Chapter 43: His madness

Alex’s lips remained parted. He couldn’t speak.

All these years, everyone in their friend circle had believed whatever Soren had said. They had never doubted him.

The Vale family trust sponsored underprivileged students every year, and Elowen had been one of the beneficiaries. When Soren had claimed that she had drugged him and climbed on his bed because she wanted to marry into wealth, everyone had believed him.

Elowen came from an ordinary background, while Soren was the heir to the immensely powerful business empire. In their eyes, she had everything to gain from marrying him.

But Alex had never thought that the truth would be this ugly.

’So Elowen has been the victim all along. And Soren thought she drugged him because she wanted his money.’

His chest caved as he let out a deep sigh.

They had judged Elowen without knowing the truth. And throughout all those years, that innocent woman had suffered silently.

"Soren lied to all of you," Theron muttered. "He could have just checked the hotel’s surveillance footage and found out what had actually happened. But he didn’t. He was too proud to admit that he was wrong. So, he blamed Elowen instead."

Each word came out more clipped and biting than the last.

"Soren neglected her. He had treated her like she was nothing, while giving Tahlia all his attention. He made her life miserable. But I won’t let her suffer any longer. I’ll take her away."

"Don’t do anything stupid," Alex warned. "You are coveting another man’s wife. Soren won’t spare you if you try to interfere in his marriage."

"I am not afraid of him. He can use all his wealth and power against me if he wants. But he can’t stop me from taking Elowen away."

Alex stared at him, struggling to understand how his usually rational friend could be so reckless.

"How are you so sure she will come with you? Snap out, Theron. She has been with Soren for seven years despite the fact that he treated her poorly. They have a daughter together. You can’t assume she will leave him because you want to."

"She will," Theron answered with certainty that silenced Alex. "She has to... Because Soren doesn’t love her. He is only acting this way because he doesn’t want to lose his possession. But how long can he keep pretending?"

Theron drew his strength from his own words.

"Soren loves Tahlia. He always has. The moment she cries or asks for help, he will run to her. He can’t resist her for long."

He leaned back in the sofa, a confident smile flashing across his lips.

"Now that the old man is dead, it’s only a matter of time before he divorces Elowen and marries Tahlia."

Alex fell silent this time. Although Soren had never declared openly that he would reconcile with Tahlia, everyone had witnessed his softness toward her.

’Perhaps Theron is right. Maybe Soren stayed in this marriage only because his grandfather had insisted on it. With the old man gone, perhaps he will finally end things with Elowen.’

He glanced at Theron. He couldn’t dismiss the thought entirely.

"Fine. Then wait until they get divorced. Until then, Elowen is Soren’s woman. Even if you pursue her, she won’t look at you. If anything, she will only think you are a pervert."

Hearing that, Theron’s expression stiffened.

"If Soren really divorces her," Alex continued, "you’ll have to let her decide what she wants. You can’t force her to love you and be with you just because you loved her secretly for years."

His words struck too close to the truth.

Theron wouldn’t let her hate him. But he wouldn’t give up either.

If Elowen still believed Soren could make her happy, he would make her see the truth. He would show her what kind of man Soren was. He would make her understand that Soren’s jealousy wasn’t proof of love and that staying with him would only bring her more pain.

Once she saw that clearly, she would leave him. And when that day came, he would take her away.

~~~~~~~~~

The air inside the car was heavy. It gave Elowen goosebumps.

Soren’s gaze fixed straight ahead at the road. His jaw set tight. The streetlight flickered across his face in rhythmic intervals, highlighting the sharp, irritating line of his mouth.

He hadn’t said a word since they left the party.

Elowen wanted to break the silence. She wanted to explain herself, to make him understand why she had gone with Theron. But every time she looked at him, the coldness of his expression made her lose her nerve.

The silence grew heavier with every passing second until she could barely stand it.

"Soren, don’t stay silent." She finally gathered the courage to speak. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Soren’s jaw flexed. He gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"You went to the party with Theron," he said, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "You lied to me about it."

He finally glanced at her, his eyes dark and narrowed. "What do you expect me to say? I have no words. You left me speechless."

Finally, he unleashed his pent-up anger.

Elowen’s eyes turned glassy. "I know you are upset. I admit that I didn’t tell you about it. But I kept it from you not because I wanted to hurt you. I was afraid you would get angry."

The explanation sounded weak even to her ears. But she didn’t stop. She had to explain to him.

"You had a fight with my boss that night at the restaurant. I was scared you’d react furiously if I told you I was going to a party with him. So I kept it to myself."

Nervousness made her throat dry. She swallowed as she continued, "I thought I’d attend the event, help him with whatever work he needed me to do, and come home early. I never imagined you would be there, too. I didn’t know you were planning to take me to the same party."

Soren hit the accelerator a little harder than necessary, engine roaring briefly in protest.

"You hid the truth because you thought I wouldn’t find out." His voice dropped an octave. "If you had agreed to come with me, none of this would have happened. But you chose to go with another man. You chose him over me."