My CEO HUSBAND sign the divorce novel Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Returning home

Jim was already waiting at the airport when we arrived.

He immediately stepped forward, greeted me, and took my luggage to the car while Jane and Henry got into another vehicle sent by Aurelius Technology.

I sat quietly in the back seat, watching the city through the window.

It had only been a week.

Yet somehow, Velaridge City felt unfamiliar.

The familiar sense of warmth I used to feel whenever I returned from a business trip was gone.

Back then, I would always look forward to coming home.

No matter how exhausting the trip had been, the moment I returned, a sense of calm would settle over me.

Especially whenever I stepped into the villa.

But today, even after arriving, I felt nothing.

Only emptiness.

The car eventually pulled into the driveway.

I stepped out and walked into the villa.

The living room was silent.

Too silent.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the familiar space.

Then a bitter smile tugged at my lips.

The realization hit me harder than I expected.

It was never the city.

It was never the villa.

Those things had never been the reason I was always eager to return.

It was the person I expected to find waiting for me.

The person who made this place feel like home.

The person who made me feel complete.

Alicia.

It was almost laughable.

After all this time, I was only realizing it now.

Perhaps Aiden was right.

I had simply been too blind to see it.

"You’re back, sir."

Maria’s surprised voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned around and saw her standing near the dining area.

"Maria."

Her expression softened.

"Welcome back, sir."

"Thank you."

She glanced toward the entrance behind me before looking back at me.

"Why didn’t you inform me that you would be returning today?"

"It was unplanned."

I paused briefly.

"Something came up."

"Oh."

She nodded before hesitating.

Then she asked quietly,

"Did you return alone?"

The question struck a nerve.

For a moment, I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

My gaze lowered slightly.

Maria seemed to understand immediately.

The hope in her eyes faded, replaced by concern.

"I’m sorry, sir."

I shook my head.

"There is nothing to apologize for."

An awkward silence settled between us.

Eventually, Maria forced a small smile.

"You should go freshen up."

"I’ll prepare something for you to eat."

I wasn’t hungry.

In fact, I hadn’t had much of an appetite for days.

But I knew Maria well enough to know she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

So I simply nodded.

"Alright."

With that, I turned and headed upstairs.

The villa remained as quiet as ever.

And for the first time since returning home, I truly understood what was missing.

I walked into the walk-in closet and, almost unconsciously, reached for the box I had found hidden among Alicia’s things.

Carrying it to the island in the center of the closet, I slowly opened it.

One by one, I took out the items and examined them again.

My gaze fell on the report card with the little note attached to it.

A memory resurfaced.

Back in high school, I used to top my class almost every semester.

My grades were always among the best, and eventually it became something everyone in school talked about.

Alicia had transferred to the same school after her father’s death.

At the time, I never paid much attention to it.

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