No Matter How Reluctant, I Still Must Return

On our wedding anniversary, I rushed back from overseas to surprise my wife.

But when I pushed the door open, I found her playing Of Course with her friends.

And it just happened to be my best friend, Jayden Henson, asking my wife the question.

The truth is, you've been pretending to be broke to Bryce Gilbert all this time, and you did all of it just so you could be with me, right?

"Of Course."

"You lied to Bryce, told him you couldn't have children, but our second baby's already had his one-month party. You just didn't want to have his kid."

"Of Course."

"And Bryce's left leg, back then, you're the one who had someone cripple it, aren't you? You did it all for me, to get back at him for me."

"Of Course."

At the end, she added, still seething:

"He humiliated me in front of everyone. He got what he deserved!"

I stood where I was, watching the two of them wrapped in each other's arms, faces full of tenderness.

My eyes drifted to the banner hanging behind them:

"Congratulations to Jayden Henson and Selena Locke on their second baby's one-month celebration!"

I turned and dropped the papers in my hand into the trash.

What they didn't know was this.

This time I'd come home to give them a surprise.

Selena looked over in my direction, panic naked in her eyes.

Once it registered.

She stepped forward, walking quickly toward me, and spoke low, in a voice only the two of us could hear:

"Why are you suddenly back?"

"Why didn't you tell me ahead of time?"

Before I could say anything, someone behind her was already pressing:

"Selena, it's time. The one-month party should start."

At that.

Selena reached out and pushed me toward the door, her tone leaving no room for argument:

"Go find somewhere to wait for now."

"I have something very important to do here. I'll come find you when it's over."

The next second.

Without the slightest hesitation, she shut the door in my face.

My phone rang again.

A message from my mother:

"Go wait outside for a bit. Don't disturb us, and don't make us a laughingstock in front of everyone."

I stood there, looking at the words on the screen, and pulled the corner of my mouth into a bitter smile.

I'd just turned to leave.

The next second I ran straight into security, hurrying over:

"Excuse me, please come with us. Ms. Locke reported that you broke into a private residence."

"Broke into a private residence?"

I explained to them for a long time, and in the end I even had to produce the marriage certificate I carry with me before they would leave.

After they were gone.

I stood at the door of my own home. I don't know how long I stood there. Long enough for the hallway lights inside to come on and go dark again, long enough that the laughter inside carried clearly to my ears.

My phone rang. A message from my assistant:

"Mr. Gilbert, everything's ready on my end. When do we move headquarters back home?"

For a moment everything blurred.

Seven years ago, the company Selena ran went bankrupt, and she was buried under a mountain of debt.

I gave her every cent of my savings, but it still wasn't enough.

Overnight, from the clouds down into the mud.

To help Selena pay off her debt, I gave up my own dream, went abroad to work with a friend, all just to earn a little more.

For seven years.

I left early and came home late every day, no days off all year, and I even ate one meal a day just to save money.

Finally.

I saved up enough, and I caught the AI wave. The startup shot straight to the top, at home and abroad.

And today.

I'd meant to tell them this good news.

But now.

There didn't seem to be any point.

"No need to move it back."

After sending that, I opened the chat with my friend Colin Delgado:

"Do me a favor. Help me draw up a divorce agreement."

The reply came fast:

"?"

"What's going on? Did you get married a second time?"

I was still standing there, baffled, when another message came through:

"Let's talk it over in person. The usual place?"

On the way there, riding in the back of the car, I leaned against the seat and watched the scenery flash past the window in silence.

Then a familiar face started flickering in front of me, over and over.

Every big screen we passed showed the exact same photo.

A picture of Selena and Jayden together.

With text underneath:

"Congratulations to Locke Group CEO Selena Locke and Jayden Henson on their second baby's one-month celebration!"

I read it softly out loud.

The driver up front heard me and couldn't help chuckling as he struck up a conversation:

"Those two lovebirds are famous all over New York! Seven years ago, the day Selena Locke confessed to Jayden Henson, the whole city set off fireworks all night long."

"Seven years ago?"

"That's right. I still remember that day. July 29th."

I froze.

July 29th.

That was the day I handed Selena every cent of my savings and left New York for overseas.

"I remember it, too. New Year's Eve five years ago, that little couple had their first baby. That day, Selena Locke had people handing out cash on the street, said she wanted to share the good luck around."

New Year's Eve, five years ago.

That day.

I transferred Selena every cent I'd saved since I started working as a New Year's gift, and she vanished for the whole night like she'd dropped off the map.

Not until early the next morning.

She called me, and on the phone, choking back tears, Selena said:

"Bryce, I'm sorry, I... I found out I can't have children..."

