Flora Fawkes barely registered a word Evangeline Whitmore was saying<b>–</b>she immediately forwarded the livestream to her brother, Soren.


    “Soren, what’s going on? Why is Evangeline at UME?”


    Soren was in the middle of a meeting when Flora’s message popped up.


    He clicked on the livestream. It was UME’s productunch–already halfway through–and there, standing on stage, was Evangeline.


    She wore her hair in a simple ponytail and a perfectly tailored light–blue suit. Her makeup was subtle, just as always, but under the stage lights, something about her felt entirely new.


    For a moment, Soren just stared.


    He’d never seen this side of her before.


    Gone was the timid woman who always spoke to him so gently and quietly.


    On the screen, she was confident, eloquent–radiant.


    His breath caught in his throat.


    A senior executive was preparing to present the quarterly results. He hesitated upon seeing the look on Soren’s face.


    “Go on,” Soren said curtly, jerking his/chin.


    The report continued, but Soren’s attention remained on the livestream. After Evangeline finished her introduction, a robot glided onto the stage from behind the curtain.


    The robot’s craftsmanship was impable; its movements were fluid, almost human. Thements section exploded with awe at how lifelike it was.


    But Soren’s eyes were drawn to the sparkling diamond ring on her middle finger.


    Was that the ring Glenn Carlisle gave her?


    When they’d gotten married, Soren hadn’t wanted the marriage in the first ce<b>, </b><b>so </b>the thought of giving her a diamond ring never even crossed his mind.


    Later, he’d considered making up for it, but it always felt awkward <b>and </b><b>unnecessary </b>The wedding was over, the paperwork was done–what was the <b>point</b><b>? </b>


    173


    He’d never cared about such things. Yet, seeing her now, wearing <b>a ring </b><b>from </b>another man, a sudden wave of irritation rose in his chest.


    At that moment, others in the livestream noticed the ring too. Comments <b>shed </b>across the screen:


    “She’s wearing a diamond ring.”


    “On her middle finger–means she’s in love.”


    “Looks like it’s official. Glenn already gave her a ring. Guess they’re together.”


    “Utter nonsense!” Soren’s temper snapped. He mmed his hand onto the table.


    The executive nearly jumped out of his seat and fell silent, fear creeping over his face.


    This is it, he thought. I’m done for.


    But instead, Soren rose abruptly and strode out <i>of </i>the room.


    Back on stage, Evangeline was unaware of the online spection swirling around her. She introduced the robot’s features and applications in detail. When she finished with the pricing, the Q&A session began.


    She answered each question with poise. She’d prepared thoroughly–every technical inquiry was met with a clear, fluent response. Even when reporters tried to stir up drama about UME’s rivalry with Fawkes Enterprises, she handled them with grace.


    But then the questions shifted: several reporters pressed her about her rtionship with Glenn. Evangeline firmly denied any romantic involvement.


    Still, they wouldn’t let up. “If there’s nothing between you, how did a housev a five–year gap in her careernd an executive position at UME overnight?”


    with


    Evangeline smiled, unfazed. “I’m sorry, but this is UME’s productunch. I’ll only be answering questions rted to the event.”


    One reporter persisted: “You’re dodging the question–is that an admission? Our sources say <i>you </i>and Glenn live in the same building, and that you’ve visited each other’s apartmentste at night…”


    Evangeline was well aware of the rumors circting online, but she also knew that giving them oxygen would only make things worse.


    People would always find a way to twist her words, no matter what <b>she </b><b>said</b>.


    She kept her voice steady. “Noment.”


    “What does ‘noment‘ mean? Is it something you can’t talk about? <i>So </i>it’s all true, then?”


    Other reporters joined in, their voices rising in a cacophony of usation.


    The barrage of questions grew louder and louder. For a split second, Evangeline was transported back to her mother’s funeral, to painful memories she’d tried <i>to </i>bury.


    Her vision spun. The room seemed to close in around her.


    Suddenly, her knees buckled–but a pair of strong, unyielding arms caught her before she could fall.


    She turned, and found the robot standing beside her, its face expressionless as it looked down at her.