Evangeline could never bring herself to meet Soren’s gaze–this was just <b>one </b>of the many reasons why.


    Now, realizing exactly what Winston was plotting, she let out a coldugh. <b>“</b><b>Don’t </b>bother, it’s over. Soren and I are already divorced.”


    “The Whitmore family and the Fawkes family are no longer inws, either.”


    “What did you say?” Winston’s voice faltered for a second, then sharpened. “You and Soren are divorced?!”


    “That’s right.”


    “When did this happen?”


    “Just now.”


    “Was it Soren’s idea?<b>” </b>


    “No, it was mine. He agreed.”


    “Absolutely ridiculous!”


    A loud thud rang through the phone–Winston had mmed his hand on the desk.


    Even though Evangeline wasn’t there, she could easily picture Winston’s face, red with fury, his eyes bulging as if she were the greatest disgrace the Whitmore family had ever known.


    He never looked at Giselle that way, though.


    No matter how much Giselle acted up–throwing tantrums, causing thepany to lose hundreds of thousands–Winston would only sigh and, with a fond smile, ask her when she’d finally grow up.


    Evangeline let out a mockingugh but said nothing.


    Winston’s voice grew icy cold. “This marriage was something your mother gave her life for. And you just throw it away? How can you look your mother in the eye?‘


    “If your mother is watching from above and sees you squandering her sacrifice like this, how do you think she’d feel?!”


    “I’m telling you now–go apologize immediately!”


    Evangeline scoffed quietly.


    If her mother <b>really </b>could see her now, she’d probably feel nothing but disappointment.


    But before she could muster a reply, Winston had already hung <b>up </b>in <b>a </b><b>huff</b>.


    The Whitmore family.


    Winston mmed the phone down so hard his face turned almost purple <b>with </b><b>rage</b>. “Oh, let it go. I told you long ago, Evangeline stopped seeing us as family ages back,” Hazel said, gliding into the room in a flowing red dress. She assumed Winston was upset because Evangeline refused to help, so she reached out and patted his chestfortingly.


    “She probably used the Fawkes family’s connections to carve her own path. To her, we’re just obstacles–nothing more than tools to win the Fawkes‘ favor.”


    Hazel’s words eased Winston’s anger a little, though his expression remained troubled. “I’ve already called in too many favors from Mrs. Fawkes. Each ask costs more, and afterst time…” He sighed. “The olddy’s no fool. I doubt she’ll say yes so easily this time.”


    “And it’s not just that. Evangeline is the real problem now.”


    Just mentioning her made Winston’s temper re again. “She actually went through with divorcing Soren. Unbelievable! How did I end up with such an ungrateful daughter?”


    “Divorced?” Hazel’s eyes widened with disbelief. “That can’t be. Everyone in Serenity City knows how much Evangeline loved Soren. And her mother all but gave her life for that marriage–she’d just walk away, just like that?”


    Winston was about to reply when Giselle burst through the door, breathless from


    running.


    “Dad, Mom!”


    Seeing her, Hazel immediately brightened. She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Giselle’s brow. “Sweetheart, you’re soaked. Take a breath, don’t rush. Whatever’s happened, your dad will take care of it.”


    Winston nodded in agreement, pushing aside his earlier frustration. Mischiev lively Giselle had always been his favorite.


    He smiled warmly at her. “What happened, darling? Take your time.”


    It took Giselle a moment to catch her breath. “I just ran into Evangeline. She was at


    21:05


    city hall, and.. I think she was filing for divorce.”


    <b>Chapter </b><b>24 </b>