Victor had forcibly taken that ring as a token when they made their deal.


    Could the ring have fallen into Soren''s hands?


    Poppy''s throat tightened, caughtpletely off guard by the question.


    Soren didn''t trust her anymore. If she lied again and he saw through it, their rtionship would only get worse.


    Her face turned pale.


    "Victor dide to me, but he said he could help me find you."


    "Soren, your life was on the line. I was so scared something would happen to you. I thought one more person looking meant a better chance. I had no idea he would go after you and Evangeline."


    Poppy knew he wouldn''t actually confront Victor.


    And even if he did, Victor wouldn''t sell her out.


    So all she had to do was exin why Victor had her ring.


    But as she finished speaking, Soren let out a softugh.


    He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he looked at the Poppy before


    him and, for a moment, found herpletely unfamiliar.


    It was still the same familiar face, the same delicate appearance.


    But the once simple and kind girl seemed like a different person.


    "I never said anyone went after Evangeline."


    "So how did you know someone went after her?" Soren asked coolly.


    From the very beginning, besides himself and the people who were there, no one knew the bullet was originally aimed at Evangeline.


    How would Poppy know?


    Unless Liam had immediately told her after Soren mentioned it just now, or she had known Victor''s intentions from the start.


    But given the timing, Liam wouldn''t have had the chance.


    That left only thetter possibility. And for that to be true, Poppy must have been working with Victor, knowing from the beginning that he wanted to kill Evangeline. Which meant, from the very beginning, Poppy had wanted Evangeline dead too. Poppy stood frozen, btedly realizing the hole in her story. Her face turned even paler than before, and she choked, unable to speak.


    Her reaction said it all.


    Soren didn''t press further.


    Heughed at himself. "I''ve been thinking for days, suspecting so many people. I even suspected Evangeline was lying to me. You were the one person I refused to doubt."


    "But I never would have thought it was really you."


    "You''ve certainly been busy doing good deeds behind my back, haven''t you?"


    His gaze towards Poppy was filled with disappointment andplexity.


    Liam, who had been silent for a long time, hadn''t expected things to escte this far. He said anxiously, "Soren, maybe there''s some kind of misunderstanding..."


    But before he could finish, Poppy shoved him aside.


    She bit her lip and finally said, "Fine, I admit it! I wanted Evangeline dead. But wasn''t I doing it all for you?!"


    Soren sneered. "For me?"


    At this point, Poppy knew there was no use pretending anymore.


    Her eyes bloodshot, she walked up to Soren.


    "You know I still love you, and you know I came back for you. But you keep making excuses to avoid me. Have you ever considered my feelings?"


    Soren paused. "I told you clearly before..."


    "Yes, I know you don''t love me! But if


    you don''t, why were you so good to


    me? Why did you give me the


    ille


    lusion that you might love me


    again?" Poppy cried, nearly hysterical.


    "Later, I had finally decided, through all the pain, to give up on you. But then why did you let me have you again? Why did you let me bev with you, have our baby, get engaged?"


    Poppy continued, "I thought my wish had finallye true, but your heart was still wavering. You still had to give a piece of it to Evangeline. You were even willing to die for he knowing the danger."