"Sign it, Elowen." Soren’s voice was calm, too calm.
Elowen sat across from him, staring at the divorce agreement on the table between them. For a long moment, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even react.
Divorce
After seven years of marriage, Soren wanted to end their relationship.
"Are you really doing this?"
Soren didn’t answer immediately. He sat on the other side of the table, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His expression was cold and unreadable, just as it always had been whenever he looked at her.
"Yes," he finally said. "Grandpa is no more. There is no reason to stay in this meaningless marriage."
Meaningless?
Elowen pressed her fingers against her abdomen.
They had been together for seven years. She had given him a daughter. And now, she was pregnant with their second child. She had planned to tell him tonight when he returned from the office.
How could their marriage be meaningless?
She knew he had been cold and indifferent toward her. But she had told herself this was simply how he was.
’I loved him for years, stood beside him silently whenever he was depressed, cooked for him, took care of his family, and tried to make this home a place he would want to return to. Yet, nothing matters to him. Everything I did is meaningless to him.’
Soren rarely spent time with her or their daughter. He had always found an excuse.
’I’m busy.’
’I’ve too many responsibilities.’
’I’m tired.’
Even so, he would occasionally hug her and kiss her. Those small moments were enough to give her hope.
Elowen had foolishly thought that one day, she would warm his heart.
She had been wrong.
’He entered into this marriage because of his grandfather. Now that the old man is no longer alive, he doesn’t want to spend another moment with me. The moment he returned home, he gave me the divorce agreement.’
The overwhelming emotion threatened to spill out. Elowen clenched her fists under the table.
"What about our daughter?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "She is only six, Soren. Think about her. And..."
"Don’t start," Soren interrupted her right before she could tell him about her pregnancy.
"You know how we got married. If you had not drugged me and crawled up into my bed seven years ago, I wouldn’t have ended up with you. You got pregnant, and Grandpa forced me to marry you."
Elowen sucked in a sharp breath.
A few scenes from that night flashed in the back of her mind. The dimly lit room, Soren pressing her beneath him, and taking her again and again that night.
She had been the victim. But he had spent seven years believing that she was the one who had drugged him.
’So that’s why he treated me coldly and neglected me all these years.’
She finally realized the reason.
"No... That’s not true." She tried to explain. "That night..."
But he wouldn’t listen. "I agreed to the marriage to save the family reputation. Or else, I wouldn’t have even glanced at a woman as manipulative and materialistic as you."
"I’m manipulative and materialistic?" She gave him a stunned look. "Seven years, Soren. And this is what you think of me?"
Tears gathered in her eyes, but she refused to shed them.
"Stop acting righteous," Soren said sternly. "I gave you what you wanted. I gave you the title of my wife. You enjoyed the privilege of being the daughter-in-law of the Vale family for seven years. But not anymore."
His expression turned even colder. "I don’t want to be trapped in this marriage. Let’s end it nicely."
Elowen’s heart slammed against her chest. She could barely hold her tears back.
"Do you love someone?"
One name crossed her mind—Tahlia, his childhood friend. Soren treated her well and always took her side. Of course, he liked her. He might be thinking about marrying her.
"We are ending this marriage. I can be with anyone I want."
Soren didn’t give her a direct answer. But his words were enough to tell her everything.
Her insides clenched.
Elowen remembered the early days of their marriage.
She had waited for him every night, prepared meals even though she knew he might not eat them, and learned to brew his favorite black coffee. She had waited for the smallest signs that he was beginning to like her.
But he was always cold to her.
Then Seraphina was born. Elowen thought their daughter would bring Soren closer to her. But Soren had never given her the warmth she craved.
’I was such a fool. I thought he would see me one day and fall for me. But he never loved me. He hated me since the very beginning.’
The only woman in his heart was Tahlia.
"I have transferred the ownership of this villa to you." His voice drew her out of her thoughts. "I’ll also give you ten million. You won’t suffer for the rest of your life."
Elowen lowered her eyes.
She had stayed with him in this marriage because she loved him, but he had thought she had only wanted his money.
A tear finally slipped down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away. She didn’t want him to see her cry.
"Sign..." He pushed the divorce papers toward her slightly. "Don’t make it ugly."
Elowen raised her eyes at him. She wanted to ask him if he had ever loved her, even a little. She wanted to know whether all these years meant nothing to him. But she swallowed every question.
What was the point?
He had already made his choice.
Elowen finally understood love couldn’t be forced. She picked up the pen.
"I don’t want your money. I won’t take the villa either."
She crossed out the property he had mentioned in the agreement. Then she crossed out the ten million he had prepared to give her.
Disbelief crossed his face. "Are you sure?" he asked skeptically.
Elowen met his gaze. "I only want Seraphina’s custody."
Soren blinked, struggling to process what he was hearing. All these years, he had believed she was a gold-digger. But in the end, she was refusing the money and property he was offering.
’How could this be? Certainly, she must be trying hard to get my attention.’
Her hand didn’t shake as she signed her name. She stared at her signature for a few seconds. Then she put down the pen.
Her marriage was ended. She lost the man she loved with all her heart.
It was painful. But she didn’t cry or beg him not to end this marriage.
Elowen stood. "I won’t bother you again, Soren. I’ll pack my bags and leave tomorrow. I hope you find happiness with the person you love."
The next morning...
Elowen picked up her bag and walked toward the door, holding Seraphina’s hand. She didn’t look back. She couldn’t.
If she turned around, she was afraid she would lose her strength.
The moment she stepped outside, a cold breeze brushed against her face. Elowen walked toward the waiting taxi.
The driver took her luggage and placed it in the trunk.
Elowen ushered Sera inside the taxi. Before getting in, she glanced at the villa, the place she had called home for seven years.
Her eyes became moist, but she didn’t cry. She lowered her gaze and got in.
The taxi pulled away from the villa.
Seraphina sat quietly. Elowen rested her head against the window, looking at the gloomy sky.
Rain had begun to fall. Water streamed down the glass, blurring the streets outside.
Elowen placed one hand protectively over her stomach. She had not told Soren about the baby.
’It’s better this way,’ she thought. ’The child won’t see its father’s resentment toward its mother.’
She closed her eyes.
A few minutes later, as they crossed an intersection, a black SUV suddenly sped through the rain.
Elowen’s eyes widened. She cried, "Look out."
The driver slammed on the brakes. But it was too late.
Crash
The taxi spun violently before slamming into the concrete barrier.
Elowen instinctively curled her body around Sera, shielding her. Then everything went silent.
Her arms remained around Sera protectively, and her daughter lay still against her. Her little pink backpack was stained with blood.
People rushed toward the wreckage. Someone screamed for an ambulance. Sirens soon pierced the rain.
But inside the crushed taxi, neither Elowen nor Sera moved.