Walter froze.He had not really looked at Evangeline's eyes since she walked in. At this moment, however, he saw the redness, the signs she had been crying a lot.Was she this upset, crying over him... because she cared?While Walter was still in shock, Evangeline snatched his hand away. There, on the small patch of gauze over his belly, a dark stain was spreading.The wound had started to bleed again. Walter had only himself to blame for his carelessness.Evangeline shot him a withering look before turning on her heel to fetch a doctor.In the treatment room, Walter, ever the rebel, was pinned down by the medical team for a stitch redo.Evangeline watched in silence, her beautiful face an icy mask. To the uninformed, she might have seemed like someone enjoying her nemesis's downfall.She was, in fact, seething.Walter, the cause of all this, winced and grinned through the doctor's prodding, looking infuriatingly smug.When a noise, akin to a pig's squeal, escaped Walter, Eva
Evangeline was blindsided by Walter's response."Absolutely. But let me give you one last piece of advice." Walter's voice was cold, a clear warning laced within. "We're still married, Evangeline. If I catch you messing around with another guy before we're through, you can't say I didn't warn you!"Walter had thrown that threat at her more than once. The first couple of times, Evangeline was just confused. After hearing it over and over though, she did not even have the energy to retort.She knew Walter never trusted her, not even after she accidentally gave him the most special night of her life. What was the point in explaining anything to a guy who refused to believe?She thought to herself, 'I know I'm clean, and that's all that matters.' The ache in her heart for Walter disappeared in a flash, and she found no reason to stick around.Bang! She slammed the door behind her and stormed out.Walter's face turned pitch black with rage, his hands balled into fists, and he took out
Evangeline snatched up the phone, her voice rushed as she spoke to Alex on the line, "Alex, this gift is way too extravagant, I just can't take it."Just the blue diamond, big as a pigeon's egg, was worth at least twenty million, and that was not even counting the rest of the jewels.Alex laughed. "Nothing is too extravagant for our Foster family's darling princess! Evie, I really put my heart into this. Go on, take it. Didn't your family throw you a massive birthday party? Do me a favor, and rock that dress at the party, okay? I'm bummed I can't see you in it myself, so make sure you snap a pic and text it to me..."The saying 'the Gordons rule the South and the Fosters the North' spelled out just how much clout the Foster family had.In a family that influential, folks from every social circle were itching to rub elbows with them.So, for the Foster family's princess, her birthday celebration was the hottest ticket in town, with a full house and a who's who of high society in at
"Grandpa, what's got you so mad? Is it because you think it's not cool for me to be live-streaming my birthday party? I can shut it off right now—I just don't want you to be upset..."Evangeline did not even let Cole get a word in, quickly turning off the live-stream.Cole was still fuming, his face a stormy shade of gray. "Evie, tell me, why didn't Walter show up?"Evangeline dreaded questions about Walter. Panicking, she blurted out the same excuse she had used before to brush off her grandfather, "Remember? I said Walter was super busy today, he couldn't make it...""Don't you lie to me!" Cole cut her off. "Just because I'm getting older doesn't mean I'm clueless! Come clean now, I'm giving you the chance! The whole thing about you two wanting a kid, was that a fib to fool me? And if there's anything else you're keeping from me, spill it now!"Trying to keep her cool, Evangeline gave an awkward smile, "I swear, I'm not lying to you, Grandpa."She blinked rapidly, silently plea
Those pale, chapped lips and the slight tension in Walter's brow said it all.Family dramas had always been unpredictable, especially with the Gordons owning the South and the Fosters controlling the North. These two clans essentially ran everything. As long as Walter and Evangeline remained married, nothing was ever certain. Upsetting one of them could easily have meant offending both.The crowd was full of sharp cookies, and when they heard Walter's question, they were quick to butter him up."No way, Mr. Walter Gordon, you're too kind. Everything is of the highest quality! It's just your granddad-in-law—he's a bit miffed that his favorite granddaughter's hubby was a no-show at her birthday. Better go smooth things over."The guy talking put on a friendly act and scooted closer to Walter, spilling the beans about what was going on.Once he said that, the whole vibe of the place did a 180—from stuffy to buzzing with excitement. Everyone was cracking up, eager to see how Walter wo
Evangeline had been on her toes all day because of Cole, and she finally slipped away from his gaze. Could she not even take a moment to chill out?Walter gave her an exaggerated eye roll. He grabbed a glass of orange juice from a passing tray and grimaced after tasting it. "Ugh, this is nasty."Walter had always turned up his nose at sour flavors. The moment the tangy taste hit his tongue, his face twisted into a frown that looked downright silly with his sharp suit and shiny shoes.Evangeline could not help but burst into laughter. "You knew it was awful and you still made me try it? Are you trying to make sure if you're not happy, nobody else can be either?""And what if I am?" Walter abandoned his battle with the orange juice and fixed her with an icy stare. "Evangeline, have you forgotten what time it is for us? Drinking during the pre-pregnancy phase? With genes as stellar as mine, do you want to risk alcohol turning our son into a dunce? Could you live with that?"Evangelin
Out of nowhere, someone else chimed in on the drama."Seriously, we're all just wasting our time here. The Gordons and the Fosters—whether they split or stick it out, we're all just trying to stay on their good side. Why sweat the small stuff? Knowing who not to tick off is the real trick!"This guy had a point, but it did not do much to squash the curiosity bubbling up in the crowd. The chatter got louder and more heated by the second.Right then, a squad of slick bodyguards strutted through the crowd, lining up in formation without missing a beat.The Fosters' clout in Avalon City was no secret, but this kind of showy entrance? It had 'mystery' written all over it.Evangeline, who had just gotten back to Cole, could not help but get caught up in the spectacle.Before long, the man of the hour was in Evangeline's sights.Instead of the fancy leather shoes she was expecting, a set of wheels rolled into view.A gasp rippled through the crowd."Isn't that Alex Gordon, the family
All eyes shifted to Walter, whose face had turned a shade of stormy blue.His wife and his kin Alex were sharing a moment so intimate, it was as if they had forgotten he existed. Was he, her husband, invisible to them?Moreover, how could Evangeline parade around in another man's gift at such a significant event as her birthday banquet? Did she spare a thought for him at all?To Walter, the gown was like a glaring stain he desperately wanted to scrub away. However, with Cole and the uncles around, he had no choice but to bottle up his rage.The guests had filled the room, and the birthday banquet was about to hit its stride with the most awaited moment just on the horizon.Evangeline, the birthday girl of the hour, took her place at the center of attention.First up was her uncle Yale, looking extra sharp in his formal attire. He came forward with a neatly wrapped, square box and handed it to Evangeline with a sense of ceremony."I have been out there, working my tail off for ye