stared at the text message for what felt like an eternity before finally snapping out of it.

‘Ryan is entering a marriage alliance?’ | thought. It was something I'd expected, but it still ctoo fast.

This mix of emotions leftfeeling completely torn inside.

| burrowed deeper into the covers, but they were cold.

| remembered how, whenever Ryan stayed over, he'd always warm up the bed and wait for me.

Maybe it was in these small, intimate moments that | started to rely on him.

But thankfully, | hadn't fallen too deep. | could pull out that dependence by the roots and hide it away

my heart.

in

| needed to remember why | cto Braylin-to build my career, not to fall in love.

Work was going pretty well forthese days. Not a lot of trouble cmy way-Jared took care of the major

stuff, and | handled the minor issues myself. Guess I've picked up a few tricks of my own, so | wasn’t stumbling

around clueless like | did in my previous life.

| slept straight through to morning, and when | got up, | deleted that reminder from Edward.

| didn’t care if he meant well or had shidden agenda. If Ryan really wanted to break up, | wanted

to hear it from him.

All | needed to do was wait quietly.

Three days went by in a flash, and Ryan and | mostly just texted each other.

Sometimes we’d call, and his voice sounded a bit hoarse. He toldhis grandfather still wasn’t getting better,

and he needed to stay with him. He apologized, saying he couldn't cseefor

now.

| told him to focus on what he had to do and not to worry about me. Ladded that work was keepingbusy too.

The hotel's facade was starting to show its unique lines, blending retro vibes with modern flair. The Shaville

location was already up and running, drawing a good crowd, which madefeel even more sure about this

whole project.

Chapter 545

Another evening had come. | found myself standing by the window, watching the sun sink below the horizon.

After a few rounds of snowfall, the sunset outside looked almost unreal-so beautiful it didn’t seem possible.

The tea in my hand had cooled off, and when | poured in more hot water, the taste was just a shadow of what it

used to be.

It remindedof a relationship about to end-gone was the burning heat from the beginning, leaving only a

faint, lingering aftertaste.

My phone buzzed with a text. The nflashing on the screen was Isabelle.

“Victoria, are you free tonight? | want to treat you to dinner.” Isabelle messaged me, sounding extra polite.

‘She must've heard something,” | thought. ‘Or maybe Ryan sent her to givea heads-up.’

“Yeah, I'm free!” | shot back.

Isabelle instantly replied with a restaurant address. “Awesome, I'll be waiting for you!”

| grabbed my stuff and headed downstairs to my car.

Parking at the restaurant Isabelle picked was a nightmare.

| had no choice but to park farther away and walk the rest of the way.

After what happened last tin the parking lot, | made sure to put on a mask and wrap myself up in a puffer

jacket, keeping my head down as | walked.

Suddenly, up ahead, a car parked by the curb and the door swung open-a tall figure stepped out.

| shot him a cautious look, only to realize | knew that face.

Edward frowned at me, givinga look like he couldn't figure out why | was dressed that way.

“Mr. Jennings, business is supposed to be your thing, right? You must've been a detective in your previous life,” |

teased, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

Edward didn’t get upset at my jab. Instead, he just smirked. “Guess | wouldn't have known | had it inif it

weren't for you.”

“This really isn’t your style, you know. Kinda ruins your image,” | shot back, not bothering to be polite.

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Chapter 545

Edward pressed his lips together and moved under the shade of a nearby tree. “Aren’t you going to ask me

anything?”

| checked my watch. “I'm kind of in a rush.”

“Is Ryan the one you're meeting?” Edward's voice dropped, sounding a bit disappointed.

| laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to be tailing me? Didn't you even figure out who I'm meeting?”

Edward looked a little embarrassed and sighed. “I only follow your movements, not anyone else's.”

“If this is your way of showing affection, it’s honestly suffocating,” | said, my voice going cold.

Edward looked genuinely thrown, clearly not expecting my reaction. He frowned in confusion. “Most women don’t

act like this...”

| let out a short laugh. “Then go find another woman.”

Edward looked helpless, then suddenly reached out, grabbed my wrist, and forcefully draggedunder the

shadow of the tree.

“Edward, let go of me!” | said angrily, my voice sharp with irritation.

Edward let go of me, towering overand taking in my pissed-off look. “Ryan’s engagement-what’s your take

on it?”

“l accept it,” | replied coolly. “I never tried to hold him back. He's always been free.”

Edward's eyes widened in surprise. “You're not upset? Not even a bit?”

“When would | have tto be upset? It's not like this is my first breakup,” | said, raising an eyebrow and

shooting him a cheeky grin. “Besides, I've got plenty of admirers. I'm not exactly lacking in

choices.”

With that, | turned to leave.

But Edward was faster. He shovedback, pinningagainst the tree trunk. | sucked in a sharp breath,

shooting him a look of condemnation. “Mr. Jennings, you're way out of line with women. No one could ever truly

like this kind of behavior.”

Edward’s grip on my arm stiffened for a moment, then he let go, his voice dropping to a murmur. “Sorry, | just... |

wanted to talk to you.”

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