All Chapters of Don't Come Home: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Behind me, Aiden burst out in the darkness, his voice sharp with rage, "Why are you bringing her up? I came back! We've already paid the price for what we did! You got everything you wanted! Lily Chapman, what more do you want?"I didn't want anything.I just couldn't hold it in. I felt wronged and wanted to rip apart the thin veneer of pretense covering my life.Aiden and I were college classmates. We met during an event on campus, fell in love, got married two years after graduation, and had our daughter, Chloe Spencer, the following year.Everything happened naturally, one step following the next.I was outgoing, full of energy, and always smiling. I loved being around people.Aiden was more reserved. He was an expert in his field with top-tier research skills, but his lack of social aptitude held back his career.I felt he was wasting his talent, so I put my networking skills to use. Through my boss, I got to know Elijah Holmes, one of the key directors at his research insti

It was just past September, yet the heat of late summer still lingered. Despite that, as I sat in the study, my whole body was cold, as if I were trapped inside an ice cellar.I rushed out the door, lost in a haze.Somewhere deep down, I still refused to believe Aiden betrayed me. I told myself that everything I found on his computer was fake. Someone was trying to set him up. They wanted to frame him.I called his phone, but there was no answer.He told me earlier that he was at dinner with his department. So I searched for him, restaurant by restaurant.I stubbornly wanted to confront him in person. I needed answers.When I finally spotted Aiden in a barbecue shop, the table was filled with laughter and conversation.He sat at the head of the table, smiling slightly. He was the perfect image of a cultured, confident, and effortlessly charming man.To his right sat a woman in a white dress, her long hair cascading down her back. Her eyes shone brightly, and her expression wa

In an instant, I went from being the optimistic, cheerful, and warmhearted Lily to a sharp-tongued, violent lunatic.Aiden looked at me like I was insane. His expression only fueled my rage. I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at his face. "Get out!"Aiden slowly smoothed down his disheveled hair and stood up.His voice was calmer this time. "You're too upset to have a rational conversation. I'll leave for now. As for Derrick pushing you, he already apologized to me. You can't really blame him. He doesn't know you. You suddenly rushed in and startled Skyla so badly that she got hurt. He was just standing up for her."Skyla's forehead was burned, and it left a scar. But she's not planning to hold you responsible, so you don't have to worry. In any case, this whole situation isn't as ugly as you think."Just take some time to calm down. If you still can't get past this, then no matter how you choose to punish me, I won't complain."He bent down, picked up the pillow, placed it back

At the very least, not now.Two days after I was discharged, Aiden finally came home. Chloe was sent to her grandmother's house. I was sitting alone at the dining table, eating a bowl of plain noodles.He walked in, took off his coat, changed his shoes, and glanced at me.His voice was indifferent as he said he was out of town for a conference the past two days. I kept my head down, focusing on my noodles, and didn't bother responding.Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh. "I know what you're thinking. We're not as disgusting as you imagine. If you don't believe me, you can check the conference's official website. There are photos of me giving a speech."I finished the bite, got up, and went to the kitchen to wash my bowl.When I came back out, he was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, one elbow resting on the armrest. His expression was serious, as if he was about to have some kind of important discussion. "Lily, at this point, we need to have a real conversation."I fi

In a voice exhausted beyond words, like he was utterly drained of both this marriage and me, Aiden said, "If this is what you wanted, then congratulations. You've gotten your wish."After saying that, he let out a faintly mocking smile, packed his things, and moved back to Martha's house.The next morning, Martha and Amelia came banging on my door."Lily, you've gone too far!" Amelia fumed. "All this over something so small? Did you really have to go for the kill? You know exactly how much my brother sacrificed to get where he is in his career. Do you even have a heart?""Lily, I'm deeply disappointed in you." Martha's voice was sharp and accusing. "At the most critical point in Adien's career, you stabbed him in the back! A husband and wife rise and fall together. How could you be so ruthless toward your own husband? Do you really have no loyalty left for him?"I met their gazes with a calm expression. "Loyalty? Did he show any? You probably won't believe this, but he even wanted