Chapter 17
Zoe wheeled Soren out of the hospital. Neither of them spoke a word, which was unusual for them. Ever since the day he’d accidentally mentioned Sylvie’s name, things between them had changed.
At first, Zoe cried endlessly, and even though Soren kept apologizing and taking full responsibility, she refused to forgive him.
As time went on, the tension between them only grew. They would exchange glances without saying anything.
Zoe wheeled Soren back to the villa, but the moment they stepped inside, his heart began to ache again. Remy was gone, and so was Sylvie, along with her bright smile.
What hurt him even more was knowing he’d given the order to kill Remy and that he’d been the one to drive Sylvie away.
“Soren,” Zoe said suddenly. “What’s on your mind?”
Her voice was unusually cold.
Soren shook his head and smiled at her. “Nothing. I just haven’t been here for a while, and it’s bringing back some memories.”
“Is that so?” Zoe’s expression softened.
She helped steady him as they made their way upstairs, then guided him to the bed in the master bedroom.
The room had been completely renovated. Zoe had placed some of her favorite wooden decorations and office supplies around the space.
Soren’s gaze drifted to the flowers on the vanity. Like Sylvie, Zoe kept a vase of fresh flowers there. He closed his eyes, a sharp pang of pain hitting him. He couldn’t stop his thoughts from drifting back to Sylvie.
It was as though something inside him had broken, releasing a wave of guilt and longing for her. Every time he thought about how he’d treated her back then, his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
Soren pulled out his phone and dialed Roy’s number. “Find out which country Sylvie moved to and where she is now.”
On the other end of the line, Roy sounded a little surprised. “Ms. Sylvie Clarke?”
Soren paused before responding, “Yes.”
He ended the call and steadied himself against the bed as he stood up. He walked over to the vanity and opened the drawer. It used to be full of love letters Sylvie had written to him.
Soren had once threatened her, insisting she either throw them away or burn them, but she could never bring herself to do it.
“Soren, don’t you want to read-
“Not even a little.” Soren had cut her off coldly before walking away.
Now, the drawer contained Zoe’s notebook and a few pieces of jewelry. Soren smiled faintly before closing it.
He walked to the wardrobe and opened it slowly. The nearly empty wardrobe now held only a few suits and was filled with outfits that were clearly not Sylvie’s.
He suddenly missed the suits Sylvie had designed for him with a surprising intensity.
She’d always chosen the best fabrics and the most comfortable styles without a second thought, arranging them neatly in the closet by color. But he’d never worn a single one.
A vivid image flashed through Soren’s mind–him ripping up the design sketches. Sylvie must have been devastated.
As he remembered her pale face and bitter smile from that moment, a sharp pain shot through his chest. One by one, his past actions replayed in his mind until he dropped to his knees in agony.
Back then, it had felt like something had taken over, driving his obsession for Zoe while he’d treated Sylvie like trash. Sylvie had given him her heart, and he’d stomped on it.
“Sylvie… I’m sorry… Sylvie, I’m so sorry…”
Suddenly, Soren’s phone rang, and he answered it.
“Mr. Parker, we’ve found Ms. Clarke. The Clarkes have relocated to Elyndria. They even moved their businesses and assets.”
”
Soren’s chest tightened as Roy continued, “Ms. Clarke is currently traveling in Reldor. The photos from the investigator have been sent to your phone.”
Soren ended the call and opened the photos. The first photo showed Sylvie beaming, her hand held by a man who looked to be of mixed descent.
A wave of bitterness and pain swept over Soren. He swiped to the next photo.
Shrouded in the night, the man guided Sylvie in a graceful dance. Their bodies pressed close, the intimacy between them undeniable.
Soren tightened his grip on the phone until his fingertips turned white. He swiftly scrolled through the remaining photos, seeing the man walking beside Sylvie, kissing her cheek, holding her close…
Soren’s phone fell to the floor with a loud clatter, and he let out a soft, pained whimper.
Suddenly, a pair of slippered feet appeared in front of him. “Soren?”
Zoe picked up the phone and looked at the screen.
Sylvie! It was all about Sylvie!
“Soren?” Zoe stared at him in disbelief as he knelt on the floor, still whimpering. “Are you in love with Sylvie? Tell me!”
She dropped to her knees and shook him, tears streaming down her face.
Chapter 17
Soren’s lips trembled. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly. “Yes… I’m in love with Sylvie…”
