"You haven''t been here long, but I''ve never seen you smile like that," she continued. "You seem really happy."


    Evangeline looked to Tabitha for confirmation. Tabitha nodded and handed her a small mirror. Evangeline looked at her reflection and was surprised to see a gentle smile ying on her lips, one she hadn''t even realized was there.


    A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. She knew she should be wary of Finn. He himself had warned her. But he had helped her so much, and he had never done anything to harm her. Subconsciously, it seemed, she had chosen to trust him.


    She thought about the video Soren had sent her. Finn''s seven-day deal with Victor was almost up. Theresa was still missing. She had a feeling Victor was about to make his move. Finn had promised to help her. This, she realized, would be the ultimate test of whether he was a friend or a foe.


    Meanwhile, after dropping Soren at his vi, Flora decided not to y third wheel and had the driver take her home, leaving Soren and Poppy alone. As she left, she gave Poppy a meaningful look, then turned to her brother.


    "Soren, Poppy has been working so hard taking care of you. You should show her some appreciation. Besides, you saw for yourself that some people have already moved on. It''s time for you to look forward, too. I''ll be waiting for my wedding invitation."


    With that, she shut the car door and left.


    Poppy watched Soren''s face, his expression unreadable. She broke the silence with a gentle smile. "Soren, just have the driver take me home. Let''s just forget about these past few days. You need to rest."


    Soren looked at her, his dark eyes swirling withplex emotions. He didn''t say anything.


    It was only after she had gotten out of the car and started walking away that he finally spoke.


    "Clear your schedule for a dayter this week. I''m taking you to the family estate." Poppy stopped in her tracks. She knew exactly what he meant. Taking her to the Fawkes Family Estate to see his grandmother was a formal introduction, presenting her as his intended. By saying it, he was making it official.


    Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to sound hesitant, testing the waters. "Is that appropriate? What about Evangeline? Weren''t you just talking about getting back together? What if she finds out..."


    "We''re divorced," Soren cut her off, his voice cold. "It''s over. I only considered reconciling because of thepany shares. It was the simplest way to get them back. Since she refused, I''ll find another way. As of today, she and I are done."


    Poppy saw the ice in his eyes. She lowered her gaze to hide the triumphant smile that touched her lips: When she looked up again, her expression was full of regret. "Tever meant for my return to cause all this trouble between you two. Soren, I''m so sorry."


    "What happened between her and me has nothing to do with you," he said, his voice softening slightly. "Don''t worry about it."


    He told the driver to head back to his


    driver


    vi. On the way, the dull ache in his chest returned, a blunt knife twisting inside him Evangeline''s cold, distant eyes shed in his mind. He


    grabbed a financial report from his briefcase, trying to force her image from his thoughts, but the more he tried, the more agitated he became.


    Just then, his phone rang. It was Gregory.


    "Mr. Fawkes, the trap for the Wellingtons is set. Our partners are in ce..."


    "Do it now," Soren said, his voice t. "I want the Wellingtons gone from Serenity City by tomorrow."


    Gregory was taken aback. "Gone? But I thought you wanted to draw it out, to make them suffer for what they did to Miss Evangeline."


    Soren let out a coldugh. Make them suffer for her? As if she needed his help.


    Gregory sensed the shift in Soren''s mood. "Mr. Fawkes," he said carefully, "did something happen between you and Miss Evangeline?"


    Soren''s silence was all the


    confirmation he needed. "You


    ordered a boycott against UME. It''s only natural that she upset with you. It''s too soon to give up. Besides, the Wellingtons have deep


    roots in this city. If you push them too hard, things could get messy..."


    II


    "When did I ask for your advice?" Soren''s voice was dangerously low. Gregory immediately fell silent.


    "Just do it," Sorenmanded.


    After hanging up, Soren still felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. "To the office," he told the driver.


    The driver was surprised. Soren was supposed to be resting. But he saw the dark look on his boss''s face and didn''t dare argue.


    Soren opened his phone and, against his better judgment, navigated to his chat with Evangeline.