Chapter 97: I want to keep you close to me all the time.

Soren didn’t answer. He walked straight toward her and pulled her into his arms.

Elowen stiffened at first. But she slowly relaxed her muscles, slipping her arms around his waist.

Neither of them spoke.

Soren held her a little tighter, burying his face against her hair. The photographs from the café flashed through his mind again.

He had spent the entire day wondering what had happened at Aurevia, how Elowen had dealt with the rumors, and how she might have felt when people looked at her with suspicion.

He wanted to ask her what had happened there. At the same time, he wanted her to tell him everything on her own. He didn’t want her to feel as though he had been keeping an eye on her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly. "Any discomfort?"

"I am fine."

Soren pulled back slightly to study her face. "How was your day?"

Elowen didn’t answer immediately. For a brief moment, she considered telling him everything.

She wanted to tell him about the rumors that had spread through the office, how Daphne had cornered her, and how the employees had looked at her as though she had committed some terrible crime. She also wanted to tell him how Theron had stepped in and helped clear the air.

But she hesitated.

She didn’t want to trouble Soren with another problem. She knew how worried he would become, especially after what had happened at the café the previous day. And knowing how protective he had become, she suspected he might get jealous again when he learned that Theron had helped her again.

More than anything, she didn’t want him to see those photographs, unaware of the fact that he had already seen them.

She was afraid of how furious he would become. She had no clue how he would react when he saw them.

After a moment of consideration, she decided to keep everything to herself.

"It was a productive day," she replied. She didn’t elaborate. "I’ll serve dinner. You must be hungry."

She gently pulled away from his embrace and headed toward the kitchen.

Soren remained where he was, watching her walk away. A faint disappointment settled in his chest.

That wasn’t what he had wanted to hear.

He wanted her to trust him enough to tell him everything. He wanted her to share her troubles with him instead of quietly dealing with them on her own. Yet, she kept everything to herself, as though telling him the truth would only burden him.

The thought unsettled him more than the revelation itself would have.

’Has she become so accustomed to handling everything alone that she no longer thought of turning to me? Or have I not given her enough reason to believe she could rely on me?’

The thoughts made him restless.

Soren followed her into the kitchen.

Elowen was arranging the dishes on the counter when she felt a pair of arms circle around her waist from behind. She turned her head slightly.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice soft, almost melodic.

"Just holding you." He rested his chin on her shoulder, his hands settling over her stomach.

"Wait in the dining area."

Soren didn’t go away. His fingers splayed on her abdomen, as though trying to feel the tiny life growing inside her.

"Have you felt dizzy or uncomfortable today?"

"No."

He remained quiet for a moment, his fingers moving gently over her stomach. "I was worried about you and the baby. You didn’t come home after the discharge from the hospital. You went straight to the office."

His voice carried a vulnerability that softened her heart.

"I want to keep you close to me all the time." He pressed a gentle kiss against her shoulder. "That way, I can see how you are doing, make sure you are eating properly, and know that both of you are safe."

Elowen smiled faintly. "Soren, I’m not made of glass."

His arms tightened slightly around her. "But you are carrying our baby. How can I not worry?"

He paused before adding, "Why don’t you reconsider joining the Vale Corporation? I’ll be close enough to look after you. You won’t have to worry about anything."

Elowen’s hands paused over the plates. She hadn’t expected him to bring up the subject again.

"We have already discussed this. I won’t resign from Aurevia."

Her tone wasn’t harsh, but there was no hesitation in it either. She turned in his arms to face him.

"I’ve already made my decision. I don’t want to argue with you about this again."

Soren looked into her eyes. He could see the determination in them.

She wasn’t going to change her mind, no matter how many times he asked.

He felt helpless.

Soren wanted her beside him. He wanted to know that she was safe every moment of the day. But he also knew he couldn’t make decisions on her behalf.

After a brief silence, he nodded. "Alright, I won’t force you. But I still want to make sure you are taking care of yourself. I’ll ask the housekeeper to prepare fresh, healthy meals for you and have them delivered to your office at lunchtime. I’ll also arrange some snacks for you."

Elowen looked at him in surprise. She opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke again, not giving her the chance to say anything.

"I’ll call you every hour to check on you. If you feel even slightly uncomfortable, you must tell me immediately."

A small smile appeared on Elowen’s face. "You don’t have to do all this. I can eat from the canteen."

She had been doing it for years.

Soren’s expression changed. "The past is the past. I didn’t take care of you back then."

His voice grew quieter.

"I know that. I am not going to make the same mistake again."

He looked at her with an earnestness that left little room for argument.

"I want you to eat properly. I’ll have everything prepared according to your needs. No canteen food. At least not while you are pregnant. I’ll make sure you have fresh, nutritious meals every day."

Elowen couldn’t help laughing at his seriousness. "You are being too much."

"Then let me be too much." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I don’t care if you think I’m fussing over you. I just want you and our baby to be healthy."

Looking at his worried expression, Elowen finally gave in. "Fine. I’ll eat whatever you send."

Only then did Soren’s expression ease. "Good."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

She still hadn’t told him anything about what had happened at Aurevia. Perhaps she was deliberately hiding it because she didn’t want to worry him.

But he didn’t want her to keep doing that. He wouldn’t allow anyone to target her again.

’Daphne,’ he muttered inwardly. His gaze darkened. ’If she thinks she could humiliate my wife and get away with it, she is terribly mistaken.’