Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

”Soren?” Ethea called out worriedly.

Soren caught himself immediately. He forced the tension out of his shoulders, letting his expression smooth back into its usual calm baseline before turning to her with a reassuring nod. ”I’ll see who it is.”

He walked over to the door and pulled it open, bracing himself for the presence on the other side. Standing in the corridor was a man whose elegant posture matched the sharp intensity of his gaze.

”Good morning, Sir,” Soren greeted him smoothly, his tone perfectly polite yet cautious as he stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. ”Come in.”

”Sorry for the intrusion,” Darius said with a pleasant smile as he crossed the threshold. His eyes immediately bypassed Soren, sweeping across the room before locking directly onto Ethea. ”Oh, dear, you’re finally awake!”

”...”

The atmosphere in the room plummeted instantly. By the time Darius walked fully inside, Ethea had already withdrawn entirely into her usual cold, indifferent shell. She didn’t offer a greeting, nor did she acknowledge his presence; instead, she turned her head away completely, her gaze locking onto the far wall.

Darius’s pleasant smile faltered, a flash of genuine pain crossing his features before he let out a heavy sigh. ”I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. It’s my fault, dear. I should have done better to protect you.”

Seeking a bridge to mend the situation, Darius turned his head toward Soren, silently asking for a bit of support or a helpful word to break the ice.

Soren just stared back at him. His expression remained indifferent, offering a polite but empty silence that made it perfectly clear he had absolutely no intention of helping him out.

In fact, if he didn’t have to maintain his facade, he wouldn’t have even let the man cross the threshold in the first place, let alone stand there trying to play the regretful parent.

Darius’s smile turned bitter at the double wall of cold indifference, and he let out another sigh. ”I know words can’t fix how much I’ve failed you both. I let my duties blind me, and I left you exposed to the vultures. I made terrible mistakes, and I won’t deny them anymore.” He paused, his expression hardening with a sudden, immovable resolve as he dropped a bomb into the quiet room. ”Which is why I’m taking the two of you back with me.”

Soren’s eyes narrowed slightly in a flash of shock. Inwardly, his mind raced as the pieces finally clicked together. ’So this was your plan all along.’

The sudden declaration forced Ethea out of her silence. She turned her head back around, her eyes locking onto her father with biting suspicion. It was obvious she didn’t believe a single word of his.

Darius, however, ignored their piercing gazes and pushed forward with certainty. ”Instead of letting you wander around aimlessly while being in constant danger out here, it’s better if I keep you close. You will be much safer that way.”

”...”

”Sir,” Soren finally decided to speak up. ”While I appreciate your sudden concern for our safety, I believe it’s best if we handle our own arrangements. Ethea and I will discuss this and decide what to do ourselves.”

He paused, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. ”If we find your suggestion viable, I will contact you myself.”

”...” Darius fell silent. He stared at Soren, searching the younger man’s unyielding expression for any sign of hesitation, but found none. He then glanced back at Ethea, who remained rigidly distant, her cold silence echoing Soren’s words perfectly.

Realizing there was nothing more he could say to force the issue right now, Darius gave a reluctant nod. ”Alright. I’ll be waiting for your call, then.”

He offered one last lingering look at his daughter, a complex mix of regret and unspoken thoughts in his eyes, before giving them both a nod. ”Take care of yourselves.”

With that, he turned on his heel and took his leave.

Soren turned back to face Ethea, his features immediately softening now that they were alone again. ”Sorry for not telling you earlier. Actually, he came by yesterday while you were resting, but I—”

”It’s okay, I understand,” Ethea interjected softly, cutting off his apology before he could finish.

Soren’s gaze softened, grateful for her quick understanding. ”...I think we need to have a talk.”

”...True,” Ethea agreed far more easily than Soren expected. It seems like she had been planning it too. But...

”Let’s do it after breakfast.” Soren still didn’t want to dump all these heavy revelations on her while she was running on an empty stomach.

”Alright.” Ethea nodded, and after a moment of silence, she looked back up at him. ”...Why did he say that? Wandering around aimlessly, I mean.”

”Oh, that...” Soren paused, considering his words carefully. ”We... were asked to leave the city.”

”...I see.” Ethea fell silent, her brow furrowing slightly as the realization hit her. ”Is it... because of me?”

Soren opened his mouth to deny it immediately, but catching the knowing look in her eyes, he stopped himself. He knew he couldn’t lie to her, but this wasn’t the right time for this conversation either.

”Let’s talk about this later,” Soren said gently.

Ethea stared at him for a beat before letting out a small breath. ”...Ok.”

Just then, another knock resonated through the door.

Soren’s eyes lit up instantly, the tension evaporating from his face. ”It must be Auntie.”

And indeed, it was Clara. She stepped into the room quickly, having rushed over the moment she received his message.

”Good morning, Soren,” she said, her voice instantly bringing warmth to the stark room as she glanced toward the bed. ”And good morning to you, too, dear. It is so good to see you awake.”

”Morning, Auntie,” Soren replied, feeling a genuine wave of relief wash over him. He stepped back to give her space, gesturing toward Ethea. ”I’ll leave her in your care for a bit.”

Clara nodded understandingly, setting her bag down on the side table. ”Go on. Take your time.”

With a final reassuring glance at Ethea, Soren turned and headed out to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast.

He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, looking for all the world like he was simply daydreaming as he walked. In reality, he was reading the hovering window in his vision, his mind instantly locking onto one specific detail.

’...Eclipse’s Corrosion?’