The CEO I Left Behind

Chapter 5: The Past Never Stays Buried

Kathy's POV

The days that followed were harder than I expected.

Working as Luther's secretary was not easy.

Every morning, I entered Apex Technology with a strange feeling in my chest. I had to remind myself that I was no longer the girl who left this city seven years ago.

I was here for one reason.

My mother.

Nothing else mattered.

Luther could hate me.

He could make my job difficult.

He could pretend I was a stranger.

As long as I could afford my mother's treatment, I would endure anything.

"Good morning, Mr. Ashford."

I placed the documents on his desk.

He looked up briefly.

"You're late."

I checked the time immediately.

I was only two minutes late.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

He stared at me for a moment before looking back at his laptop.

"Make sure it doesn't."

I bit my lip and nodded.

Sometimes, I wondered if he enjoyed making me nervous.

But then I remembered...

Maybe he had every right to.

After all, I was the person who hurt him first.

---

During lunch break, I went to the company cafeteria.

I had barely sat down when I heard a familiar voice.

"Well, look who finally decided to come back."

My hand froze around my spoon.

That voice.

Slowly, I turned around.

A beautiful woman stood behind me, wearing a designer dress and a confident smile.

Victoria.

My high school rival.

The girl who had always competed with me for everything.

Grades.

Attention.

And even Luther.

"Victoria," I said quietly.

She smiled.

"So you remember me."

"Of course."

She looked me up and down.

"I heard you came back from Canada, but I never expected to see you here."

Her eyes moved around the cafeteria.

"Working at Apex Technology."

There was something unpleasant hidden in her tone.

"I work here now."

She laughed softly.

"Interesting."

I didn't respond.

I knew Victoria well enough to know she wasn't here just to say hello.

She leaned closer.

"You know, a lot has changed while you were gone."

My expression remained calm.

"What do you mean?"

She smiled.

"Luther."

My heart tightened at his name.

"What about him?"

Her smile became wider.

"He's not the same boy you left behind."

I looked away.

"I know."

"He is successful now. Powerful. Everyone wants to be close to him."

She paused.

"And some people are lucky enough to already have that place."

I looked back at her.

"What are you saying?"

Victoria touched her hair confidently.

"I'm saying you should know your place, Kathy."

Before I could answer, she walked away.

I sat there silently.

Her words shouldn't have affected me.

But they did.

Because deep down...

I knew she was right about one thing.

Luther had changed.

---

After work, I went straight to the hospital.

The smell of medicine filled the hallway as soon as I stepped inside.

I hated hospitals.

Not because of the place itself...

But because every visit reminded me that my mother was getting weaker.

I pushed open her room door.

"Mom."

Her tired face brightened when she saw me.

"Kathy."

I smiled and walked toward her.

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine."

I knew she was lying.

Mothers always lied when they didn't want their children to worry.

I sat beside her and held her hand.

"You need to rest."

She looked at me carefully.

"You look tired."

"I'm okay."

"Kathy..."

Her voice became softer.

"Are you still blaming yourself?"

My heart ached.

I looked away.

"I should have stayed."

"No."

She squeezed my hand gently.

"You did what you thought was best."

But I wasn't sure anymore.

Because coming back meant facing the person I had hurt the most.

And every time I saw Luther...

I remembered the day I broke his heart.

---

As I left the hospital, I didn't notice the black car parked across the street.

Inside, a familiar pair of golden eyes watched me quietly.

Luther.

He had come to the hospital for a business matter nearby.

But seeing her walk out with a tired expression changed everything.

For the first time in seven years...

He wondered if there was more to the story.

Maybe Kathy hadn't left because she didn't care.

Maybe...

There was something he didn't know.

But before he could find the answer, his phone rang.

"Mr. Ashford, we found the information you requested."

Luther looked away from the hospital entrance.

"Send it to me."

He ended the call.

The past he had buried was beginning to rise again.

And this time...

He intended to uncover the truth.