Elowen could no longer tolerate it.
"That’s enough, Soren." She wrenched herself free from his grip.
"It’s you who betrayed me in the first place. You kept ignoring me while cozying up with another woman. And now you are questioning me as if I am the one who did something wrong."
Soren’s heart lurched. He realized that he had said something he shouldn’t have. His jealousy had taken over, and the conversation turned ugly.
"I..."
"You know what? I’m done here." She got out of bed and strode toward the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked frantically.
"None of your business."
"Elowen, you are my wife." Soren closed the distance and stood in front of her like a wall. "Everything about you is my business."
"Really?" she scoffed. "I’m the wife you neglected for seven years. My matters were never your business. Now step aside. I’m leaving."
She shoved him away and walked past him. Just as she reached the doorstep, his fingers clamped around her wrist.
"I won’t allow it. You are still weak. You need to rest."
Elowen turned back to him. She looked straight into his eyes.
"Let go."
She didn’t raise her voice. But the fire in her eyes was enough to make Soren understand that she wouldn’t stop, no matter what.
His grip loosened from her hand.
"Complete the discharge procedure. I’m going home." Dropping those words, she walked out of the room.
The moment the door shut behind her, the tears she had been holding back finally spilled down her cheeks.
Soren remained standing where she had left him. His fists trembled at his sides.
"Why, God?" he exclaimed, his gaze moving upward. "You gave me only three months. And yet you sent an opponent. If you had never intended to give me a chance, why send me back?"
Rage, humiliation, guilt, and helplessness—all crashed through him.
"Why give me hope when you were already determined to snatch everything away from me? This is unfair."
He couldn’t calm himself, overwhelmed by everything he couldn’t control. Then his breathing slowly returned to normal.
Determination settled in his heart.
"I won’t give up," he muttered through his clenched teeth. "Make things as difficult for me as you can, but you won’t break me. Do you hear me, God? I won’t back down."
He pulled out his phone. "Theron, you thought you could get close to Elowen by taking over the company where she worked. It’s not happening."
He put the phone against his ear. When the call connected, he said coldly, "Buy all the supply chains of Aurevia design and development—each one of them."
"Mr. Vale. We already own most of the major supply chains," a female voice said from the other end. "We don’t need more."
"Is there any problem if we have more?" Soren asked, his tone cold.
"Um..." The woman on the other end of the phone hesitated for a moment. "There is no problem with it, sir."
"Then do as I say."
"Understood, sir."
Soren ended the call. A cold smirk danced on his lips. "Your supply chains will be under my control now. How are you going to complete that project without your suppliers?"
Later that day...
At Soren’s office...
A woman dressed immaculately in a white blouse and black skirt entered the office.
"Sir, we bought the supply chains you wanted," she said, placing the file on the table.
Soren checked the lists. A satisfied smile curled his lips.
"Sir..." The woman hesitated for a moment and then said, "The suppliers are excited. They are all eager to start working with us."
She carefully continued, "But if we don’t place orders with them, it could hurt our reputation. And right now, all our ongoing projects already have enough raw materials. We don’t need additional supplies."
She paused nervously. "And we don’t have any new projects at this moment."
"Who said we don’t have any new projects?"
The woman’s mouth fell open. She had heard nothing about the company starting any mega project.
Soren closed the file and pushed it across the table toward her.
"I’m planning to transform the private island I bought last year into a luxurious holiday destination." His eyes gleamed with ambition.
"Luxury resorts, exclusive spas, malls, restaurants, a hospital, and a series of landscape gardens will be built. I want it to become a destination where people can hold weddings, corporate retreats, and other high-profile events."
The woman’s face lit up.
"I’ll have a meeting with the executives soon. We’ll discuss the complete development plan. The work will start soon."
"That sounds amazing, sir. Then all the suppliers will be happy. I’ll tell them to prepare for our upcoming mega project."
She picked up the file and turned to leave.
"Wait."
She paused and looked back at him.
"Bring me the last quarter’s finance report."
The woman’s smile disappeared. "But that report is with Miss Tahlia. She handles the finance reports."
She looked hesitant, even scared.
"I am afraid she won’t give it to me."
Soren’s eyes flew wide. He had never known his secretary was scared of Tahlia. He couldn’t help but wonder what Tahlia had done to frighten her.
"Why wouldn’t she give it to you?" Soren snapped. "You are my secretary. Go and ask her to deliver the report to me."
"Right away, sir." She gave a quick bow and then dashed out the door.
Soren took the phone and called Kael.
The call connected soon.
"I told you to look into Tahlia. What is the progress?"
"Until now, nothing. Everything looks normal. She often goes partying with her friends after work. That’s all. No suspicious activities have been noticed."
Soren remained silent. But the slight twitch of a muscle on his forehead showed his irritation.
In the past, Tahlia pretended to be loyal to him. She had stayed by his side, gained his trust, and hidden her true intention until it was too late.
"Keep following her," he said. "Check on her friends too. And..."
Soren looked at him, his expression serious. "Keep an eye on the finance department. Every moment should be monitored."
Kael didn’t know why Soren had suddenly become suspicious of Tahlia. But he could tell Soren was serious.
"I already have someone to keep an eye on Miss Tahlia inside the office. If she makes a move..."
"Soren..." The door was pushed open, and Tahlia came in before Kael could complete his sentence.
Irritation flared beneath Soren’s controlled expression.
"What’s this, Tahlia? Why didn’t you knock?"
Tahlia froze at the doorstep. Disbelief flashed in her eyes.
"You told me I could come to your office anytime I wanted and that I didn’t need your permission." She moved toward the table, her expression troubled.
"I’ve come here countless times without knocking. You never minded. Why are you angry with me today?"
Kael took a sneak peek at Soren. He also wondered why his boss’s attitude toward Tahlia had changed lately.
"That was before," Soren replied coldly. "But now, you are not allowed to enter my office without my permission."
A sudden gasp escaped her. "What? Are you really doing this to me?"
A sheen of tears covered her eyes.
"I only came to deliver the report you wanted. You didn’t have to humiliate me like this."
She dropped the file on the table and dashed out the door.