“Leaving? Where are you going?”
Grandma Fawkes gripped Evangeline’s hand just a little tighter, her concern plain on her face.
The rest of the Fawkes family turned to look at her as well, curiosity and confusion flickering in their eyes.
Something about this whole scene struck Soren as oddly off–kilter. His brow knit in irritation.
Poppy sidled up to Evangeline, lowering her voice as if to keep things
private–though she made sure everyone could hear. “Evangeline, it’s normal for married couples to have disagreements. If there’s something you want to say, you should talk it out calmly. This is the Fawkes family’s home, after all. It wouldn’t look good to make a scene.
Before Evangeline could answer, Poppy turned to Soren. “Soren, you’re the man here. Whatever happened between you two, just apologize to Evangeline first.”
Soren’s frown deepened, but he said nothing. Exactly as Poppy expected.
Her lips curled ever so slightly in satisfaction. As long as neither Soren
1 nor Evangeline denied her words, everyone would assume she was telling the truth: that the young couple had quarreled and dragged their personal issues into the family home. No matter who was at fault, it would only sour the family’s opinion.
Soren was their son; they’d always side with him. The one left out in the cold would be Evangeline.
Poppy glanced at her, offering a gentle, almost patronizing smile. “Soren’s temper isn’t the best–I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
“Evangeline, let’s leave it at that, okay? Don’t let Grandma’worry.”
Poppy knew perfectly well that Grandma Fawkes was the one person in the family Evangeline truly respected, So she deliberately invoked her name, sure Evangeline would back down for the sake of
peace.
But to her surprise, Evangeline simply smiled. “I think you might have
misunderstood. There’s no argument between us.”
“And even if there was, I’m still Soren’s wife in name. What position are you in to apologize to me on his behalf?”
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Poppy was caught off guard, momentarily speechless. “I…”
Evangeline cut her off, half–joking, “You really shouldn’t say more. Maybe you’ve been abroad too long, but things aren’t quite so open here. People don’t air their marital problems in public.”
“If someone with an agenda overheard, they might think you’re trying to stir up trouble between us.”
Poppy was left utterly tongue–tied, glancing helplessly at Soren.
He didn’t acknowledge her look. His gaze was fixed on Evangeline, one eyebrow raised, an amused glint in his eyes.
So, she keeps insisting she wants a divorce… yet in front of Poppy, she’s staking her claim as my wife. Clearly, she never really intended to leave.
Evangeline could feel Soren’s heated stare on her, but she didn’t look his way. She knew standing up to Poppy might irritate him, but she’d had enough. Poppy was already using the family to pressure her; now she was dragging Grandma into it, setting another trap. If she kept swallowing her pride, she’d only disappoint Grandma Fawkes even more.
She squeezed Grandma’s hand, smiling at the rest of the family as if nothing had happened. “Sorry, I should have explained myself earlier. I’m just going to pick up a friend, so I won’t be able to stay for dinner.”
At that, Flora rolled her eyes in disappointment. “That’s it? I thought something big had happened–you made it sound like a tragic farewell. For a minute I thought you and my brother were really getting divorced.”
Evangeline was about to reply, but Soren spoke up first, his voice cold and edged. with annoyance. “Flora, that’s enough.”
His tone left no room for argument; he was clearly irritated.
Evangeline blinked, momentarily confused, then realized Soren was angry not because of her, but because Flora had brought up divorce in front of Grandma, upsetting her.
Sure enough, Flora glanced at Grandma Fawkes, then quickly fell silent.
No one else said a word, but Evangeline suspected they all thought the same as Flora.
In this family, probably only Grandma Fawkes genuinely didn’t want her to leave. Soren was right–there was no need to announce anything. When everyone already
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assumed they’d end up divorced, it was easier just to go through the motions and quietly walk away.
Chapter 39
Chapter 39
