Glenn believed her–believed in her–and so he chose to stand by her side, willing to take this seven–day gamble with her.
But if he’d known the true state of her health back then, he never would have agreed, no matter what.
He pressed his lips together. “I promised Tessa I’d look out for you. If something happens to you now, there’s no point in UME existing anymore.”
The Carlisles had always been cold and distant. Theresa had been forced into a political marriage for the family’s sake, and that betrayal had cut Glenn to the core. It was what finally pushed him to sever ties with the Carlisles altogether.
Founding UME had been, in large part, Glenn’s way of protecting Theresa.
He loved her–Theresa had always been the little sister he cherished.
And after Theresa left, Glenn had poured that same brotherly affection onto Evangeline.
Evangeline understood what he meant, and she knew he truly wanted to protect her. In a soft voice, she murmured, “But I really am fine.”
“And besides, if UME doesn’t take the domestic market quickly, we’ll never be able to stand up to the Lockridges. Tessa needs to know she can come back someday without worry.”
“This is UME’s first big move back home. We can’t back down now.”
When Glenn still showed no sign of relenting, Evangeline realized he’d made up his mind not to budge.
She hesitated, then gently tugged on his arm, her beautiful eyes turning pleading as she looked up at him.
“Glenn,” she said, her voice turning soft and sweet.
The sound caught Glenn off guard.
He met her hopeful gaze, but the word “no” stuck in his throat and refused to come
out.
He knew how stubborn Evangeline could be, how she hated to admit defeat.
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Chapter 160
Her whole heart was tied up in this project–forcing her to rest would probably just
make things worse.
When he saw she wasn’t going to give up, Glenn finally relented with a sigh. “Fine. I’ll agree–but you have to get a good night’s sleep tonight. That’s non–negotiable.”
The moment he gave in, Evangeline nodded right away.
Given her current condition, pushing any further would only make things worse.
So, at Glenn’s insistence, she took her medication and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
The private hospital room was silent and still.
Silver moonlight pressed against the curtains, shut out from the world inside.
A few minutes later, Evangeline’s phone, resting on her bedside table, started to
buzz.
Glenn picked it up, glancing at the screen–Soren.
He remembered what the doctor had said earlier: the trauma to her body had resulted in a miscarriage.
Did Soren know?
After a moment’s thought, Glenn declined the call and quietly slipped out of the room. He’d barely stepped into the hallway when Soren called again.
This time, Glenn answered.
“Evangeline, where are you?” Soren’s voice was impatient, tinged with anger. “We agreed to meet at eight. Do you even know what time it is?”
Soren was out of patience.
He’d come home early that evening, only to wait for hours with no sign of her.
Not even a single call.
He was used to others waiting for him, never the other way around–it was a first. He even wondered if Evangeline was trying to get back at him for standing her up. before.
He’d already decided he wouldn’t listen to whatever excuse she gave–he was fully prepared to let her have it.
But then, a cool, unfamiliar male voice answered, “Evangeline’s asleep.”
Chapter TOU
Hearing a man’s voice on Evangeline’s phone stopped Soren cold. Then, in a flash, anger surged through him.
“Who are you–Glenn?”
Were they together right now?
Evangeline was asleep, and yet Glenn was by her side?
A thousand thoughts crashed through Soren’s mind, but before he could make sense of any of them, the call abruptly ended with a sharp click.
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