Chapter 4 – Homecoming Tears
ROSE
The plane touched down with a slight jolt, and I exhaled shakily. It had been five years since I’d last seen my family, five years since I’d defied them for Jacob. My palms were clammy as I stepped off the plane, clutching my bag tightly.
I walked through the arrival hall, scanning the crowd nervously. It wasn‘ t hard to spot them–Mom, Dad, and Liam were standing near the entrance, their eyes scanning the sea of faces. Mom’s eyes lit up first, and she nudged Dad, who immediately spotted me.
“Rose!” Mom’s voice carried over the
noise as she rushed toward me. Her arms
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were around me in an instant, her familiar scent bringing tears to my eyes.
“Mom,” I whispered, burying my face in her shoulder.
“Let me see you, my baby girl!” She pulled back, her hands cupping my face. “You‘ ve lost weight… but you‘ re still as beautiful as
ever.
“Mom, let her breathe,” Liam said, grinning as he stepped forward. He wrapped me in a bear hug, lifting me slightly off the ground.
“Liam, put me down!” I laughed weakly, swatting at him.
“You‘ re home,” Dad said simply, his voice thick with emotion. He stood beside me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
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I nodded, my throat tight. “I’m home.”
As we stood there, my family surrounding
me,
I felt a wave of bittersweet relief. I was back where I belonged, but the weight of everything I’d left behind still clung to me like a shadow.
“Where‘ s Jacob?” Dad’s question cut through the moment, and my chest tightened.
“Is he handling the luggage?”
The smile faded from my face. My hands began to tremble, and I clenched them tightly.
“He‘ s… not here.”
Mom frowned. “Rose? What do you mean?”
I couldn’t stop the tears that came next. They spilled over before I could even speak, and I covered my face with my hands.
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“Rose!” Mom’s voice was filled with worry as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, trying to compose myself, but the words burst out like a dam breaking. “Jacob cheated on me.” My voice cracked. “He’s been having an affair with his assistant, Jenna.”
The air seemed to grow still around us.
“That bastard!” Liam hissed, his fists clenching.
“Rose…” Mom’s voice wavered, her hand tightening on my shoulder.
“And that’s not all,” I said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I was pregnant, Mom. I didn’t even know. But Jacob–he knew. He signed off for a blood transfusion to
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save her, even though it meant I lost the baby.”
Mom gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Dad’s face darkened, his jaw tightening as he processed my words.
“He killed your baby?” Liam’s voice was low and furious. “I swear, if I ever see him
“Liam!” Dad snapped, though his own voice trembled with anger.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you back then,” I sobbed.
“Oh, my darling,” Mom whispered, pulling me into her arms. “This isn‘ t your fault. None of it is.”
“We’ll deal with him,” Dad said firmly.
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“You don’t have to worry about that man anymore.”
Liam took a step forward. “Or better yet, I’ll deal with him myself. He’ll regret the day he ever-”
“Liam, stop,” I said, wiping my tears and letting out a bitter laugh. “He’s not worth it. Forget it.
Liam didn’t look convinced, but he nodded reluctantly.
All through the ride home, my mom kept rubbing my shoulders as she gave me a sad
smile.
“I’m sorry, baby girl,” she muttered, more times than I could count.
I shook my head, “It’s not your fault, Mom.
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I refused to listen and now I’ve learned the
hard way.”
“We’re all here, Rose, you’re not alone anymore,” my dad said from behind the steering wheel.
The house came into view, and I felt a pang of nostalgia. The last time I’d been here, I was leaving everything behind for Jacob.
Inside, the warmth of home surrounded me, and I took a deep breath. It felt good to be back, even if it was under such
circumstances.
At dinner, the conversation turned to lighter topics, but I couldn’t help asking, “How‘ s the business?”
Dad exchanged a glance with Mom. “Rose, you don’t need to worry about that right
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now. Focus on recovering first.”
“No, Dad,” I said firmly. “I need to keep my mind busy. I need to work. I can’t sit around and dwell on… everything.”
Mom sighed. “We’ve been managing fine, but there is something. A potential business partner is interested in investing. The problem is…”
“The problem is they’ve been insisting on meeting the heiress,” Dad finished, giving me a pointed look.
“Me?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Mom said. “But only if you‘ re ready.”
