Chapter 4 4. Going Back

"Babe," she patted her boyfriend on the chest to bring him back to reality. Her boyfriend turned his head towards the door and saw Zack standing there in shock while Emilia hurried to cover herself up.

His lips lifted into a slight smirk as he got off the bed and Zack caught it. "Looks like the boyfriend is here," he whistled, slowly getting off the bed and going for his clothes.

Not only was he on top of his girlfriend in his own house. This man was definitely mocking him. At that moment, Zack's rage overwhelmed his feeling of betrayal, taking over all his senses. He didn't hear when Emilia called out to him as he headed towards the man who was buckling in his pants. The man did not notice and was only made aware of lackluster fury when a punch landed on his face. "Oh my god no! Zack, stop!" Emilia called out to him, but he didn't hear as he went in for another punch. "No, stop!" Emilia stopped him by holding onto his arm. She had already slipped on a dress.

"Stop doing this please. You are hurting him," she pleaded. Zack let go of the man and faced her, her words ringing in his ear as loud and clear.

"Babe, leave us alone, please wait for me outside. I will be with you in a minute," Emilia looked at her boyfriend. Her eyes begged him to do as she said.

"But he..." Her boyfriend wanted to protest as he held onto his jaw.

"Please," Emilia begged him.

"I will let this go, but only because of you," he walked out, purposely avoiding the death glare Zack was sending his way.

Now, Zack could finally understand the rage and fury of the woman who had earlier caught her husband with another woman. The fact that they knew that the other person had a partner, yet decided to go along with it without having a care how it affected the other person.

"Em... Emilia, how could you?" Zack's voice trembled, desperately wanting to believe that it was all a mistake.

"I, well, it just," Emilia shrugged. "Happened?" she looked anywhere but at him.

"For how long?" Zack asked, when she showed no ounce of guilt or remorse.

"I don't think you want to know," Emilia said nonchalantly.

Zack stared at her face, wondering if she was the same person or if he was seeing a different person, but there was no doubt it was her. Then, was it right to direct all anger towards the other person when the one who offended you is right in front of you? Now he could finally see the hypocrisy behind that.

It was this person that agreed to be in a relationship with you. It was them that had the responsibility to stay faithful but decided to do otherwise. He had so many questions to ask her, but with the way she looked like she couldn't care less, it would only make him be the pathetic one.

"Alright," Zack sighed heavily. "I want you and your trash out of this house and out of my life," Zack said angrily.

"Alright. I don't have much left here anyway," Emilia raised her hands up in surrender, taking a step back.

This would be the first time she had seen Zack this angry. She went to the closet, opened it and took out a suitcase.

Seeing that, Zack didn't think he would feel betrayed more. For how long has she been planning this right under his nose? He watched as she rolled out her suitcase and walked towards the door.

"Just why?" Zack asked and she stopped. "You are a good person Zack, I just can't live like this anymore. I deserve a life more comfortable than this," She replied.

"And you think you are going to have that with that jerk?"

"At least he has ambitions!" Emilia snapped.

"It just got so tiring. Seeing you become comfortable living like this. But I want more. And, I just can't let go of my potential and all the possibilities that come with it just to be with someone so stagnant," With that said, Emilia walked out of the room, slamming the door. In a matter of seconds, she was out of his house and out of his life.

"Huh!" Zack scoffed. He looked around the bedroom, all the sweet memories he had with her now replaced with a bitter one. All the beliefs he had come crashing down on him like a wave of a tsunami.

"So it wasn't better either way," he shook his head. He lived like this, thinking it was for the better. And for a while, it was peaceful. But in the end, was it worth it? The same thing happened all over again. Unable to stay there anymore, Zack walked out of the room. Emilia and her boyfriend were already long gone, making him wonder for how long he had come back to this house, foolishly thinking that he would spend most of his life there. All his dreams for the future looked bleak at the moment. Feeling like he could no longer stay in that place anymore, Zack walked out of the house and started walking down the street aimlessly. That was until a black limo drove and stopped right beside him. Zack would recognize that kind of car anywhere, as he once used to be a passenger of that car. But that felt like such a long time ago.

Slowly, the dark windows were rolled down to reveal its passenger, an old woman who looked too classy and elegant for her age.

The simple, yet expensive attire she wore, and the pearl jewelry that adorned her neck and wrists, would be enough to start a new life.

"Why don't you get in here before you get any more lost?"

"You knew it all along and were waiting for a day like this to rub it on my face, didn't you?" Zack sighed.

"What do you mean? I am not some fortune-teller. And why would I mock my own grandson? Do get in, will you? This chilly night air isn't good for this old hag who doesn't have much time left." The chauffeur came out and held the door open on the other side.

"This way please, sir." Zack shook his head and went to enter the car, the chauffeur closing the door firmly after Zack had sat in comfortably.

"Nice to see you back, son," the old woman smiled.

"Now don't expect anything from me. For all I know, you could have a hand in this." "Tsk. How unfortunate. You have a good eye for business but not for people. One could smell an opportunist from a mile away. All I had to do was let time take care of everything."

"As if."

"Your family misses you Zack, we all do. And we can't wait to have you back home." Zack didn't say anything after that, and the entire ride was silent. 50 minutes later, the car stopped in front of the gate to a large villa.

The chauffer let down his window, and upon seeing him, security before the gates opened, and the car rolled in. The distance from the gates to the building took 2 minutes, and when the car stopped, the door was opened from the outside before Zack could even reach for it. Getting out of the car, Zack stood in front of the house that he grew up in.

After five years away and he was finally back, he wondered what faith had in store for him this time.

"Wait, isn't that Zack?" a twenty-one-year-old lady quirked her eyebrows.

"What is he doing here?" a woman folded her arms over her chest, looking annoyed.

"I thought he ran away or something." A teenage boy stated.

"Now that he is back, I finally get a breath of fresh air and some space," a young girl sighed, exasperated.

"The prodigal son is finally back!" a middle-aged man stated in half surprise, half amusement.

"Wait, grandma, is this the surprise you said you had for us? Gosh! I thought it was going to be someone important. I can't believe i dressed up for this", the young lady scoffed.

Zack's family members said one by one. All expressing different feelings.

All except one, a middle-aged woman that had the same hair as him stated, her eyes looking tearful.

"Zack, you came back?" the woman rushed to hug him. "You are back home, for good, right? And you are finally going to take back your rightful place," the woman whispered the last part in his ear. "Nice to see you too after so long, mother," Zack hugged her back.