Chapter 4 Home

When Henry learned that Ella usually relied on buses and the subway, he spoke up immediately."I'll give you my electric bike."

Caleb shook his head. "Yours is too heavy for her. She should take mine."

Daniel hesitated, then added, "Mine's brand new. I've only ridden it once. Ella can use mine."

In the end, they all agreed on Daniel's.

Ella couldn't refuse. She thanked them and rode off. Once she was out of sight, she stopped by the curb, checked the address Tiesto had given her, and opened the navigation app.

Just as she was about to continue, her phone rang.

It was Henry.

"Ella, you left your bank card inside the nutrition supplements you bought today," he said. "Do you need it urgently? I can mail it to you tomorrow."

"No," Ella replied softly. "That money was for Mom and Dad. Please give it to them."

Earlier, she had bought health supplements as gifts. Thinking about how her parents had traveled across the country looking for her and Piper-never settling in one place-she had quietly slipped her savings inside.

Four thousand dollars. Everything she had managed to save over the years.

She knew they wouldn't accept it outright.

As expected, they'd found it.

"Ella," Henry said quickly, "you just graduated. And you're married now-you'll need money."

"Henry," she interrupted gently, climbing back onto the bike. "Please. Let it go. I'm riding now."

Worried about her safety, he didn't argue.

Ella arrived at the address Tiesto had given her-a modern apartment complex in the city. It was far humbler than the Hart family villa, but the moment she stepped inside the gates, she felt oddly at ease.

She found the right floor, then stopped.

The door had a digital lock.

The key Tiesto had given her didn't work.

With no other option, she called him.

At Sterling Corp, Tiesto was buried in paperwork. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he almost ignored it-until he remembered yesterday.

"Mr. Sterling," Ella said politely. "Sorry to bother you. The key you gave me doesn't open the door. It's a digital lock."

"...Wait," he muttered, then turned to Javi. "Why does that apartment have a digital lock?"

Javi stiffened. "I'll check right now."

A moment later, he found the access code and passed it over. Tiesto read it aloud.

"Thank you," Ella said. Then, after a brief pause, she asked carefully, "When will you be home?"

The word home made Tiesto pause.

"I usually stay at the company residence," he replied. "I won't be back unless necessary."

"Oh." Ella smiled without meaning to.

Relief bubbled up inside her.

So this was what people online called the joy of a husband who never comes home.

Tiesto hung up.

Javi cleared his throat. "Sorry, sir. That apartment was collateral from another subsidiary. The lock code was changed earlier this month."

"It's fine," Tiesto said, already turning back to his work. A lock code wasn't worth his attention.

Meanwhile, Ella entered the apartment.

Two bedrooms, one living room. Clean. Minimal. Almost untouched.

He clearly didn't stay here often.

She placed her luggage in the spare bedroom, unpacked quickly, and stored the food her mother had packed into the fridge.

Sitting on the sofa, she opened her phone and saw the family group chat lighting up.

Did you arrive safely?Let us know when you're inside!Text when you're settled!

She typed back:"I've arrived safely. Don't worry, Mom, Dad. Brothers."

The chat exploded with emojis and encouragement, as if she'd just achieved something monumental.

Then she noticed several money transfers.

Her parents, Henry, and Daniel had each sent $7,500. Caleb had sent $4,500.

Thirty thousand dollars in total.

Ella stared at the screen, stunned.

Without hesitation, she sent every transfer back.

Moments later, messages flooded in.

"Ella, this is your father's money. You must keep it," Lucas said.

"Yes," Lora added. "Buy whatever you need."

"You're rejecting it because you don't see us as your brothers?" the three boys protested together.

Ella finally gave in.

Thinking of their small apartment-and how much this must have cost them-her chest tightened with warmth and quiet pain.

The Next Morning

Ella rode to work.

She had just graduated and was now an intern at a local media outlet. Officially a reporter. In reality, she chased leads, tips, and anything she could find.

Senior reporters had contacts. Interns had persistence.

She usually relied on public transport or shared bikes, but today, the electric bike made everything easier.

She didn't land any major stories, but she stopped by a local community center.

The director smiled when he saw her. "Ella! Back again? And with gifts?"

"I didn't buy them," she said, unloading a box. "My mom made them."

There was too much food to keep at home, so she'd brought half along.

"Your mom?" the director asked, surprised.

"My real mom," Ella said, beaming.

"Oh-your biological family found you? Congratulations!"

Ella had grown up here with Piper. Even after leaving, she still visited once or twice a month.

"I brought stuffed chicken and small fish," she said. "Especially for you."

The director laughed and accepted them.

"Where's Ellen?" Ella asked.

"She's helping the kids inside."

"I'll find her."

Ellen was helping children with homework. Now married with a toddler, she worked part-time so she could keep her daughter close.

"Sis!" Ella called.

Ellen pulled the kids aside. "How are your parents? Do they treat you well?"

"They're amazing," Ella said. "They even packed food for me."

Ellen's smile softened. "So you've left the villa for good? Congratulations..."

Ella nodded. "Yeah. I even got married."

After a brief explanation, Ellen's expression shifted to concern."But you barely know him."

"At least my grandfather's generation knew him," Ella said lightly. "That's better than my adoptive mom trying to marry me off to some rich stranger."