Save Her Lose Us (Evangeline and Soren) novel Chapter 191

Evangeline could hear the hint of vulnerability in his voice.

It almost made her laugh.

Was she supposed to be grateful that Soren was so magnanimous as to let her keep the title of Mrs. Fawkes?

“No, thank you.” Her smile was polite, distant. “Compensation is about giving the other person what they actually need. What she needs most right now is this marriage with you.”

“I’m willing to step aside for your happiness,” she added, poised to pull her hand from his grasp.

But Soren’s mood shifted in an instant.

He grabbed her other hand, veins standing out on his forehead, his jaw clenched tight.

Frustration pulsed visibly at his temples.

There was nothing technically wrong with what she’d said. He couldn’t find fault with her words. But for reasons he couldn’t name, anger flared up inside him, hot and inexplicable.

Finally, he spat the words out, nearly grinding his teeth, “But I never agreed to this divorce.”

Evangeline wasn’t the least bit surprised.

She understood that Soren probably hadn’t known about the divorce until recently. His initial shock, his token attempts to keep her around—they proved nothing.

Even a dog you’ve fed for five years would get attached.

And she’d been Soren’s wife, in name and routine, for five years.

Of course he’d want to keep her around. It was only natural.

But she knew deep down, it wasn’t love. It was habit.

Once he and Poppy patched things up, he’d forget all about this habit.

Her voice was calm, almost gentle, “I’m not here to ask for your permission, Soren. I’m just letting you know.”

“Today is your grandmother’s birthday party. I won’t bring this up there. But she cares about us so much—I’m sure she already suspects. You can decide when to make the announcement. After all… we did have some feelings for each other. If you need me to cooperate for appearances, I will.”

“That’s all I have to say. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

She finished with dignity, slipped the divorce papers into his hand, and tried to pull away once more.

Soren’s head was pounding, but he wouldn’t let go.

A heavy weight seemed lodged in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Then his eyes landed on the diamond ring on her middle finger. The sight of it only stoked his irritation.

Helpless, she watched as the ring traced a glittering arc through the air and disappeared with a splash.

Her blood seemed to boil all at once.

That ring had been her mother’s.

Without thinking, Evangeline darted forward, vaulting over the lakeside railing.

Soren was startled by her sudden movement and lunged to grab her arm. “Evangeline, are you out of your mind?”

She struggled, desperate to break free and dive after the ring. Soren gripped her shoulders, his voice rising to a shout. “You’re willing to risk your life for some diamond ring a lover gave you? Get back—”

But before he could finish, Evangeline’s hand lashed out. She slapped him hard across the face.

“Let go of me.”

For a moment, Soren was stunned.

He’d been doted on his entire life, revered by everyone in the Fawkes family.

No one had ever raised a hand to him.

And the person who finally did was Evangeline—the timid, obedient wife he thought he knew.