Divorce?


    A boyfriend?


    If she''d brought this up before, Soren might have thought Evangeline was just trying to provoke him. But after everything that happened yesterday, he was suddenly struck by the realization that he barely knew her at all.


    He had no idea when she''d truly decided to end their marriage. He didn''t know when she''d given up on him and chosen someone else. All he knew was what he didn''t want: he didn''t want a divorce. He didn''t want to drift further and further away from her. He didn''t want to see her look right through him, or-worst of all— see her with another man.


    Maybe Liam was right yesterday. Maybe this was just another trap Evangeline had set, hoping he''de crawling back. But Soren had to admit this time, he was walking into her trap willingly.


    He forced down his anger, letting out a resigned breath. "Let''s say you''re right about everything. I''m not here today for Fawkes Enterprises'' shares, or for the will."


    "Then what do you want?" Evangeline asked, suspicion flickering in her eyes.


    Apart from those things, she couldn''t see what else there was left for them to talk about.


    Soren didn''t answer. Instead, he reached out, intending to push open her bedroom door.


    She blocked it with her foot, making it perfectly clear he wasn''t wee inside.


    Her crisp, unhesitating refusal made his eye twitch.


    "Is someone in there?" he demanded.


    Evangeline didn''t bother answering. "Whether there''s someone or not, it''s none of your business. Don''t forget-we''re already divorced. You and I are nothing to each other now."


    "I don''t want a divorce."


    She had barely finished speaking before Soren cut in.


    His voice was steady and certain. "I know about the ident a month ago. I know about the miscarriage, and about you being thrown out of the hospital. If that''s why you want the divorce, I''m willing to apologize and make it right."


    "But marriage is between two people. I was never consulted about the divorce. You decided everything on your own, and I don''t agree to it. I won''t ept it." Evangeline gazed at him in silence.


    After a moment, she let out a short, bitterugh. "Fine. I''ll give you a chance to make it right."


    Seeing her relent, some of the tension left Soren''s face. "What do you want?"


    Her voice was cold and even. "Have Poppy arrested. I want her to pay for what happened to my child."


    Soren hesitated, his brow tightening. "The ident was just that—an ident. Poppy was a victim too, not the one responsible."


    She wasn''t surprised he''d say that.


    To be honest, Evangeline couldn''t be absolutely sure Poppy had meant to hurt her. But she remembered it all too clearly-the moment Poppy''s car veered straight at her, not even attempting to brake or swerve.


    The scene of the crash had been cleaned up in record time, the case quickly ruled an ordinary traffic incident and closed without further investigation. It had all happened far too smoothly.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if it really was an ident.


    Evangeline steadied herself. "I don''t care. All I know is that she killed my child. Either you have her arrested, or there''s nothing you can do to make it up to me." With that, she shut the door in his face.


    She knew Soren would never agree to her demand.


    Between her and Poppy, he would always choose Poppy. Between her child and Poppy, it would still be Poppy.


    Evangeline didn''t look back. She went about her morning routine, washed up, and changed her clothes.


    She''d assumed Soren would leave. But when she finally opened the door again, she found him still standing there in the hallway.


    He didn''t mention their earlier argument. Instead, he took her bag from her hand, his voice low and even. "I''ll drive you to work."


    "No need," Evangeline replied tly. "I can drive myself."


    "Your car''s not here. I sent it in for repairs," Soren said. Evangeline frowned.


    "The engine''s been acting up. Last time, the shop clearly didn''t fix it properly-if you keep driving it, something could happen." He paused, then added, "I''ll have a new one delivered for you in a couple days."


    She could onlyugh at that.


    Of course-Soren could wave his hand and send her anything, no matter how expensive. But the catch was, it only counted if he offered. She could never ask.


    "That won''t be necessary." Evangeline took her bag back from his hand. "If I don''t have a car, I can call a cab. I can take the bus. If ites down to it, I can walk."


    "Save your charity for someone who actually needs it."