"Yeah, it becomes a part of me somehow. Never felt the need to switch it out," Alex replied, trying to sound casual.However, Evangeline's mind wandered to a different time, a time of endless scales and arpeggios under their teacher's watchful eye. It was during one of those intense practice sessions that she first spotted the watch on Alex's wrist.Alex, the Gordon family's second son, always wore this surprisingly modest timepiece. The face was no bigger than a quail egg, its surface bare except for the maker's mark. It had no bling, no flair, nothing that could be expected from a guy of his stature.Nonetheless, he never took it off, not even when the strap dug into his skin, not even when the paint started to chip away. The same answer he gave her a few seconds ago was the same answer he had given her back then.That was why, when it came time to pick out his gift, Evangeline knew it had to be a watch. She felt a warmth flood through her—she knew Alex always had her back.His
A week's time…Had Yale not reminded her, the whole thing might have slipped Evangeline's mind.Between grappling with the news of her pregnancy and drawing a line with Walter, her mind was a whirlwind of worry. She dreaded the thought of her uncles and grandpa making a big fuss over her news.Thus, she gave herself a week to get her head straight before letting them in on her little secret."Isn't today just day seven? Why the hurry?"She had to count it out on her fingers to be sure Yale had not pulled a fast one on her."Evie, you have to talk to us sooner or later. Does one more day make a difference?"That was Holden on the other end of the line, chiming in.Evangeline did not hesitate with her answer. "Yes, it does! Tomorrow, I'm visiting Grandpa. Let's meet at the Foster family's old place."Evangeline had no clue that her offhand comment had sent her uncles into a frenzy of excitement."Did Evie get back to us?""Is she finally going to say something about being preg
It had been ages since Evangeline had felt this kind of warmth.In an instant, she was reminded of her mother, who had left the world too soon.She could not help but wonder if Julieta was heaven-sent, a way to fill the void her mother's absence had left.Julieta, sensing the prolonged silence, worried she might have crossed a line and quickly added, "If it's too much, you don't have to talk about it...""It's not that. I'm just trying to figure out how to put it into words," said Evangeline, searching for the right way to express her tangled thoughts.Julieta had no idea about Evangeline's situation with Walter. Honestly, she did not feel like going through the hassle of explaining their complicated history. It was downright confusing.Then, like a lightbulb flicking on, Evangeline's eyes sparkled with an idea."Mrs. Lewis… Let's say you've got this friend, right? And you've told them you're done, you want to keep your distance. But now, you're in a jam and need to ask for thei
Evangeline paused, finding it hard to continue, but she pushed on."You're aware of how my grandpa's health is. I think it's best if we're both there for this. So... would you come with me tomorrow?"Evangeline really did not have to ask like this.She could not help but feel that every struggle was worth it when she pictured her sick grandfather's face lighting up at the news of her baby's arrival."Sure, when should I swing by to get you?" Walter offered without hesitation.His eagerness caught Evangeline off guard. "You didn't even think it over?"She had wrestled with how to broach the subject with him, to the point where she lost her appetite."There's nothing to think about. It's been ages since I've seen him. Paying him a visit is the least I can do," said Walter with a firmness that left no room for argument. Nonetheless, his words carried a hidden weight that only he seemed to grasp."You do realize this isn't just a simple family visit. To convince Grandpa... we'll
How could he be so clueless?Evangeline's heart belonged to Alex, yet Walter poured out his feelings to her like she would actually care. Walter was just humiliating himself at this point, was he not?"Eight in the morning, I'll swing by the villa to get you. That's it for now, I need to sleep."Walter's frosty words were a sharp reminder that she had interrupted his rest. Evangeline quickly agreed and hung up, her heart heavy.The phone lay silent, but Evangeline's heart was anything but. Walter's words haunted her in echoes, confirming she had not misheard.Her heart unexpectedly missed a beat, and a wave of disappointment and loss washed over her. Walter clearly did not want her; his words were only for the sake of the baby.With a reason for everything, Evangeline fought through her heartache and finally drifted off to a restless sleep.After a night of tossing and turning, Evangeline dabbed on just enough makeup to look alive. She was careful to use only pregnancy-safe prod
Trying to ignore his rumbling stomach, Walter suddenly spotted a mouthwatering sandwich in front of him, and behind it, Evangeline's resigned expression."Mrs. Lewis packed these, worrying I'd get peckish on the road. Have one to hold you over."It was not that Evangeline was worried about Walter, in essence. She just felt bad for the guy—he was only this famished because of her.Walter shook his head. "No, you keep it."Evangeline was expecting, and if her nanny had thought to pack snacks, it meant she probably needed to eat frequently.He did not want to scarf down the sandwich and leave her hungry later.Walter did his best to keep his cravings in check, eyes glued to the windshield, watching the road. He even toned down his breathing to avoid being seduced by the scent.Evangeline knew he would not just take her word for it, so she pushed the sandwich into his hand."Go on, eat. Mrs. Lewis made plenty, and we won't miss one. We've got a bit before we'll get to eat at Grandp
Had Evangeline and Walter patched things up and had come to give him the news?Cole's eyes lingered on Walter's cheerful face. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that his hunch was right."I've actually got some great news for you today!""What's the great news?" Cole asked, already forming his own theory. "Did you and Walter patch things up and decide to stay together?"Their relationship had always been a sore spot for him.Walter was not related to the Foster family, so Cole did not worry about him as much. However, Evangeline was different. She was his only granddaughter. If she was not happy, he felt like he would never be able to rest easy, not even in his grave.Evangeline could not believe it. Despite Walter's heart-to-heart with Grandpa Cole, the old man still clung to the crazy idea that she and Walter were on the brink of divorce.Clearly, Walter's attempt at reassurance had fallen flat.However, finger-pointing could wait. She needed to squas
"Oh, come on! Grandpa is not out of his mind. He knows how to look after himself. Right, Grandpa?" Evangeline teased, casting a playful glance at her grandfather.Cole quickly replied, "You bet. For my great-grandchild, I'll do whatever it takes to stay healthy."Laughter filled the room once more; the family's happiness was infectious.Amid the laughter, Evangeline took a moment to really look at her grandfather. He used to have streaks of black in his hair, but after his illness, it was all silver, making him seem so much older.Before she walked in, her uncles had whispered concerns about Grandpa's sharpness slipping. She had not believed them then. However, after just a few words with him, the playful, childlike glint in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.Cole was getting on in years, and the time for stubbornness had passed.Joyous moments always seemed to pass quickly. The Foster family was having a blast, and like they had all planned it, each person showed o