My Ex-Husband Became My Boss | He Left Me 5 Years Ago, Now He Wants Me Back
Chapter 13
One year after their second wedding, Emma and Alexander launched the Carter-Reed Foundation.
The organization helped employees affected by corporate fraud.
Sophie ran the scholarship program.
The foundation also supported families whose loved ones had been harmed by financial crimes.
Emma spoke at the opening ceremony.
“We spent years believing money could protect us.”
She paused.
“It couldn’t.”
The crowd listened.
“Secrets didn’t protect us.”
“Silence didn’t protect us.”
“Fear didn’t protect us.”
She looked at Alexander.
“Truth did.”
Applause filled the room.
Later, Emma found Alexander outside.
“You were good.”
“You’re biased.”
“Very.”
He smiled.
“Want to go home?”
“Yes.”
They walked together.
On the drive, Emma looked out the window.
“I keep thinking about that first divorce.”
Alexander sighed.
“So do I.”
“You remember what you said?”
“I remember everything.”
“You said you couldn’t give me the life I deserved.”
He nodded.
“You deserved better than me.”
Emma smiled.
“You were wrong.”
He looked at her.
“How?”
“I didn’t need someone perfect.”
“What did you need?”
“Someone honest.”
He smiled.
“Then I finally got it right.”
At home, they cooked dinner together.
Alexander still burned the vegetables.
Emma laughed.
“You’re terrible.”
“You married me anyway.”
“Second time.”
“Important distinction.”
They ate at the kitchen table.
The same kind of table they had once shared five years ago.
But now there were no secrets beneath it.
Emma looked around.
“Do you ever miss our old life?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I like this one better.”
She smiled.
A knock came at the door.
It was Sophie.
She held a package.
“For you.”
Emma opened it.
Inside was an old photo album from her father.
She flipped through it.
Then stopped.
A photograph of herself as a child.
Beside her was Alexander.
They were both teenagers.
Emma stared.
“I don’t remember this.”
Alexander looked.
Neither did he.
Sophie laughed.
“You two met years before your marriage.”
Emma frowned.
“How?”
The photograph had been taken at a family business event.
Alexander’s father and Emma’s father had been partners.
The two children had met briefly.
Neither remembered.
On the back was a note.
Maybe someday they’ll find each other again.
Emma looked at Alexander.
“Your fathers planned this too?”
He laughed.
“Apparently everyone wanted us together.”
She smiled.
“This time, we chose it.”
“Yes.”
The photo became a reminder.
Not of destiny.
Not of family control.
Of coincidence.
Their first lives had been built by other people.
Their second life was theirs.
