Chapter 60: The broken Soren Vale

At Soren’s villa...

After putting Seraphina to sleep, Soren entered the master bedroom. He found Elowen standing beside the floor-to-ceiling window, staring into the darkness outside.

Her posture was stiff. She didn’t move to look behind when he entered. She seemed lost in her thoughts, oblivious to her surroundings.

Soren paused at the doorway, watching her quietly. ’What has kept her so occupied?’ he wondered.

He crossed the room without making a sound and slipped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin over her head.

Elowen flinched slightly. It was not a jerky movement, only a subtle shake of her shoulders. Her tense muscles relaxed involuntarily when she caught the familiar cedarwood scent that belonged exclusively to Soren.

Soren spread his fingers against her abdomen as if trying to feel the life growing inside her.

"You were thinking something." His voice was low, velvety.

He had already guessed what might be occupying her mind.

Theron couldn’t start the project without the necessary investment. Without sufficient funding, he wouldn’t be able to secure the suppliers or move forward with construction. His ambitious project was practically dead before it had even started.

There was a subtle smile on his face. He was certain that Theron’s situation was what had been bothering Elowen.

"Yes. I was thinking about something," she admitted.

Soren waited for her to continue, already anticipating what she was going to say.

Elowen turned to him. "You were saying something earlier."

Soren’s expression faltered. He had expected her to tell him about how Theron was struggling to start his project. Instead, she was thinking about him.

The realization sent flutters throughout his chest.

Elowen held his gaze. "You looked... sad. Are you okay?"

Soren’s throat tightened. An ache rose to his lungs, so sharp that he almost wished he could cry.

He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked that question.

Ever since his father’s death, the playful, carefree young man he once had been died too.

He had barely graduated from college when the responsibility of running the Vale Corporation had fallen on his shoulders. He had yet to recover from the pain of the sudden loss of his father when he was thrust into the prestigious position of CEO.

There had been no time to grieve, no time for weakness.

No one had asked him how he was coping.

His mother had not asked whether he was okay. She had been more concerned about losing her luxurious lifestyle if the company collapsed than about her son’s struggles.

His grandfather, a man who seemed carved from stone, had offered no comfort. Instead, he had taught Soren to survive in the business world through ruthlessness, calculation, and an iron will.

The board members had been no better. They had doubted his abilities, questioned his decisions, and constantly criticized him, calling him undeserving of the position.

Soren had spent three years proving himself. He had dealt with the internal conflicts, exposed the traitors, and struggled to bring the company under control.

Somewhere along the way, he had buried the gentle, carefree part of himself beneath layers of arrogance and indifference. He had learned to intimidate people before they could challenge him.

But tonight, when she asked that simple question, that fragile and scared young man that he had forgotten ever existed resurfaced.

He couldn’t dismiss the concern in her eyes. He didn’t know how to face it. And for the first time, he couldn’t say that he was fine.

He shook his head. "I am not okay. I’ve never really been okay..."

Elowen’s heart trembled at the vulnerability in his eyes.

The cold, intimidating Soren Vale she had known for years seemed to have vanished. In his place stood a man who looked fragile.

She couldn’t understand what had caused him to look like that.

"I’m a weak, broken man, wearing a mask of arrogance. I intimidate people, but deep down, I am scared—scared that I’ll fail, that I’ll lose everything. I am afraid that despite everything I’ve done, I’m still not good enough."

Elowen couldn’t shake off her growing uneasiness. She had spent seven years with him. But she had never seen this side of him.

To her, Soren was a man built of rock. He was someone who could stand in the middle of a raging storm without flinching. But the man standing in front of her looked as though he was already broken.

Her heart ached.

She had doubted him when Theron had claimed that Soren pulled strings to sabotage his business. She had wanted to question him and demand the truth. But looking at him now, she found it difficult to imagine him deliberately targeting someone else’s business.

A man who looked utterly defeated could never do something so ruthless.

A wave of regret washed through her.

’Has I been wrong to doubt him?’ The question rose in her mind.

"What’s wrong?" she asked quietly, genuinely curious to know what was troubling him. "Did something happen lately?"

Instead of answering her question, he pulled her into his arms. His hold was not tight but firm, as though he wanted to feel her close while being mindful not to frighten her away.

"I know the truth now," he whispered against her shoulder. "I know what happened that night in the Enchanted Bay Hotel."

The name hit her like a lightning bolt. It reminded her of the incident that had completely changed her life.

Her face paled. Her body stiffened.

Soren felt her go rigid. He pulled back just enough to take a look at her.

The fear in her eyes twisted something inside him painfully.

"It was me. I did those horrible things to you."

Elowen’s eyes filled with tears. Then they spilled over drop by drop.

Finally, he had discovered the truth of that night.

Guilt shattered the last remnant of his composure. He dropped to his knees.

Elowen jumped back, one hand on her mouth.

Soren Vale, the proud and arrogant man who had never willingly bowed to anyone, was kneeling before her with his head lowered and his eyes filled with remorse.

"I am sorry. I blamed you for something you never did. I caused you pain because I refused to see the truth."

He looked up at her, his eyes glistening.

"I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I have no right to ask you to forget what I have done. But Elowen..."

He grabbed her other hand desperately. "Don’t leave me. I can’t lose you again. I’d rather die than watch you walk away from my life."