Anger welled up inside me, hot and fierce. I felt so foolish. I thought Josh and I had a future together, but I had been nothing more than a convenience.

Before I could calm down, my phone buzzed. I glanced down and saw an SMS that changed everything.

“The investors,” I whispered, “they said yes.”

Wayne leaned in, his brow furrowed. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah. My project… it’s happening.”

His face lit up with genuine happiness. “Kate, that’s incredible! I knew you had it in you.”

I smiled. “It feels surreal. Everything I’ve worked for… it’s actually going to take off.”

“There’s this event next week,” I said, glancing at him. “A big one, with the investors. It’s like the official launch of my project.”

“That sounds… fancy.”

I laughed softly. “Yeah, it kind of is. But there’s one small detail.”

“Oh?” Wayne was curious.

“I need to bring a date.”

“A date, huh?”

“I can’t think of anyone better to be there with me. You’ve been there for me when I needed it most, Wayne. So… would you come with me?”

“Me?” He pointed to himself as if I could’ve meant anyone else.

“Yes, you.” I smiled, feeling a little nervous.

“Kate, I’d be honored.”

***

The night of the event came faster than I had expected. I stood in front of the mirror in a luxurious dress I had picked out, feeling different, confident, a completely new person. That was my moment.

Wayne picked me up, looking sharp in his suit. “Wow, you look amazing.”

“Thanks, Let’s do this.”

Josh and his family were there. They attended that gathering every year, and part of me had been bracing for the revenge encounter. But when I spotted Josh across the room, something strange happened.

The anger, the need to prove myself, all the old feelings… they weren’t there. I no longer cared.

Wayne noticed Josh too. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Actually… better than fine.”

As I watched Josh and his family mingling with the other guests, I realized something important. I didn’t need to prove anything to them. Not anymore.

That wasn’t about revenge or showing them what they lost. I wasn’t that person anymore.

Looking at Wayne, I understood something deeper. He didn’t deserve to be part of any plan for revenge.

“Let’s get out of here,” I whispered to him, smiling. “Back to that our bakery, maybe?”

His eyes lit up, and he smiled in return.

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

As we walked out, arm in arm, I felt lighter. That night, I finally understood that my worth was something I found within myself. And with Wayne by my side, I could start fresh—without the weight of the past holding me back.

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