After a long moment, he let out a deep sigh.


    Mrs. Fawkes was awake but still too weak to speak. Evangeline stayed only long enough to exchange a few quiet words, reassuring her to rest and focus on getting better before she left. The rest of the Fawkes family would be arriving soon, and she had no desire to run into any of them. She was sure the feeling was mutual.


    She had nned to make a clean exit, but she ran into the one person she wanted to see least.


    Poppy.


    They came face to face just as Evangeline was leaving the hospital building and Poppy was about to enter. Poppy seemed just as surprised to see her, her steps faltering for a moment. Evangeline intended to pretend she hadn''t seen her and walk away, but Poppy had other ns.


    She stopped and called out with a sharine smile, "Evangeline. You''re already divorced from Soren and have cut all ties. Why are you stilling here to humiliate yourself?"


    With Soren out of earshot, Poppy dropped the pretense of friendly nostalgia. "A good ex-wife," she sneered, "should be like a ghost-never seen or heard from again. Not that it matters if you show up. He''s not going to take you back."


    "You probably don''t know this, but Soren has already taken me to meet the Fawkes family. We''re nning our engagement."


    "Here''s our invitation." Poppy pressed an elegantly designed card into Evangeline''s hand, watching her expression closely. She had expected to see sadness or despair, but Evangeline''s face remained cid. She merely nced at the names on the invitation, her eyelids barely lifting.


    Her indifference puzzled Poppy.


    "Congrattions, then," Evangeline said calmly. "I hope you get everything you''ve ever wanted."


    n?


    She had seen the names on the card: Soren and Poppy. The ink seemed fresh, as if it had just been printed. The decision must have been madest night, right after she and Soren had severed their ties for good. At this point, Poppy would have no reason to he about something so easily verifiable. Evangeline had prepared herself for this. After what happened at her apartment, no news about them could surprise her anymore.


    Seeing no reaction, Poppy had thought Evangeline might refuse the invitation. A refusal would have meant she still cared, that she was angry. But there was nothing.


    Evangeline nced at the time, tucked the invitation into her purse, and smiled. "I''II be there."


    With that, she turned and walked away.


    Poppy had achieved her goal, but as she watched Evangeline leave, a strange feeling settled over her.


    There was no joy, no triumphantmet


    satisfaction. Instead, there was an emptiness in her chest, a hollow. sense of l?ss.


    And beneath it all, a baffling flicker of fear.


    Poppy looked down, her thumb stroking over her and Soren''s names on the invitation. She had been the one to propose the engagement suggesting it as a way to bring some good fortune and lift the family''s spirits while Mrs. Fawkes recovered. The family had agreed, and so had Soren. Soon, she would marry into the Fawkes family and have everything she had worked for.


    So what was she so afraid of? She couldn''t say.


    At the hospital entrance, Finn was leaningzily against his car. He saw Evangeline


    emerge, her expression distant, her mood clearly soured.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Evangeline pursed her lips. "There''s somewhere I need to go."


    ***