Chapter 114

"You said it yourself—'back then.' But people grow up, don't they? Can't stay stuck in the past forever. As for feelings…" Claire gave a faint smile, but her eyes were cool, distant. "I'll admit he was someone special to me. Still is, in a way. But I'm not the same girl anymore, not the one who would give up everything over a few sparks of emotion." Especially now—Nelson Cooper wasn't that big a deal in her world anymore. There was nothing in her that wanted to give up anything for him again. If anything, he ended up being the one left behind. Letting go of that one-sided love had opened her eyes to how much more life had to offer. Her passion for traditional cuisine, her growing interest in design, the dreams she could now chase freely… and so many people she cared about, who truly cared for her back. So why keep hanging onto something that waved a big flag saying "love" when all it ever really was… was her chasing a fantasy? She used to naively believe love meant getting as close to