Chapter 163 Starting Anew
Susan finally got home at nightfall.
Isabella rushed over. "Dinner's ready. Let's have a few drinks tonight."
"Sure," Susan agreed.
Isabella checked Susan out and, seeing she seemed okay, finally relaxed.
Soon, the table was packed with food. Isabella had gone all out.
She poured Susan a glass of red wine, raised her own, and smiled. "Let's toast to leaving the past behind and starting fresh. Tomorrow, we'll job hunt together!"
Susan gave a half-smile and set her glass down.
Isabella frowned. "What's wrong, Susan? Still can't let go?"
"No!" Susan quickly denied.
Under Isabella's puzzled look, Susan said seriously, "I spent the whole afternoon thinking and made a decision."
"What decision? Don't scare me," Isabella said, sitting up straight.
"I'm leaving Maple Valley for a while. I'm going to Lindell Harbor to find a job."
Isabella was shocked. "Lindell Harbor? You don't know anyone there. How will you manage?"
Susan interrupted, "Maple Valley has too many bad memories. I need a change. Lindell Harbor might not be as bustling or few job opportunities, but I have to go."
Seeing Susan's determination, Isabella knew she couldn't change her mind. She thought for a moment and said, "I get it. You need a fresh start. I wish I could go with you, but..."
Susan grabbed Isabella's hand. "I know. You need to be close to your mom. Stay here and wait for me. Maybe I'll be back in a year or two, healed. The lease on this place is good for another six months, so you're set. I just withdrew five thousand dollars; take it."
Susan pulled out the cash and put it on the table.
Isabella shook her head. "No, you've already covered six months' rent. I can't take more. You'll need it in Lindell Harbor."
Susan smiled and put the money in Isabella's hand. "Don't worry. I still have most of the compensation from George and Vivian. Plus, now that Dorothy's married to Henry, I don't need to support her. My mom doesn't spend much. You've had it tough and no savings. You lost your job because of me. Take it; it'll make me feel better."
Isabella gratefully took the money. "I'll treat it as a loan and pay you back when I can."
"When you hit it big, you owe me double!" Susan joked.
"If I ever hit it big, ten times wouldn't be a problem. But when will that ever happen?" Isabella looked up at the ceiling.
"Maybe you'll marry a rich guy someday!" Susan teased.
"Forget it. I'd rather rely on myself. Look what happened when you married a rich guy..." Isabella blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth.
Seeing Susan's face darken, Isabella nervously said, "I'm sorry, Susan. I didn't mean it. You know I'm just a fool!"
"It's okay, I get it. Let's not dwell on it. Tonight, we drink till we drop!" Susan raised her glass and downed it.
Isabella followed suit, and they both drank heartily.
That night, they polished off three bottles of red wine and eventually passed out.
The next morning, one was on the bed, the other on the sofa.
Early the next day, Susan packed her bags and said goodbye to Isabella.
On her way to the station, Susan thought of Hayden.
After some hesitation, she decided to see him one last time.
She took a cab to the villa in the suburbs, but no one answered the doorbell, no matter how many times she rang it.
Susan waited for over an hour, but Mary never showed up.
Feeling disappointed, Susan's resolve to leave grew stronger.
Maybe Hayden no longer lived there. After Seb and Cynthia got married, Hayden probably moved in with them.
Susan remembered Cynthia saying they and Hayden would live happily together.
It seemed Hayden and Mary had indeed moved to Seb's house.
If Cynthia treated Hayden well, it would be good for him. He needed a healthy family.
Thinking of Hayden's chubby face made Susan smile.
Then, she set off for Lindell Harbor with determination.
Time flew by, and soon it was a new year.
The New Year was the busiest time for travel agencies, with many families taking trips to the suburbs.
Lindell Harbor, near the Silver Peak Range, had become a popular short-term tourist spot thanks to its natural scenery and government development efforts.
After arriving in Lindell Harbor, Susan quickly found a job at a travel agency. There were over a hundred agencies in the area.
Though Lindell Harbor wasn't as bustling as Maple Valley, its tourism boom meant great scenery and air quality. In just over a month, Susan had settled into her job and life there.
On the second day of the New Year, the travel agency was swamped, so Susan, as an accountant, couldn't take a day off. The small agency had only five or six people, and they all got along well. The boss was kind, and everyone helped each other during busy times. Susan found the people here simple and honest, unlike the schemers in Maple Valley's big companies. She felt at peace living and working there.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
