WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD, I CRIED AND SAID I WAS GOING TO MARRY MY NEIGHBOR. I WENT TO A JOB INTERVIEW 15 YEARS LATER — THE GENERAL MANAGER LOOKED AT ME AND SMILED: ‘THE GENERAL MANAGER… DID YOU APPLY TO BE HIS WIFE? When I was seven years old, everyone in our neighborhood in Austin knew I was the most stubborn girl anyone had ever seen. When I was seven years old, everyone in our neighborhood in Austin was my most… She knew I was a stubborn girl. I was stubborn because one day I stood in the middle of the courtyard of our apartment complex, with tears and snot all over my face, pointing at my neighbor who was ten years older than me, shouting loudly in front of all the adults who had gathered around to watch the scene unfold. “I will marry Connor when I grow up! I will not marry anyone else!” I yelled with absolute determination, as if I was making the most serious promise of my entire life. The entire neighborhood burst into uncontrollable laughter, and some of the adults even had to wipe tears from their eyes because they found my childish declaration so amusing and dramatic. My mother, both embarrassed and furious at the same time, quickly grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back inside our apartment while scolding me under her breath for saying such ridiculous things in front of everyone. Connor, on the other hand, turned completely red all the way up to his ears, and he simply stood there awkwardly without knowing what to say or how to react to my unexpected confession. “Foolish girl, what do you know about these things?” the elders teased me playfully, clearly entertained by the boldness of a little child making such a serious claim about the future. But I remember that day very clearly even now, because Connor leaned down toward me gently, patted my head with a warm and reassuring smile, and spoke in a soft voice that made me feel safe. “You can say that again when you grow up. For now, just focus on studying hard and doing your best,” he told me calmly, as if he was giving me a mission instead of dismissing my words. I nodded immediately without any hesitation, because in my mind, his words sounded like an agreement that only needed time to come true. From that day on, I had a very clear goal in my mind, which was to grow up properly, study well, and eventually marry Connor just like I had proudly declared. My Neighbor Connor was someone everyone in the neighborhood loved and respected, because he was tall, intelligent, polite, and always willing to help others without expecting anything in return. He had lost his parents at a very young age and lived with his grandmother in the house right next to ours, which made the adults in the neighborhood care about him even more. When I was only in the first grade of elementary school, he was already a university student who spent most of his time studying and working hard for his future. Every evening, he would sit quietly on the apartment stairs with a book in his hands while watching me play in the courtyard, and somehow that simple presence always made me feel safe. Whenever I fell off my bicycle and scraped my knees, he would patiently clean my wounds and tell me that I needed to be more careful next time. Whenever my grades were bad, he would sit down with me and make sure I understood my lessons properly, even if it meant repeating the same explanation many times. Whenever I cried because a friend upset me or treated me unfairly, he would take me to buy ice cream and listen to my complaints as if they were the most important things in the world. In my small and simple world, Connor was like a superhero who could fix everything and make me feel better no matter what happened. When I turned twelve years old, everything suddenly changed in a way that I did not expect at all. There was no goodbye and no explanation, because one morning I woke up and noticed that the house next door was completely closed and silent. I later learned that his grandmother had passed away, and shortly after that, he had moved away from the neighborhood without telling anyone in advance. I stood in front of their door with my school backpack on my shoulders, crying as if I had lost a very important part of my childhood that I could never get back. After that day, I never saw Connor again, and his absence left a quiet but painful space in my heart that I did not know how to fill. 15 Years Later I eventually grew up and became someone completely different from the little girl who once cried in the courtyard while making bold promises about the future. I worked extremely hard in school and managed to get into a prestigious university in New York, where I studied law and graduated with honors. Everyone around me kept saying that I had a bright future ahead of me, and they believed I would achieve great success if I continued working with the same determination. However, there was still a small corner in my heart that belonged to Connor, even though I had no idea where he was or what kind of life he was living. I did not know whether he still remembered me, or if I had simply become a forgotten memory from his past. But whenever I felt tired or overwhelmed, I would remember his words telling me to study hard, and that memory always gave me the strength to keep going. The day I walked into the headquarters of Suncrest