All Chapters of Homecoming to an Empty Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Elijah took Coby back home, but before he'd even pulled out his keys to unlock the door, he heard Juliette's smug voice ringing out from inside the house."Don't worry, Mom. Julia's dead! That idiot, Coby, likes me so much. Even if only for his sake, Elijah will definitely marry me!"Hearing Juliette's voice made Elijah recall all the nasty things she had sent to Julia. If it weren't for her, Julia wouldn't have died while believing that he didn't love her! The thought of that alone infuriated him.Indeed, it was all Juliette's fault!He flung the door open, giving Juliette too little time to wipe the delight off her face. Her expression looked oddly contorted instead.Ending the call, she wiped the corner of her eyes with feigned grief. "I know Julia's passing was a little sudden, but don't worry. I'll take good care of you guys in her place."She put on a weak, pitiful expression that would trigger the protective streak of any man. But to her shock, she was greeted by Elijah's

Ever since Julia's death, Elijah spent all his days drowning himself in booze, muddling through life in a drunken haze. If it weren't for his parents and Coby, he might have already drunk himself to death so that he could join Julia in the afterlife.Frank Sherwood, Elijah's father, and Diane were now basically the ones taking care of Coby, who was starting elementary school. The school required a copy of his parents' identification papers. But despite searching through all of Julia's belongings, Elijah couldn't find any of Julia's old paperwork.He never did claim her death certificate. It was as if he could fool himself into thinking she was still alive by doing so. Now, despite his deep reluctance, he went to the county clerk's office after much urging from Diane."I'm sorry, but there's no record of the person you're looking for in our system. Why don't you check the details you provided once more?"Elijah frowned in confusion. "How could there be no record of her? My wife pa

Although Bryan hadn't lived with Alfred, they had always kept in touch, and his mother didn't object to them building their father-son bond.When he learned that Alfred had gone missing, he caught the first flight back to the country that very night. While helping his older brother, Eric Tolliver, sort through their father's belongings, he discovered a work journal Alfred had kept at home.Using the journal entries, Bryan followed the clues that eventually led him to this fraud syndicate. He decided to disguise himself as an ambitious young man, desperate to get rich quickly, and let himself be "tricked" into joining the syndicate.While he was still in training, George had come to give a speech and suddenly collapsed due to his medical condition.Bryan didn't hesitate to perform emergency treatment on George, and from then on, he became George's personal doctor.It took him three years to win Isla's affection and gain George's trust.Maya was curious. "If we'd only met once befo

While waiting, Elijah kept rehearsing his speech in his head. He was practicing the expression he'd have on when he saw Julia and the exact words he should say to beg for her forgiveness. He tugged at the hem of his shirt, his palms slick with sweat.He was more nervous than he'd been on their wedding day.Julia would most definitely forgive him! After all, he hadn't actually done anything to betray her. It was all just a misunderstanding. Everything could be explained into its rightful place.They had once been so deeply in love, and they even had a child together. Julia only faked her death because she had to for her job. She wouldn't really abandon him and Coby just because of some silly misunderstandings.Elijah kept cheering himself on.Amid his nervousness and unease, the black sedan Julia had left in reappeared at 10:00 pm. His heart pounded with excitement as he strode forward, the name "Julia" on the tip of his tongue.The passenger door had barely opened when the driver

"Don't call me Mommy," Maya said. "I'm only willing to provide child support out of my obligation to you as your birth mother. I'm simply keeping my conscience clear by doing the right thing."Despite how demanding my job is, I devoted all of my free time to you, Coby. You should understand that I've never owed you anything. I'm not the one who abandoned you. You were the one who didn't want me. Our bond as mother and son ended from the moment you chose Juliette."She could see the light in Coby's eyes slowly fading away. He stood frozen, still hugging the cat.Elijah's heart sank as well. If she could be this merciless to her own son, it was no wonder she didn't even want to acknowledge him when he first saw her again. He thought Coby was his trump card, but the child meant nothing to Maya."Jul—Maya, are you willing to acknowledge us again?" Elijah asked. "I just wanted to make it up to Juliette for your sake. I only treated her well so she'd put in a few good words on your behal