Glenn was always so calm and methodical; it was rare to hear any significant emotional fluctuation in his voice. That was why she hadn''t paid much attention when he''d sounded subdued on theirst call. But thinking back now, his tone had been distinctly worried.


    Evangeline mentally reyed Glenn''s recent odd behavior-the subtle shift in his voice, their decreasing contact and a suspicion began to form.


    Glenn was in trouble.


    Given the crisis UME was facing, and how much thepany meant to him, he would never have stayed away knowing how serious things were. Not unless he was physically unable to return.


    The most likely source of that trouble was Victor Lockridge.


    But Glenn was Theresa Carlisle''s brother, and he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Victor shouldn''t have had any reason to go after him so aggressively.


    Unless...


    As a possible reason dawned on her, Evangeline''s heart sank.


    Back at the hospital, Poppy returned to the room to find Soren standing by the window. His back was to her, his gaze lost somewhere outside as he stared into the distance. As Poppy started toward him, her eyes fell on a document lying on the table.


    *"Agreement to Waive Inheritance Rights."*


    Her eyes lit up.


    She walked over and silently flipped through the pages. When she saw Evangeline''s signature at the end, a triumphant smile yed on her lips.


    Evangeline had given up the inheritance. Smart girl.


    This afternoon, while the old Mrs. Fawkes was still in surgery, the Fawkes family had already sensed a looming crisis. Worried she wouldn''t make it off the operating table, they had been secretly strategizing how to persuade Evangeline to voluntarily renounce her im. A family as powerful as the Fawkes n would never be so foolish as to actually honor such a will.


    Evangeline, it seemed, knew when to fold. She''d made her move before the family could make theirs. But she had certainly driven a hard bargain. That sum of money was enough to keep herfortable for two lifetimes.


    Poppy scoffed inwardly but kept her expression neutral, cing the document back where she found it.


    The sound seemed to rouse Soren, who turned around.


    "You should go home and get some rest. You don''t need to stay. I''ll be here with Grandmother," Soren said tly when he saw it was her.


    Poppy could have sworn she detected a hint of mncholy in his voice, but she couldn''t be sure.


    She paused for a moment before forcing a smile. "You just recovered from being sick yourself. You shouldn''t be staying up all night."


    "I''m a man. I''m not that fragile," he replied, a clear dismissal of her concern.


    Poppy didn''t press the issue. Instead, she asked casually, "Did Evangeline stop by?" Soren''s dark eyes hardened. He turned back to the window. "Mm," he grunted. Poppy pursed her lips and moved to stand beside him. "Soren, there''s something I want to say, but I''m not sure if I should."


    "I know it''s not my ce toment, but I can''t keep it to myself."


    "Even before I returned, I''d heard that Mrs. Fawkes doted on Evangeline like her own granddaughter. When you two divorced, she wanted to support Evangeline so she wouldn''t be wronged. As outsiders, we can''t really say anything about that."


    "But for Evangeline to show up demanding shares the moment Grandmother is in aa... isn''t that just cold-blooded?"


    Poppy nced up, watching Soren''s face for a reaction. This time, however, he seemed not to have heard her. There was no anger, no indignation. His expression remained unchanged. He didn''t even respond to herment.


    "How is the projecting along?" Soren asked, his tone detached.


    Poppy, caught off guard by the abrupt change of subject, hesitated before


    answering. "It''s going very well. We''ve secured partnerships with fivepanies,


    and the feedback from all of them has been excellent."


    "Evangeline..." Poppy started to say more, but Soren cut her off.


    "Good. I understand."


    "Go home and get some rest. We need you to keep pushing the partnerships


    forward tomorrow. Don''t stay up toote."


    His tone was icy,


    devoid of any


    warmth. He was deliberately


    avoiding any discussion about


    Evangeline. For a moment. Poppy couldnt read hip at all, but she could tell he was in a terrible mood. His dark eyes were filled with a simmering frustration and impatience.


    Unsure of what had transpired during Evangeline''s visit, and seeing his unusual state, Poppy didn''t dare say more. After a few more words of caution, she left.


    Only after she was gone did Soren turn around. His gaze fell on a bouquet of carnations on the nightstand, their petals vibrant and leaves fresh. He didn''t know much about flowers, but after years of marriage to Evangeline, he''d picked up a thing or two. This bouquet had clearly been chosen with great care.


    Before, he had suspected Evangeline of being heartless, but now, he felt an indescribable conflict. The feeling intensified when he thought about how he had severed all ties with her It hadn''t seemed like a big deal at the time, but in the quiet that followed, he felt a profound emptiness in his chest.


    After a few minutes of silence, an idea seemed to strike him. He walked to the doorway, his dark eyes lifting to a security camera mounted in the corner of the ceiling.


    ***