Chapter 7

Melanie's POV

At a coffee shop outside UCLA, Elmer poured me a cup of coffee and asked, "How have you been doing lately?"

I lowered my gaze and smiled. "Pretty well. Except... I'm getting a divorce."

Elmer clearly hadn't expected that answer. He paused, then quietly said, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

He was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "So, what are your plans? Do you want to come back to the company?"

"I was thinking about it, but..."

Elmer didn't press my concerns. He just looked at me earnestly. "Melanie, the company needs you. You're part of the team. I want you to come back and lead."

"I..."

Seeing Elmer's serious expression, I found it hard to explain my worries.

It wasn't that I didn't want to go back. The field of artificial intelligence was moving too fast.

I had been out of the industry for six years. Even if I returned now, I was afraid I couldn't keep up, let alone lead everyone at the forefront like I used to.

Elmer and I hadn't seen much of each other over the years. In the few times we met, I always felt that my current self was far from the confident person I once was.

I hadn't even noticed that "insecurity" had quietly crept up on me.

Elmer didn't know much about my mating to Archer.

He didn't ask any more questions. He just told me seriously, "It's okay to be behind for now. Your ability and talent are beyond that of an average genius. Melanie, if you still want this career, it's not too late to start over."

"Don't forget, you were our professor's favorite student."

I smiled when I heard that. "The professor would scoff if he heard you say that. He'd say he only chose me because he had no choice."

Thinking of our refined but sharp-tongued professor, I said, "I saw on the news that the professor is here for the anniversary, too. Is he doing well?"

"He's great. He's just utterly annoyed whenever we students, who constantly embarrass him, show up."

I laughed out loud, feeling nostalgic for the days when I was under the professor's wing, forced to write papers daily.

Elmer said again, "Come back, Melanie."

My grip tightened on the coffee cup. I took a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay."

I had been studying AI since I was a child. I genuinely loved this field.

I had given up my passion for Archer for six or seven years.

Even though I had been away for so long and catching up might take time, I believed that with effort, it wasn't too late.

Elmer asked, "When can you return?"

"I still need someone to take over my current job. It might take a little while."

"No worries. No rush."

After chatting for a bit longer, Elmer checked the time. "The team recommended a coding prodigy. I heard they just got back here a few days ago. We're scheduled to meet soon. Since we ran into each other, do you want to join us?"

I shook my head. "I don't know your team members. Maybe another time."

"Fair enough."

Just after Elmer left, I saw Archer's older sister, Skye, walking toward me.

I had seen Skye in the news earlier.

But I hadn't expected to run into her here.

I greeted her first. "Skye."

Skye didn't respond. She just frowned, looking me up and down. "What are you doing here?"

"It's UCLA's anniversary today. I came back for a visit."

Before I spoke, judging by Skye's expression, she had probably forgotten I was a UCLA graduate.

Besides, almost everyone who returned today, apart from current students and faculty, was an invited honorary alumnus. Someone without much fame, like me, must have looked like a gatecrasher.

Skye spoke with the typical arrogance of the Atkinson family. "Austin wants your cooking. I'll have someone drop him off at your and Archer's place tomorrow."

Austin was Skye's son. He was a year older than Trista and had inherited his mate's rebellious nature.

I knew Skye and her mate's scents had repelled each other for years.

In recent years, she was too busy with company affairs to discipline him. The young wolf was getting more and more rebellious, and she couldn't control him at all.

Ever since she found out Austin liked my cooking, she would send him over to Archer's and my place whenever she had time.

No one in the Atkinson family, except Archer's mother, truly took me seriously.

Austin liked my meals, but he looked down on me. Every time he visited, he ordered me around like a nanny.

In the past, because of Archer, I was always attentive to the child and didn't take his disrespect to heart.

But now I was divorcing Archer. I wasn't going to put up with it for him anymore.

I raised my eyes, my scent spreading faintly around me.

I used the firm tone unique to a Luna to refuse. "I'm sorry, Skye. I'm busy tomorrow."

There wasn't a hint of flattery in my tone, only the undeniable authority of a high-ranking Alpha.

Since I was returning to my professional field, I would put all my time into important matters.

Neither Archer nor Skye would matter to me once the bond was broken. They weren't worth wasting a second on.

Skye hadn't expected me to refuse. Her Alpha aura instinctively flared up.

In the past, for Archer's sake, I had always subdued my wolf's presence and lowered my status to please them.

She was probably used to me never saying "no."

Her wolf ears slightly perked up. Her tone was displeased. "Archer and Trista aren't even here with you. What could you possibly have that's so important?"