The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

Chapter 227

Avery sat across from Ryan Hayes in the café, her hands wrapped around her now-cool latte. The sincerity in his hazel eyes as he spoke caught her completely off guard. This wasn’t the Ryan she remembered from high school—the cocky, arrogant boy who had teased and mocked her relentlessly. This Ryan seemed… different.

“I know it’s been years,” Ryan said, his voice low but steady. “But I need you to know that I’m sorry. Immensely sorry. Nothing will ever make up for all the bullying, but if I could turn back time, I would have done things differently.”

Avery stared at him, her mind racing. She had spent so much of her teenage years trying to shield herself from the ridicule, building emotional walls to survive the torment. Hearing those words now felt strange, almost surreal.

“It was a long time ago,” she said finally, her voice calm but guarded. “And I’ve already moved past it.”

Ryan gave a faint smile, but there was still a flicker of guilt in his expression. “I’m glad you have. I really am. But that doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you. I can’t undo it, but I needed to say this—to own up to it.”

Avery’s lips pressed together, unsure of how to respond. She had convinced herself she didn’t need an apology, that she had healed on her own. Yet hearing Ryan’s words stirred something deep inside her—a small crack in the emotional wall she had built.

“I guess I’m just surprised,” she admitted after a moment.

“Surprised I’m apologizing?” Ryan asked, his tone laced with self-awareness.

She nodded. “Yeah. You weren’t exactly the type to reflect on your actions back then.”

He chuckled softly, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. “Fair point. Let’s just say life has a way of humbling you. Moving away, starting over… it gave me a lot of perspective. And one of the things I couldn’t stop thinking about was how I treated people—especially you.”

Avery allowed herself to relax slightly, leaning back in her chair. She studied Ryan’s face, noting the subtle changes that came with age: the sharpness in his jawline, the maturity in his eyes. This wasn’t the same person she had known.

“I appreciate the apology,” she said finally, her voice soft but sincere. “I really do.”

Ryan exhaled, relief flashing across his face. “Thank you for saying that. I wasn’t sure if you’d even want to hear it.”

“Are you kidding?” Avery said, a small smile playing on her lips. “Every high schooler who’s ever been bullied dreams of hearing their tormentor grovel years later.”

Ryan laughed, the sound warm and unguarded. “Fair enough. I deserve that.”

They both fell silent for a moment, the air between them surprisingly light given the weight of the conversation.

“So,” Avery said, breaking the silence, “are you living alone here? Or did you move back with your parents?”

Ryan shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Definitely living alone. Got my own place downtown. I love my parents, but after living halfway across the world for years, moving back in wasn’t exactly an option.”

Avery chuckled. “I get that. So, no roommates?”

“Nope,” Ryan replied. “Just me and my perfectly curated bachelor pad.”

She raised an eyebrow, amused. “I can’t decide if that’s impressive or if you’re just bragging.”

“A little of both,” he admitted with a grin.

Avery swirled the last of her latte, her thoughts drifting. She hadn’t expected this encounter with Ryan, and certainly not the apology. But now that it had happened, she realized she felt lighter. Somewhere deep inside, the weight of old wounds was beginning to lift.

“Ryan,” she said suddenly, surprising even herself, “maybe we can go out for dinner sometime.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, though a smile quickly followed. “Dinner? Are you sure?”

“Why not?” she said with a shrug, a small smile on her lips. “I mean, if you’re still trying to make up for high school, this might be your chance to really show how much you’ve grown.”

Ryan laughed, shaking his head. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”

“Not a chance,” she teased.

“Well, in that case,” he said, his hazel eyes sparkling with amusement, “I’d be honored. Let me know when you’re free.”