I'm Going Home

I followed Vanessa Gomez across the ocean for love. But five years later, my permanent residence application had been rejected time and again. Meanwhile, the fake heir Harry Lane who came to my place and stayed already got his permanent residence in three short months. Vanessa herself had hired an immigration lawyer to rush his application. Disappointed, I told her I wanted to go back to my country, Kentra. Vanessa panicked. She held me and begged as she cried. "Joey, you're my husband. You'll get your permanent residence eventually. Harry's different. He has no one. Without a permanent residence, he could be deported at any time. Can you please stay for me?" Once again, her tears managed to make me stay. Then today, when I went to Immigration Services to verify my information, a staff member looked puzzled as she checked my form. "Sir, our records show that Ms. Vanessa Gomez's legal spouse is a... Mr. Harry Lane. Are you sure you filled this out correctly?" I felt a chill down my spine. So for the past five years, not only did I not get a permanent residence, even my status as her husband was a lie. I did not go home. Instead, I went straight to the airport and flew back to Kentra. Before I boarded, she sent one last message. [Stop making a fuss. Come home.] But Vanessa, we had lost our home a long time ago. Chapter 1 The staff at the Immigration Services's office noticed I had gone quiet and repeated herself, thinking I had not heard her. "Sir, you might want to check it again..." I came to my senses and took back the form as I forced a smile. "No, thank you." After a couple of seconds, I reached for my phone to call Vanessa, wanting to ask her what was going on. It rang for a long time. To my surprise, Harry answered. "Joey, Vanessa's in a meeting. What's up? You can tell me, and I'll pass it along. Though unless it's about groceries or housework, I doubt it's important. We're discussing an acquisition right now. Since you're a househusband, don't get in the way." He spoke gently, but his words stung. I could not say anything to her. Then, I heard Vanessa's voice faintly in the background. "What is it?" Harry chuckled. "Nothing. Just a...nuisance call. Nothing important. Just focus on the contract." Then he hung up. I watched my screen go dark as tears fell onto it. When I finally stopped crying, I let out a bitter laugh. Looking back, none of it should have surprised me. Vanessa and Harry had grown up together and had been each other's first love. I had known that when Vanessa and I started dating. But she had taken my hand back then and looked me in the eye with sincerity, saying, "That's all in the past, Joey. You're the one I love now." Like a fool, I had believed her. Soon after I followed Vanessa overseas, Harry said he wanted to come abroad for work too. Worried about his safety, Vanessa tried to persuade me to let him stay with us. "He's all alone in a place he doesn't know anything about. It doesn't feel right letting him live somewhere else." That was how Harry moved into our home as if he belonged there. Later, he changed jobs and became her personal assistant. Anyone could see something was wrong. But Vanessa simply said, "He's like my little brother. Don't overthink it." And I believed her. I closed my eyes, shut out everything I heard, and kept loving her. Before I left, my mom learned I was going overseas with Vanessa. She did not try to stop me as she just gave me a tired, helpless smile. "You're young. I won't stop you, and I couldn't even if I tried. You'll understand someday, though. When you depend on someone else, you'll have nothing the day someone stops giving. People who put too much faith in love don't end up well." I was young, and I did not believe her. I thought love mattered more than my own life. I took no money from my family and followed Vanessa overseas with nothing but passion in me. I faced an unfamiliar language and a social world I knew nothing about. I struggled for five years and finally adjusted. By the time I looked back, the woman I loved had long since stopped loving me. Only now did I understand what my mom had meant. I took out my phone and booked the next flight home. It left that night. Five years… I did not have another five years to let Vanessa waste. The booking confirmation had barely appeared when Vanessa's name flashed across my screen. She was calling me back. Chapter 2 "Joey, I was in a meeting just now. What's wrong?" Vanessa asked from the other side of the line. I said back to her, "Are you back at the company? I need to talk to you. I'll come over now." I could hear the hesitation in her voice. "Now? It's going to be a little difficult. I have a business dinner tonight too. If it isn't urgent, we can talk when I get home..." "It can't wait." I cut her off. My bluntness seemed to surprise her. Normally, I would have tried to be more understanding. "Are you still upset about the permanent residence?" she asked. "I've told you, you're my legal spouse. Under Westland laws, you'll get one eventually. Besides, you