Holdings, one of the largest corporations in the country, I held my documents tightly and reminded myself to stay focused. I told myself quietly that I only needed to get the job and that I should not expect anything more than that. The Interview That Changed Everything The interview room was large, bright, and uncomfortably cold, and I could feel my palms sweating as I sat upright in front of the selection committee. I answered their questions one by one with confidence, and everything seemed to be going smoothly until the back door suddenly opened. A man walked into the room with a calm and authoritative presence, and immediately everyone stood up as if they had been waiting for him. “General manager,” someone said respectfully, and my heart began to race faster than before. He was taller than I remembered, wearing a perfectly tailored suit, and his gaze was sharp yet not cold, which made him even more intimidating. His face looked strangely familiar, but I could not immediately understand why, because time had clearly changed him in many ways. He glanced briefly at the board members before his eyes settled on me, and he continued to look at me for so long that I started to feel uneasy. Then he suddenly smiled, and that smile made my heart tighten in a way I could not explain. “The general manager… Did you apply to become his wife?” he asked in a tone that was slightly teasing but still deep and controlled. The entire room fell silent, and I felt as if the world around me had stopped moving completely. I looked at him carefully, and in that moment, there was no longer any doubt in my mind about who he was. “Connor…” I whispered without realizing that the word had slipped out of my mouth. The selection committee exchanged confused looks, clearly not understanding what was happening between us. Connor raised his hand slightly and spoke calmly, asking them to leave the room for a few minutes so that we could talk privately. One by one, the committee members stood up and walked out, and the door closed softly behind them, leaving an even heavier silence in the room. I remained seated, unsure whether I should laugh, cry, or simply run away from the overwhelming emotions that were building inside me. “You have grown up a lot, Avery,” he said first, breaking the silence with a gentle tone. Hearing my name from his lips made something inside me tremble in a way that I could not control. “You too,” I managed to reply, although my voice sounded weaker than I expected. He stepped closer to the table and admitted that he had recognized me the moment I walked into the room, even though he tried to remain serious. I smiled slightly and reminded him that he had never been very good at hiding his feelings, even back when we were younger. He laughed softly and said that I had not been good at hiding mine either, especially when I was seven years old and shouting in the courtyard. My cheeks turned red as I tried to brush off the memory, but he insisted that he remembered everything clearly, just like everyone else in the neighborhood. We both laughed together, and the tension in the room slowly began to fade, making it easier for me to ask the question that had been on my mind for years. “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?” I asked, unable to hide the emotion in my voice. His expression became serious as he explained that his grandmother had suddenly fallen ill, and everything had happened too quickly for him to process. After her funeral, he received a scholarship opportunity in another city, and he felt that he had no choice but to leave immediately. He admitted that he did not know how to say goodbye, and he thought that disappearing would make things easier for me. “It was not easier,” I said quietly, trying to hold back the emotions that were rising again. He lowered his head and admitted that he knew it must have been difficult, but he often remembered something whenever he hesitated. “A little girl who promised me she would work hard,” he said, looking at me with sincerity. My eyes filled with tears as I told him that I had kept my promise, and he confirmed that he had seen my academic records and achievements. For a moment, I completely forgot that I was there for a job interview, because everything felt too personal and overwhelming. “So… did I get the job?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood slightly. A playful expression appeared in his eyes as he said that it depended on one important condition. “It depends on whether you are willing to work directly with me,” he explained, making my heart beat faster. He told me that he needed someone in his strategy team whom he could trust completely, and despite the fifteen years that had passed, he believed that I was still that person. I looked at him and realized that I was not just seeing a successful executive, but also the same young man who once cared for me. “I agree,” I said without hesitation, feeling certain about my decision. He extended his hand formally and welcomed me to the company, addressing me as Attorney Avery Blake with a proud smile. When I shook his hand, the contact felt warm, strong, and strangely familiar, as if the years between us had disappeared in an instant. A New Beginning Working with him was not easy, because he was meticulous, demanding, and expected perfection in everything that we did