"You'll always be my wife!" Ryan exclaimed, tightly holding onto her arm. "Oh come on, give me a break," Valerie replied, rolling her eyes. "Can we at least talk?" he pleaded. She pulled away and, without another glance or word, started to leave. Then, turning back, she said sternly, "I need to make this clear: the woman you remember is gone, and I want no more of your pursuit. You should stop following me; I won't hesitate to handle the situation. I have better things to focus on." With that, she walked away. "I searched for you, Val. I scoured for you for three long years. Nobody knew where you were. What else could I have done?" Ryan shouted. "Remember, we're still legally married. I haven't signed those divorce papers," he reminded her. "Leave my house and stay away from here," she commanded before disappearing. "Oh, but our paths will cross again very soon," Ryan smirked, undeterred by her warning. Valerie and Ryan's marriage had never been perfect. Ryan, torn between his girlfriend and the love he had for Valerie, had married her. Despite her unwavering devotion and efforts to please him, he failed to reciprocate. Their story took a tragic turn when, on that fateful night, he chose his girlfriend over their child's life. Barely escaping with her life, Valerie disappeared without looking back. Five years later, Valerie returned to town, but the woman Ryan once knew was forever changed.
