Julia's friends, bolstered by Walter's arrival, found a renewed sense of confidence.Evangeline remained silent."Walt!" Julia's voice dripped with sweetness as she preempted any other conversation. She ran her fingers through her hair, and tears streamed down her face in gratitude for her timely rescue."I don't know what I've done wrong, but my sister and her friends just attacked us. Look at my face—it's all swollen."To be attacked twice in one day…This time, away from the Gordon estate, Julia was determined not to let Evangeline get away with it.Julia's tears were a portrait of distress, though the slap marks on her face lent a touch of the absurd to her plight.Walter stared at Julia's bruised cheek before glaring at Evangeline icily.It was bad enough Evangeline had struck him, but she was even cavorting with young men too? They were not even divorced yet, and she was already so impatient!Taking in her flawless makeup and the sultry dress that was a far cry from anyt
Just then, the wail of police sirens pierced the air outside.Evangeline laughed, standing amid the glow of neon lights that cut through the night.A fleeting look of loneliness crossed her face only when Walter had taken Julia away, leaving her fate to the cops. When she made her way to the station, however, she showed no fear.She looked tranquil, her eyes calm and kind as she faced Ruby, the woman across from her."Pretty brave of you, calling the cops on me.""Ha! I'm not the only one who wants you locked up; Mr. Walter Gordon does too. You think you can hurt Julia and get away with it? A nobody from the sticks trying to outshine Julia? You lay a finger on her, and Mr. Walter Gordon will make sure you won't know what hit you.""Alright, then. Remember what you said. Just don't end up regretting them."That was when the police showed up."Nobody's leaving. Everyone here, you're all coming back to the station with me."Evangeline did not resist. She simply smiled at the offi
However, Ruby quickly shook off the feeling of being overpowered by a woman from the countryside."Alright, then! Let's see how long you can keep that smug look on your face. Open the door," Ruby ordered, her pride flaring like a peacock's feathers.She was mortified that Evangeline's stare had rattled her and was determined to show who was boss around there.Evangeline, weary and worn, was escorted by two hefty men.Roslyn was incapacitated, so it was up to Ruby to exact revenge for her friend Julia, to return the pain inflicted by Roslyn a thousand times over.She delivered a resounding slap.Evangeline did not flinch. It was not that she could not dodge or lacked the ability, she simply chose to let Ruby have her moment.She vowed to make them pay, to give back as good as she got, a thousand times over. However, her thoughts were a jumbled mess, haunted by the recent debacle at the bar.Pain scared her, yet Walter, upon arriving, did not even bother to ask if she was hurt. A
Just then, Walter's phone rang. It was his assistant, Oscar. "Mr. Walter Gordon.""What is it? Did she change her mind?""No. Mrs. Walter Gordon hasn't caved in, nor has she called begging you, but someone else has stepped in."…At the police station, in the holding cell.Ruby was not satisfied with just slapping Evangeline's face red. She was gearing up to kick her with her high heels when suddenly, she was sent flying several meters by a powerful kick from behind.The door flew open with a loud bang as a squad of imposing men in black suits and sunglasses stormed in from the shadowy hallway.Their intimidating presence silenced the room."Ms. Evangeline."It was Wade Davis, Evangeline's lifelong personal bodyguard, the one Evangeline had been waiting for.Evangeline was escorted to the break room, where many from the police force came to offer their apologies, including Ruby's uncle.Meanwhile, Ruby, clueless about the turn of events, stood in their way, clutching her wai
Ruby tried to spit out curses, but Evangeline's bodyguard was quick to silence her."Think this is the end?" said Evangeline. "The real show's just starting!"She rose to her feet and walked away with a commanding stride. Before she left, however, she turned to her bodyguards. "Make sure she's well taken care of!""Absolutely, Ms. Evangeline."Ruby, mouth sealed, was on the verge of a breakdown.'How dare you seek help, Evangeline! Who gave you the guts? Mr. Walter Gordon will never let this slide!' screamed Ruby internally.…After leaving the station, Evangeline was whisked away to the hospital for some minor bandaging. In the past, even a tiny scrape would have sent her into a dramatic frenzy at the hospital.For the past three years, the Foster family's elite bodyguard team had been on call but never needed. However, the moment they returned to duty, they found Evangeline suffering such indignities.Wade was livid. He could not just stand by and do nothing.The Fosters we
Evangeline never imagined Walter would show up at the hospital in the dead of night and act like a madman. Had Julia left him wanting?The memory of the night's betrayal with Julia pierced her heart with an invisible needle, each thought of a suffocating sting.Evangeline bit Walter's shoulder, her bite a desperate act of defiance.Walter gasped, the sharp pain a testament to her surprising strength. He had not even gotten over the kick she had delivered to his leg last time, and she bit him."Do you enjoy biting people?" Walter grunted, wincing.Evangeline felt a twinge of satisfaction seeing his usually stoic face twist in pain. "Put me down now, or I'll call the guards!"Walter's striking features were inches away as he firmly grasped her chin. "You've got two choices: One, I put you down and we show your grandpa your disheveled state. Two, keep quiet and come back with me."The mention of her grandpa silenced Evangeline's struggle. Walter had found her Achilles' heel. She di
Walter stood by the bed. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he yanked at his tie in frustration, then glanced at his watch."You think you don't need me? Don't even care about your grandfather?""What are you getting at?" Evangeline snapped back, still seething."Your grandfather is sick, in Avalon City. He's called me several times today. I told him we'd be there by eight tomorrow morning," said Walter, his presence aloof and intimidating."I don't need your help! I'll see my grandpa on my own!" With those words, she pushed through the pain, got up, and left the bed behind.That bedroom, her gilded prison, was nothing but a badge of disgrace.How utterly ridiculous. Walter had never once visited that place during their three-year marriage. Then, as divorce loomed, he was desperate to hold onto her.She, on the other hand, could not bear another minute there. The thought of him rescuing the Garside family for Julia's sake had killed her love for him stone dead. He had a k
"Hardly, Grandpa. You're tough as nails—a little sickness like this can't knock you down. Give it a month tops, and you'll be back on your feet. And when you are, I've got to get some painting and drawing tips from you."Your sketching skills I saw on video were killer. It's a rare find to see such talent these days." Walter knew exactly how to butter someone up, especially the older folks.Cole had taken up sketching as his golden years' hobby.Walter's compliments had Cole grinning widely, noticeably lifting his spirits. He had been worried about Evangeline being underappreciated in the Gordon family, but it looked like her husband, despite his silver-spoon upbringing, was attentive after all.Evangeline rolled her eyes at Walter. Since when did he become an art connoisseur? With his knack for sweet talk, he might as well have been a clown."You've got a silver tongue, young man, but let's see some action," said Cole. "I'm getting on in years. Evie's mother left us too soon, and