don't work. What do you need a permanent residence for? Joey, I'll take care of you." She had said that to me countless times as a promise of love. Now, every word sounded like mockery. She was taking care of a man who was not her husband? Then what was I? Her lover? The homewrecker? A friend with benefits? Whatever I was, it was something she had to hide. I did not confront her over the phone and simply said, "I'll be there in thirty minutes." Then, I hung up. I still wanted to hear her explain it to my face. I rarely visited her company because I knew nothing about finance, and Vanessa was always very busy. I always thought I would only get in her way since I was not able to help. The receptionist spent a long time checking my information before taking me to Vanessa's office. People were still talking inside when I arrived. From their voices, they all sounded like Kentran. One of them joked in an almost slimy voice, "Ms. Gomez, when are you and Harry finally having a wedding? I've already set aside something for your wedding gift." "That's right. You've been married for five years. You could have had a baby by now. Why keep it a secret?" Then Harry spoke, sounding modest. "Oh, stop it. Vanessa and I only got married so I could get a permanent residence. If Joey hears any of you saying things like this, he'll get the wrong idea." The others did not give up. Instead, they turned on me following Harry's lead. "So, what? Let him! Without Vanessa supporting him, he'd be deported tomorrow. He can't help her career the way you do, Harry. All he does is cook and clean. She could hire a housekeeper for that." Someone gave a low chuckle and offered Vanessa some advice. "You should make that marriage real and get together with Harry. As for that housekeeper at home… Give him some money and send him back to Kentra." I stopped with my hand on the office door. Like the people inside, I waited for Vanessa's answer. She seemed to take the suggestion seriously. After a pause, she gave an easy laugh. "Alright, enough. You know Harry gets embarrassed easily. As for the one at home... He's been acting up lately. I'll talk with him. If that doesn't work, we'll see." I knew what she meant by "We'll see." The others did too, and they laughed. I did not stand there any longer. I pushed open the door while they were still laughing. Chapter 3 Everyone in the office who was either standing or in their seats turned toward me in unison and froze. Vanessa's smile froze too when she heard the sound and turned to me. "Joey? How did you..." She quickly came toward me, flustered as she tried to explain. "How did you get here so fast? Weren't you going to call when you arrived so I could come down and get you?" I did not answer. I just looked at her until she grew uneasy. She asked cautiously, "You...heard all that? We were joking. Don't worry. I promise I'll get your permanent residence approved next month." I stayed silent and looked past her at the others. After a while, I said, "It's fine. I came at a bad time. Sorry to interrupt your conversation. Since you're busy, I'll go." I had heard enough from Vanessa. Pressing her about the marriage in front of everyone would only make me look like a pitiful, laughable spouse. It would not get me anywhere, and I would only be humiliating myself. My flight would be leaving that night. All I wanted was to go home, pack, and leave Vanessa for good. As I turned and was going to leave, Harry grabbed my sleeve. He started to weep as he tried to explain, "Joey, don't go! It's not what you think! Vanessa and I only married so I could get a permanent residence. Please don't be mad at her, okay?" I frowned. Why was he crying as if I had wronged him when I was the one who had been hurt? I was the victim here. I coldly said, "If you're really afraid of me getting angry, let go." He tightened his grip. "No! I won't let go until you forgive Vanessa and me!" He even wanted to beg and apologize. "Joey, please forgive Vanessa. Forgive us both, okay? I promise I'll divorce her as soon as my permanent residency is secure. I swear!" His pleading won over some of the Kentran women watching. They looked at me with even more disgust. I was usually someone quite cool, but even I was getting angry as I had had enough of the charade. "Who do you think you're fooling? "Your mother did the same. She used her friendship with my mother to get into my father's bed. You're just as shameless, using your status as my brother to get into Vanessa's bed. You expect me to forgive you? "What? Like mother, like son? You both sleep with someone else's partner and then act like you're living saints?" Harry cried even harder, humiliated by what I had said. Meanwhile, Vanessa rushed to his defense and shouted at me. "Enough! Joey, watch your mouth! We can sort all of this out at home behind closed doors! Stop making a scene like a madman and give everyone something to laugh at." As I watched her defend him with full favoritism, I finally gave up on Vanessa. I also did not want to keep fighting in