And if she remembered correctly, he was the one who had thrown her out of the hospital thest time she was there. While Soren had probably orchestrated most of it, Evangeline had no doubt that Liam genuinely wanted them to divorce.


    Still, she managed a polite, cid smile. "What does it look like I''m doing? I''m getting a room."


    Liam had expected her to be flustered, maybe even a little guilty at being caught red-handed. Her calm, matter-of-fact response left him sputtering. "Evangeline, you''re Soren''s wife!"


    At the word "wife," the two drowsy receptionists behind the counter suddenly perked up, their ears practically twitching.


    "Ex-wife," Evangeline corrected smoothly. "We''re divorced. I have the papers to prove it." She was sure Liam had been at the birthday banquet when it was announced.


    Liam''s face flushed with indignation. "Even so, you shouldn''t be running off with another man this quickly!" he hissed. "Soren gave you seven days to reconsider. He even kicked Poppy out of the vi for you, to wait for your answer!"


    The memory of it still irked him. He''d been sure that once the divorce was final, Soren and Poppy would finally get together. Instead, Soren had grown distant, almost cold toward Poppy. When Poppy told him Soren wanted to get back with Evangeline, Liam had been utterly baffled. And now here she was, checking into a hotel with another man while Soren waited for her?


    On some level, he knew he should be happy. This was the perfect opportunity for Soren to see Evangeline''s true colors and finally give up on the idea of reconciliation. But for some reason, all he felt was a surge of anger.


    For years, everyone in their circle had witnessed how pathetically in love with Soren she was. Soren made her drink for some starlet he was dating, and she did it. He made her walk twenty kilometers home from the suburbs in the middle of the night, and she did it. He pushed her to race a car even when she was trembling with fear, and she still gritted her teeth and got behind the wheel. Liam was convinced that if Soren had asked her to die for him, she would have done it without a second''s hesitation.


    And now, just after the divorce, she was already with someone new. It just didn''t sit right.


    Evangeline listened to his tirade with an amused detachment. She was surprised Soren had actually been willing to let Poppy go, but what did it matter? It just gave the world another reason to paint her as the viin who tore two lovers apart.


    "I''ve already given him my answer many times. It won''t change no matter how many times he asks." She pulled out her phone, opened her chat with Soren, and typed a message.


    *No reconciliation.*


    She''d actually sent the same message a little while ago, but he hadn''t replied. She wasn''t sure if he hadn''t seen it or if he was just ignoring her, as he so often did.


    She held the screen up for Liam to see. "There. I''ve given him his answer. Are we done now?"


    Liam was speechless. Evangeline was divorced; technically, he had no right to interfere. But it still felt wrong. Then again, what could he do?


    He sighed, pulling out his own phone. He''d just have to tell Soren what was happening.


    Evangeline paid him no further attention and turned back to the reception desk. The two receptionists, who had been shamelessly eavesdropping, quickly snapped back to their posts, one pretending to wipe down the counter while the other typed furiously on a keyboard.


    "A suite, please," Evangeline said, sliding her ID across the counter.


    Liam, who was about to dial Soren''s number, froze.


    *A suite?* That didn''t make sense.