Deception in Silicon Heights

Chapter 26: Coming Home

Emma's footsteps pounded the pavement as she fled her mother's apartment, her breath hitching in her throat. The slap still burned on her cheek, but it was nothing compared to the searing pain in her heart. Her mother's words echoed in her mind: *"I kept her here because of the child support... wouldn't have bothered otherwise."*

How could she have been so blind? The woman she had defended, the one she had chosen over her father, didn't love her at all. It was all about the money. Tears streamed down Emma's face as she ran through the dimly lit streets. She didn't know where else to go but home—her real home—with her father and Lily.

She didn't care if it was late. She needed to tell him. She needed to be where she was wanted.

By the time Emma reached her father's house, she was out of breath and shaking, her face streaked with tears. She fumbled for the key in her pocket, her hands trembling too much to fit it into the lock. After what felt like an eternity, the door swung open, and she burst inside.

"Dad!" Emma called out, her voice breaking as she stumbled into the hallway. "Dad, are you here?"

Ethan appeared almost immediately, rushing toward her with wide eyes. "Emma? What's wrong?" His voice was filled with concern as he took in her tear-streaked face and trembling form.

"I—I didn't know where else to go," Emma sobbed, throwing herself into her father's arms. She clung to him like a lifeline, her tears soaking into his shirt.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're safe now," Ethan whispered, his arms wrapping tightly around her as he guided her to the couch. He was calm, though his heart was racing. He hadn't seen Emma like this since the divorce, and the sight of his daughter so broken twisted something deep inside him.

As they sat down, Ethan gently pulled back to look at her, brushing her hair away from her tear-streaked face. "Emma, what happened? Did something happen with your mom?"

Emma nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "She—she hit me," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. Ethan's face darkened, his jaw tightening.

"She what?" he asked, his voice low with barely contained anger.

"She slapped me," Emma repeated, her tears starting to flow again. "But that's not the worst part." She looked into her father's eyes, her own filled with pain. "I overheard her talking on the phone... she said... she said the only reason she kept me was because of the child support."

Ethan's heart broke at the words. He pulled Emma into his arms again, holding her close as she sobbed against his chest. He didn't say anything for a long moment, just let her cry, his hand stroking her hair as he fought back his own emotions.

"I'm so sorry, Emma," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I never wanted you to go through this."

Emma shook her head, still clinging to him. "I should have stayed with you. I should have known..." Her voice trailed off into more sobs.

"It's not your fault," Ethan said firmly. "None of this is your fault. Your mother made her choices, and you shouldn't have had to bear the consequences. But you're home now. You're safe here."

As they sat there, the sound of light footsteps caught Emma's attention. She glanced up to see Lily standing at the edge of the room, her face pale and full of concern. She had been listening.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence, both girls unsure of what to say. But then Lily stepped forward, her eyes glistening with emotion. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice cracking. "Emma, I didn't know. I didn't mean to say those things earlier. I was just angry, but I didn't know..."

Emma looked up at her sister, her heart aching all over again. The argument they'd had earlier seemed so trivial now. She realised Lily had been hurting too, lashing out because she felt just as lost as she had.

"I'm sorry too," Emma whispered, wiping at her eyes. "I should've told you what was going on. I didn't want to believe... I didn't want to admit that Mom didn't care."

Lily hesitated for only a second before she rushed forward and threw her arms around Emma, holding her tight. "You're my sister," Lily said, her voice muffled as she buried her face in Emma's shoulder. "I don't care about what Mom did. I don't care about any of it. I just want us to be okay."

Emma hugged her back, her tears mixing with a sense of relief. For the first time in months, she felt a weight lifting off her chest. "I want us to be okay too," she whispered, holding Lily tighter.

Ethan watched his two daughters embrace, his own eyes misting over. He had feared that the divorce would tear them apart, but seeing them come together like this, he knew that despite everything, they were going to be alright. His heart swelled with pride and love for both of them.

"I'm so proud of both of you," Ethan said quietly, his voice full of emotion. "And no matter what happens, we're a family. We'll get through this together."

Emma pulled back from the embrace and looked at her father, her eyes still red from crying but filled with something like hope. "Can I stay here?" she asked softly. "For good?"

Ethan smiled, his eyes softening as he nodded. "Of course you can. This is your home, Emma. It always has been."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Emma felt a sense of peace. She had been lost, torn between two worlds, but now she knew where she belonged. She had her father, her sister, and a place where she was truly loved—not because of money, not because of manipulation, but because she mattered.

And that was all she had ever wanted.