Chapter <b>1 </b>


    “Mr. Fawkes, it’s still dangerous at the crash site. You can’t go in yet.”


    “We’ve already called for rescue. The ambnce will be here any minute.”


    “Mr. Fawkes-


    “Get out of my way! If you waste any more time and anything happens to her, I’ll make sure you all pay for it!” Amid the chaos and shouting, that furious voice <b>cut </b>through the noise and slowly pulled Evangeline Whitmore back to consciousness.


    She struggled to lift her head, her vision swimming, but managed to catch sight of a tall, familiar figure pushing past the barricade, storming toward her like some avenging angel.


    Tears of relief spilled down her cheeks. She’d been trapped inside the overturned car for what felt like forever, bleeding and drifting in and out of awareness. She’d thought Soren Fawkes would nevere.


    Thest time they spoke, they’d been arguing. They were supposed to meet at his officest night, but Soren had received a call early that morning and bailed on her–didn’t even bother to pick up when she called. By the time the ident happened, her phone was almost dead. She used thest bit of battery to shoot her location to his assistant, praying someone woulde help.


    She thought, like always, Soren would ignore her messages.


    But now…


    “There’s still hope, baby… Daddy’s here…”


    Evangeline looked down at the blood still pooling beneath her. Even so, she clung to a shred of hope.


    Fighting off the waves of nausea, she tried to call out Soren’s name, but her throat. was raw–she could barely make a sound.


    It didn’t matter. Soren had found her. She forced her trembling arm to lift, trying to


    wave him down-


    But in the next moment, Soren brushed right past her, not even ncing her way, his stride unbroken.


    Evangeline froze, confused.


    Maybe he hadn’t recognized her. She wasn’t driving <b>the </b>Fawkes <b>family </b><b>car </b>


    today–her sister–inw had borrowed it that morning. This was the car her mother had given her as a gift, something she rarely drove. Of course Soren wouldn’t recognize it.


    Too dizzy to think straight, she summoned thest of her strength and tried to call


    his name.


    But blood loss had stolen her voice, and what came out was barely a whisper, swallowed by the chaos around them.


    Soren didn’t hear her. He kept walking, stopping only when he reached a white sedan up ahead–the car that had caused the ident.


    Before Evangeline could figure out what was going on, Soren threw open the door and pulled a shaking woman into his arms.


    She wore a long coat, her frame delicate and elegant; she looked every bit the picture of frail beauty. And when Evangeline saw her face, she felt as if she’d been plunged into icy water.


    It was Poppy Yates–Soren’s old me, the one he could never forget.


    Suddenly, everything made sense: that white car had been swerving recklessly, giving Evangeline no time to react before mming into her. Yet now, the driver sat quietly by the roadside, looking for all the world like a wounded child.


    And her “rescuer” was nestled in Evangeline’s husband’s arms.


    Evangeline couldn’t even process why Poppy was back from overseas, or how she’d ended up in that car. None of it mattered. All Evangeline wanted now was to save her baby.


    “Mr. Fawkes, there’s someone else in that car!”


    As Evangeline tried to bang weakly on the window, one of Soren’s bodyguards finally noticed the movement inside <i>her </i>vehicle. Something about the car seemed familiar<b>, </b>and he called out in rm.


    Soren turned his head.


    Inside, Evangeline sat slumped in blood, her face streaked with it, battered and unrecognizable–yet beneath the mess, traces of her delicate features remained.


    She looked vaguely familiar.


    Soren hesitated for a heartbeat, about to say something, but the woman <b>in </b>his <b>arms </b>whimpered in pain.


    “Poppy’s hurt. Clear a path to the hospital. Now.<i>” </i>


    He didn’t spare another nce for anyone else.


    “But, Mr. Fawkes:


    The guard’s protest died on his lips when Soren shot him a withering re. “<b>Yes</b>,


    sir.”


    Evangeline watched, numb, as Soren’s gaze lingered on her for barely a second before he swept Poppy into the waiting car.


    “Soren, help me! Please, save our baby…” She tried to scream, but blood filled her throat, choking off her words.


    No one heard her.


    Soren’s car tore away, sirens ring, leaving her behind.


    Evangeline watched as the car disappeared down the road, her vision blurring, her heart shattering. A wave of agony crashed over her, and as the pain overwhelmed her, darkness swallowed her up once more.