It was the moment when she fainted–the robot at her side catching her just as she began to stumble.
Someone had even captured the whole thing on high–definition video.
Almost instantly, the robot seemed to sense something was wrong. The very second she swayed, it reached out and caught her before she could hit the ground. The video lit up the internet.
“Wow, look at that reflex! My boyfriend’s never this quick–this robot is insane.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there’s something so charming about it. I think I just fell in love with a robot.”
“If you’ve got kids or elderly folks at home, you really need one of these. The safety factor is off the charts.”
“How much does it cost? Just tell me and get it over with–I need to know if I can afford to be heartbroken.”
And so on.
UME had been in the robotics business for years. Their tech was solid, their partnerships longstanding, and their materials cost–effective, which meant their finished robots were surprisingly affordable compared to others on the market.
Within minutes, “UME robot caretaker affordable” was trending at the very top.
Sure, a few skeptics claimed it was all staged, but those comments were quickly drowned out by the flood of excitement.
Evangeline was scrolling through the online reactions, only half paying attention, when her phone rang. Soren’s name flashed on the screen.
“Evangeline, I want an explanation!” His voice was icy the moment she ans ed.
She figured he must have watched the press conference, realized she’d joined UME, and understood she was now working against him.
She had never planned to keep it a secret. In fact, she’d intended to come clean when the right moment came–but not now. Not when the press conference had just ended and she still had a dozen things to handle.
“Pick me up tomorrow afternoon,” Evangeline said evenly. “I’ll tell you everything
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then.”
Soren let out a short, bitter laugh. “Why tomorrow? Are you feeling guilty? Too scared to face me today?”
“Think whatever you want,” Evangeline replied, her tone flat. “I’m busy. If you have questions, save them for tomorrow.”
Before he could say another word, she hung up. The call ended with the flat beep of the line.
Frustrated, Soren couldn’t shake the feeling that her words sounded familiar, as if he’d heard them somewhere before.
No, that couldn’t be right. Evangeline had never spoken to him so coldly.
But when had he heard that line?
Evangeline felt a wave of calm wash over her after she ended the call.
Those words–she realized with a small, private satisfaction–were Soren’s own. She’d heard them from him the day Poppy Yates had returned to the country. Jealous and upset, Evangeline had called Soren, only for him to brush her off with the same dismissive promise to “talk tomorrow.” And tomorrow, of course, he’d stood her up.
But this time, she wouldn’t stand Soren up. Because tomorrow was Old Mrs. Fawkes‘ seventieth birthday–and the day their divorce cooling–off period finally
ended.
She was going to hand Soren the divorce papers herself and close the book on five years of misery.
Elsewhere, in the villa, Poppy watched the UME press conference replay, then scrolled through post after post raving about Evangeline and UME, all of it completely eclipsing her and Fawkes Enterprises. Furious, she swept every uning off the table in one wild motion.
“How is this possible? Why/her? How could it be her?”
Hadn’t Flora said Evangeline had spent five years in the Fawkes family as a stay–at–home wife, failing at everything she tried? So how was she at UME now, and not just that–but leading their tech team?
Poppy was stunned, but underneath, worry gnawed at her.
Soren had already started showing signs of lingering affection for Evangeline after all these years.
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Chapter 179
Poppy’s confidence–her belief that she was the one who truly deserved to stay by Soren’s side–had always rested on the idea that she was more capable, better able to shoulder his burdens than Evangeline.
But now, with Evangeline’s sudden reappearance and success, that sense of superiority had been shattered.
Helena Carlisle valued her because she could bring greater benefit to the Fawkes family. But now Evangeline had stolen the spotlight.
To turn things back in her favor, she’d have to-
Something shifted in Poppy’s eyes, the anxiety slowly draining away as her gaze grew calculating and calm.
Chapter 180
Chapter 180
