I understood. So I did something unexpected.Behind his back, I tracked Alison down at the airport. She was leaving town, again. I asked her to stay, just long enough to talk to him. I told her the truth—he needed closure, maybe more. She hesitated, then agreed. They met again. They talked. They kissed.And me? I was in the car, parked outside, watching the sky darken. Kieran sat next to me—my sarcastic, loyal coworker who somehow always knew when I needed company. He passed me a coffee without a word, and when I finally spoke,

it wasn’t about Hunter. It was about me. About how tired I was of surviving. Of settling. Kieran looked at me, eyes soft for once, and said, “Maybe peace isn’t what you need. Maybe it’s time for something real.” And as I watched the man I married rediscover his love, something unexpected stirred in me too. Maybe my story wasn’t over. Maybe love hadn’t passed me by. Maybe, just maybe… it was my turn now.