Save Her Lose Us (Evangeline and Soren) novel Chapter 289

Soren followed Flora's finger. Evangeline was laughing at something Finn had said, her smile radiant and genuine. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her smile like that. A dull ache spread through his chest. After a moment, he forced himself to look away.

He wasn't one for desperate pleading. He knew it was pointless. It was like a negotiation in business: the more you showed you wanted something, the more leverage the other side had. If he acted like he didn't care, she would be the one to lose her composure. He had been reckless before, his judgment clouded by illness and emotion, but he wouldn't make that mistake again.

He closed his eyes and took a slow breath.

Poppy, sitting beside him, chewed on her lip. "Since we're here, maybe we should go say hello," she suggested softly. "I should apologize to her for what happened the other day."

Flora twisted around in the passenger seat. "Apologize for what? Poppy, don't even think about it. All you and my brother did was go to her apartment. Who would even want to set foot in that dump? She should be grateful you even showed up."

Flora didn't know the full story, only that the visit had ended badly, which she found utterly absurd.

Soren remained silent. Poppy didn't explain further.

Just then, Evangeline and Finn burst into another round of laughter. An inexplicable wave of irritation washed over Flora. "It's only been a few days since the divorce," she muttered. "Why does she look happier than she ever was when she was married? So fickle."

She had never seen Evangeline laugh like that at the Fawkes estate. It was as if their family had been mistreating her. But the truth was, plenty of women were dying to be with her brother—women from far more prominent families. Evangeline had only married into their family because of the debt they owed her mother. Even after they discovered her mother's scheme, they had honored the marriage contract. Her brother had been trapped for five years with a woman he didn't love. If anyone was a victim, it was him.

Evangeline, oblivious, was enjoying her meal. The skewers were as delicious as she remembered. She had worried Finn would find the food too common, but he seemed to be enjoying it, eating with his usual elegance. He held a skewer like a conductor's baton, savoring each bite as if it were a perfectly cooked steak. His presence seemed to elevate the entire place.

The humble grill was busier than ever. Every table was full, a rare sight for a weekday. The owner was sweating profusely over the grill, finally having to put up a ‘full' sign to turn people away.

When Evangeline returned from paying the bill, Finn was gone. She scanned the crowd and saw him talking to the owner near the grill.

"What were you two talking about?" she asked when he came back.