Chapter 5- Home

Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Amelia stirred slowly.

For a few seconds, she didn’t move.

Her mind felt heavy, foggy — as if waking up from a long, painful dream.

Then her eyes opened.

The ceiling above her looked… familiar.

Very familiar.

Her gaze drifted slowly around the room.

The pale cream walls.

The large window is just beside the bed.

The old wooden bookshelf she had begged her father to buy when she was fourteen.

Her chest tightened.

She sat up suddenly.

Her childhood room.

Amelia’s breath caught in her throat.

“I’m… home.”

The words left her lips in a whisper.

The bed she sat on was the same soft bed she had slept in for most of her teenage years.

Her eyes wandered around the room, absorbing every small detail she hadn’t seen in years.

Framed pictures still decorated the walls.

School photographs.

Awards.

Old memories.

One photo showed her at sixteen, proudly holding a gold medal after winning a school athletics competition.

Another showed her standing beside her parents and siblings, laughing during her high school graduation.

Amelia slowly stood up and walked toward the wall.

Her fingers brushed lightly over the frame.

The medal around her neck in the picture glimmered under the camera flash.

Back then, life had been simple.

Happy.

She had never worried about money.

Never doubted that she was loved.

Never imagined she would leave this house the way she did.

Her gaze moved around the room again.

Everything was spotless.

The shelves were dust-free.

The bed was neatly arranged.

Even the curtains looked freshly washed.

A wave of emotion hit her chest.

“They kept my room…”

Her voice cracked slightly.

They had taken care of it all these years.

Even after she left them.

Even after she chose Alexander over her own family.

Regret washed over her suddenly.

Hot and overwhelming.

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m so stupid…” she whispered.

Just then—

The bedroom door burst open.

“AMELIA!”

Two figures rushed into the room.

Amelia barely had time to react before she was pulled into a tight hug.

“Curt… Flora…”

Her younger brother and sister held her like they were afraid she might disappear again.

Curt Hart, two years younger than Amelia, squeezed her shoulders firmly.

“You idiot,” he said gruffly.

But his voice was thick with emotion.

“You disappeared for five years.”

Flora, five years younger than Amelia, hugged her from the other side.

Her bright eyes were already watery.

“We missed you so much!”

Amelia laughed softly through her tears.

“I missed you too.”

Flora suddenly stepped back and looked Amelia up and down.

“You look thinner.”

Curt crossed his arms.

“That jerk probably didn’t feed you properly.”

Amelia shook her head with a small smile.

“You two haven’t changed at all.”

Flora grinned.

“We have a lot to tell you.”

Curt nodded.

“You missed everything.”

They both started talking at the same time.

“Dad expanded the company last year—”

“And Mom started that charity foundation—”

“And Curt almost got disowned for crashing his car—”

“That was NOT my fault!”

Amelia laughed — a real laugh this time.

For the first time since the engagement party, the heavy pain in her chest loosened slightly.

Curt suddenly clapped his hands.

“Oh!”

“Mom and Dad want you downstairs for breakfast.”

Flora grabbed Amelia’s hand.

“And you better hurry before Curt eats everything.”

Curt gasped dramatically.

“I do NOT eat everything.”

“You ate an entire cake last week!”

“That was a small cake!”

Amelia couldn’t stop smiling.

For the first time in a long time, she felt warmth spreading through her chest.

Maybe coming home wasn’t a failure after all.

Maybe it was the beginning of something new.

⸻

The dining room downstairs was lively.

The long table was filled with food.

Fresh bread.

Eggs.

Fruit.

Coffee.

Amelia’s mother smiled warmly the moment she saw her.

“My dear.”

She walked over and hugged Amelia gently.

“You look tired.”

Amelia returned the hug tightly.

“I’m okay, Mom.”

Her father, Mr. Hart, sat at the head of the table watching quietly.

His expression was calm but thoughtful.

“Sit,” he said.

Amelia obeyed.

Breakfast quickly turned into laughter and conversation.

Curt argued about something ridiculous.

Flora teased him relentlessly.

Their mother shook her head with amusement.

For a while, Amelia simply listened.

Taking it all in.

The warmth.

The love.

The home she had abandoned.

Suddenly her chest tightened again.

Her head slowly lowered.

Tears began falling onto the table.

“Mom… Dad…”

Her voice trembled.

“I’m so sorry.”

The room fell silent.

Amelia wiped her face quickly but the tears kept coming.

“I chose him over you,” she said shakily.

“I stayed with him… supported him… believed in him…”

Her hands clenched tightly.

“And yesterday… he got engaged to someone else.”

Curt’s chair scraped loudly against the floor.

“I’ll kill him.”

Flora’s eyes darkened.

“Oh no.”

She crossed her arms.

“He’s not getting off that easy after hurting our sister.”

Their mother sighed sharply.

“You two will be quiet.”

Both siblings immediately stopped talking.

Mr. Hart watched Amelia carefully.

“Tell us everything,” he said.

And she did.

Amelia told them about Alexander.

How she stayed beside him while he built his company.

How she supported him when investors rejected him.

How she loved him.

And how he betrayed her.

When she finished, the room was quiet again.

Mr. Hart slowly stood up.

He looked at Amelia thoughtfully.

“We forgave you a long time ago.”

Amelia blinked in surprise.

“We didn’t want to push you further away,” he continued.

“So we waited.”

He sighed deeply.

“After hearing everything… I hate to say it.”

His voice hardened slightly.

“But I was right about that boy.”

Amelia lowered her head.

“Come with me.”

He turned and walked out of the dining room.

Amelia followed him upstairs.

Into his study.

He closed the door behind them.

The room smelled faintly of old books and polished wood.

Mr. Hart walked to the window.

“I’ve been thinking about retirement,” he said calmly.

Amelia looked surprised.

“I almost made Curt the sole heir.”

He chuckled slightly.

“But your brother has absolutely no interest in running a corporation.”

Amelia smiled faintly.

That sounded like Curt.

Mr. Hart turned around.

“Tell me something.”

His gaze became sharp.

“Do you want revenge?”

Amelia’s eyes widened.

He continued.

“The best way to destroy a man like Alexander… is not through anger.”

His voice was steady.

“It’s through success.”

He walked toward her slowly.

“Surpass him.”

“Become more powerful than him.”

“Make him regret ever losing you.”

Something ignited inside Amelia’s chest.

A spark of determination.

She lifted her chin.

“I’ll do anything to prove I’m your daughter, Dad.”

Mr. Hart nodded approvingly.

“Good.”

“But first you must become stronger.”

He walked back to his desk.

“You need experience.”

“Connections.”

“Power.”

He looked at her seriously.

“You will travel abroad.”

“Learn everything about business.”

“Grow.”

“And when you return…”

He paused.

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

“I already have the perfect business partner waiting for you.”

Amelia frowned slightly.

“Who?”

Mr. Hart only chuckled.

“You’ll find out when the time comes.”

Outside the study window, the sun shone brightly over the city.

And for the first time since her heart was broken…

Amelia felt hope.

Soon she would leave the country.

Soon she would become stronger.

And one day—

She would return.

Not like the girl Alexander abandoned.

But as a woman powerful enough to make him regret everything.