She took Evangeline''s hand, a smile on her face, but her grip was deliberately tight. Evangeline felt a sharp pain in her fingers and saw the defiant glint in Poppy''s eyes. She knew it was intentional. Her anger red, but she caught herself and forced a smile, closing her own hand over Poppy''s wrist. "That won''t be necessary."


    As she spoke, she slid her fingers up Poppy''s arm, applying pressure in a specific spot. It was a technique Finn had taught her for situations where she was outmatched—a way to discreetly dislocate a joint or hit a pressure point to temporarily disable an opponent. If Poppy wanted to y dirty, she would y along.


    She found the spot and squeezed. Poppy cried out as her arm went limp.


    "Evangeline, what do you think you''re doing?"


    Evangeline looked at her with wide-eyed innocence. "Hmm? What did I do?"


    Finn stepped forward, gently moving Poppy''s lifeless arm. "It''s dislocated," he announced.


    Evangeline smirked. "Miss Yates, you must be in poor health if a simple touch can dislocate your arm. Maybe you should focus on getting some sun and calcium instead of helping me with my ring. Stay out of dark corners. First a dislocation, next it might be a fracture."


    Poppy, cradling her injured arm, turned pale with fury at the insult.


    Finn turned to Soren with a grin. "Mr. Fawkes, you should take better care of your fiancée. A dislocated arm is one thing, but imagine if her finger dislocated during the wedding ceremony. It would be quite embarrassing if you couldn''t get the ring on." "He''s right," Evangeline added brightly. "After all, Miss Yates may be the one who''s hurt, but it''s the Fawkes family''s reputation on the line."


    She watched as Soren''s face grew so dark it looked like it might crack. She expected him to explode, to defend Poppy, to threaten her. She was ready for it.


    But he said nothing. He simply supported Poppy''s arm and, ignoring her pleading look, led her out of the store.


    Evangeline was stunned. It was the first time she had ever seen Soren retreat from a fight. It was almost unnerving. She looked at Finn, puzzled. He just shrugged.


    "Let''s go." He thanked the sales associate and slid the ring onto her finger.


    Evangeline started to refuse-it was too extravagant-but Finn leaned in and whispered, "It''s not just for


    looks. It''s for your protection." "


    flicked a small, inconspicuous part of the setting, With a soft click, razor-sharp de shot out from under the diamond.


    "For emergencies," Finn said. He plucked a strand of his hair, let it fall onto the de, and blew gently The haj split in two. Guts through almost anything. This is the most valuable part of the ring."


    Evangeline was both shocked and intrigued. Seeing her expression, Finn ruffled her


    hair. "I''ll feel better knowing you have it."


    She didn''t refuse again.


    As they were leaving the mall, Finn


    went to get the car while Evangeline waited at the entrance. She was admiring the ring''s hidden feature when arge hand pped over her mouth from behind, dragging her into a dark corner.


    ***