After five years of marriage, there was no doubt that Evangeline bore Soren''s mark in every way.


    How could any other man possibly pretend none of it had happened and love her wholeheartedly?


    Soren watched as the color drained from Evangeline''s face.


    She met his gaze, her fingers clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heart felt as if it were pricked by a thousand tiny needles-not exactly painful, but heavy and suffocating.


    She knew Soren was telling the truth. Even if he hadn''t said it out loud, she suspected Finn might have, at some point, felt the same disgust.


    But hearing the words spoken aloud still left her with a deep sense of shame and sadness.


    Once, she''d loved Soren with every fiber of her being, enduring all his


    humiliations. Aside from breaking up him and Poppy, she truly believed she''d done nothing to wrong him.


    Once she realized he''d loved Poppy, she chose divorce, giving him and Poppy another chance.


    She only wanted a peaceful separation.


    All this time, she''d been tolerating his anger.


    But she could never have imagined Soren would humiliate her like this, in front of everyone.


    All the love she''d poured out had twisted back into weapons, stabbing straight into her heart.


    She bit her lip, fingers digging deeper into her palm.


    Just then, a gentle but firm hand closed over her fist, softly coaxing her fingers to uncurl.


    Finn looked down at her palm, wincing at the crescent-shaped marks left by her nails. "Hey," he murmured, his voice tinged with concern.


    Holding her hand, he said with quiet conviction, "Why would you ever think you''re tainted? To me, being able to love someone with your whole body and soul- that''s the purest thing there is."


    "I love you for it."


    He spoke softly, then lifted his gaze to Soren. "If anything, the real shame is on those who cheat while in a rtionship and then try to trample on their exes after breaking up. Isn''t that right, Mr. Whitmore?"


    Winston, who''d been silent for a long time, suddenly heard his name and stiffened.


    Why did Finn''s words make him so ufortable?


    But he understood-Finn''s words were aimed squarely at Soren.


    He nced at Soren, catching the man''s cold, warning re, then at Finn, whose


    eyes held their own glint of menace.


    The Whitmore family''s wrath was something no one could afford.


    With a forced chuckle, Winston turned to Evangeline, "I''ll go grab the photo album."


    And with that, the old fox made a quick exit.


    Soren''s gaze lingered on Evangeline, but he showed no anger at Finn''s words. He knew Finn was just bluffing.


    Anyone could say pretty things, but no man could truly not care.


    "Evangeline, I''ll give you onest chance," Soren said quietly. "If you''re willing toe back, I''ll pretend none of this ever happened. We''ll start over, and I''ll try to give you the love you want."


    "And about Poppy-" Soren paused. "I know you mind her, but this time, I''ll send her back abroad. You''ll never have to see her again."


    He didn''t believe Poppy would ever hurt a child on purpose, but if she were sent to the police, it could ruin her record.


    And besides, Poppy was frail. He couldn''t bear to see her suffer.


    This was the biggestpromise he could offer.


    Evangeline stared at him in surprise.


    She heard the seriousness in his tone.


    He was willing to try giving her the love she''d always wished for.


    He''d send Poppy away.


    Such a tempting offer.


    When had Soren ever yielded so much?


    But she still shook her head. "No, I won''t-"


    Before she could finish, Soren interrupted gently, "You don''t have to answer now.


    I''ll give you seven days to decide."


    With that, he cast a weighty look at Finn, then turned and walked away.