When Evangeline received the call from Soren, she was feeding cat food to Sheriff.


    The kitten, barely longer than her forearm, had a surprisinglyrge appetite. In less than a few minutes, the small bowl of food was licked clean.


    Sheriff licked his paws, then looked up at her with his big, round eyes.


    Evangeline added another spoonful of food to his bowl while tucking the phone between her shoulder and ear, letting out a soft, mockingugh.


    "Make Poppy apologize to me publicly?"


    "Soren,st I checked, you didn''t hit your head. Why are you talking such nonsense?"


    Given Poppy''s personality, making her apologize publicly would probably be more painful than killing her or sending her to prison.


    Her reaction was what Soren had expected.


    He wasn''t angry. "I''m serious."


    "If you need me to, I can apologize to you in person as well."


    His voice carried a subtle tenderness she had never noticed before.


    Evangeline chuckled. "But what I want is more than just an apology."


    As soon as she said it, Evangeline realized she was talking to a brick wall.


    Soren would never agree to send Poppy to the police.


    Evangeline expected him to try and persuade her to drop it, like he always did, but surprisingly, he didn''t.


    Soren''s tone was firm and serious. "I know what you want, and I promise I''ll give you a satisfactory resolution. Just not right now."


    Evangeline finished his sentence with a sarcastic tone, "Of course, not right now." "Poppy is carrying your child. Everything has to wait until the baby is born, at least." "And after the baby is born? Are you going to keep dying it, using the excuse that a child can''t be without a mother?"


    Soren asked, "Is that really what you think of me?"


    "What else?" Evangeline retorted. "You were willing to risk your life for Poppy before. Now that she''s having your child, am I supposed to expect you to choose justice over your own family?"


    "Why not?" Soren said. "Just two days ago, I was willing to risk my life for you."


    Evangeline was speechless, the words caught in her throat.


    Soren had, in fact, saved her.


    Hearing her silence, Soren added, "Whether you believe it or not, I only felt guilt for Poppy back then, a desire to make up for what owed her."


    "Evangeline, our engagement was only because I was angry with you at the time."


    "It wasn''t until after you left that I realized... you were the one I loved all along."


    Soren finished his earnest confession.


    His breathing was ragged, his heart


    was pounding, and his fists het


    ?without him.


    clenched tightly realizing it


    In truth, he had wanted to say these words to Evangeline for a long time.


    But he was never good with such sappy words. He had to rehearse this very sentence over and over in his mind in the hospital room before he finally gathered the courage to say it.


    Soren waited anxiously for her reaction.


    Evangeline was initially surprised to hear him say such things.


    But she quickly realized he was probably just trying to convince her to spare Poppy.


    For Poppy''s sake, he really would say anything.


    Evangeline said, "I can give you time. I''ll agree to wait until after she has the baby to pursue this matter."


    Hearing her suddenly switch back to the topic of Poppy, Soren paused, btedly understanding what she meant.


    Soren said, "You think I said all that just to plead for Poppy."


    "Didn''t you?" Evangeline countered.


    Herpletely serious, yet dismissive tone stung Soren''s heart.


    His throat tightened.


    Suddenly, all the words he wanted to say felt pale and powerless.


    If he said no, would Evangeline believe him?