The Way Home

Before the company Ruby Lane and I built finally landed a multimillion-dollar funding, she had agreed that we would get married once the deal closed.

But when I rushed to the celebration party that night, I saw Ruby kissing the investor, Jack Hunter, in front of everyone. Then, she proudly held up their marriage certificate.

Jack took the microphone and said, "To prove I'm serious, I didn't just invest money into the company, I gave myself too! My wife will lead this company to even greater heights!"

My colleagues all looked at me, expecting me to cause a scene. Instead, all I did was smile as I clapped. "That's great news! I wish both of you a happy life from now on and hope that the company goes public soon!"

The entire room went into an uproar.

After the party, Ruby pulled me aside to explain what happened. "Jack throws money at this project like it's nothing to him. He just wants to know what marriage feels like, that's all. Did you really have to act that childishly just now?

"Once the company goes public, I'll divorce him. Then, I'll make it up to you by doubling the amount of shares you'll get. You can see the big picture, right?"

I smiled and stepped back. "Don't bother. The share price would have crashed. We're done, Ruby."

As soon as I finished what I wanted to say, I turned to leave. Still, Ruby caught my wrist and blocked my way. "Silas, do you really have to embarrass me on the day the company has managed to get our funding? I already told you that this is just to reassure Jack that his investment is in good hands.

"It's a reward for everything he has poured into the company. Once the company goes public, I'll divorce him. We've been together for seven years. Can't you think about what really matters here for once?"

I looked at the woman in front of me with her perfect makeup. Her evening gown highlighted her curves, but her words were ice-cold.

All she remembered was how much money Jack had poured into the company. She had forgotten that I was the one who had stayed by her side when we were still living in a basement.

I had treasured our future marriage more than my own life. Yet, she had gone to the clerk's office with another man as if it were nothing.

"Ruby, how much more am I supposed to give up for your so-called big picture before you decide I'm finally rational enough for you? You said that once the company was stable, once our dream came true, you'd marry me. Do you have any idea what I gave up for that day?

"To optimize the core algorithm, I didn't get a full night's sleep for three months. I even ended up in the emergency room due to gastric bleeding last week. The doctor told me I had to stay in the hospital, but I slipped out and came back... And this was the surprise waiting for me?"

Looking back on the past seven years, Ruby had always found excuse after excuse to delay our wedding.

After my bachelor's degree, I received a full scholarship PhD offer from a top-tier research university. She had cried and said she wanted to start a company and could not handle a long-distance relationship. One look at her tears, and I had torn up the offer and stayed with her in a cramped apartment in a rundown neighborhood, writing code to support our life.

Three years later, when the company was finally taking shape, I proposed to her. She had said we would get married once we secured our series A financing.

Five years later, when the funding came through, she said we would get married once our user base passed ten million.

Then, in the seventh year, she had told me with bright eyes that if she managed to get her hands on Jack's multimillion-dollar investment, she would marry me.

I had believed her yet again.

I practically lived in the lab because of that promise, and I kept myself going with coffee and painkillers through all those days and nights to push through the limits of technology. In the end, I had collapsed in front of the server racks and was diagnosed with inflammation of the heart muscle from overwork.

I was worried she could not handle the celebration party on her own and that if she drank too much, no one would be there to look after her.

I kept telling myself to hold on a little longer as I held the ring I had bought ahead of time, and that Ruby was about to become my wife. But the moment I walked in, the first thing I heard was that she had married Jack.

Only then did I finally understand how cruel she had always been to me.

The dizziness faded, and I was able to refocus my vision.

Ruby was still frowning as she said, "Silas, you've already waited seven years. What's a few more years? I promised I'd make it up to you with the shares, and I will!"

I looked up at her, but there was no longer warmth in my eyes. "It's fine. I'm selling all my shares and patents. Remember to sign them tomorrow."

Then I walked away, not wanting to hear another word from her.