The Way Home

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 she had drawn around them. She had even said with a laugh, "This is the result of our love and the start of our dream."

But later, after Jack had given her a Patek Philippe, she had tossed that server into the storage room like it was garbage.

Turned out love and dreams weren't worth very much when money was involved.

I called a recycling company and had every server prototype, code draft, and design blueprint in the cabinet thrown away.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a voice message from Ruby. "I'm about to start the board meeting. Get the documents on the tech ready and bring them to me now."

She clearly still did not know I had already cleared everything out.

I held myself up against the desk. My head felt like it was splitting open, and my vision went black as I hit the floor.

Back when we were rushing to finish the project, I had worked day and night. My body was already at its limit.

Cold sweat soaked through my shirt as I lay on the freezing floor while my phone kept buzzing. "Silas! What's wrong with you? It has been an hour! Where are the files? You should have been here by now, even if you had to crawl!"

I gritted my teeth as another voice message came in. "Can you take responsibility for delaying the board meeting? Can you show some commitment to your work?!"

I did not know how much time had passed before I finally got a little strength back.

I typed one sentence to her: [Ruby, we're already done.]

After I sent it out, I blocked every way she had to contact me and turned off my phone.

The sunlight outside was so bright. I collapsed onto the couch and stared blankly at the newly made model of the company logo on her desk.

She used to complain that I smelled like solder, and she would not let me touch any of her branded bags. Because of that, I learned to wash my hands three times before touching anything that was hers.

I had kept that habit for five years.

But that day, I had clearly seen Jack casually pick up her Hermes bag despite smelling of alcohol, and all she did was smile and tell him to be careful.

The more I thought about it, the more those seven years felt like a joke.

My eyes grew heavier and heavier, and I sank into a deep sleep…

It was not until that night that Ruby's scream woke me.

"Silas! You actually sold everything just like that?! Those were the company's core assets! Do you realize you just committed a white-collar crime?! You really can't see the big picture at all!"

I could smell a strong scent from her. It was the same woody scent Jack always wore.

Her suit was slightly disheveled. One button on her silk blouse was buttoned wrong, leaving a strip of lace exposed, and she had not even noticed it.

"Ms. Lane, your button," I reminded her in a hoarse voice.

Ruby looked down, hurriedly fixed her clothes, then kicked the couch beside me. "And whose fault is that?! I've been on the go non-stop the entire day!"

I looked up at her as I endured the discomfort coursing through my body. "Those servers and drafts are all registered under my personal name. They are my private property, not company assets. It would be better for you to keep business and personal matters separate."

Ruby's face darkened at once. "Keep them separate? Silas, without the platform I gave you, without the company's resources, your things would have been nothing but a pile of scrap metal!"

I looked at her and almost laughed, realizing just how ridiculous everything was. "Fine. Then keep mixing them together. Let the investor be your husband, and let the board meeting be your excuse to flirt."

Ruby's expression turned red from rage. "What nonsense are you talking about?! Mr. Hunter and I are in a purely professional relationship! Our marriage this time is for the company too!"

"Purely professional?" I laughed. "Ruby, do you think I'm an idiot? Would two people in a purely professional relationship come back covered in each other's perfume? Would they hook up and not even have time to fix their clothes?"

There was a glint in Ruby's eyes, and even her voice started to shake. "So what if we did? Isn't it because you've always been this unambitious? That's why I have all this pressure! Maybe you should take a hard look at yourself instead, Silas Johanson!"

After all of those twists and turns, it was still ultimately my fault.

I got up to my feet and went back to my lounge. I had no interest in wasting another word with her on arguments that no longer mattered.

-

The next day, I submitted my resignation and my share purchase agreement to the board.

The moment I walked into the meeting room, Jack came straight toward me. "You're here early, Silas."

He then waved the marriage certificate in front of my face.

I said nothing and tried to walk around him, but he suddenly stuck out his leg to trip me. I had already seen it coming and kept my balance. He, on the other hand, let out an exaggerated yelp and threw himself to the floor.

"Silas, what did you do?!" Ruby rushed out of the office at once. "How did Mr. Hunter fall like that?! Apologize to him right now!"

I snorted coldly. "Look carefully, Ms. Lane. He stuck his own leg out and lost his balance."

"Lies!" Jack looked at Ruby with an innocent expression. "When he saw our marriage certificate just now, he started cursing you. He said you're someone who would do anything for money and that you don't deserve to be CEO at all..."

When had I ever said that?

But those words instantly ignited Ruby's anger. She did not even wait to let me explain as she simply pointed at my face and yelled, "Get out! Get out right now! This company does not keep people who stab me in the back!"

My heart started pounding fast. I had not expected her to trust him so completely and humiliate me like this. "It doesn't matter. My resignation has already been submitted."

I packed up my personal things and prepared to leave the city where I had fought for seven years.

Three days later, I came back to finish the final handover. However, the office was completely empty.

The only thing on my desk was a golden wedding invitation.

So…

Today was Ruby and Jack's wedding.