The morning air hung heavy and cold, cutting through the rain like shards of glass. Su Ruoyan stood beneath the shelter of a dimly lit building, her heart heavy with the lingering image of Lu Shenyang's indifferent expression. His callous words, "You're nothing, Ruoyan," echoed in her mind, sharp and painful. She had thought she'd endured all the hurt she could handle, yet now that the whole truth was exposed, the emptiness that followed felt even more crushing than the betrayal itself.
As the rain fell in relentless sheets, it seemed to wash away the fragments of her past, leaving her feeling more lost than ever. Turning a corner, her heels splashed through shallow puddles, the rhythmic sound barely noticeable over the storm. Suddenly, a black car came to a screeching halt in front of her, a stark interruption to her turbulent thoughts.
The driver's door swung open, and a tall figure emerged into the rain, a sense of tension hanging in the air. His voice pierced the silence, complete with urgency.
"Ruoyan!"
She felt her heart race. That voice, steady yet laced with an undercurrent of emotion, could only belong to one person. Slowly, anticipation coursed through her as she turned to face him, knowing that everything was about to change.
Through the rain, she spotted Su Yichen, her second brother and the one closest to her in age, who had always been her biggest supporter before she left home. His military jacket clung to him, soaked through, and water dripped from his hair, but the intensity in his eyes remained steady.
He closed the distance with purposeful strides, the rain splashing around his boots, and before she could utter a word, he enveloped her in a warm embrace.
"Ruoyan," he said, his voice slightly trembling despite his effort to remain composed. "You silly girl, why didn't you come home sooner?"
For a moment, she stood frozen, her body seemingly lost in its own emptiness, hands hanging limply at her sides as if warmth had become a distant memory. Slowly, her fingers found their way to the fabric of his jacket, gripping it as though it were a lifeline.
"Yichen," her voice trembled, breaking the silence like fragile glass. "Why are you here?" The question slipped out, heavy and laced with despair.
He tightened his hold on her, desperation woven into his embrace. "Why wouldn't I be here? Why didn't you reach out while you were going through all this, Ruoyan? Do you really believe that someone like Lu Shenyang could make us turn away from you?" The anguish in his voice echoed the weight of unshared pain, leaving a lingering silence filled with unspoken emotions.
She let out a shaky breath, a bitter smile forming on her lips. "I don't have the face to see any of you. It was my choice back then; how can I possibly complain? It was all my fault. I thought everything was within my control, that maybe things would get better if I just endured a little more."
Yichen stepped back slightly, allowing himself to really see her under the soft glow of the morning light. "Ruoyan, you've always believed that suffering in silence is a sign of strength, but you're mistaken. We're here for you. Your family is still alive, Ruoyan, and that means there's still hope. You don't have to carry this burden alone."
The rain poured down, drenching both of them, yet they stood still, rooted in the moment. For the first time in years, Su Ruoyan felt the formidable walls she'd built around her heart begin to soften, not from sorrow, but from the comforting realisation that she didn't have to face her struggles alone anymore.
Yichen turned to her, his eyes filled with concern. "Please, Ruoyan, come back with me. Mom and Dad have been so worried since they heard what happened. They've been waiting for you all this time, and it breaks my heart to think of how long they've endured this uncertainty. Three years is far too long for them to feel this way."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Do they know that I?"
"Divorced?" he finished softly, a hint of understanding in his voice. "Yes, they're aware, more than you realise. You might have thought you were alone, but they've always stayed updated on your life, Ruoyan. What happened at the hotel yesterday didn't escape their notice either. You're their daughter, their only daughter. As long as you're with them, that's what truly matters."
Ruoyan hesitated, the weight of his words settling in her chest. After a moment, she nodded and stepped forward, following him. The driver hurried to open the rear door, and she slipped inside, enveloped by the rich scent of leather mingled with a faint trace of sandalwood. It felt clean, familiar, and somehow safe.
As the car glided away, Ruoyan fixed her gaze on the window, watching the city slip into the distance, swallowed by the relentless rain. Each bend in the road pulled her further from the ruins of her marriage and closer to the home she had once forsaken.
She pressed her hand lightly against her chest, feeling the conflicting emotions swirling within her. Beneath the ache, a flicker of resolve pulsed steadily, reminding her of her strength.
Beside her, Yichen sat with his arms crossed, his face still etched with simmering frustration. "I should have yanked you out of there the moment that bastard started treating you like a maid."
A faint smile tugged at Ruoyan's lips. "You would've made a scene."
He scoffed, a fire sparking in his eyes. "Good. Maybe then the world would've opened its eyes to the kind of man Lu Shenyang truly is."
Ruoyan turned to him, warmth softening her gaze. "Thank you, Yichen."
"Don't thank me," he said, turning his gaze away, his voice barely a whisper. "Thank yourself for finally finding the courage to walk away."
The five-hour drive unfolded in profound silence, the weight of unspoken emotions thick in the air. As they approached the capital's prestigious district, dusk began to settle, and the rain transformed into a gentle mist that wrapped around the car like a shroud.
Ahead loomed the imposing black iron gates of Su Mansion, their majestic presence illuminated by the golden crest that had proudly adorned the family legacy for generations.
Her heart tightened as the gates swung open automatically, revealing the path that led to memories long buried. This was her first return to the house after three tumultuous years, and the anticipation filled her with both trepidation and resolve.
The car glided to a halt at the main entrance, where a warm glow spilt invitingly from the foyer. Even before stepping out, Ruoyan's heart skipped at the sight of her eldest brother, Su Chengyuan, standing tall under the veranda. The moment his calm, composed face registered her presence, it transformed, as warmth radiated from him like the light illuminating the house.
"Ruoyan," he called out, his voice a blend of affection and authority. "You're back."
Behind him, a softer voice broke the night, rich with concern and love. "Yan'er!"
Her mother, Shen Yuxin, rushed down the stairs, her silk shawl dancing in the evening breeze as she hurried forward. When she reached Ruoyan, she cupped her daughter's cold face with trembling hands, worry etched into her features. "My darling girl, what did they do to you?"
Ruoyan's vision blurred with unshed tears. "Mom..."
The world around her faded as she collapsed into her mother's welcoming embrace. The scent of jasmine and cedar enveloped her, a comforting balm that chased away the solitude she'd carried for far too long.
As the tender moment unfolded, her father, Su Haoran, approached quietly. His usually stern expression softened, revealing a warmth she had seldom seen. "Welcome back, my daughter."
Ruoyan opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks as a bittersweet smile broke through the storm of emotion.
Behind her, Yichen stood as a comforting presence, his shoulders finally relaxing after a long and tense evening. "Dad, Mom, I think my sister is exhausted. Let's let her rest, and we can sort things out in the morning," he urged gently.
Su Haoran regarded her for a moment before giving a single, decisive nod. "That's a good idea. We'll talk everything over in the morning."
As her family guided her inside, Ruoyan glanced back one last time at the rain-soaked courtyard. The lights shimmered off the puddles like fragments of a shattered sky. Somewhere out there, Lu Shenyang was likely sleeping soundly next to Li Meixuan, blissfully unaware that the woman he deemed as nothing had just re-entered a world he could never access.
Her eyes narrowed, determination hardening her features. One fine day, he would come to regret his choices.
As she stepped into the warm embrace of her home, a sense of comfort washed over her. Her old room greeted her with simple elegance, still with the soft ivory walls and pale blue accents, all perfectly preserved by time.
Standing by the window, she gazed out at the garden, its beauty glowing under the gentle lamplight. A quiet smile tugged at her lips, fragile yet genuine.
She was finally home, and this time, she had no plans of leaving.