"A screen that big, sure, we see those all the time. But a couple that in love? That's a first for us. You don't find that every day."

I didn't answer.

I only gave a bitter smile and nodded.

He was right.

By the time I reached our old spot, my friend had already been waiting a while.

Before Colin could even say a word, I picked up the glass in front of me and drained it in one go.

Then another, and another.

Colin snatched the glass out of my hand, his voice edged with exasperation.

"What's gotten into you?"

"It's not like this is your first divorce. Do you really have to fall apart over it? When you and Selena Locke split, I called you. I even poked around a little to feel you out. But you seemed fine back then."

I clenched my fist hard and forced myself to stay calm.

"Divorced Selena Locke?"

"How is it that I'm the one it happened to, and I never knew a thing about it?"

He saw how serious I was, and his own face turned grave.

"What's going on?"

That said.

As if something had just come to him, Colin pulled out his phone and held it up in front of me.

"Look at this. Seven years ago Selena already made it public on her feed. She said the two of you had parted ways amicably, and that from then on there was nothing left between you."

I looked at the unfamiliar profile picture on the screen.

For a moment I couldn't place any of it.

I took my own phone out of my pocket and tapped into Selena's profile.

Two completely different avatars.

My friend leaned in beside me. As if it had just dawned on him, he said, startled,

"This is... two accounts?"

I took Colin's phone and opened Selena's feed.

The banner photo was a family portrait, all five of them.

And in it, my mother was holding the baby, smiling brighter than anyone else.

My fingers shook as I scrolled, post after post.

Every single one.

Selena, sharing her sweet everyday life with Jayden Henson.

The two of them at the beach, sitting shoulder to shoulder on the sand, kissing deeply in the last light of the sunset.

The two of them hiking, climbing hand in hand, then holding each other close at the summit.

The two of them out on the grasslands, running free through an endless stretch of green, gazing at each other under a sky full of stars.

And through all of it.

I had been overseas, quietly working for this family, working to give them a better life.

My friend looked at me, pain in his eyes, and after a long moment he asked softly,

"So... what are you going to do now?"

I lifted the glass in front of me and drained it, then laughed quietly, though there was nothing but cold in my eyes.

"Make them pay, of course."

I had just stepped out of the bar when Selena's call came through.

"Where are you?"

"We've wrapped up here. You can come home now."

If this had been before.

The moment I got a message from Selena, no matter how busy I was, I would have answered her first thing.

But now, I simply closed the chat without a thought, stood, and said goodbye to my friend.

"I've got something to take care of back home. I'll leave the divorce papers to you."

When I pushed open the door and walked in again.

Selena was sitting on the couch, head down over her phone, a smile playing at her lips.

At the sound, her head snapped up toward me, and then she rose and came toward me quickly, smiling as if nothing at all had happened.

"You must be worn out after a flight that long. The water's already hot. Go take a shower first."

Seeing that I stayed silent, Selena drew in a breath, and her face turned impatient too.

"Bryce, I'm exhausted today. I'm not in the mood to fight with you."

"You just got back and you're already sulking at me. What's the point?"

"And didn't I tell you I don't like it when you drink? You just let everything I say go in one ear and out the other. Do you even care about me at all?"

Selena was about to say something more when her phone rang.

Right in front of me, without a moment's hesitation, she picked it up and her fingers flew across the screen.

She must have felt my eyes on her, because she suddenly hid the phone behind her back, and when she looked up again her whole face was thick with irritation.

"Are you done yet?"

"Honestly, you'd have been better off not coming back at all!"

"Fine. That's enough for tonight. I'm going to bed."

Not one word of explanation. She opened her mouth and it was nothing but blame and abuse.

In the past, no matter who was right or wrong, I'd have crossed the room the instant this happened, wrapped my arms around her, and apologized to her over and over.

But now.

I'd already turned before she could, walking straight for the study without a second's hesitation, never feeling the murky, unreadable look that landed on my back.

The moment I stepped into the study.

I opened my laptop and started organizing the evidence.

When it was finally in order, I got up and headed for the living room to pour myself a glass of water. Passing the balcony, I happened to see Selena on the phone.

She kept her voice low, but the night was too quiet, and I heard every word clearly.

"Mother, I'm so glad I've had your support and help all these years. If it hadn't been for you, I never would have managed to get the certificate and marry Jayden. We have to keep hiding it, we can't let Bryce find out. If he ever did, I'm afraid it could turn bad for Jayden..."

"And there's the company. I want to transfer Bryce's shares to Jayden. I might still need your help with that."

"Mm, actually that part I'm not worried about. Everyone can see how much Bryce loves me. He'll never leave me."

"All right, let's leave it there for now."

I stood in the dark, and even though I'd already made up my mind to give up on this relationship, my body still couldn't stop trembling.

