Chapter 121
“What are you doing here?” Evangeline asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Flora had heard from someone that Glenn was living in this neighborhood, so as soon as her piano lesson ended, she’d hurried over. She’d waited what felt like forever, but Glenn never showed.
She hadn’t expected to run into Evangeline, and the sudden encounter startled her.
Flora was about to ask why Evangeline was there, but stopped herself–then it clicked. Of course. Evangeline must have followed her, probably wanting to apologize.
With that realization, Flora quickly masked her surprise with her usual haughty attitude. “Mind your own business,” she snapped.
For her part, Evangeline didn’t particularly want to get involved, either.
Still, this neighborhood was full of all sorts of people, and the Fawkes estate was nowhere nearby. She worried about Flora, just a teenage girl, wandering around on her own. And as Mrs. Fawkes’s granddaughter–well, considering how kind Mrs. Fawkes had always been to her, Evangeline couldn’t just turn a blind eye.
Noticing Flora shifting uncomfortably and catching sight of her high heels, Evangeline spoke up, “Get in the car. I’ll give you a ride home.”
Flora was exhausted, but she still refused to climb in. Instead, she said, “Go buy me a pair of flats.”
Evangeline just looked at her, unimpressed by Flora’s entitled tone. She didn’t indulge her like she once might have. “Either you get in now, or I’ll call your mom to come pick you up. Your choice.”
Her voice was calm, but there was no room for argument.
For a moment, even Flora was speechless.
She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about Evangeline seemed different–changed, somehow.
And there was something else: Evangeline used to always call Helena “Mom,” but today it was “your mom.” In the past, Flora had sneered at the way Evangeline tried so hard to please Helena, but now, hearing that distant way of speaking, she actually felt a little uncomfortable.
When Flora still didn’t move, Evangeline pulled out her phone. “I’m calling your mom
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now.”
Hearing that, Flora snatched the phone from her hand.
She didn’t know why, but she was certain–if Evangeline said she’d call Helena, she really would. And if Helena found out she’d come to a place like this, she’d never hear the end of it.
Besides, it was obvious Glenn wasn’t coming today. Flora gave up, pulled open the car door, and slid into the passenger seat. “Take me to my brother’s place. I already told my parents I’m staying with him tonight.”
To Flora, Evangeline and Soren were separate entities.
Their apartment together was “her brother’s place“-and that’s how Flora had always referred to it, for the last six years. Evangeline was used to it by now.
On the drive back, Flora caught sight of Evangeline’s bare neck and, feigning casual interest, asked, “Where’s your necklace? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
“I returned it,” Evangeline replied honestly.
Flora’s lips curled in disdain. “So you borrowed it?”
Evangeline nodded.
Flora couldn’t hide her disappointment. She figured Glenn must have bought that necklace for one of his friends in their circle, and somehow it had ended up with Evangeline by pure chance. She’d actually wondered whether Evangeline might
know Glenn.
After that, neither of them spoke. Evangeline soon turned into the driveway of the villa and parked the car.
Inside, Poppy sat anxiously on the living room sofa, glancing repeatedly at the time. She was growing more and more uneasy.
Soren still wasn’t home.
He’d left early that morning without saying where he was going. The whole day had passed without him showing up at the office; she’d messaged him over and over, but he hadn’t replied. Even Liam, who usually kept in touch with Soren, was
unreachable.
Was he… angry with her?
Just as she was lost in thought, the doorbell rang. Her heart skipped–she was sure it was Soren. She jumped up and hurried to open the door, a hopeful smile already
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forming.
“Soren, you-”
But standing on the doorstep was Flora. Poppy’s smile froze, and disappointment clouded her eyes.
Flora hadn’t expected to see Poppy at the villa. At first, she was pleasantly surprised–until she caught the look of disappointment in Poppy’s eyes, and stood there awkwardly, words catching in her throat.
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