By evening, golden sunlight nted into the bottom of the ravine.


    Evangeline and Finn were out scouting for a path forward, while Soren, with his broken leg, was left alone in the cave.


    After nearly a full day, he had finally epted his reality. He had found Evangeline, but instead of helping, he had gotten himself trapped with them.


    He was filled with a mix ofplicated feelings.


    Finding Evangeline was a reason to be happy. Being trapped in such a harsh environment, subsisting on wild fruits, was unsettling, but he wasn''t so delicate that he couldn''t adapt.


    What truly bothered him, however, was the way Evangeline looked at Finn.


    Although he had long since epted that they were divorced and she was with Finn, seeing the adoration in her eyes when she looked at the other man still stirred an ufortable feeling within him.


    That look, so full of love and tenderness, was once reserved only for him. Later, it seemed even he rarely saw it anymore.


    As he was lost in thought, the sound of familiarughter echoed from outside. Evangeline and Finn were walking back into the cave, deep in conversation.


    The sound was grating to Soren''s ears.


    He snorted, his mind filling with silentints.


    Finn, what a yer. All he knows are sweet nothings to charm young women.


    And Evangeline... a few words and she''s beaming like that? What''s so funny? What''s there tough about?


    And to think he had been so worried he couldn''t sleep, gued by nightmares about her safety. If he had known they were having such a grand time down here, he never would havee.


    The more he thought, the angrier he got. He mmed his fist against the wall.


    The rock was hard, nothing like modern concrete.


    A sharp, burning pain shot through his knuckles and the back of his hand.


    He rubbed his hand and, seeing Evangeline and Finn enter, quickly turned his face away, resuming his usual cool and silent demeanor.


    But several minutes passed, and they didn''t seem to notice him. They were still discussing how to cook the fish they had just caught.


    Finally, he couldn''t take it anymore. He turned his head toward Evangeline and dered, “Evangeline, I don''t like grilled fish. I want it steamed."


    Evangeline was speechless.


    After five years of marriage, she could easily recognize the petnce in his tone. She wasn''t sure why he was angry, but considering he was injured and had ended up here because of her, she tried to be patient. There''s no kitchen here no pot. We can''t steam anything."


    "I don''t care," Soren retorted. "You figure it out."”


    Evangeline sighed. She could tell he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for her. Still, she tried to dissuade him. "We don''t have any seasonings Steamed fish will be gamey and awful."


    "Hah," Soren sneered. "Just say you''ve moved on. You don''t need to make so many excuses."


    "See that, Mr, Lockridge?" Soren


    said, looking at Finn with a mocking smile. "This is how women are. Always chasing something new. I''m not the first, and you won''t be thest. Once she finds her next boy toy, you''ll end up just like me."


    Evangeline had had enough.


    "Fine! Shut up. I''ll figure something out."


    It wasn''t that she was worried Finn would be swayed by his words. It was that she knew if she didn''t let Soren have his steamed fish, he would make the next few days unbearable for them all.