Evangeline''s eyes lit up, and she looked at Finn with surprise.


    Seeing her expression shift from anxiety to relief so quickly, he sighed inwardly, a mix of fondness and frustration. He admired her ambition and drive, but sometimes he couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Nearly every time he saw her truly happy, it was because of something rted to UME.


    He wished that just once, while she was nning UME''s future, she might spare a thought for theirs.


    "Finn, you made it."


    A woman''s voice cut through the air.


    Evangeline turned to see a woman with long, curly hair in a form-fitting gown approaching them. A vintage brooch was pinned to her chest, and she held a ss of red wine with an air of gentle elegance.


    The woman looked vaguely familiar, as if Evangeline had seen her somewhere before.


    *Finn?* The casual use of his first name suggested a certain intimacy.


    Evangeline nced at Finn, saw the natural way their eyes met, and silently wondered. *An ex-girlfriend?*


    "And you must be Designer Whitmore."


    The woman''s smile broke through Evangeline''s thoughts.


    Evangeline froze for a second. Over the years, she''d been called "Miss Whitmore," "Young Lady," "Evangeline," and countless other titles, but it had been a long time since anyone had called her "Designer Whitmore."


    Aplex wave of emotion washed over her. Her dream had always been to


    be a brilliant designer of intelligent robotics. After years of a suffocating marriage, she had almost forgotten that original ambition. This was the first person in years to acknowledge it.


    Instantly, Evangeline felt a warmth toward the woman.


    "This is my aunt, Sybil Lockridge," Finn introduced.


    Evangeline was slightly taken aback. "Your aunt? She looks so young."


    It was hard to believe. Then again, the Lockridges had many children, so it wasn''t impossible for Finn to have an aunt close to his age. She vaguely remembered meeting one years ago, but the circumstances had been Unusual She couldn recall the woman''s face, only her voice and thest words she had spoken to her.


    "Look forward. Don''t ever look back."


    Sybil''s voice, calm and steady, echoed the voice from all those years ago.


    The realization hit Evangeline like a physical blow.


    Her eyes widened in shock. "You''re the one... from years ago..."


    Sybil raised a finger to her lips,


    silencing her. She nced around to


    ensure


    no one one was listening, then offered a small, knowing smile and a nod. "saw your interview a while back i''m so d to see you''re safe and have be so sessful. It makes me very proud."


    Finn seemed unconcerned with their unspoken history.


    "My aunt''s division is currently in charge of procuring intelligent robotics," he said smoothly. "UME happens to be a supplier. I thought you two might have something to talk about."


    He found them a quiet, soundproof cabin below deck where they could speak privately, then returned to the party.


    Alone on the deck, Finn gripped the railing, his knuckles white. He thought about how he''d had to press Sybil for weeks before she finally told him the full story of Evangeline''s past.


    A sharp painnced through his chest.


    Sybil was, in a way, Evangeline''s


    na


    savior. After Theresa disappeared, Victor, in a fit of rage, had dragged Evangeline back to the Lockridge estate No one except Victor and his inner circle knew exactly what happened that day, but the sounds of her screams had echoed for hours.


    When Victor was away, Sybil had dismissed the guards and gone to her. She found Evangeline in a wretched state, covered in blood, the skin on her hands and feet rubbed raw. Someone had driven needles under her fingernails.


    Unable to bear it, Sybil had smuggled Evangeline to a hospital. Then, she cleverly fabricated evidence of Theresa''s whereabouts abroad to send Victor on a wild goose chase, buying Evangeline precious time.