He Scorned My Love Now He Watches My Rise Chapter 26
The Nightfall segment of the transport line officially began construction two months later.
The cooperation team had a new point person.
He contacted me only through the work system, addressed me as Director, and discussed pricing, milestones, and risks.
No one asked what Colton and I had once been to each other.
No one looked at Cedar Pass and decided I didn’t belong at the head of the table.
After the first field coordination meeting, the director clapped me on the shoulder.
“When I sent you to Red Sand territory three years ago, I was just short a person.”
“I never expected you to actually build two new lines out there.”
I smiled.
“Neither did I.”
At the time, I had only wanted to leave.
But after the plane landed, I had to find housing, memorize the Crimson Sand pack’s rules, and check route maps again and again under the desert sun.
At the hardest point, the project team went an entire month without a day off.
No Alpha bloodline opened doors for me. No Luna title made people respect me.
Everything I built had my own name on it.
The day my mother came to Gray Harbor to visit, the first section of the route had just passed inspection.
She stood in front of the route map for a long time.
“When you left the hospital three years ago, I kept wanting to call you back.”
I froze.
She meant the day Bianca had tricked me with the fake story about Colton being hurt.
“You had such a high fever. How could I not have gone back?”
“I know.”
My mother took my hand.
“That’s why I didn’t call.”
She paused.
“Later, I kept thinking—if someone really loves you, why would they keep forcing you to choose between the people who matter most?”
My nose stung.
“They won’t anymore.”
“Of course not.”
She looked at the work badge on my chest.
“Now you choose yourself first.”
That evening, we returned to the apartment I had rented.
Not the one Colton had offered me.
It wasn’t large, but it was close to the company, and only my name was on the lease.
My mother stepped onto the balcony and suddenly pointed downstairs.
“That man has been standing there for a long time.”
I looked down.
Colton stood beneath the streetlamp, still holding that box.