I turned and left without a sound.

Early the next morning, I went to the marriage records office.

"Hello. Our records show that you're unmarried."

Even though I'd guessed it, I still froze where I stood.

It was as though a giant, invisible hand had clamped down hard around my heart, and for a moment the pain left me unable to breathe.

"So from the very start your marriage certificate was fake, and nobody on the outside knew. Then Selena, for Jayden's sake, publicly cut ties with you, and in the end the two of them got the certificate and married. And your mother had a hand in all of it?"

"Why bother? If that's how it is, wouldn't it have been simpler for them to just register in the first place?" On the other end of the line, my friend Colin couldn't help but grumble.

"I suppose with me as their touchstone, their love feels all the more precious."

I sat on a bench in the park and said it flatly.

After I hung up, I got up to leave and caught sight of a group of people camping not far off.

Right then.

My mother was leading a little boy around, laughing and playing with him.

And Selena and Jayden sat off to one side, chatting and laughing.

Without hesitation I raised my phone and pressed the shutter.

Just as I turned to go.

Jayden's voice came from behind me.

"Bryce? What are you doing here?"

"You came all this way and didn't say a word?"

Off to the side, Selena froze for a second, then, as if something had just occurred to her, she walked toward me, an edge of anger in her voice.

"Bryce, are you following us?"

At her words.

I froze for a second, then a moment later I laughed, though the laugh never reached my eyes.

"Sure. Let's say that's what it is."

The old me would already be at Selena's side, gripping her hand, spilling out an explanation as fast as I could, terrified she might misunderstand me by even a fraction.

But now.

I didn't even have the urge to defend myself to her anymore.

I glanced coolly at my mother a little way off, and in the end I couldn't hold back the mockery.

"If Dad were still alive, he'd be so proud, wouldn't he? After all... you've been such a wonderful mother."

Before my father passed, the one thing he couldn't stop worrying about was me.

Back then.

My mother had held his hand and made the same promise, over and over.

"Don't worry. I'll carry your share of love and cherish Bryce for both of us."

The instant Jayden's fist landed on my face, I froze, and once it registered, my eyes went red and I moved to hit back.

But the next second.

Selena's slap landed on my face first.

"You disrespected your elder first. Jayden just couldn't stand you bullying your mother!"

"Bryce Gilbert, apologize!"

Beside her, my mother's eyes reddened, and the look she gave me was full of disappointment.

"Bryce, how did you become like this?"

Looking at the three of them, all in it together, I gave a faint twist of my mouth, lifted my eyes to Selena, and spoke evenly.

"Selena, let's talk."

But before I could even get another word out, Selena's phone rang.

When she hung up and looked back at me, her expression was tense.

"Business first."

"Something important's come up. Come with me for now."

With that.

Selena grabbed hold of me, turned, and hurried off.

I wanted to break free, but the next second my own phone rang.

A message from my assistant.

"Mr. Gilbert, there's a serious problem with the project Jayden's running."

As if something had just occurred to me, I let the tension drain out of my arm and followed quietly behind Selena.

On the way.

I leaned back against the car seat, watching the world outside with a calm face, not sparing Selena so much as a single extra glance.

But her eyes stayed fixed on me the whole time, her expression dark.

Finally.

Selena was the one who broke the silence.

"You... since you came back, you've been strange. Did something happen?"

But before I could answer, the driver spoke up first.

"Ms. Locke, we're here."

At that.

Selena instinctively looked at me, but my face stayed flat, without even a flicker of extra expression.

She pushed down the doubt inside her, reached out and took my hand, her voice turning serious.

"Whatever happens in a minute, don't say a word."

"Once we're back, I'll explain everything to you."

With that.

Selena pulled me up and out of the car.

In an instant.

We were surrounded on every side by a crowd of people.

"They're here!"

"You crooked company, give us an answer!"

By the time it registered, Selena had already shoved me forward without a moment's hesitation.

"Everyone, please, rest assured. The Locke Group will absolutely give you all an answer. It's him, Bryce Gilbert. He's the one in charge of this project."

"Whatever your problem is, take it up with him!"

With that.

Selena had already turned and stepped aside, planting herself in front of Jayden as he hurried up.

And in that moment.

The crowd closed around me, curses and accusations pouring in from every direction.

"A menace like this deserves to be torn apart!"

"Give us an answer!"

Some had already gone further, hurling rocks in my direction.

"Bryce!"

Selena instinctively started to step forward, but the next second Jayden let out a cry at her side.

"My hand!"

Selena, without a backward glance, shielded Jayden.

And blood was already running down my forehead.

I stood there in the crowd.

I raised my phone, my voice cold to the bone.

"Take a look at this."