Evangeline stood frozen, staring at the redness in his eyes, unable to make sense of his usation.


    Soren never needed her to throw him out-he''d always been the one to leave first.


    Over the years, what she saw most was his retreating back.


    But she didn''t want to argue with him about this endless, circr me. Instead, she nodded once, her voice steady. "Yes. You, Flora, the Fawkes family- everything about you I once cared for, I don''t want any of it anymore."


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Soren''s eyes grew even redder, the darkness in them swirling with emotions she couldn''t decipher.


    Anger.


    Coldness.


    Danger.


    It reminded her of the times he''d lost his temper before, but this felt different, like something darker had joined the mix.


    Her heart stuttered. Instinctively, she took a step back.


    But that tiny retreat seemed to push him over the edge. Soren''s hand moved to the back of her head, and he leaned in, crushing his lips toward hers.


    Only then did Evangeline finally realize what that unfathomable look in his eyes meant.


    Desire.


    The very thing she used to long for, but could never quite have.


    Now, it crashed over her like a tidal wave-something wild and threatening.


    Evangeline''s heart leapt. She quickly lifted her hand, pressing her palm against her own lips.


    His cool lipsnded on her skin, not her mouth.


    Seeing her, the woman who had always been the one to reach for him, now fighting him off, Soren''s temper only ignited further.


    He impatiently yanked her hand away.


    Evangeline struggled, pushing at his chest, but the difference in their strength was impossible to bridge.


    She couldn''t shove him off; all she could do was twist away, back up, and resist until suddenly, her retreat ended abruptly-her back hit the wall.


    She tried to dart sideways, but Soren didn''t give her the chance.


    Her body pressed up against his, her warmth seeping through the thin fabric between them.


    Soren stared at her angry, humiliated face, and for no reason, his mind shed back to that night.


    His heart pounded wildly in his chest.


    A moment ago, he''d kissed her out of anger, but now, something else was taking


    over.


    He pinned her to the wall, his grip firm but no longer forceful.


    He stopped.


    Evangeline stopped fighting too, her strength spent from struggling. All she could do was re at him warily.


    "Who are you saving yourself for now?" Soren''s breath was ragged, his wordsced with icy mockery. "Evangeline, have you forgotten? Five years of marriage. Everything that could happen between us already has."


    "So, what are you pretending for?"


    She knew he was right.


    But hearing him say it, a surge of humiliation wrapped around her, suffocating and inexplicable.


    "I''m not pretending." Her fists clenched tight, her voice cial. "I just find you disgusting."


    She caught the scent of Poppy''s perfume on him—the one she''d smelled on him more than once before.


    Soren saw the raw disgust in her eyes and let out a bitterugh. "Disgusting?"


    She found him disgusting? Who did she prefer, then? Finn? Glenn?


    Jealousy red in his chest. He bent down, ignoring her renewed struggle, and scooped her up by the knees.


    He hefted her over his shoulder and strode into the house.


    She thought he was disgusting?


    Soren sneered, "Let''s see how much more disgusting you can get."


    Dangling upside down, Evangeline''s world spun. She pounded his back, wed


    and bit, but he didn''t even seem to feel it.


    Just as she was about to scream, his stride halted.


    Then, a stranger''s voice cut through the air.


    "Mr. Fawkes, we recorded everything that just happened. If you don''t want


    Fawkes Enterprises making headlines for all the wrong reasons, I suggest you put Miss Whitmore down."


    Someone was helping her?


    Evangeline''s heart soared for an instant.


    But then she heard Soren''s response, utterly unfazed.


    He gave a coldugh. "Get out of my way."


    But the man didn''t leave. Soren added, "She''s my wife. What happens between


    us is nobody else''s business."


    The man chuckled. "You must have a short memory, sir. I recall you and Miss Whitmore are already divorced. Maybe Fawkes Enterprises hasn''t made it public yet, but the paperwork''s done. If this video gets out..."


    He let the threat hang, unfinished.