SWDnovel Chapter 131: Ethea’s Gifts [2]
Chapter 131: Ethea’s Gifts [2]
Even then, she had resolved to test him, needing to see what kind of man, what kind of person he truly was before she could ever open her heart again.
In the beginning, she hadn’t expected much from him, half-expecting him to eventually show the same greed as the others, or simply tire of the burden and walk away.
Yet, for a month and a half, Soren had worked tirelessly, faced life-and-death dangers, and built his foundation from scratch, all while treating her with unwavering care and respect, never once demanding anything from her.
Through his silent devotion, he had given her hope again, proving himself entirely worthy of everything she had left to offer.
However, wanting to stand beside him meant confronting the reality of her shattered condition.
Truthfully, she had no idea if a true recovery was even possible for her anymore. The damage to her body and her pathways was catastrophic, a slow, agonizing decline that felt entirely irreversible. She didn’t know if she could ever truly escape her inevitable fate, or if she was simply delaying an unavoidable death.
But the dark resignation that had consumed her for so long was gone.
After spending so much time with him, and after seeing him push himself to the absolute limit day after day for her sake, something inside her had shifted. She refused to just sit quietly in her chair and watch him carry the weight of the world alone.
If he was willing to fight so fiercely for her future, she owed it to him—and to herself—to give it her absolute all too.
And this...
This was just the beginning.
The heavy silence of the bedroom settled once more, drawing Ethea back to the present moment. Across from her, the intense confusion on Soren’s face slowly began to clear, replaced by a deep, thoughtful calm.
He slowly closed the folder, the crisp edges of the paper rustling softly. He looked up, his gaze locking onto her steady eyes. The initial shock had completely faded, replaced by a soft, genuine warmth. A gentle smile broke across his face as he rested his hands on the folder in his lap.
"Thank you, Ethea," he said, his voice quiet but incredibly firm. "Truly. I never expected anything like this. But I’m sorry, I can’t accept them."
Ethea watched him, her expression entirely serene. There was no trace of disappointment or frustration on her face; instead, her small smile simply widened, softening her usually stoic features.
Because she had expected exactly this response.
During their month and a half together, she had watched him carefully every single day. A greedy man would have dropped his mask by now, or at least started asking questions about her past.
Soren was neither.
He had simply worked himself to the bone, relying on his own two hands. Through those quiet actions, she had learned his pride, his fierce independence, his benevolence, and above all, his genuine nature. He had protected her out of the kindness of his own heart, and a sudden mountain of corporate wealth was never going to change who he was.
"I knew you would say that," Ethea murmured softly, her voice carrying a light, knowing amusement. "You must think I am trying to pay you back for your kindness or-"
"No, no!" Soren shook his head quickly, a look of earnest reassurance replacing his earlier shock. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I’m not thinking that at all."
"But... If you are doing this because you are worried about our financial situation, you really don’t have to," he said, his voice gentle yet confident. "I already secured a major deal with the Bureau recently. The funds from that alone are more than enough to cover our living expenses, your medical treatments, and anything else we might need for a very long time. And if you ever feel like something is lacking, or if there is anything specific you want, don’t hesitate to tell me. I will do my absolute best to provide it for you."
Hearing his protective but a bit silly declaration, Ethea couldn’t help but smile, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she gently shook her head.
"No, you completely misunderstood me," she said, her eyes softening with a deep, genuine warmth. "However, I am incredibly happy to hear that. Knowing how hard you work to ensure I am cared for means more to me than anything else."
She paused, the light amusement in her eyes shifting into a profound, deliberate focus.
"But... do you remember what I promised you the other day?"
The question hung in the quiet air of the bedroom.
Soren froze, the confident expression on his face instantly melting into a look of sudden, caught-off-guard realization. A faint, unmistakable blush crept up his neck and color touched his cheeks.
He fell completely silent for a moment, his fierce warrior composure utterly failing him as he looked away, clearing his throat.
"...Yes," he muttered quietly, his voice dropping a few octaves as the memory of her promise flashed clearly in his mind.
’Hehe~’ Ethea’s smile widened, entirely enjoying the rare sight of his flustered reaction.
The quiet determination that had been building in her chest over the past weeks finally settled into absolute certainty.
"Then consider this my very first contribution as your wife," she said, her voice soft but filled with an unshakeable gravity. She looked down at the folder in his lap and then back into his eyes. "A wife does not stand idly by while her husband faces every hardship on his own. She builds their future right alongside him. So, please, accept them... And this is not just a gift, but also a commitment from me."
The words left Soren entirely paralyzed for the second time. His mind completely stalled out as he stared at her, his eyes blinking in stunned silence.
Every logical counter-argument he had carefully prepared completely evaporated. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words died before they could even form, utterly derailed by the unyielding weight of her declaration. How was he even supposed to argue against a statement like that? Against her?