Chapter 35: Are you bringing Tahlia up between us?

Elowen looked at the papers scattered on the coffee table. She didn’t reach out to gather them. Instead, she left them where they were as she strode to check on Seraphina.

"Sera..."

Seraphina was sitting on the floor, playing with her stuffed toys. When she heard her mother’s voice, she looked up. But unlike usual, she didn’t smile.

The sight tugged painfully at Elowen’s heart. She knew the girl was upset. She sat beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Did Grandma say something?" she asked in a soft tone.

Seraphina nodded. "She said this house won’t be ours anymore, that Daddy will soon ask us to leave."

A spark of irritation flashed through her eyes. ’That woman is so cruel,’ she muttered inwardly. ’How could she say such things to a child?’

Her fingers curled against her knees as she struggled to keep her rage in check.

"Mommy..." Seraphina’s hesitant voice pulled her attention back. "Does Daddy not want us anymore? Does he not love Sera?"

Her questions pierced Elowen’s chest. She immediately pulled her into her arms, caressing her hair.

"Daddy and Mommy love you and will always do, no matter what happens," she said.

"Really?" Seraphina looked up at her, confusion still clouding her eyes. "Then why did Grandma say those things? Why does she want us to leave? Does she hate us?"

Elowen didn’t know how to answer.

Anger burned inside her at the thought of Valora upsetting her daughter. But she was even more worried about the pain settling into Seraphina’s heart.

She didn’t want to say anything harsh about Valora. Whatever problems existed between the adults, Seraphina wouldn’t be made to resent her grandmother.

"No, she doesn’t hate us," she replied quietly. "Grandma has some misunderstandings about Mommy and Daddy. Once these misunderstandings are cleared, everything will be fine."

Seraphina believed her. Finally, a smile appeared. "I wish the misunderstandings would resolve soon. Then we will live happily together."

Elowen’s eyes grew glassy. Yet she forced a smile and gently touched Seraphina’s cheek. "You must be hungry. I’ll go prepare dinner."

She wiped the corner of her eye as she left the room. But her steps came to a halt when she noticed a tall figure in the hall.

Soren was beside the coffee table, holding the divorce documents. His eyebrows drew together tightly, and his expression was unmistakably displeased.

Elowen stepped toward him, slowly, carefully. "Mom came," she said quietly.

Soren turned to her.

"She wanted me to sign them."

"And what did you say?" The words came through his clenched teeth.

Elowen took another step closer to him, keeping her eyes firmly on him. "I told her I won’t sign them until you want to end this marriage."

The tension in his expression eased a bit. He pulled her into his embrace. "Don’t worry about Mom. I’ll talk to her."

Elowen didn’t push him away. She didn’t struggle either. She let him hold her. But her expression was blank.

When Soren pulled back, he had a smile on his face.

"This weekend, there is a private dinner with the investors. I want you to come with me."

"This weekend?" Elowen’s brow shot upright.

"Yes. Why? Are you busy?"

Elowen hesitated.

It was the first time Soren had ever asked her to accompany him to an event like this.

She had always longed to stand by his side at public gatherings. She had wanted to be introduced as his wife, to be a part of his world and his social circles. But Soren had always kept her away.

He had never allowed her to appear beside him at social events.

It had always been Tahlia who accompanied him at those parties. Yet this time, he wanted Elowen to go with him.

Elowen wanted to say yes. Then she remembered that she had already promised Theron that she was going with him to a party this weekend.

Theron was planning to meet an investor at that party, and her presence was important to the Eden District project and the company.

She couldn’t go back on her words now.

"I have some work to do."

"Are you working on the weekend too?" Soren asked, confused.

Elowen couldn’t look into his eyes. She turned her head aside, pressing her lips together.

"Yes," she replied.

For a moment, she thought of telling him the truth. But then she reminded her of what happened at the restaurant that night.

’Soren will probably go mad if he learns I am going to a party with my boss.’

If he learned that she was going out with Theron, he wouldn’t allow her to go.

"I am going out with a friend for work purposes."

It was not a complete lie.

Theron had already asked her to be his friend. And they weren’t going to the party for fun. They were going there because of the project.

Elowen convinced herself that she wasn’t doing anything wrong by keeping the details from Soren.

Soren didn’t press further. He assumed she was planning to work with Vera. After all, she was quite serious about the Eden project.

"Why don’t you take Tahlia instead?" she suggested before he could say anything.

Her words struck him like a hard slap.

His gaze sharpened with sudden displeasure. "Are you pushing me toward another woman?"

Caught off guard by his reaction, Elowen fumbled with her words. But she quickly composed herself.

"I am not saying anything unusual. You used to take her to those parties. I only asked..."

He yanked at her arm all of a sudden and drew her flush to his chest.

Startled, Elowen gasped. The rest of the words died in her throat.

"Do you know what you are doing?" He let out a rumbling growl, his voice deep and threatening.

"Soren..."

"You dare bring up Tahlia between us," he cut her off. "This is enough to punish you."

In a flash, he slipped his fingers behind her head and kissed her.

The kiss was not soft. It was rough with punishing intent.

Elowen kept hitting him against his chest, but she couldn’t push him away. The sudden struggle and strain sent a sharp pain through her abdomen.

She groaned against his lips and instinctively pressed a hand against her stomach.

Soren instantly sensed her body tense. He broke the kiss at once. The anger vanished from his face, replaced by concern.

"Are you okay?"

Elowen covered her mouth and ran into the bathroom.

"Elowen..." Soren followed her.

Regret and guilt twisted painfully in his gut as he watched her retch.

’Shit. What did I do?’ he cursed himself. ’I forced her despite knowing that she is pregnant. I’m such an asshole.’

His fingers trembled as he reached toward her back.

"Elowen, I..."

She wiped her mouth and turned toward him, still breathing heavily.

Soren looked disoriented. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to say that he shouldn’t have lost his composure like that and forced himself onto her. But the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms.