The Breaking Point of Mate: Giving Up on My Alpha novel Chapter 7

Melanie's POV

At a coffee shop outside UCLA, Elmer poured me a cup of coffee and asked, "How have you been doing lately?"

I lowered my gaze and smiled. "Pretty well. Except... I'm getting a divorce."

Elmer clearly hadn't expected that answer. He paused, then quietly said, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

He was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "So, what are your plans? Do you want to come back to the company?"

"I was thinking about it, but..."

Elmer didn't press my concerns. He just looked at me earnestly. "Melanie, the company needs you. You're part of the team. I want you to come back and lead."

"I..."

Seeing Elmer's serious expression, I found it hard to explain my worries.

It wasn't that I didn't want to go back. The field of artificial intelligence was moving too fast.

I had been out of the industry for six years. Even if I returned now, I was afraid I couldn't keep up, let alone lead everyone at the forefront like I used to.

Elmer and I hadn't seen much of each other over the years. In the few times we met, I always felt that my current self was far from the confident person I once was.

I hadn't even noticed that "insecurity" had quietly crept up on me.

Elmer didn't know much about my mating to Archer.

He didn't ask any more questions. He just told me seriously, "It's okay to be behind for now. Your ability and talent are beyond that of an average genius. Melanie, if you still want this career, it's not too late to start over."

"Don't forget, you were our professor's favorite student."

I smiled when I heard that. "The professor would scoff if he heard you say that. He'd say he only chose me because he had no choice."

Thinking of our refined but sharp-tongued professor, I said, "I saw on the news that the professor is here for the anniversary, too. Is he doing well?"

"He's great. He's just utterly annoyed whenever we students, who constantly embarrass him, show up."

I laughed out loud, feeling nostalgic for the days when I was under the professor's wing, forced to write papers daily.

Elmer said again, "Come back, Melanie."

My grip tightened on the coffee cup. I took a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay."

I had been studying AI since I was a child. I genuinely loved this field.

I had given up my passion for Archer for six or seven years.

Even though I had been away for so long and catching up might take time, I believed that with effort, it wasn't too late.

Elmer asked, "When can you return?"

"I still need someone to take over my current job. It might take a little while."

"No worries. No rush."

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