front of everyone with her. I tried to pull my sleeve out of Harry's hand. Before I had even tugged hard, he screamed. "Aaaah!" Harry screamed and threw himself at the sharp corner of the couch. His face went pale as he clutched his stomach where it had hit the corner. "It hurts. It hurts so much!" Before I could react, Vanessa slammed into me and shoved me aside. She started yelling. "Joey, you're insane! Harry was just trying to help us make up! And you hurt him on purpose?!" I frowned and stared at her in disbelief. "You were right beside me. Didn't you see how little force I used? You married him behind my back! How can you stand there and lecture me like you're in the right?" Vanessa was becoming furious too. Every word that came out of her mouth hurt more than the last. "So what? Don't forget, Joey! I've supported you all these years!" Chapter 4 "I'm freezing the supplementary card on my account and revoking your access to the manor! Without me supporting you, you'd be worse off than a dog here!" Vanessa roared at me. Vanessa did not look at me again as she picked Harry up, who was still groaning. She then shouted at the stunned onlookers. "What are you waiting for? Call an ambulance! …No, take him to the hospital in my car! Hurry!" The entire group all rushed out. I stood there alone, rubbing my bruised shoulder where Vanessa had slammed into me. I shook my head and let out a bitter laugh. Behold and witness, Joey Lane. Behold what five years of your life and all that reckless devotion had bought you. …Fine. There really was nothing left to miss now. Vanessa had always been someone who followed through on her threats. I did not want to go back to pack anymore. Since she had said she supported me, it would only disgust me to bring back anything I bought with her money. Fortunately, I had brought all my personal documents to Immigration Services. That was enough. And so, I hailed a cab and went straight to the airport. - Vanessa knew Harry was probably faking his injury. Even so, she could not resist testing me. Just like those friends of hers had said, she had supported me for five years and given me a comfortable life. She seemed to think I owed her complete obedience. She thought she could even make me ignore her cheating with a few comforting words. After all, she had supported me. Vanessa pressed her lips together, then froze my card and revoked my access to the manor. She then sent me an angry message. [Have you learned your lesson? Come to the hospital and apologize to Harry! Then I might just forgive you for this.] Vanessa had forgotten I had family, a job, and friends back in Kentra. I had never asked her to support me. I had simply given up everything and crossed an entire stretch of ocean because I loved her. I almost laughed when I read her message. I glanced at it, swiped it away, and did not even bother to reply. Three hours had passed. Night fell. Still no reply. Something was wrong. Without a permanent residence, I had no bank account of my own or money set aside. Robberies were common in Westland, so to be safe, I rarely carried more than a hundred dollars in cash. I could not even afford a decent hotel room. Vanessa thought that however angry I was with her, I would not put my safety at risk. She gave it a thought, and could not stop herself from sending another message after five hours had passed. [I've unfrozen the card and restored your access to the manor. Come home for now. Don't wander around outside. It isn't safe. We can talk when you get here.] I still did not reply. Another hour had passed, and Vanessa grew restless. She started checking the bank app, but there were no charges on my supplementary card. She checked the camera outside the manor, but I had not been home since that afternoon. A man alone on the streets late at night with no car and nowhere to stay... That would put me at serious risk. Vanessa's heart skipped a beat as the horror set in. She stood up and paced, typing and deleting one message after another. Finally, she sent one more. [Stop making a fuss. Come home.] I did not reply. I was already at the boarding gate and was having my boarding pass checked. I read her message, blocked her, and deleted her contact. Then I turned off my phone and boarded without looking back. The plane was cruising on the runway. I watched the place where I had spent five years shrink away until it disappeared. I did not cry or wish I could stay. I only felt relief. Vanessa Gomez… Wherever life took us, let us never need to see each other again. Back at the hospital, Vanessa was getting anxious as I had never replied to any of her text messages. Just as she was about to put aside her pride and call me, a close friend from back from Kentra, Nicole Wellington, called her first. "Hey, Vanessa! I just landed! I wanted to surprise you, so I didn't ask you to pick me up. Didn't you say you and Joey would show me around when I got here? "But I think I saw Joey at the airport just now. He was boarding a direct flight back to Kentra. Is he heading back home?"