Poppy’s reaction just now said it all, and Evangeline knew Soren had understood.
This was about her life or death–and yet he hadn’t pressed for answers. Instead, just like always, he chose to let it go, sweeping it aside as easily as a bad memory.
A bitter laugh escaped Evangeline. She shook off his hand, putting distance between them. “Don’t bother. I know the way, with or without you. You should go help someone who needs you more.”
Her gaze drifted to Poppy, not far away.
At that moment, Poppy was already looking back at her.
Moments before, Poppy had been flustered and defensive in front of Finn, but now she’d recovered her previous smugness. Her lips curled into a taunting, knowing smile.
Her eyes seemed to say, No matter what you do, Soren always chooses me in the end.
Evangeline just smiled back, unfazed.
It’s fine.
He’s yours now.
For a split second, Poppy was thrown by the calm smile on Evangeline’s lips and the steady look in her eyes.
No matter how well someone faked it, you couldn’t lie with your eyes.
But for some reason, Poppy couldn’t see even a hint of sadness in Evangeline’s gaze.
Is she pretending?
Or is it real?
Or maybe Evangeline still has something up her sleeve, and she just
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hasn’t noticed?
Soren, meanwhile, had picked up on the subtext in Evangeline’s words. He glanced back at Poppy.
The night air had grown colder.
Their damp clothes clung to their skin, and the chill began to bite.
A gust of wind swept through, and Poppy crossed her arms over her chest, coughing softly.
Seeing the pallor in Poppy’s face, Soren pressed his lips together.
He knew what Poppy was thinking. He also knew Evangeline was hurt, not just by his neglect, but because he’d chosen to save Poppy instead.
After a moment’s thought, he exhaled slowly and slipped his hand into his pocket, fingers closing around a small velvet box.
He was about to say something when Finn yawned loudly beside him. “It’s freezing and I’m exhausted. Gorgeous, would you mind showing me where I can change? I’d rather not let the world see me looking like this.”
Evangeline gave him a quick, genuine smile and nodded. “Of course.”
Without sparing Soren another glance, she led Finn away, brushing past Soren as if he were invisible.
He watched her receding figure, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed to him that she stood a little taller than he remembered.
But his memory was fuzzy.
Back when they were together, it was always him who left first.
Maybe this was the first time Evangeline had walked away from him, leaving him with nothing but her retreating silhouette.
He stared after her, that thin, bedraggled figure, and an inexplicable ache welled up in his chest.
He knew she was angry–jealous of Poppy, furious with him.
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He also knew that if he apologized, if he coaxed her just a little, she’d soften and come back to him, just as she always did.
And yet, for some reason, he couldn’t take that step.
Just like before.
He just… couldn’t.
“Soren, let’s get back,” Poppy said, stepping up and slipping her arm into his. “It’s getting late. The party-”
“So when we came ashore earlier, you already knew Evangeline might be in danger?”
Before she could finish, Soren’s tone cut her off–cool and flat.
Poppy froze.
She clenched her fists, forcing a shaky laugh. “Of course not. I really don’t remember what happened, Soren. Are you really going to believe the word of an outsider? And she’s with the Lockridges, after all.”
Soren reached for her hand, prying her tightly curled fist open and holding
it between them.
His eyes were cold, layered with something unreadable. “You always do this when you’re nervous. All these years, and some habits never
change.”
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