“I ended up in that little backwater town of his, and by the time I got there, it was already dark. I checked into a hotel and asked him toe see me… but he never came.” Melissa knocked back her drink in one go, tears welling up in her eyes. “Can you believe it? I spend my days helping other people get divorced, but when ites to my own love life, I’mpletely clueless. Love just messes you up–it hurts, and it’s addictive. I think… I just imagined our future together too many times. I turned him into the perfect husband in my head, the kind of guy I coulde home to, cook dinner with, just listen to the rain together… Victoria, if you ever fall for someone, don’t start dreaming about the future… because sometimes, there just isn’t one.”


    As Melissa said all that, it really hit home for me.


    When you fall for someone, you start weaving this perfect future in your head and just get lost in it, not wanting to wake up.


    But when the pain finally snaps you out of it, it’s like your whole soul gets yanked out—you feel so empty, like you’re not even whole anymore.


    “All men are assholes… I’m done with love. I don’t need a man to live a good life… Seriously, I can buy my own house, I can love myself.” Melissa could usually hold her liquor, but tonight she was totally smashed, ranting drunkenly.


    I paid the bill and took her back to my apartment.


    Melissa crashed in my guest room, and just then, a gentle rain began to fall outside.


    I stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, sipping my tea and watching the rain. It felt like my heart was quietly raining too.


    I was luckier than Melissa. In every rtionship, I never let myself get too attached or take things too seriously.


    Whether it was with Nathan <i>or </i>Ryan, my fear of marriage meant I could give them my time, my energy, and emotional support–but I never truly gave them my heart. I only let my real feelings show when we were together, and the moment we broke up, I’d quietly put my heart back behind its walls.


    So, for me, the pain of a breakup neversted long.


    But Melissa always pictured herself having a home with Zachary–a cozy, happy little life together.


    When their rtionship fell apart, she’d bet her whole future on that love, and now it was gone. It’s no wonder


    her heart was shattered.


    But in every rtionship, someone always ends up getting hurt….


    So when it came to Nathan or Ryan, they were way more invested in me than I ever was in them. When we finally split, it hurt them way more than it ever hurt me.


    Maybe putting yourself first really is the secret to living happier?


    I lowered my head and sipped my tea, feeling my nerves finally start to settle.


    If you don’t want love to mess you up, rule number one: just don’t get involved, period.


    <b>86 </b>


    55 vouchers


    The holiday after New Year’s vanished in the blink of an eye. By the eighth day, Hachester was filling up again, people pouring in from all over, ready to jump back into the daily grind.


    At the board meeting on the eighth day, the hotel project was basically set in motion. Somehow, Jared had managed to snag an even bigger share of thepany than before–he was basically running the show now.


    So when he made a call, nobody really objected. Just like that, I got put in charge of running the hotel as the <ol><li>GM. </li></ol>


    Even though it was Jared’s decision, there was still a lot of chatter going on behind my back.


    The biggest gripe was that I was way too young and didn’t have enough experience for a job like this.


    I kept hearing more and more pushback from people at work, and honestly, it made me pretty nervous.


    At noon, Jared knocked on my office door. “Come on, let’s go have lunch.”


    “Just the two of us?” I asked.


    “Of course not,” Jared replied with a smile. “I’ve invited a few shareholders and some of the higher–ups.”


    I looked at him, feeling a little out of my depth. “Jared, I think people are giving me too much credit. Honestly, I’m not that confident…”


    “Don’t say that,” Jared’s eyes grew serious. “I don’t need you to be confident–I just need you to stick with thepany and keep moving forward.”


    I paused, and that little voice in my head that always wants to go against the grain spoke up. This was the kind of chance most people could only dream of. If I didn’t give it everything I’ve got, I’d only be cheating myself.


    Why bother worrying about all that gossip? As long as I keep my head down and do my thing, whether I win or lose, the journey is mine, and the lessons I learn are mine to keep—no one can steal that from me.


    “Alright!” I said, and followed Jared <i>to </i>lunch.


    When we walked into the private room, everyone started calling me by a new title. Before, I was just “Manager Murphy, but now they were all addressing me as “Director Murphy.”


    Jared had me sit right next to him. In these business dinners, seating arrangements mean a lot–and the spot he gave me was reserved for his most trusted ally.


    During the meal, Jared raised his ss and stood up. “Victoria may be young, but youth is the best time to learn. If anyone has any concerns, just let us know, and that’s exactly what she’ll work on. She’s already set to go abroad for six months of training. I have no doubt she’ll make us proud.”


    ‘He’s sending me abroad?‘ I stared at Jared,pletely floored.