Chapter 200
Chapter 200
Flora Fawkes was caught off guard when Soren summoned her to the lounge with that no–nonsense tone in his voice.
As she stepped inside, she found Soren sitting there, his expression stony and severe, while Poppy Yates looked equally upset.
Flora’s heart skipped a beat.
It had been years since she’d felt this kind of tension.
Back when Soren and Poppy were still together, they rarely argued–but whenever they did, the air always grew thick and suffocating, just like now.
What was going on?
Had they fought again?
That didn’t make sense. Lately, Poppy and her brother had been getting along just
fine.
But then it hit her–Evangeline Whitmore. Of course. This had to be about Evangeline.
Still, why was she here?
Before Flora could puzzle it out, Soren broke the silence by asking her about that incident–when someone had drugged her.
She hadn’t expected him to bring that up. Confused, Flora glanced at Poppy, unsure why she’d told Soren about something so personal and humiliating.
Even Helena Carlisle had spared her father, Clyde Fawkes, the details, not wanting to upset her.
Meeting Flora’s questioning gaze, Poppy moved closer, took her hand, and said softly, “Flora, I’m sorry. I was so angry about what happened to you–I couldn’t just pretend it didn’t matter, so I did something reckless.”
Poppy briefly explained how she’d just pushed Evangeline into the reeds.
Only then did Flora finally understand.
Realizing Poppy had acted out of loyalty to her, Flora felt a surge of warmth and guilt. She lowered her voice. “Poppy, you didn’t have to do that for me. If anything, it just gives Evangeline another chance to drive a wedge between you and my brother.”
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After all, her brother was already under Evangeline’s spell. Flora had never really understood how he felt about Evangeline.
Soren broke in, “Are you sure it was Evangeline?”
Flora rolled her eyes at him. “Seriously, Soren? Are you really doubting your own sister now, just because of Evangeline? You think I’d make something like this up?”
Soren knew Flora disliked Evangeline, but she’d never stoop so low as to frame her for something so serious. Still, he was troubled.
“But why would she do it?” he pressed.
Flora gave a dismissive shrug. “Isn’t it obvious? She wanted leverage. If the Fawkes family didn’t let her stay, she could use this to threaten us. Her mother used the same tricks to get her way, didn’t she?”
Of course, it could also be plain revenge. Flora wasn’t blind to the fact she’d never treated Evangeline kindly, always trying to convince Soren to divorce her. As for why Evangeline spared her that night instead of finishing the job, it was probably because Flora had unexpectedly called her. Evangeline must have worried the family would trace everything back to her and decided to back down.
If something had really happened to her, the Fawkes family would never have let Evangeline off the hook.
And, truthfully, that whole ordeal had almost made Flora rethink her opinion of Evangeline.
She didn’t want Soren to keep fooling himself. “Soren, I swear you must be under some kind of spell, too. Think about it! Haven’t you noticed how she’s got you running in circles?”
Soren fell silent, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the table.
He wasn’t naive enough to believe in potions and spells. If Evangeline had that kind of power, why not use it five years ago, instead of waiting until now?
Still, Flora had a point. His feelings for Evangeline had shifted lately, and he couldn’t explain why.
Then a thought struck him–divorce.
If Evangeline was so eager to divorce him, why had she come to his grandmother’s birthday celebration? The moment their divorce papers were finalized, she’d have no more connection to his family.
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Chapter 200
No, she was here because of him.
Glenn Carlisle was probably trying to push him and Evangeline back together.
Everything suddenly became clear.
Flora leaned in and whispered, “She’s not above playing dirty, Soren. She’s already managed to turn you against Poppy. If you keep letting her get to you, you’re letting her win.”
“Poppy’s only human. She gets hurt, too. And if you keep putting Evangeline first, you’re going to lose her for good. When she’s gone, you won’t get another chance.”
Soren looked up and saw Poppy sitting quietly, head bowed, her face clouded with pain.
He walked over, his tone softening. He tried to soothe her, but then he added, “Poppy, I’m not going to divorce Evangeline anytime soon. You shouldn’t put your life on hold for me. You deserve someone better. If you end up marrying someone else, I’ll make sure your dowry matches Flora’s.”
Flora groaned inwardly and decided to keep her mouth shut.
Poppy’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Soren, you know that’s not what I want.”
He pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry. But what you want…I just can’t give you.”
Hate him, resent him–it didn’t matter. The day he’d filed the divorce papers, he’d realized he could never actually go through with it. He couldn’t stand the thought of Evangeline with someone else. He could still remember, clear as day, the moment Evangeline slipped on her engagement ring, and how his composure had shattered.
Poppy stared at his resolute face and listened to his unwavering voice, and the truth finally dawned on her.
All this time, she’d been deluding herself–telling herself that Soren clung to Evangeline only because of five years‘ worth of shared history.
But that wasn’t it.
He was in love.
Soren really loved Evangeline.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Poppy finally managed a shaky smile. After a long pause, she looked up again and said, “Then I want something else. I want to stand beside you as your date at your grandmother’s birthday party. Will you give me
Chapter 200
that, at least?”
