Reborn as the Bride He Forgot
Chapter 6: Breaking Free
I never had feelings for Derek. In my old life, I’d learned his interests only to help Marcus’s career. Derek was the gatekeeper at the county office, known for spotting talent and making or breaking careers with a single word. He showed up at every city council meeting, clipboard in hand, always watching.
To get Marcus noticed, I baked pies, joined the Rotary Club, sat through endless zoning conversations—anything to help. In the end, Marcus was promoted, but Derek sent him out of state for two years. Letters became rare, and I spent every day hoping he’d come home safe.
I’d trace my finger around my coffee mug, counting days until the next envelope. Even the mailman started looking at me with pity. As Marcus climbed higher, the women I befriended grew more influential. I never relaxed, always afraid one slip would send us tumbling down the social ladder.
Small-town politics are a minefield—one wrong move and you’re out. I learned to watch every smile, every rumor. I swallowed my bitterness, never letting Marcus or Mom see how much it hurt. Some nights I’d cry into my pillow, muffled by the old ceiling fan, then wake up, put on a brave face, and act like everything was fine.
When Marcus finally returned with Derek, he was surprised: “Natalie lives in comfort all day—why has she gotten so thin?”
I tried to explain: “Social events aren’t easy.” He just laughed: “Natalie’s been spoiled by her mother-in-law. Took over the house right away. Much easier than your cousin.” Trying to explain what it’s like to be a woman in Maple Heights is like talking to a brick wall. He’d shrug and go back to his business.
If that’s all, why should I suffer like that again? This time, I’ll find a good man, forget about status, and just enjoy a peaceful life. Maybe I’ll run a little bookstore, sip coffee, wave at neighbors, and finally breathe.
Thinking of that, I bent my knees and said, “Derek, I wish you well.”
He nodded, packing up his rod and basket, limping away as the sun threw long shadows across the pond. There was a quiet strength in his stride—a man who knew loss but kept going.
