Soren's POV
The first three months with Leona were everything I thought I wanted. She was captivating, intelligent, and knew how to charm a crowd. In public, she had the uncanny ability to turn heads and leave people talking about us long after we left. For a while, I convinced myself I had made the right choice.
We were inseparable during those early days, jetting across continents and experiencing the finest life had to offer. I spoiled her shamelessly, indulging her every whim. From private shopping sprees in Milan to exclusive resorts in Bali, I gave her the world or at least tried to. But as time passed, the sheen wore off, and cracks began to show.
Her allure turned to obsession. She became demanding, insisting on constant validation and attention. If my focus veered even slightly from her, she would make sure I felt the consequences. It was suffocating. I couldn't breathe without her questioning me, doubting me, and clinging to me as if I were her lifeline.
Unlike Anna, who had been fiercely independent and an equal in every sense, Leona needed to control every part of my life. She would appear uninvited at my office, disrupting meetings and berating my staff for imagined slights. Her tantrums were frequent and exhausting, her demands endless.
I told myself I could handle it. After all, I had chosen her, hadn't I? I had walked away from Anna for what? A shallow illusion of happiness that had turned into a living nightmare.
Her jealousy was the worst of all. She would accuse me of infidelity at every turn, projecting her insecurities onto me with wild accusations and baseless claims. She alienated me from everyone I cared about, isolating me until all that was left was her.
It wasn't long before resentment began to fester. Every interaction with her became a reminder of my mistakes. The memory of Anna, her grace, her strength, her quiet confidence haunted me.
And then I saw her again.
It was like the universe had decided to punish me, shoving my mistakes in my face with brutal clarity. Seeing her in that museum poised, commanding, and utterly indifferent to me was a slap I hadn't expected.
The woman I once adored had changed. Anna or Elera was no longer the warm and forgiving woman I had broken. She was sharp and unyielding now, her eyes holding none of the love they once had for me.
The memories came rushing back: the hospital room, the way she looked at me as I handed her the divorce papers, the cruel things I'd said to push her away. I had destroyed her, shattered her trust, and left her alone to pick up the pieces.
Now, standing in the driveway of my mansion, the regret felt like a weight crushing my chest.
Leona was waiting inside, lounging in the parlor as if she owned the place. She barely acknowledged me at first, flipping through a glossy magazine with her feet propped carelessly on the antique coffee table.
"Why haven't you been answering my calls?" she snapped, not even bothering with a greeting.
"I had things to do," I replied coldly, walking past her without a glance.
"Things to do?" she mocked, rising from her seat. "What's more important than me? Were you with another woman?"
I stopped mid-step, my irritation bubbling over. "Leona, don't start," I said, my tone clipped.
"Don't start? You've been ignoring me all day, and I'm supposed to just sit here and take it?" She stormed after me, her voice rising with each word. "You think I don't know what's going on? Who is she? Is it someone from your office? Or maybe one of your little side projects?"
I turned to face her, my jaw tightening. "I said don't start," I repeated, each word deliberate.
She laughed bitterly, her hands on her hips. "You're pathetic, you know that? You think you can treat me like one of your employees? I'm not here to be ignored, Soren!"
My patience snapped. "This is my house, Leona. And you will not speak to me like that," I said, my voice cutting through her tirade like a blade.
Her eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. "Respect? You don't deserve respect. You're a liar and a cheat, Soren. You've always been a liar!"
The words hit harder than I expected, but not because of their truth. They reminded me of someone else, someone I had betrayed far worse.
"You don't know what you're talking about," I said, turning away.
"Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about!" she shouted, following me up the grand staircase. "You regret me, don't you? You wish you'd stayed with her. What's her name again? That pathetic woman you left in the dust? Anna?"
Her name stopped me in my tracks. My hands clenched into fists as I turned to face her, my voice cold and steady. "Don't you dare say her name."
Leona's laugh was harsh, cutting. "Oh, so that's it. You're still hung up on her, aren't you? She's gone, Soren. She's gone, and she's never coming back."
I stared at her, my chest tight with anger. "She was ten times the woman you'll ever be," I said, my voice low but lethal.
Her face twisted with fury. "You're disgusting," she spat. "Comparing me to her? That nobody?"
"That 'nobody' had more strength, more grace, and more class than you could ever hope to have," I snapped, stepping into my room. "Now leave me alone."
I slammed the door shut, her shrill voice muffled but still audible as she pounded on the wood.
"You think you're better than me? You think you can ignore me? You're nothing without me, Soren! Nothing!"
I leaned against the door, exhaling sharply as her words echoed through the hall. The house felt as hollow as I did, her screams filling the void left by my choices.
I closed my eyes, the image of Elera's cold, distant gaze flashing in my mind. The regret was unbearable, clawing at me with every passing second.
I had made my choice, and now I was living with the consequences. And the worst part? I couldn't undo a damn thing.