This was not about love.Evangeline's heart ached for Alex, who had to give up his booming career to teach overseas. She felt for him, having lost the use of his legs for reasons unknown, leaving him bound to a wheelchair.What hurt her most was seeing Alex, such a good-hearted guy, get trashed by his own kin—just because he got along well with her, his in-law!Why did Alex, a guy who was supposed to shine bright, have to have a lowlife like Walter for a relative?Walter felt like he had been stabbed in the heart, the pain so sharp that he could barely get his words out.He just could not see what was so special about Alex. They had the same face, so why did Evangeline choose Alex and not him?He was seething with rage.He wanted to lash out, to break things, to use brute force to make Evangeline fall in line.Then he remembered the hurt he had caused her, and his fists clenched even harder."Great. After we get divorced, you can go ahead and pity whoever you want—it won't be
Evangeline rolled her eyes. 'Not bad'? More like 'drop-dead gorgeous.'Alex's dress was all soft and sweet, perfect for a demure debutante at a birthday bash. Evangeline was not one for soft and sweet. Walter's choice, with its regal elegance and a hint of sass, seemed like it was made just for her.Not that she had ever admitted it moved her.With Walter's influence and power, commissioning a custom dress was as easy as flashing cash and rattling off his measurements. Someone else would do the legwork.He would just sit back and pick his favorite from a lineup of designs…Why would someone like Walter ever put his heart into something for her?With that thought, a wave of bittersweet resignation washed over Evangeline."Come on, Evangeline, it's time to see things for what they are. No point in denying the obvious."Walter casually smoothed out the folds in Evangeline's dress with one hand, while with the other, he produced a small box he had tossed aside earlier and handed it
Evangeline went to slide the bracelet off, but Walter's hand gently stopped her."It's a Gordon family treasure. Passing it to you was Grandpa Trey's last wish. Just keep it, for his peace of mind, okay?"The bracelet was icy to the touch, but somehow, it felt like it carried a bit of Trey's warmth with it.Evangeline gazed at the bracelet circling her wrist, a wave of sadness washing over her. Trey had always been a rock, rooting for her and Walter to make it work. When it came to love though, what good was an old man's blessing?She was not meant to be a Gordon bride, and trying to force it was just a waste of time. The bracelet felt out of place on her arm, like a borrowed treasure she would have to give back one day. It was a gift from Trey, so she would wear it a little longer, planning to return it when the time was right.She could not tell if it was all in her head, but she really dug Walter's style tips. Checking herself out in the mirror, Evangeline could not help but sm
Minnie gave Walter a wave, her smile lighting up the room like a sunflower in full bloom.Walter's eyes flickered with a hint of darkness, but he quickly flashed a killer smile. "Yeah, it's funny how that works. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've got a master plan to shadow me, Ms. Kast." They were all smiles and laughs on the outside, but the tension ran deep—they were already sizing each other up, ready for a showdown.Evangeline, catching every word, tried to act like it did not bug her to see Walter getting hit on right in front of her. She shifted her gaze to Alex, trying to distract herself.Alex, reflecting Walter's looks, made her wonder at the mysteries of nature. They shared the same face, yet one look was all it took to see they were night and day.Walter was the life of the party, sometimes a bit of a schemer, and would do anything to get what he wanted. He was a walking storm. Alex, on the other hand, was the calm after the storm—soft-spoken, classy, with a vibe t
After giving Alex a meaningful look, Minnie got up and cozied up next to Evangeline, tapping her hand ever so lightly."Evangeline, why the closed eyes? Tired from the birthday celebrations?"Minnie's sudden show of concern surprised Evangeline. She could not quite figure out Minnie's angle but managed a polite reply. "I'm holding up. Ms. Kast. Need something?"Small talk was not Evangeline's thing, especially not with someone like Minnie, whose agenda she could not quite pin down.Minnie let out a playful laugh. "Need something? Not really. Just got to thinking about my own parties back home while watching the birthday girl do her thing."Minnie's trip down memory lane piqued Evangeline's interest. "Oh? Aren't all parties pretty much the same? What happened at yours?"Minnie gave a shy smile. "It's really no big deal. The birthday girl or boy just has to hop on stage and put on a little show for everyone. It's kind of like a fun way to show off what you've got."Evangeline's ey
"Between you and me, I have a half-sister named Julia, and playing the violin is her thing."Julia's violin skills were no joke; she was the celebrated violin goddess of Avalon City.Oddly enough, Minnie brought up Julia's specialty to Evangeline.A spark of recognition flashed in Evangeline's eyes, and looking at Minnie again, she could not shake the feeling that this woman bore an uncanny resemblance to the mysteriously missing Julia.Minnie shook her head with much conviction. "No way, I couldn't have gotten it wrong. Plus, I brought my violin just for the chance to play with you!"Alex, seeing this, jumped in with a scolding tone. "Cut it out, Minnie. It's Evie's birthday bash, not a talent show. What's the point of this stunt?"Evangeline knew all too well that Alex was looking out for her. However, she was more interested in Walter's reaction. That guy always seemed to be on a mission to contradict her. With Minnie putting her on the spot, Walter was bound to jump at the ch
Yeah, Walter definitely did it on purpose. He was dying to find out if Evangeline would turn green with envy seeing him flirt with another girl right in front of her.Nonetheless, Evangeline shot Walter a blank look before her eyes landed on Minnie. "Looks like there's no way out of playing the violin today," she said."Ms. Kast, just playing together is kinda boring, don't you think? How about we spice things up with a little wager? It'll make our face-off more exciting."Minnie had been hoping for this moment.Back when she went by Julia, she had never heard a peep about Evangeline playing the violin. This showdown was in the bag—Evangeline did not stand a chance.Of course, Minnie played it cool. "Oh, wouldn't that be awkward? If I win against the birthday girl, it'll be such a slap in your face, won't it?" Minnie asked innocently.Evangeline let out a cold huff. If Minnie really saw herself as the birthday girl, she would not pull a stunt like this.Arguing about it at this
Walter faced the crowd and announced confidently, "Well then, I won't hold back. Since we're celebrating our birthday star today, let's raise the stakes. If you lose, how about you choose one of your gifts from tonight to give to Ms. Kast?"The challenge sent a collective gasp through the room.The night's haul for Evangeline was nothing less than five million in value.As for Minnie—just who was she? If she won, it would be like hitting a jackpot."Deal."Evangeline did not even pause to think. In any game, there was a chance to win or lose, and she was ready for either.She was not the least bit concerned.No sooner had Walter finished speaking than she had picked out the gift she would part with if she lost.In full view of the crowd, Evangeline lifted her right wrist, showing off the Glacial Crown Jade bracelet Walter had just gifted her."If I lose the bet, I've got my gift ready. It's the bracelet Mr. Walter gave me."She was no longer tied to the Gordons, and wearing t