Evangeline gave Finn a quick rundown of the situation.
Her messy history with the Whitmores was already the talk of Serenity City- anyone curious enough could have looked it up, and she never intended to hide it from him.
Still, after spending some time with Finn, she''d gotten a pretty good read on him.
He was refined and elegant, but sharp-tongued.
Finn enjoyed getting under people''s skin, and he especially liked watching them at a loss for words when he did.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished exining, Finn agreed without a moment''s hesitation.
They set a time to go together, and then Evangeline headed back to the office. "Evangeline took Finn to meet the Whitmores?"
Evening light nted through the study at Fawkes Manor.
Soren mmed his hand on the desk and shot to his feet. "Are you sure you saw them clearly?"
Gregory nodded, sliding a set of photos across the table.
In the photos, Evangeline''s car was unmistakably parked outside the Whitmore estate. He''d just had someone get it serviced a few days ago, so there was no way he was mistaken.
And the two people walking side by side through the Whitmore''s front gates? No doubt about it—Evangeline and Finn.
Soren pinched the corner of a photo, eyes fixed on the two figures'' retreating backs. His gaze grew cold and distant, a familiar ache blooming in his chest.
That hollow feeling was back, gnawing away at him.
His heart actually hurt, just a little.
He''d regretted his outburst thest time he stormed off.
Maybe he really had gone too far.
Later, he''d sent her a message to apologize, but Evangeline hadn''t replied. Not even once.
At first, he''d convinced himself she was just too busy to answer.
But now...
Turns out she was busy introducing her new boyfriend to her family.
Soren''s grip on the photograph tightened, knuckles whitening.
His voice was rough as he nced at Gregory. "Did you take care of what I asked you to do?"
"Mr. Fawkes, I''ve already spoken with Miss Whitmore," Gregory said quickly.
After Mr. Fawkes hade home furious the other day, he''d told Gregory to call Evangeline and ry that he was about to be fired-hoping she''d put in a good word for him.
Gregory had agreed right away. After all, he''d kept Evangeline''s car ident and miscarriage a secret, and when she''d announced she wanted a divorce, he hadn''t managed to stop her.
He was partially to me for Evangeline managing to keep the divorce hidden from Mr. Fawkes in the first ce.
"How did she respond?" Soren''s tone was icy.
Gregory coughed, his voice shrinking. "Miss Whitmore refused."
Soren let out a bitterugh. "She''s that heartless with you too?"
Over the years, Gregory had said plenty of good things about Evangeline in front of him.
But now, she seemed colder than a stranger.
Gregory''s voice dropped even lower. "But... Miss Whitmore invited me to join her at UME. She said she''s short on assistants."
Soren let out a short, incredulousugh.
Gregory, seeing Soren''s expression shift, quickly held up three fingers, swearing, "Of course, I turned her down t. Mr. Fawkes, I owe you too much. As long as you''ll have me, I''m not going anywhere."
Soren gave a quiet "Mm."
Gregory had been with him for so many years; Soren never doubted his loyalty.
But he hadn''t expected Evangeline to change so much in just a month.
She even dared to poach his people now?
He really was starting to lose his grip on her.
Soren gave a soft, sardonic snort.
Gregory picked up on his foul mood and offered, "Mr. Fawkes, the Whitmores just
tanked their new project the other day. Should we..."
Soren''s eyes darkened.
A few secondster, he rose to his feet.
"Get the car. We''re going to the Whitmores''."
"To settle the score."
Evangeline thought she could bring Finn home, make things official?
Not a chance.
A slow, amused smile curled on Soren''s lips as he thought it over.