"Alex, the drama between me and Walter is not your problem, so don't sweat it."The fight had kicked off in Alex's house, but really, it was just old grudges boiling over. Alex was just caught in the crossfire; he did not have anything to do with it.Evangeline could tell Alex was probably beating himself over it, so she quickly offered some comforting words.What she did not realize was that her kindness was like a warm blanket for Alex's soul."Evie, I'm alright as long as you're okay... That's what counts."His words were a whisper, but they were packed with so much honesty that Evangeline could not help it. Her tears just spilled over.Feeling so low after Walter's harsh treatment, Alex's words lifted her spirits sky-high."Thanks, Alex," she said, meaning every word.Nevermind Walter. Alex was the person she needed at this moment, someone to make her feel valued when she felt at her worst."No biggie."Alex was smiling on the other end of the line, but he still took a mo
Evangeline and Alex traded stories, each one making them laugh more than the last.Meanwhile, Walter was in a rough spot. He was gutted when he realized Evangeline blocked him.Alone, he headed back to Crystal Waters House, only to find that Evangeline had not returned, which sent him into a tailspin.Evangeline was gone, and it looked like she might not come back at all.That just could not happen.He had to see her... he had to make her listen to his side of the story!Where could Evangeline have gone? If she was not at Crystal Waters House, where else would she be?Cole was sick. Even if she was mad at him, she would not just skip out on visiting Cole, would she?Walter felt like he had a lead. He willed himself to sleep and recharge, determined to head over to Cole's to track down Evangeline.Nonetheless, Evangeline's determined eyes haunted him, and he tossed and turned all night. With dark bags under his eyes, he got up at the crack of dawn and made his way to the Foster
Walter could accept Evangeline being mad at him, but it drove him nuts when she dodged him like he was some kind of monster.Evangeline could not help but laugh. "Why would I be avoiding you?"All she wanted was to give him the cold shoulder, plain and simple."So you..." 'Why are you taking off?'Walter's question hung in the air as his phone buzzed to life. He saw the caller ID and accepted the call without hesitation.Trey's voice came through loud and clear. "Walter, do you have any idea how long it's been since you last dropped by?"The old man's tone was laced with a touch of longing, obviously hinting that he wanted Walter to pay him a visit.That was when Walter realized he had been so wrapped up in Evangeline lately that he had forgotten visiting Trey."How about I swing by tomorrow?"He thought about saying 'today', but he had just managed to catch Evangeline, and he had a whole lot to say to her. He could not possibly leave today.Trey was just itching to see Walte
Walter did not care if he threw James off his schedule. He planted himself in front of James's car, stubborn as a mule."Walter, when did you sign up for security duty?" asked James sarcastically, stepping out of his car with a sigh. "If you're going to play watchdog, shouldn't you be on your own turf? What's the deal with camping out at my place?"The Fosters had a top-notch security setup. The second Walter took up his post, James got the heads-up from his bodyguards. He knew exactly why Walter was there, even if he pretended otherwise.James had figured the high-and-mighty young master would crack after getting the cold shoulder from the Foster clan and beat a hasty retreat. Walter was full of surprises, though, holding his ground for two days without budging an inch.James had to step in, worried that the ruckus might tip Cole off to something being amiss. It was time to confront Walter head-on.Walter could easily pick up on the sarcasm in James' words, but he had bigger fish
If it were not for Walter's high status, and considering how he had treated Evangeline, Roslyn would not even waste a second glance at him.Yet there she was, in the cutthroat world of entertainment, where crossing Walter could spell disaster for her career. Thus, for the sake of her paycheck, she played along."Sorry for taking up your time."Walter was not the type to apologize. With his high-flying status, people usually tripped over themselves to please him. Why would anyone be annoyed with him?He understood why Roslyn might be ticked off with him, though. Since he needed her help, he would have to suck it up, no matter how much it stung."Evangeline's been missing for days. You got any clue where she might be?"Roslyn blinked, caught off guard, before it clicked."Mr. Walter Gordon, did I hear you right? You're asking about Evie?"Walter gave a firm nod.Roslyn leaned her head on her hand. "Unless I'm mistaken, you two aren't divorced yet, right?"That question hit Walt
Walter had just put the final flourish on a contract when he grabbed the list of new names and flipped to the end to sign off. As his pen danced across the page, he shot a question over his shoulder."So, how many fresh faces are joining us as interns? Got any standouts?" Walter asked.David, who had been Walter's right-hand man for years, knew what he meant. He had the information ready, just waiting for the cue. "We've got five new interns this year. One is a real jack-of-all-trades and shines bright in the bunch. You know we've got that gap in the secretarial pool? HR is buzzing about grooming this star. If they catch your eye, boss, they're in."The HR chief was one of Trey's crew, an unbiased man who acted lawfully and abidingly. That was why, when Walter was removing Trey's people from the group, he kept this gem on board.Walter's eyebrow raised. "Impressing that old coot is no walk in the park. Who's the kid?"He fanned out the employee files he had, looking for a clue, bu
In Eastgate District, the lush and luxurious Emerald of the Highlands villa area, Evangeline lounged on a beanbag chair, soaking up the sun's rays with carefree ease.She had been living extravagantly in the villa her uncle had gifted her for several days, reveling in the kind of laid-back lifestyle she adored.These days had taught her why so many people were into the whole 'lie back and let the world spin' vibe, keen on clocking out of the rat race early.Right then, her phone buzzed. It was a call from her best friend, Roslyn. The thought of how long it had been since they last hung out brought a smile to Evangeline's face."Hey, it's been ages! What's been keeping you busy?"She secretly wished Roslyn could join her for some chill time during her self-declared vacation.Of course, being solo had its perks—peaceful yet a tad dull. However, that twinge of loneliness would sneak up on her sometimes.Roslyn was not calling to swap life updates, though, despite her hectic schedul
"No, not at all." Evangeline laughed it off, but it was clear she was faking it.How could she admit the humiliating thing Walter had done to her?"Just pretend I'm really tired lately and need a serious break." Evangeline grabbed a throw pillow and, pretending to play with it, used it to hide her face.Roslyn saw right through this act of evasion and felt her anger melt away, leaving only a deep concern for Evangeline. "You can rest any way you want, but you have to talk about what's going on so we can back you up, okay?""I... don't want to fight back anymore." Evangeline's gaze fell, filled with sadness.She just wanted to cut Walter out of her life for good. Alas, she knew that was a pipe dream.She had promised Cole she would make it work with Walter and have a child. How could she let him down?Hiding away was just... a temporary escape."That's not going to work."Roslyn's fists tightened with fury. Her best friend Evangeline was being tormented by a lowlife. Was she su