All Chapters of The Way Home: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

As soon as I finished what I wanted to say, I turned to leave. Still, Ruby caught my wrist and blocked my way. "Silas, do you really have to embarrass me on the day the company has managed to get our funding? I already told you that this is just to reassure Jack that his investment is in good hands. "It's a reward for everything he has poured into the company. Once the company goes public, I'll divorce him. We've been together for seven years. Can't you think about what really matters here for once?"I looked at the woman in front of me with her perfect makeup. Her evening gown highlighted her curves, but her words were ice-cold.All she remembered was how much money Jack had poured into the company. She had forgotten that I was the one who had stayed by her side when we were still living in a basement.I had treasured our future marriage more than my own life. Yet, she had gone to the clerk's office with another man as if it were nothing."Ruby, how much more am I supposed to gi

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I went back to the office despite the headache from the hangover.The moment I walked in, my phone's screen lit up.It was Ruby's latest post on Facebook with a collage of photos.She and Jack were in every photo, posing in front of the giant company logo with their marriage certificate, grinning from ear to ear.The caption read, "A powerful union heading toward the future together. @JackHunter"My headache was getting worse. It must be because I had not gotten enough rest the night before.I walked to the locked cabinet in the corner. Inside was everything I had poured myself into for the last seven years, and that included my history with Ruby. I opened the cabinet, and right on top was our company's first server.We had built it by hand with the scholarship money we saved in university. We had searched the electronics marketplace to buy the parts we needed and assembled the server ourselves.Our initials were still carved into the case, with a heart

Chapter 3

A wedding?I did not expect them to truly hold an actual wedding. The package regarding giving Jack his wedding experience included this, too?I followed the address on the invitation and drove there.When my car passed the rundown neighborhood where we used to rent an apartment, I hit the brakes without thinking.For a moment, I could almost see Ruby as she had been when she first started the company. She was crouching on that tiny balcony and smiling up at the stars, saying, "Silas, look. When we finally make it, can we have our wedding on a river cruise on Whitesand River? We'll cover the deck with tens of thousands of roses. All the guests will be dressed up in formal wear, and we'll hire an orchestra so we can dance under the stars."Her eyes were glittering back then. She had wanted to change the world, and she loved me, too.I had walked over and wrapped my arms around her from behind. "Sure! We can also open-source the company's core code, so even more people can benefit

Chapter 4

As soon as I stepped out of the airport, Alfred, my family's butler, was already waiting at the exit.He took my luggage with his usual respect. "Welcome back, Sir. Your father and mother are waiting for you at home."The black Bentley drove into the inner city. Looking at the familiar yet strangely distant streets outside the window, I once again remembered the days when I used to sketch blueprints in our rental apartment.Back then, Ruby was always dreaming about the capital city of Norcrown."Silas, if our company ever really makes it big, let's move our headquarters to Norcrown! But I've heard office space in the financial district costs a fortune… When the time comes, let's rent an entire floor and make it grand! How does that sound?"I was still lost in thought when the car stopped in front of an estate in the heart of the city.The moment I walked in, the smell of home-cooked food greeted me.My mom ran out of the kitchen, her eyes red, and she gave me a big hug. "Silas!

Chapter 5

After breakfast, my father was in his study, going through some documents.When he saw me come in, he pointed to the chair across from him. "Have you seen the news about Embark Science?"I looked at him, confused.My father pushed a file across the desk toward me. The moment I opened it, my eyes widened.The file showed that Unicorn Capital, one of the firms my father controlled, was a major shareholder in every company Embark Science was accused of stealing code from. He had been applying pressure behind the scenes all along."You are my son, a member of the Johanson family," my father said, his tone calm and steady. "I will make anyone who has made you suffer pay a hundred times over. Those two… Ruby Lane and Jack Hunter, is it? I will show them what corporate warfare truly looks like."I looked at him, too overwhelmed to say anything. I had never realized my father had been watching over me from the shadows… All I could say was, "Thank you, Dad.""We're family. There's no nee

Chapter 6

As my project entered its critical stage, I was swamped.That evening, my mother came into my study with some dessert. "Silas, no matter how busy you are, you have to take care of yourself."She sat down and brought something up casually. "Do you remember little Ella from the Cole family? She used to follow you all around when you were little."A hazy image surfaced in my mind. There was a little girl with pigtails, always looking at me shyly."A while back, I ran into her mother, Clarice. She said Ella came back after studying architecture overseas and has already opened her own design studio. She's young and doing very well for herself."I knew exactly where this conversation was heading. "Mom, I don't really feel like doing that right now.""I'm not asking you to rush into anything," She said as she patted my hand. "Just meet up and have a meal with her. We know her family well, and she has a good heart. Your father and I both hope you can find someone more stable."I thought

Chapter 7

"Fiancée?" Ruby's voice rose so sharply that people nearby turned to look. She stared at Ella and me, our hands clasped tightly together."That's not possible! You're lying to me, Silas! You're just trying to get back at me, aren't you?!" She lunged at us as if she had lost control, trying to shove Ella away from me.I pulled Ella behind me, my face turning cold. "Ruby, calm yourself and watch your behavior.""My behavior?" She said with a broken laugh. "Silas, how can you treat me like this? We were together for seven years! How can you end everything just like that?! Do you really think that finding a woman to put on a show for me is funny?!"The guests nearby were noticing the commotion and watched us with curiosity.Ella stepped out from behind me and looked at Ruby calmly. "Ms. Lane, a relationship is between two people. Don't you think you should leave with some dignity once it's over?""And who are you to lecture me?!" Ruby snapped as if Ella had deeply offended her. "You'

Chapter 8

On the day of our wedding, the sunlight was perfect.The estate was filled with champagne-colored roses, and guests packed the grounds.I stood beneath the arch, waiting for my bride.When Ella, dressed in a white wedding gown, walked toward me with her father at her side, it felt as if the whole world had gone silent.All she saw was me.At that moment, I knew better than ever that she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with.We exchanged rings and kissed as the crowd gave us their thunderous applause.My parents sat at the main table, tears shining in their eyes, with relief written all over their faces.Holding Ella's hand, I moved from table to table, personally toasting our guests. When we reached a particular table, a familiar face made me stop.It was Nathan Smith, one of my former team members from Embark Science. He was a talented engineer and an honest man. He hadn't stayed at the company after I left."Silas, Ella, congratulations." He stood up and raised his

Chapter 9

The scene in front of the banquet hall spiraled out of control in an instant.Ella went pale and instinctively tightened her grip on my arm. I patted her hand to calm her down, then walked toward Ruby."Ruby, put the knife down." My voice stayed calm."Don't come any closer!" she screamed. The blade had already nicked her neck, leaving a thin trail of blood as she questioned me in a hysterical tone. "Silas, answer me! Did you ever love me at all? Did you stay with me for seven years just for this day? Just so you can stand there and watch me lose everything?!"I looked at her crazed expression, but my voice stayed calm as I softly said, "I did."Ruby froze."There was a time when I genuinely wanted to spend my life with you. I gave up my future and my health for you. I gave you my youth and my passion. I thought we would realize our dream and then build a home together. But Ruby… you were the one who destroyed all of it."You were the one who handed me a marriage certificate on

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