Chapter 14
Once, she gave up her career dreams for Timothy, content to be a stay–at–home wife.
Now, hearing her friend extend an olive branch, she felt a faint stirring of interest.
Her original plan was to travel abroad for relaxation, but this job offer tempted her. Still, she had reservations.
Times had changed. She’d been away from her beloved industry too long.
“Barbara, are you serious?” She gripped her phone tightly.
“Absolutely! I’ve wanted to recruit you forever. Say yes, and you start tomorrow.”
Barbara’s excited tone carried through, “This place has huge growth potential. With your skills, you’ll make waves fast.”
Hearing her friend’s confidence, Shirley took a deep breath.
Once, she thought losing Timothy meant losing the whole world. Now she realize life holds countless possibilities.
As for love, perhaps someday she’ll meet someone who truly cherishes her.
But right now, she looks forward to rediscovering her confident, independent self through her new career.
“But isn’t the general manager being a bit exaggerated?”
Shirley’s fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her phone, suitcase wheels clicking against airport tiles.
Barbara’s hearty laughter came through the phone.
“Why would you think it’s exaggerated? Shirley, have you forgotten our college entrepreneurship gold medal? Your business proposal had professors raving.”
After a pause, her tone suddenly turned serious.
“I always believed in your potential. But at that time… all you could see was Timothy.”
Shirley leaned against a pillar at the airport, watching travelers rush by as memories suddenly flooded back.
“I always believed in your potential,” the words pierced her like a fine needle, pricking the corner of her heart she did- n’t want to touch.
Back then, she’d truly been the department’s star student, receiving offers from multiple public companies after gradu-
ation.
She could have built her own career. That had once been her dream.
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Chapter 14
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But after falling for Timothy, she’d abandoned every opportunity without hesitation, determined to become a dutiful Mrs. Mitchell.
She loved him enough to sacrifice her dreams. Yet she never imagined it was all a mistake.
His heart belonged to someone else, so no matter how much she gave, it remained insignificant in his eyes.
“Shirley, you’ve trapped yourself in this marriage for too long.” Barbara’s voice was laced with concern.
“At that banquet, seeing your state–I knew this wasn’t you.”
Shirley bit her lip, digging her nails deep into her palms.
The details she’d deliberately ignored were crystal clear to others all along. Her voice came out hoarse.
“So all these years… you wanted me in your company?”
“Of course!” Barbara raised her voice.
“Your expertise, your management talent–you’d shine in the corporate world. Before, watching you devote every- thing to family, I couldn’t bear to shatter that illusion. But now? You’re finally free! You can’t say no to me!”
Freedom.
Shirley looked up at the brilliant sunshine outside the airport, feeling the suffocating weight in her chest finally ease for the first time in three years.
Her phone vibrated with a new message from Barbara, containing an address.
“The house is mine, stay as long as you need. Fully furnished, just move in with your luggage! Want me to pick you up tomorrow to get familiar with the area?”
“No need, I’ll head straight to the company tomorrow.”
Shirley was suddenly laughing, her voice carrying a crispness she hadn’t felt in ages.
“I’ll prepare the onboarding documents. Need to learn the ropes quickly, Ms. Brown.”
As she hung up, lightness washed over her.
Dragging her suitcase toward the taxi stand, she traced her finger over the location pin on her phone screen.
When the taxi started, Shirley received the last message from Barbara.
“Welcome! My great manager Shirley.”
Staring at the streets rushing past the car window, Shirley opened her phone gallery and deleted every photo related to Timothy,
When the last wedding photo vanished from the screen, she sighed deeply and shoved the phone back into her bag.
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