Soren followed Flora''s finger. Evangeline wasughing at something Finn had said, her smile radiant and genuine. He couldn''t remember thest time he''d seen her smile like that. A dull ache spread through his chest. After a moment, he forced himself to look away.


    He wasn''t one for desperate pleading. He knew it was pointless. It was like a negotiation in business: the more you showed you wanted something, the more leverage the other side had. If he acted like he didn''t care, she would be the one to lose herposure. He had been reckless before, his judgment clouded by illness and emotion, but he wouldn''t make that mistake again.


    He closed his eyes and took a slow breath.


    Poppy, sitting beside him, chewed on her lip. "Since we''re here, maybe we should go say hello," she suggested softly. "I should apologize to her for what happened the other day."


    Flora twisted around in the passenger seat. "Apologize for what? Poppy, don''t even think about it. All you and my brother did was go to her apartment. Who would even want to set foot in that dump? She should be grateful you even showed up."


    Flora didn''t know the full story, only that the visit had ended badly, which she found utterly absurd.


    Soren remained silent. Poppy didn''t exin further.


    Just then, Evangeline and Finn burst into another round ofughter. An inexplicable wave of irritation washed over Flora. "It''s only been a few days since the divorce," she muttered. "Why does she look happier than she ever was when she was married? So fickle."


    She had never seen Evangelineugh like that at the Fawkes estate. It was as if their family had been mistreating her. But the truth was, plenty of women were dying to be with her brother-women from far more prominent families. Evangeline had only married into their family because of the debt they owed her mother. Even after they discovered her mother''s scheme, they had honored the marriage contract. Her brother had been trapped for five years with a woman he didn''t love. If anyone was a victim, it was him.


    Her anger rising, Flora told the driver, "Turn around. We should go say hello." She wanted to see the look on Evangeline''s face when she was caught red-handed.


    The driver started to turn the wheel, but Soren''s voice, t and devoid of emotion, stopped him.


    "Don''t."


    "Take us back to the vi."


    The driver, though employed by the Fawkes family, knew Soren''s word was final. He straightened the wheel. Flora was disappointed but quickly rationalized her brother''s decision. He probably didn''t want to see Evangeline. He was still recovering, and another confrontation might set him back, Besides, Poppy was in the car, and Poppy, with her gentle nature, shouldn''t be exposed to such unpleasantness.


    The ck car melted back into the night, unnoticed.


    Evangeline, oblivious, was enjoying her meal. The skewers were as delicious as she remembered. She had worried Finn would find the food toomon but he seemed to be enjoying it, eating with his usual elegance. He held a skewer like a conductor''s baton, savoring each bite as if it were a perfectly cooked steak. His presence seemed to elevate the entire ce.


    The humble grill was busier than


    ever. Every table was full, a rare


    sight for a weekday. The owner was


    sweating profusely over the grill,


    finally having to put up a ''fulPsign to


    turn people away.


    When Evangeline returned from paying the bill, Finn was gone. She scanned the


    crowd and saw him talking to the owner near the grill.


    "What were you two talking about?" she asked when he came back.