<b>Chapter </b>27


    <b>She </b><b>couldn’t </b>help but let out a wry smile.


    <b>All </b>these years, after marrying into the Fawkes family, everyone assumed <b>she’d </b>struck gold with Soren, that she was rolling in money.


    It was true, in a way. Living in the Fawkes household, every outfit she wore<b>, </b>every essory she carried had to be designer–anything less and people would <b>talk</b>, say she was an embarrassment to the family.


    So Soren would pay exorbitant amounts for designers to create custom dresses and handbags just for her. If she wanted jewelry, all she had to do was tell Soren’s assistant, and it would appear.


    On the surface, her life was all luxury and ease; she never had to worry about food or shelter. But the reality was, the Fawkes family wouldn’t allow her to have a career–to work and be seen in public was out of the question.


    In the past, Soren at least had his assistant give her a monthly allowance. But after she angered him once, Soren ordered the assistant to cut her off entirely.


    Yet there were still expenses around the house she was expected to cover.


    At first, she scraped by on savings from her side business, but without any ie, the money dwindled fast. Just recently, medical bills and car repairs had made another big dent.


    Now, she was t broke–her bank ount didn’t even have four digits left.


    Evangeline nced at the rent, which was more than she had in her ount, and managed an awkward smile. “It’s alright, really. I… I’m not picky about where I live.”


    How could she exin, wearing a dress worth thousands, that she didn’t have a penny to her name?


    And even if she tried, she doubted anyone would believe her.


    Besides, it wasn’t entirely a lie.


    After all, when she’dst angered Soren, he’d locked her out and she’d been forced to sleep outside for a week.


    Since then, she’d learned to be grateful for any ce to rest her head.


    Sure enough, the realtor’s smile faltered for a moment after she spoke. He forced augh,plimented her thriftiness, but his attitude lost the polite deference he’d


    <b>22:01 </b>


    <b>shown </b><b>before</b>.


    <b>By </b><b>the </b><b>time </b><b>they </b>were <b>signing </b><b>the </b>lease, he <b>barely </b><b>concealed </b>his <b>impatience</b>. Wher <b>she </b><b>tried </b><b>to </b><b>ask </b><b>a </b>few more questions, he just leaned against <b>the </b><b>wall and </b><b>shrugged</b><b>. </b>“You get what you pay for, ma’am. This is what <i>you </i>get <b>at </b>this price, so <b>you’ll </b>have to make do.”


    Evangeline had no other options, so she let it go.


    Once everything was finalized, she stopped by a store downstairs to buy toiletries, then spent hours cleaning every inch of her new ce. By the time she finished<b>, </b>the sky outside had already gone dark.


    Breathless and exhausted, she copsed onto the couch and looked around at the cramped, shabby little apartment.


    Thest rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a golden light across the white walls, as if gilding them with gold leaf.


    It was nothing like the vi she’d left behind, but it carried a new, quietly joyful


    scent.


    It took her a moment to realize what it was.


    This was the scent of reunion after a long absence–the feeling of being reborn, of freedom.


    The Fawkes Enterprises building felt as if it were shrouded in a heavy cloud. No one dared speak above a whisper; everyone knew that Soren was in a foul mood today.


    Even Gregory was on edge as he went in to deliver his report.


    He nced nervously at his boss’s icy expression, forced himself to finish the update, then added, “Sir, there’s something else. We’ve discovered that Winston has been using our name to attract small investors.”


    “So far, five or sixpanies have gotten involved, and two more havee to us to ask about it.‘


    “Do you want us to step in?”


    Soren frowned, his irritation growing even sharper.


    He waved a hand. “From now on, anything to do with the Whitmore family is your responsibility. Starting today, I don’t want to hear the word ‘Whitmore‘ again.”


    <b>22.01 </b>


    He paused, then added, “And don’t let me hear ‘Evangeline; either.


    Just the thought made Soren’s mood plummet further.


    Hearing Winston’s name was infuriating.


    But what really got under his skin was this: the Whitmore family had treated Evangeline horribly, and she’d put up with it. She’d evene to him, asking him <i>to </i>help their family secure investments and sign contracts.


    But when it came to Poppy, that was where she drew the line. She couldn’t tolerate her, and instead ran away from home just to spite him.


    Had he been too good to her all this time?