Everyone assumed the crash had simply scared him straight.


    But Liam''s first thought was of Soren.


    He was stunned. Just as he was about to cautiously ask Soren about it, Poppy called him.


    "Liam, did you hear about what happened to the Howard family?" Poppy''s voice was tense.


    "I saw the news. What''s going on, Poppy?" he asked, confused.


    "Soren did it," she said without hesitation.


    The answer didn''t surprise him; he had suspected as much. What he couldn''t understand was why Soren would go to such extremes. The Fawkes and Howard families had very little business ovep and had always stayed out of each other''s way. Was it really just because of a couple of insults directed at Evangeline? It seemed like a wild overreaction.


    Before he could ask, he heard Poppy''s voice tremble, on the verge of tears.


    "Soren didn''t even try to hide it. Anyone who looks into it will know it was him. Even the Howards already know."


    "Liam, you know the Howards. They may not be as powerful as the Fawkes family, but they''re not to be underestimated. They''re keeping quiet now, but that doesn''t mean they''re scared. They''re probably plotting their revenge."


    "Why would Soren provoke them for no reason?"


    Poppy sounded genuinely panicked.


    Liam quickly tried to soothe her. "Poppy, don''t worry. It''ll be okay."


    "How can I not worry?"


    She paused, a calcting glint in her eyes. "Evangeline has beening aroundtely, using Grandma''s illness as an excuse. She''s seen Soren a few times. Do you think this has something to do with..."


    Liam''s mind snapped to attention. He''d already suspected Evangeline was involved, and Poppy''s words confirmed it. Soren had done this foolish thing because of her.


    But he decided not to say it aloud. Instead, he forced augh. "No way, Poppy. You and Soren are about to get married He''spletely focused on you. There''s probably another reason for the Howard thing."


    "He''s probably just stressed about the engagement, worried it won''t be perfect, and he''s letting off steam."


    "I''ll talk to him in a couple of days."


    Poppy''s tone softened slightly. "Thank you, Liam."


    After hanging up, the anxious expression on Poppy''s face vanished, reced by a cold, furious re. She gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Evangeline."


    "It''s always about Evangeline."


    She had been testing Liam. Even though he hadn''t told her the truth, she knew him well enough. His hesitation and forced cheerfulness told her everything she needed to know. Evangeline was at the heart of this.


    For years, Soren had remained rational and measured, even when Poppy was the one being bullied. But for Evangeline, he was now acting on pure, reckless impulse.


    Poppy bit her lip, her heart filled with


    rage and resentment. But then her gaze fell on the stack of wedding invitations on her desk. She picked


    one upand looked at her name next to Soren''s, and a sense of relief


    washed over her.


    *It doesn''t matter. We''re getting engaged soon. Once it''s official, everything will be settled.*


    *What can Evangeline possibly do topete with me then?*