Poppy sensed the shift in his mood.
Almost absentmindedly, her gaze drifted to his phone screen, catching the name. “Evangeline” glowing among the latest messages.
Evangeline. Again.
A wave of irritation rippled through her.
She was confident she could sweep aside any obstacle that stood between her and Soren–except, perhaps, for Soren himself.
She could never quite decipher how he truly felt about Evangeline.
By now, Soren had already locked his phone and spoke in a cool, distant tone, “I have things to handle. I can’t keep you company tonight. It’s getting dark–don’t stay out too late. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
“Is it because of Evangeline?” Poppy asked quietly. “She still hasn’t moved back into the manor, has she?”
The question hung in the air, and she saw Soren’s brow knit even tighter.
He didn’t answer, but the truth was obvious.
Poppy lowered her voice. “She’s being a bit headstrong this time, I’ll admit. But honestly, I envy her. She gets to be your wife, your grandmother dotes on her… Only people who are truly loved get to act so fearlessly.”
“Soren, don’t be so stubborn. If you really want to make things work with
Evangeline, then sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and take the first step.”
Soren’s gaze flicked to her freshly bandaged hand, his expression unreadable. “After the way she treated you, you’re still defending her?”
“Well, she’s a woman, too. I don’t like being at odds with other women. Besides…” Poppy paused, fixing her eyes on him. “Soren, I do love you. But the way I love you. is… I want you to be happy–even if it’s not with me.”
“We were too young back then. Too reckless. That’s why we broke up.”
“All these years, I’ve regretted it more times than I can count.”
As she spoke, a faint mist clouded her eyes.
Chapter 54
Five years ago, people liked to say it was the Fawkes family who tore them apart. But the truth was, she and Soren already had their share of issues.
She’d been impulsive, quick to sulk over the smallest things.
The day before they broke up, she’d heard the Fawkes family was forcing Soren to leave her. To test how much she meant to him, she suggested breaking up–herself.
She’d threatened it before, countless times; Soren had never agreed. She thought this time would be no different. But when she finally asked, Soren hesitated.
She was furious, and demanded he choose between her and his family. In a fit of anger, she left the country.
After that….
All she heard was that Soren had married Evangeline.
She’d lost count of how many times she’d regretted that decision while she was abroad. She realized, if only she’d swallowed her pride, apologized, and softened her stance, maybe Soren would have chosen her after all.
But by then, it was too late.
The thought made her clench her fists, nails digging into her palm.
Soren noticed her trembling. Mistaking it for a chill, he glanced at her thin blouse, then shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“It’s all in the past. Don’t dwell on it. Get some rest.”
His calm, almost detached reaction left her strangely hollow. Still, she forced à smile and nodded. “You too. Get home safe.”
When she got in the car, the driver was about to set the navigation for her apartment.
Poppy interrupted, “Take me to Fawkes Manor.”
The driver hesitated. “But Mr. Fawkes said I should take you home. I don’t want to overstep. Maybe I should check with him first?”
“No need.” Poppy gripped Soren’s jacket tighter, breathing in the sharp, clean scent of cedar clinging to the fabric. “Sooner or later, that place will be my home.”
Not long after Poppy left, Gregory arrived, pulling up in a hurry, nerves and anticipation written all over his face. “Mr. Fawkes, where to?”
Gregory was Soren’s right–hand man at the company, usually handling business
Chapter 54
matters, not driving at this hour. Soren rarely called on him for personal errands this late at night.
Chapter 55
Chapter 55
