The thought sobered Theo. He let out a frustrated sigh. "I knew we never should havee back. Then we wouldn''t be stuck with that damn bet..."


    *Bet?* Evangeline''s ears perked up.


    Before she could ask, Glenn cut Theo off. "This discussion is over. We''ll proceed with Evangeline''s strategy. The low-end version won''t be expensive to produce. We''ll readjust the pricing andunch it. We''ll discuss the specifics at the evening meeting."


    The call ended.


    "Director Shaw," Evangeline asked, turning to him, "what was that you said about a bet?"


    "You don''t know?" Theo looked surprised. Seeing her genuine confusion, he realized Glenn must have kept it from her. That exined why Glenn had shut him down so quickly. He was probably worried about putting too much pressure on her.


    Theo felt a pang of somethingplex. He wasn''t blind; he''d seen the way Glenn looked at her. But if Glenn wanted to keep it a secret, Theo wouldn''t be the one to spoil his ns.


    He pped her on the shoulder. "Oh, just a bet on when we''ll get to drink at your wedding with Glenn."


    Evangeline stared at him. "?"


    "Just kidding. Now, back to work," Theo said, quickly changing the subject.


    She could tell he was deliberately deflecting, so she let it drop.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Poppy stood outside Harmony Grove Residences, her nose wrinkled in distaste at the sight of the old, run-down apartmentplex. This had to be where Evangeline was living.


    Just as she''d suspected, Soren hadn''t gone to the hospital. He hade here, looking for Evangeline. The memory of his cold, dismissive tone earlier made her stomach clench with resentment.


    Taking a deep breath, she walked inside. She had already found out Evangeline''s address and contacted thendlord. Posing as a friend and slipping him some cash, she had easily obtained a spare key.


    The door opened without a sound. She walked into the bedroom and found exactly what she was looking for: Soren, lying on the bed, his face pale and beaded with sweat. He was clearly in pain.


    A surge of frustration washed over Poppy. *Why?* Even when they had been together, Soren had never been this clingy. Whenever they fought, she was always the one to apologize first. The one time she had refused to back down, it had cost her five years with him.


    Her fists clenched. It felt like a wad of cotton was stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe. If only she hadn''t been so stubborn, if she hadn''t left the country, Soren would still be hers. If it weren''t for Evangeline, for the Fawkes family''s pressure, he never would have broken up with her.


    *If only...*


    The more she thought about it, the redder her eyes became, a wild, desperate look shing within them. *Yes. Soren is mine. He has always been mine. Evangeline stole him from me. Now that they''re divorced, he''s simply returning to his rightful ce.*


    Poppy took a shuddering breath and walked to the bed. She slipped off her clothes, leaned over him, and pressed her lips to his.


    Soren stirred from his feverish daze, dimly aware of a soft body in his arms and the cool press of lips against his. His whole body ached, and his mind was clouded with fever.


    "Evangeline?" he murmured. "Is that you?"