Chapter 15: A Surprise from the Past

Despite the growth Emma had experienced in her career and her relationship with Alex, the past wasn’t done with her. One afternoon, she was sitting in a coffee shop with her laptop, finalizing a proposal for work, when she saw a familiar face across the room.

Jack.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a mixture of emotions flooded her. She hadn’t seen him in months, and honestly, she had done her best to forget him. But there he was, looking the same—like nothing had changed. He caught her eye as he entered, and for a moment, their gazes locked.

He walked over to her table, his presence still as commanding as ever. "Emma," he said softly, his tone hesitant, like he wasn’t sure how to approach her anymore.

She didn’t respond immediately, just studied him for a moment. The man who had once been everything to her was now a stranger—someone she had loved and lost, someone who had betrayed her in ways she still hadn’t fully healed from. But she wasn’t the same woman who had crumbled under his weight anymore.

"Hi, Jack," she said, her voice calm, composed. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh... I’ve been thinking about you," he said, his eyes searching hers for some kind of response. "I know we haven’t spoken in a while, but I wanted to apologize. For everything. I know I hurt you, Emma. I can’t tell you how sorry I am."

Emma felt a rush of anger, then a sense of numbness. She had been bracing for this moment—had imagined it a hundred times—but she was surprised by how unmoved she felt. The old wounds, the old heartbreak... they didn’t sting the way they used to.

"You hurt me, Jack," she said, her voice soft but firm. "But I’m not that person anymore. I don’t need your apology to move on."

Jack’s face fell, disappointment flashing in his eyes. "I understand," he said, his voice thick with regret. "I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I just... I miss what we had. I miss you."

Emma shook her head, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "No, Jack. What we had is gone. You’re a part of my past, and I’m not going back there. I have a life now, and it’s a life I’m building for myself. I don’t need you to complete it."

His expression softened, almost like he was holding back tears. "I see," he whispered, stepping back. "I just wanted you to know... I’m sorry, Emma. I always will be."

She nodded, standing up to face him. "I know you are. But that’s the last apology I need from you. Goodbye, Jack."

For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Emma realized that saying goodbye wasn’t just for him—it was for herself, too. She was closing that chapter for good, leaving it behind.

As she watched Jack leave the café, she felt no lingering pain, no resentment, just a quiet, hard-earned peace.

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