In College Her Friends Mocked His Torn Clothes… 5 Years Later He Became a Millionaire—and Their Boss
Chapter 13
Their relationship developed slowly.
There were no headlines.
No social-media announcements.
No dramatic proposal.
They simply began spending time together.
Coffee.
Dinner.
Walks.
Books.
Long conversations.
Sophia discovered Daniel still kept the old backpack from college.
“Why?”
“It’s useful.”
“You’re a millionaire.”
“So?”
“You can buy a new one.”
“I could.”
“But?”
Daniel smiled.
“Some things remind you where you started.”
She touched the worn fabric.
“You really kept everything.”
“Not everything.”
“What did you throw away?”
“The need to impress people.”
She looked at him.
“That took five years?”
“Maybe longer.”
She smiled.
Daniel eventually told her about his mother.
About his father’s death.
About the months when he almost quit.
Sophia told him about her insecurities.
About how much she had wanted to fit in.
About how terrified she was that people would discover she wasn’t as confident as she looked.
Daniel listened.
For once, neither of them was trying to impress the other.
They were simply two people who had grown up.
One evening, Sophia asked:
“Do you think your younger self would recognize you?”
Daniel smiled.
“No.”
“Would he like you?”
He thought.
“I hope so.”
“Why?”
“Because I finally became the man he was trying to become.”
Sophia held his hand.
“And what did he want?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Freedom.”
