"Did you really think I''d just leave you here alone?" Finn asked.


    Evangeline pressed her lips together, saying nothing. Over the years, with no friends or family she could truly rely on, she had learned to expect the worst. She hadn''t held out much hope for Finn. In her mind, it was perfectly normal for him to be disappointed and leave.


    Her silence was all the confirmation he needed. He sighed softly, closed the door behind him, and gently lifted her into his arms, carrying her back to the bed.


    "I''m not going anywhere. I promised I''d be here for you, and I don''t break my promises," Finn said, his voice warm and steady. He gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Give me five minutes."


    With that, he left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. The soundproofing wasn''t perfect, and Evangeline could hear the nging of pots and pans from the kitchen.


    Five minutester, Finn returned, carrying a steaming bowl of soup.


    "Hot, hot, hot," he muttered, rushing to the bedside table. He set the bowl down with a tter, then quickly pulled his hands back, hissing in pain and shaking them out.


    After a moment, he scooped up a spoonful of the broth, blew on it, and held it to her lips. "This is a mix of warming herbs. I heard it''s supposed to help with cramps. Here, drink it all."


    Evangeline looked into the bowl. It was a dark, murky concoction, filled with what looked like a random assortment of herbs and supplements. A faint burnt smell wafted from it.


    She looked up at Finn. He was sitting close, his dark hair damp with sweat. There was a smudge of some red powder on his cheek, and he looked slightly disheveled.


    And yet, in that moment, Evangeline thought he had never looked more handsome. The strange brew in front of her suddenly seemed much more appealing.


    "I can do it myself," she said softly.


    Finn didn''t insist.


    After she finished the soup, the pain in her abdomen actually began to subside. Hearing that it worked, Fion took it upon himself to make it for her for the next three days, each batch more potent than thest. Evangeline drank each bowl with a sense of trepidation, halfexpecting to get a nosebleed from the sheer intensity of the herbs.


    But she didn''t, Instead, her period was different this time. It had always been irregr and short,sting only a day or two. After Finn''s remedies, itsted a full week. And throughout it all, she felt none of the usual Her body feft,


    fatigue or back pain fight and energetic, and her appetite improved. Normally, she would lose a few pounds during her period; this time, she gained one.


    The only side effect was that shortly after her period ended, Finn kept her locked in the hotel for an entire day. By the time she finally left, her legs were weak and her back felt like it might snap in two.


    Having paid her "fee" in advance, Evangeline didn''t hold back. She peppered Finn with questions about UME''s technical problems, eventually deciding it was easier to just drag him to the factory with her.


    With Finn''s help, their progress elerated dramatically. In less than two weeks, all the major


    hurdles were cleared. Even The


    was impressed, privately asking her where she found such a highecaliber consultant and how much he was costing them.


    Evangeline just shook her head. He wasn''t costing her any money, but he was certainly costing her a great deal of energy.


    With UME''s problems solved, Evangeline couldn''t rx just yet. Soren and Poppy''s engagement was just around the corner. Poppy had been responsible for the death of her child, and Evangeline had no intention of letting her get away with it.


    She meticulously reviewed the evidence she had collected. Once she was certain everything was in order, she picked up the phone and dialed the police.