Chapter 168

Kelly POV

I was heading home from a late meeting at the office when I first noticed her. The city’s glow blurred in the rain, turning sidewalks into reflective mirrors. But there, amid the indifferent bustle of people hurrying to escape the downpour, I saw a familiar figure. A figure I’d hoped to forget.

Kate.

She was slumped against a cold brick wall, her once-pristine designer coat now threadbare and stained. Her hair, once styled with care, was a tangled mess, damp with rain and sweat. I slowed down, a knot of conflicting emotions tightening my chest. I knew I shouldn’t care. I had moved on, free from the toxic memories that Kate represented. But as I drew closer, the sight of her brought an unexpected mix of bitterness and a strange kind of pity.

A small group of passersby were clustered nearby. I overheard snippets of conversation:

“Is that… isn’t that Kate Brook?”

“Look at her, she’s a mess.”

“Well deserved.”

Their words,