Chapter 7
Two more years passed.
I was transferred back to headquarters as a senior executive–a major leap in my career.
All the hardships, the storms I had weathered, had become the soil that nourished my growth as a professional woman.
I was no longer the same person.
Back at HQ, some of my old colleagues didn’t even recognize me.
They greeted me nervously: “Good morning, Ms. Cooper.”
I smiled slightly.
Ms. Cooper.
I liked the sound of that.”
“You can just call me Ava,” I replied calmly.
During a strategy meeting, I was surprised to see Liam among the attendees.
He looked more mature now, with weariness behind his eyes, but still stood tall.
Our eyes met across the table.
He visibly froze, then offered a conflicted smile.
After the meeting, he waited for me outside the conference room.
“Congratulations, Ava,” he said, voice sincere, tinged with regret.
I nodded politely. “Thank you.”
We walked side by side down the hallway–like we had years ago, only this time, everything was different.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come back,” Liam said quietly.
“These past years, I haven’t gone a single day without regret.”
I stopped and turned to him.
“Liam, it’s over.”
“No, it’s not.”
His voice rose, suddenly strained.
“I’ve tried. I really have. But I can’t move on. Ava, can we please start over?”
1 looked into his eyes, at the pain and hope mingling there–and felt nothing but peace.
“Do you know how I made it here, Liam?”
He shook his head.
14
Because of that joke.”
I smiled.
“I should thank Chloe. That so–called joke forced me out of my comfort zone. It made me realize I could live just fine on my own.”
“Love isn’t everything. Work is.
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You taught me that–remember?”
Liam stood still, emotions flashing across his face.
Finally, he gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Yeah. I said that…
Didn’t expect you to learn the lesson so well.”
Three months later, headquarters hosted its annual gala.
As a new executive, I had to give a speech.
The hall was packed. I spotted many familiar faces–including Liam.
When I finished, the room burst into applause.
I smiled and thanked everyone.
My gaze swept across the crowd, and then stopped on a young woman I didn’t recognize.
She was staring at me with awe and admiration, the same way I must’ve looked at others when I first joined the company.
Later, during the dinner, she mustered the courage to approach.
“Ms. Cooper, I’m a new intern.
May I ask you a question?”
I nodded, smiling. “Of course.‘
“What do you think is the biggest challenge for women in the workplace?”
I paused for a moment and glanced toward Liam, who was deep in conversation not far away.
“The biggest challenge,” I said, “is making sure your life doesn’t revolve around a man.
The girl tilted her head, trying to understand.
Liam must have felt my gaze.
He looked over just as I raised my glass to him.
Then I turned back to her.
“Remember this:
Your worth doesn’t need to be defined by anyone else.
Not even by someone you love or trust.”
Her eyes lit up.
She nodded hard. “Thank you, ma’am. I won’t forget that.”
Liam started walking toward us–but his phone rang halfway. He picked it up, listened for a moment, and his face changed. Without a word, he turned and left.
The next day, I found out the call was from the hospital.
Chloe had attempted suicide.
Word was, she’d been living a hard life for years.
She had reached out to Liam for help many times, but he always refused.
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A week later, I was surprised to receive a copy of Liam’s resignation letter.
He was leaving the company to start a business in the south.
Before he left, he stopped by my office.
“I’m heading out,” he said evenly.
“Manchester.”
I blinked. “What made you suddenly decide to quit?”
“That phone call… it made me realize a few things.”
Liam gave a wry smile.
“I always thought the person I wronged most was you.
But I was wrong.
I wronged Chloe too.”
“She ended up where she is now…
and I played a part in that.
But I can’t keep trying to fix things the wrong way.”
He looked at me, his gaze clear and steady.
22
“You taught me something important, Ava everyone has to be responsible for their own choices.
Chloe and I… I’ll deal with it the right way.”
I nodded. “I wish you all the best.”
Liam walked to the door, then turned back one last time.
“Ava, just once more… I have to ask–is there any chance for us?”
I gently cut him off.
“Do you remember what you once told me?”
“The biggest mistake in life…is looking back.”
He froze.
Then slowly, he smiled.
“You’re right. I did say that.”
He turned and left.
I walked to the window and watched his car pull out of the company gates, fading into the distance.
My phone buzzed.
It was a reminder for a new project kickoff meeting.
I picked up my notebook and headed for the conference room.
Outside the window, the sun was shining.
Chapter 7
