Chapter 2 Her Home Is Not Hers Anymore

"That's my home." Kelly's emotions surged, threatening to overwhelm her. She struggled to stay composed, using sign language to tell Eric that the house belonged to her. But he didn't understand. Just like their current relationship—so close, yet impossibly distant. A heavy silence settled between them, and once again, Kelly bore the weight of her pain alone. Five years had taught her to keep her suffering to herself. Tears dripped onto the back of her hand. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the pen and scribbled on the paper in uneven handwriting. "I want to go home and get my things." Eric opened his mouth as if to persuade but stopped when he saw the tears in her eyes. After a long pause, he finally relented. "Alright." The car ride was quiet. Kelly gazed out the window, lost in thought. There was a time when she believed the passenger seat beside Eric would always be hers. But now, cartoon stickers decorated the dashboard, and trinkets belonging to his wife filled the space. The man who once swore he'd never abandon her, who promised his love would last forever, had given his heart to another—just three years after she disappeared. Seaville's shimmering skyline blurred past her, a stark contrast to the endless deserts of Oasisvale. The dazzling lights felt surreal, almost suffocating. It had only been five years. Just five years. Why had the world left her behind? "Have my parents abandoned me too?" Kelly couldn't suppress the thought any longer and scribbled the question on the paper. There had been six of them taken that day. Her mentor, already elderly, had children waiting for him. Her senior, who had always quarreled with her husband and even considered divorce before disappearing, was greeted by that very same husband the moment she stepped off the plane in Drakonia. Everyone was claimed by someone—except Kelly. She tried calling every number she had memorized by heart, but none connected. When Eric never showed up to get her, she reassured herself that maybe he was swamped at the hospital. When her parents didn't come, she reasoned that they were aging and might not have gotten the news. But the truth was far crueler than any excuse she could come up with. "Kelly, let's talk about your parents tomorrow, alright?" Eric said after pulling into a parking space, his expression uneasy. A deep sense of dread crept over her. She shook her head insistently, desperate for answers now. "Come inside first. My wife made dinner." Avoiding the topic, Eric stepped out of the car and opened the door for her. Some things hadn't changed. As she exited, he instinctively placed a hand above her head, making sure she wouldn't bump it—just like he always had. Once, that kind of tenderness had been meant for her alone. But things were different now. Love hadn't just faded—it had been given to someone else. "You know her." As they entered the elevator, Eric spoke again, maybe to prepare her in case she got upset. "She's Dr. Lynch's daughter. She was there for me when I crazily searched for you. I became a wreck because of you. She pulled me out of it and stayed by my side ever since." Kelly lowered her gaze, her hands clenched into fists. It turned out that his wife was Regina Lynch, Beau Lynch's daughter. She had been their junior back in school. She was bold, direct, and unashamed. She had pursued Eric openly, even confronted Kelly about it. She had said, "I don't care if he's taken. If he's not married, he'll be mine eventually." Kelly had never taken Regina seriously. She had believed, without a doubt, that Eric's love for her was unshakable. She had been wrong. The elevator doors slid open on the 19th floor. Kelly hesitated. They had chosen the marital home here because she loved higher floors. The view of Seaville's river from here was breathtaking. Because it was a river-facing unit, the price had been much steeper than other layouts. She hadn't wanted to burden Eric's family, so she had asked her parents for an extra 230,000 dollars to secure it. That was supposed to be their home. A place they each owned 50% of after marriage. Now, the other woman lived there. Eric entered the password. The lock clicked open. Kelly stared at him. Five years had passed, yet he had never changed the password. Was that a foolish gesture of lingering sentiment? After all, the password was her birthday. Before she could process that thought, a small figure came rushing toward Eric. "Daddy!" A little girl flung herself into his arms. Eric tensed, darting a nervous glance at Kelly before turning an irritated look toward Regina. "I told you to take Faye to your parents' place." Regina remained silent, her eyes settling on Kelly. Kelly, however, wasn't looking at Regina. Her gaze was locked on the child. Eric had remarried three years after she disappeared. But judging by the girl's age, she wasn't a toddler of one or two—she looked closer to four or five. Kelly's breath caught. Her head snapped up, eyes blazing with anger as she turned to Eric, demanding an explanation.