Chapter 50: I’m happy with my wife.

When Soren returned, Elowen looked at him expectantly, but he offered her no explanation.

He glanced at the nearly empty ice cream cups.

"If you are done, let’s get ourselves out of here."

They left the ice cream shop and got into the car.

The drive home was usually quiet.

Soren barely spoke, his entire focus on the road. The easy smile he had worn while watching Seraphina enjoy her ice cream had long disappeared, replaced by a troubled expression.

Elowen noticed the change. She could tell something was bothering him. She wanted to ask what had happened, but in front of Seraphina, she didn’t want to discuss it.

She decided to ask him later.

When they got home, Soren didn’t turn off the engine. He made no move to get out.

Elowen glanced at him. "Aren’t you coming in?"

"I’ve got some work to finish," he replied. He didn’t tell her that he was going to meet his mother.

Elowen’s brow drew together slightly. She remembered the phone at the ice cream shop. Ever since then, Soren had been unusually quiet.

She knew that phone call had something to do with the sudden change in his behavior. But she didn’t press him for further explanation.

"Okay."

Elowen undid the seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Seraphina was already rushing into the house.

Elowen was about to follow when Soren’s voice stopped her. Before she could take two steps, his voice from behind stopped her.

"Elowen."

She looked back at him.

"Wait for me," he said. "I’ll be back soon. We’ll have dinner together."

Elowen studied her face for a moment. Then she nodded. "I’ll wait."

Soren gave her one last look before driving away.

Elowen stood there until the car disappeared from sight. She let out a small sigh as she walked into the villa.

Soren arrived at the mansion a short while later. The moment he entered the living room, he froze.

Tahlia was sitting beside his mother on the sofa, chatting with her as though she belonged there. His eyebrows creased together.

They stopped talking when they saw him.

"Soren, you are here." Tahlia rushed over to him, a bright smile spreading across her face. "We have been waiting for you." She slipped her arm through his.

Soren repulsed her touch. He pulled his arm free of her grasp. He didn’t even look at her. His gaze moved past her and landed on his mother.

"What is she doing here?" he demanded.

Valora’s expression tightened at his blunt question.

"You said you had something important to discuss with him," Soren continued. You specifically told me to come alone. Then why is she here?"

"Come on, Soren. This is not the first time Tahlia has joined us for dinner. She is a part of this family."

"Really?" Soren scowled. "You considered an outsider part of the family. But you refused to invite my wife and child to dinner."

Valora’s smile vanished. "Why did you bring them into this?"

"Soren." Tahlia approached with a practiced smile. "Don’t be angry. Aunt wanted to talk to you in private. So she didn’t invite Elowen and Seraphina."

Soren turned his head and shot her a chilling look. "If she wanted to speak with me privately, why did she invite you?"

Tahlia’s smile stiffened. She couldn’t find an answer.

"That’s enough," Valora snapped. "Tahlia is different. She is close to this family. She is the one I want as my daughter-in-law. She is the only one who deserves to be your wife."

Tahlia lowered her head, hiding the satisfaction spreading across her face. This was exactly what she wanted to hear.

But Soren’s expression turned ugly. "I am already married."

"Uh..." Valora wrinkled her nose and waved a hand dismissively as if what he said didn’t concern her at all.

"We all know how that marriage happened. Elowen used you to force her way into this family. I would never have allowed her to set foot in this family if it had not been for your grandfather. If your father were still alive, he would have never let that happen."

She let out a sigh in dismay.

"Anyway... What’s done is done. We can’t change the past, but we can change the present. You don’t have to remain trapped in this marriage forever. Divorce her. Give her some money, a house, and a car. That’s all she wants anyway."

Soren’s fingers curled at his sides so tight that his knuckles paled.

"End this marriage as quickly as possible," Valora demanded. "I don’t want her in this family anymore."

"I am not divorcing her." Soren’s flat, unwavering response silenced the room.

Valora stared at him as though she hadn’t heard correctly. Then she fired up.

"What did you say? Not divorcing her?"

"She is my wife, the mother of my daughter," Soren shot back. "I am happy in my marriage."

Tahlia gasped in shock. Then suspicion crept into her eyes.

’Has he fallen for Elowen?’ The thought seemed almost absurd.

How could Soren possibly fall for that woman?

He had spent years resenting Elowen. He had treated her with indifference, barely acknowledging her presence. If he had loved her, he would have cherished her. But he didn’t even care whether she was there in his house or not.

’No. This is not love. This is something else. Soren can never be in love with Elowen.’

She tried to dismiss that thought, but the suspicion had already taken root in her heart.

The possibility that he might eventually start developing feelings for his wife unsettled her. If that happened, her dream of marrying him and becoming the future mistress of the Vale family would be shattered completely.

"Happy?" Valora’s loud voice thundered inside the hall, snapping Tahlia back to the present. "Don’t lie to me, Soren. You are not happy with that woman. We’ve all seen how suffocated you have been in this marriage. You could barely stand being around her."

Her voice grew more agitated.

"Now, there is no one forcing you to be with her. You can finally free yourself from that torture. Why are you refusing to end it?"

Soren’s patience was on the verge of collapsing. "I said I am happy with my wife. Why don’t you get it? Don’t bring up divorce again. I’m not leaving her."

Valora stared at him, utterly bewildered.

This was her son who had once been unable to tolerate Elowen’s presence for a moment. He used to look at her with undisguised disgust. To keep himself away from her, he had buried himself in work so he wouldn’t have to return home and face her.

And now, he was standing here, insisting that he was happy with his wife.

Valora refused to believe it. "Don’t be ridiculous. You never liked her. You couldn’t stand being around her even for a minute. And you are now telling me you are happy with her. Have you forgotten what she did to marry you?"

"That wasn’t her fault," Soren growled. "She didn’t drug me."

"What?" Valora sprang to her feet, shock and disbelief mixing on her face. "Do you even know what you are talking about?"