Evangeline paused, her gaze lingering on the message Soren had just sent.


    Before she could gather her thoughts, a stranger’s voice called from the hallway. “Hi, delivery! Could youe out and sign for this?”


    At the same moment, a message from Glenn popped up on her phone.


    It all clicked into ce. When she’d gone to the clinic earlier for her prescription, one of the medications had been out of stock–they’d needed to order it from another pharmacy. Glenn must have given them her address at the front desk.


    So the delivery guy at the door was here for her.


    Evangeline opened the door. The courier, face glistening with sweat, gave an apologetic smile. “I saw it was medication, so I delivered yours first. But there’s some renovation work in your building right now, and the elevators are jammed. Sorry I’m a littlete.”


    “It’s fine


    fine,” Evangeline replied, taking the bag from him.


    There were indeed several apartments in her building being remodeled these days. Even the one across the hall, which had sat empty for ages, was finally getting a


    facelift.


    Everything around her seemed to whisper the same truth: the peaceful, almost farcical life she’d once lived as Mrs. Fawkes was slipping further and further away. Now she was just Evangeline–a regr resident in Serenity Gardens, an ordinary neighbor among strangers.


    And for the first time, she felt at peace with that.


    After thanking the courier and stepping back inside, her phone buzzed with another notification.


    It was from an app she rarely used–a suggestion for “Someone You May Know.”


    Without thinking, Evangeline tapped it open.


    And froze.


    It was Poppy’s profile. Poppy had just posted an update.


    The photo was set in a ce Evangeline knew all too well–the gleaming new vi she’d called home for five years.


    1124


    Soren must have juste in from outside; half his figure was still caught in the darkness, the other half bathed in the warm glow of the foyer lights.


    His expression was gentler than she remembered–nothing like the cold indifference she’d seen so often. For a moment, it was as if the frost in his <b>eye </b>had melted.


    Poppy, dressed in a loose sweater and lounge pants, stood in front of him, reaching up to help him shrug out of his coat with a soft, familiar gesture.


    It was all so simple, so ordinary–and yet, not.


    Ordinary, because the scene might have belonged to any married couple.


    Not ordinary, because even if you covered their mouths, the tenderness in their eyes gave everything away.


    Beneath the photo, Poppy had added a brief caption.


    “Three meals, four seasons, just the two of us. That’s enough.”


    The post was brand new–the timestamp confirmed it.


    So Soren had gone home to be with Poppy.


    Evangeline stared at the screen, silent.


    She knew this kind of scene would only be moremon once Soren and Poppy made their rtionship official. And she had no right to say anything about <ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    Still, her heart twisted with something she couldn’t quite name.


    A few moments ago–when Soren had asked if she was hurt, told her to wait for him, and just before the doorbell rang–she’d let herself hope, however foolishly. that he might still care.


    But now, <b>this </b>post–this photo and these words–felt like a p, snapping her back to reality.


    Not that she’d expected much from Soren in the first ce..


    She let out a shaky breath, then tapped her <b>own </b>cheek lightly. “Evangeline, get a


    grip.”


    “One round of heartbreak is enough.”


    Just as she was about to put her phone away, something in the background of the photo caught her eye, and her fingers stilled.


    1124


    Outside, moonlight vanished behind thick clouds, leaving the night as dark as spilled ink


    Fawkes Manor.


    Soren watched as Poppy busied herself in the entryway, a puzzled look on his face. “What are you doing here?”


    Poppy hung his coat on the rack with practiced ease, teasing, “It’ste, Soren. You’re not going to kick me out now, are you?”


    Soren pressed his lips together, saying nothing.


    She grinned. “Okay, I’ll stop. Honestly, I was about to head home<b>, </b>but when I realized Evangeline still hadn’te back, I got worried.”


    “Evangeline’s angry with me–she wouldn’te back because of what I did. I could tell today that she doesn’t like me much.”


    She looked at Soren, earnest now. “You know where she’s living, don’t you? Take me to her. I want to clear the air, apologize, and convince her toe home.”