He couldn''t just order Soren to cut ties with Evangeline or tell him he was making a mistake. So, he decided to test the waters. "Soren, I heard what happened to young Mr. Howard."


    Soren just grunted in acknowledgment.


    When he didn''t borate, Liam pressed on. "Some people are saying you were behind it. Ridiculous, right? But I''m worried if the rumor spreads, people might actually believe it. Should I put out a statement to clear things up?"


    "Don''t bother," Soren said tly. "I did it."


    Liam''s stomach dropped. He hade here hoping it was all a misunderstanding, a rumor that Poppy had taken seriously. The Soren he knew wasn''t this reckless. But hearing the confession from Soren himself, any lingering hope died.


    "But why? It can''t be because of what he said in that group chat, can it?" Liam asked.


    Soren met his eyes but remained silent.


    Liam knew him well enough. Silence was an admission of guilt. He felt his mind go numb.


    "Are you serious, Soren? It was just onement. And it was about Evangeline, not Poppy."


    He was divorced from her. Why was he still fighting her battles?


    "Soren, the Howards might not be on the same level as the Fawkes family, but they''re still a major yer in Serenity City. What if they get angry and decide to retaliate?" Liam warned.


    Soren considered this for a moment, then nodded. "You have a point."


    He pulled out his phone and called his assistant, Gregory. Liam breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Soren had finally seen reason.


    But then Soren spoke into the phone, his voice clipped and cold. "The Howard family. I want them out of Serenity City within two weeks."


    Liam stared in disbelief. That was not what he meant at all.


    Before he could say anything, Gregory stammered on the other end. "Sir, about that..."


    "You can''t do it?" Soren''s tone hardened.


    "It''s not that, sir, it''s just..." Gregory hesitated. "Fawkes Enterprises has made a lot of enemies recently And theowards are well-established. I''m worried that if we


    Soren cut him off. "Just do it. That''s not your concern."


    Gregory didn''t dare argue further.


    After the call ended, Liam was at a loss for words. The man standing before him felt like aplete stranger. The words of caution died on his lips.


    "Soren, you''re about to get engaged to Poppy. After you''re married, you''ll be family. You should discuss these things with her," Liam tried a different approach.


    Soren nced at him dismissively. "This is business. There''s no need to involve women."


    Liam opened his mouth to protest, but Soren cut him off again. "Send me Evangeline''s medical records from thest five years."


    "Soren, why do you need those?" Liam asked, rm bells ringing in his head.


    "Don''t ask so many questions,"


    Soren said, his eyes narrowing. "Just


    send them. And if I find out you''ve


    hidden anything or faked any records, Ill break your hands.


    He shot Liam a look so sharp and menacing that any thought of deception vanished from Liam''s mind The memory of Saren''sst beating was still fresh and he had no doubt it was a promise, not a threat.