Chapter 10

“Excuse me,” the man said gently, holding out a folded handkerchief. “You look like you could use this.”

I looked up, startled.

The man in front of me was tall, well-dressed, with dark, neatly combed hair and a face I hadn’t seen in years – yet recognized instantly. My breath caught in my throat.

Parker Wilson.

My mind scrambled. Is this really happening?

The Parker Wilson. CEO. Business tycoon. One of the most hated names in Alex’s vocabulary – and for good reason. Back in college, Parker wasn’t just another rich boy with ambition. He was the rival. Competitive, sharp, always a few steps ahead of everyone, especially Alex. They competed over internships, awards, even clients in later years. And Parker had won… every time.

But seeing him now, here, in this small café on a rainy London afternoon, offering me a handkerchief like a gentleman from a movie – I was speechless.

“Parker?” I mumbled, still in shock.

“You know me?” he asked, his lips quirking in a confident, amused smirk.

I blinked and nodded. “Of course. Everyone knew you back then. You were famous on campus.”

He laughed lightly. “Famous, huh? Notorious, maybe.”

“No,” I said, surprising even myself. “A lot of people had a crush on you.”

His smirk deepened. “Including you?”

I looked down at my tea, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I didn’t answer.

Truth was – yes, I did. Before Alex, before everything, I used to steal glances at Parker in the business building. He always sat in the second row, back straight, confidence in every word he said. I admired him quietly. But I had never imagined he’d even noticed me.

He leaned back. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be forward. Of course you didn’t. You were with Alex.”

I glanced at him. “Wait… how’d you know?”

He chuckled. “Everyone knew, Lindsey. You and Alex were the campus headline. Unexpected couple, honestly. Not because of you – you were the girl everyone admired. Smart, kind, insanely talented. But Alex? He was already known for being tied to Sasha. Everyone thought they’d end up together.”

I swallowed, the memory creeping in.

It was true. Back then, Alex and Sasha were the golden pair – inseparable, flashy, too perfect. I was the quiet one in the background, working late in the design lab, keeping to myself. When Alex and I started dating, it shocked people. The whispers were immediate.

“Was she the reason they broke up?”

“She must’ve done something.”

“There’s no way Alex chose her over Sasha.”

I remembered how I brushed it off. How I convinced myself it didn’t matter as long as Alex loved me. He told me not to listen, that Sasha was his past. That I was his future.

I believed him.

And now?

Now I sat across from someone who had watched it all unfold – and had never said a word, while I tried to smile through the ache of knowing I had been warned… but chose to ignore it.

And I regretted it. More than I could ever admit out loud.

“I didn’t know that,” I murmured.

“Well, now you do.”

I smiled for the first time that day. It felt strange but comforting – like remembering a song I used to love.

“So, what brings you to London?” he asked, sipping his coffee.

I hesitated for a beat, then said it plainly. “Divorce.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t flinch. “Alex?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn,” he said, his voice softer now. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Neither did I,” I admitted.

We talked after that. Really talked. About college. About the industry. About how fast things changed and how little some people did. Parker was surprisingly easy to talk to – witty but grounded, charismatic but attentive. I caught myself laughing more than once.

It was nighttime before I realized how long we’d been there.

He checked his watch, then looked at me. “Well, this turned out to be the best unexpected part of my day.”

I smiled again. “Same here.”

“Maybe we can continue the conversation another time?” he asked. “Only if you want to, of course.”

I nodded slowly. “Sure.”

I wasn’t expecting much. One good conversation didn’t erase everything I’d been through. But still, it was… nice.

As I walked back to my apartment under the streetlights, I felt something shift in me. It wasn’t hope. Not yet. But it was the start of something softer than pain.

The next morning, I woke up with a sense of quiet resolve.

I couldn’t just float through London on heartbreak and coffee. I needed purpose again. Something that belonged to me. Something I’d given up a long time ago – my passion for fashion design.

After scrolling through job boards for hours, I found a listing at one of the most prestigious fashion companies in London. Their designs were everywhere – clean, powerful, modern. And somehow, I felt bold enough to apply.

I updated my resume, reworked my old portfolio, and sent it off.

Chapter 10

To my surprise, I got a call the very next day.

“Ms. Hale? We’d love to bring you in for an interview.”

I nearly dropped my phone.

The interview was fast-tracked. Two days later, I was called in for the final round. I put on my best blazer, tied my hair back, and walked into the sleek, marble-floored building with my heart in my throat.

The receptionist led me to the top floor, where I waited in a glass-walled conference room overlooking the London skyline.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

I stood, heart racing.

And there he was.

Parker Wilson.

He froze mid-step, just as surprised as I was.

“You?” we both said at the same time.

He let out a stunned laugh. “Well, this is… unexpected.”

“You own this company?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“Guilty,” he said, flashing that familiar grin. “Guess we really were meant to talk again, huh?”

I stared at him for a second, blinking. It was too surreal. But maybe, just maybe… this wasn’t coincidence.

Maybe fate was finally playing in my favor.

Alex hadn’t slept in days.