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
"Well then, if you say so, what more could I ask for? I'm just looking forward to welcoming my precious great-grandchild and basking in familial happiness!" Cole imagined the joyful future, his eyes narrowing into a contented smile.Evangeline felt a weight lift off her shoulders, knowing she had finally won her grandfather's approval. However, another thought then struck her. "Grandpa, as the head of the family, it's not right to play favorites, is it?"Cole looked puzzled, "Play favorites? When have I ever done that?"Cole had always doted on Evangeline, his granddaughter. If there was ever a case of playing favorites, she was definitely the golden child. Somehow, she still was not happy."You're always on my case about having kids with Walter, but what about my five uncles? You're not exactly rushing them down the aisle. Isn't that a bit unfair?" she challenged.Cole let out a weary sigh."Those uncles of yours? They march to the beat of their own drums. I can't make heads or
Walter had a good grasp of Evangeline's uncles' situation. Each one was a catch but without a girlfriend, which clearly meant they were not looking for love. Was this something Evangeline could change with a simple pitch?"Come on, do I look like I have that kind of time on my hands? To play matchmaker for Grandpa's amusement?"Evangeline shot Walter a sidelong glance, but the memory of their little performance in front of Cole zapped her confidence. "Look, our mess is unique. I've pretty much given up on our shot at a happy ending, so let's just make sure the rest of the family gets theirs. If Grandpa ever gets wind of our drama, maybe the others' bliss will cushion the blow for him."She was trying to give her grandpa an emotional Band-Aid before he ever needed it. Next on her list was to tackle the love lives of her uncles, starting with Yale and her best friend, Roslyn. The thought perked her right up, washing away the gloom.However, Walter was hung up on the whole 'given up h