Chapter 202
Liam took a sip of his whiskey, putting on an air of mock profundity. “Well, that’s a tricky one…”
He let his words hang, dragging out the suspense as the group leaned in, eager for
more.
“Divorce is definitely on the table, but when and how it’ll happen–that all depends on Soren.”
In other words, he didn’t have a clue either.
Everyone let out a collective groan and rolled their eyes at him.
“You mean to tell us you’re so close with Soren and still don’t know? I guess that means the divorce hasn’t gone through yet.” Someone chimed in, “But honestly, at this point, I don’t think Soren’s wishes even matter anymore.”
“What do you mean by that?” another asked, curiosity piqued.
“Well, you know how much the old lady adores Evangeline,” the first man said, lowering his voice as he glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “There’s no way Soren would dare get divorced without her blessing. And let’s not forget–she’s pushing seventy…”
He glanced around again, then leaned in conspiratorially. “If you ask me, Soren’s just waiting for the old lady to pass before he divorces Evangeline.”
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Crude as it sounded, the logic stung with a certain truth.
Liam suddenly understood. He’d tried more than once to probe Soren about the divorce, but each time Soren would dodge the question. Liam had almost convinced himself Soren had given up–until, not long ago, Poppy let slip that Soren had given her a diamond ring. That pretty much confirmed Soren’s intentions hadn’t changed, but Liam was dying to know what was really going on.
Now, hearing this, the pieces finally clicked into place.
To be fair, the old lady was the biggest obstacle to their divorce. Soren was a devoted grandson–he’d never do anything to upset her.
“But how long is that supposed to take?” someone else asked.
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“Just have to wait, I guess. Shouldn’t be more than a few years,” came the quiet reply.
Liam set his glass down. He’d seen the old lady’s medical reports himself: her health wasn’t great, but it wasn’t dire either. She could easily stick around for another ten years or more. Which meant Soren would have to wait that long before he could marry Poppy?
“Isn’t there some other way to get her blessing for the divorce?” Liam asked.
The man clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Now you’re thinking. Actually, I got my hands on something interesting earlier–want to take a look?”
Evangeline had barely entered the hall when she spotted Liam and his little circle in the distance. As she glanced over, Liam’s eyes met hers–only for him to look away almost immediately, a guilty flicker in his expression.
She knew why. Ever since she’d taken Poppy’s place, Soren’s friends had never really warmed to her. She rarely joined their gatherings, and when she did, they’d take every opportunity to poke fun or play tricks on her.
She had no doubt she was the topic of their conversation tonight.
But she didn’t let it bother her.
The lights slowly dimmed, and the chatter faded as the birthday banquet began.
“They’re here,” someone whispered.
Evangeline followed the collective gaze toward the entrance. Soren entered, dressed in a sharp black suit, his expression cold and composed–no trace of the earlier dishevelment. He radiated an effortless confidence, every gesture marked with an innate nobility.
All around, young women gasped and whispered excitedly.
“He’s so handsome…”
Soren arrived alone, prompting a wave of speculation. People craned their necks, whispering about who his date might be. In the past, Soren had brought all manner of women: singers, actresses, models… Everyone knew it was his way of rebelling against Evangeline, flaunting his freedom in the face of their arranged marriage.
But tonight was different. Tonight, everyone knew Soren had only two choices for a date: Evangeline or Poppy. If he chose Evangeline, it meant he wasn’t planning to divorce. If he chose Poppy, it meant he was.
Evangeline could hear the murmurs of speculation and glanced around. Not far from
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her, Poppy had arrived early and was already seated. Poppy caught her gaze and, with a sly smile, raised her glass in a mock toast–a gesture brimming with challenge.
Evangeline looked away, the situation already clear in her mind. After the argument she’d had with Soren earlier, there was no way she’d be his date tonight. In fact, even without the drama at the lake, Soren would have found an excuse to bring Poppy
instead.
When she saw Soren’s gaze settle on Poppy, Evangeline couldn’t help but let out a soft, rueful laugh. She’d never expected much, so she couldn’t say she was disappointed.
Her stomach, however, was less philosophical. After scouring the lake for a lost ring and narrowly escaping disaster, she was running on empty. She picked up a pastry from a nearby table, determined to take care of herself first.
Just as she was about to take a bite, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Suddenly, all eyes were fixed on her.
Evangeline glanced up in confusion, only to see Soren striding straight toward her. He stopped in front of her, gaze unwavering.
Across the room, the smile froze on Poppy’s lips.