together. However, he was always fair, and he never allowed personal feelings to interfere with professional responsibilities, which made me respect him even more. I also maintained the same level of professionalism, and for the first few months, our relationship remained completely focused on work. We attended meetings, developed strategies, handled important projects, and traveled for business without allowing anything personal to surface. However, small moments occasionally broke through the strict boundaries we had set, reminding us of the connection we shared. He would bring me coffee exactly the way I liked it without asking, and after difficult meetings, he would quietly remind me to breathe and trust myself. One evening, after a successful presentation to major investors, the team decided to celebrate at a restaurant filled with laughter and soft music. At one point, we found ourselves alone on the terrace, overlooking the city lights that stretched endlessly below us. “I am proud of you,” he said suddenly, looking at me with genuine admiration. “Is it because of the project?” I asked, trying to keep things professional. “It is because of everything,” he replied, making the moment feel more personal than before. The silence between us felt closer and more meaningful, as if we were both thinking about the same things. “I keep wondering what would have happened if I had stayed back then,” he admitted, taking a small step closer. “I could never stop thinking about you either,” I confessed, feeling my heart race again. He told me that when he saw me during the interview, he did not see just a candidate, but the little girl who believed in him without hesitation. “I am not that little girl anymore,” I said softly, meeting his gaze. “No, you are not,” he replied, his voice gentle. “You have become an extraordinary woman.” The atmosphere became heavier with emotion, and he asked me if that seven year old girl would still want to marry him if she were here now. I smiled and told him that she had always been very determined, and that her answer would not have changed. “Yes, she still would,” I said, looking directly into his eyes. Without hesitation, he leaned closer and kissed me, and that kiss felt like it had been waiting for fifteen years to finally happen. Building Together Our relationship was not hidden, but it was never displayed openly for attention, because we both valued our professionalism and reputation. At first, we were cautious about how others might perceive us, but over time, the team understood that our connection was genuine and not temporary. We continued to work hard together, expanding the company, opening new branches, and achieving success through shared effort. I eventually became the project director, and every achievement felt more meaningful because we experienced it together. One Sunday, he asked me to take a drive with him, but he did not tell me where we were going, which made me curious. When the car finally stopped, I immediately recognized the street, and my heart skipped a beat. It was the neighborhood where I had grown up, and everything looked both familiar and slightly different at the same time. The house I had lived in was still there, and the house next door had been renovated beautifully. “I bought it two years ago,” he said, watching my reaction carefully. “Why?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise. He smiled gently and explained that some words are impossible to forget, no matter how much time passes. He then took out a small box from his pocket, and my heart began to race uncontrollably. “Avery Blake, it has been fifteen years since you made the first proposal, and now it is finally my turn,” he said as he slowly knelt down. “Will you marry me?” he asked, looking at me with sincerity and hope. Tears streamed down my face as I remembered the little girl in the courtyard, the scraped knees, and the closed door that had once brought me so much pain. In that moment, I realized that every part of my journey had led me to this exact place, and it was all worth it. “Yes, I will marry you,” I said through laughter and tears, feeling happier than I ever had before. Epilogue Our wedding was simple but filled with warmth, surrounded by close family members, dear friends, and sunlight that made the day feel even more special. My mother cried even more than I did, and she whispered that I had been right all along, even when I was just a stubborn little girl. I laughed and held Connor’s hand tightly, feeling grateful for everything we had gone through together. “Thank you for not giving up,” he said softly, looking at me with affection. “Thank you for coming back,” I replied, knowing that his return had changed everything. When we said yes to each other, it was not just a declaration of love, but also proof that dreams born in childhood can survive time and distance. Sometimes life separates people so they can grow into who they are meant to become, and sometimes fate tests whether they are strong enough to find their way back. But if two people are truly meant to cross paths, life will always guide them back to where their story began. May you like My grandson called me from the Public Prosecutor’s Office at 2:47 a.m. and whispered, “My stepmother says I caused everything… but she started it. 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