Evangeline's gaze swept across the room as she spoke, sharp enough to keep everyone from looking her in the eye.Gone was the gentle composure she showed with the Gordon family, replaced by the ironclad authority of a woman in charge."Any objections? Now's the time to speak up," Evangeline stated calmly.With Cole's right-hand man, Asher, standing behind her, his respect bordering on reverence, it was as though Cole himself had entered the room. Who would dare step out of line?After all, Cole, the notorious gambling tycoon, was a name that sent shivers down their spines. Cole might be bedridden, doting on Evangeline with every fiber of his being, but his reputation in the business and underground worlds was still formidable.Everyone was convinced that she was Cole's granddaughter, and her eyes—calm yet piercing—were a mirror image of Cole's own.David, who had just been ousted, served as her first lesson to the company. She did not even spare the old-timers' pride.Who would
"Let Strata King Group have their moment with that tempting opportunity. Once we've got our stock prices back on track, we'll be back in the game stronger than ever," Evangeline mused, her fingers gently tracing the contours of the ring her grandfather had cherished for so many years."However, you know the saying that goes, 'Gordon rules the north, Foster owns the south.' Strata King may be the brainchild of Walter Gordon, but it's the Gordon family that's pulling the strings. They've outpaced the original Gordon Group and now sit at the top of Halcyonia's corporate ladder."If we challenge Strata King, we're challenging the Gordons head-on. And despite the old bonds between our families, in business, there's no room for stepping aside. If we abandon the northern markets for charity work in the northwest, what will that say about the Foster name?" someone said."Who's saying I'm ducking Strata King Group? That's the biggest laugh I've had all day!" In that instant, Evangeline's dor
Julia paced the floor of her suburban villa outside Capital City, her eyes burning with fury as she stared at the letter from Foster Group. In a fit of rage, she hurled a vase against the wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces.Her mood had been in the pits. She had returned to the country, fully expecting to kick Evangeline out of the Gordon family and banish her back to the sticks. To her shock, Evangeline had managed to charm Walter into her bed.The image of their heated kiss haunted Julia, igniting a desire to rip Evangeline apart.She was desperate to confront Walter, but he had been dodging her for days. She tried to reach out to Evangeline, to give her a piece of her mind, but realized she had been blocked.The sting of rejection was more than she could bear.She refused to believe Walter did not care about her. After all, had he not gone out of his way to save the Garside family for her sake? All that, and just last night, she had heard they had disappeared from Avalo
"Let her," Walter snapped, his face set in a hard line as he shot Oscar a withering look.Oscar bit back any further objections, getting the message loud and clear. "Alright, alright. I'll make sure the missus hears about tonight."Walter was at it again, trying to rile up Evangeline with Julia's presence. Could that really work? Somehow, he doubted it.…The clock struck seven-thirty, and the Foster family's charity auction kicked off right on schedule in Capital City. The venue was the famed Victoria Garden House, a place that once echoed with the laughter of the elite as they enjoyed their music and theater. Then, it was Avalon City's most opulent playground for the rich and famous.The gala was already buzzing with the elegance of classical performances, the air filled with the harmonious melodies of flutes and zithers. The crowd was a parade of the elite, each person a vision of beauty and stature, adhering to a strict height requirement. Clad in traditional gray-blue garb, t
The evening's esteemed hosts, the Fosters, had made their entrance.Evangeline, stunning in a black gown that made her porcelain skin glow, walked hand-in-hand with James. She was a vision, her figure and poise conjuring images of an enchantress from a fairy tale. The necklace she wore, with its massive blue gemstone flanked by diamonds, was a showstopper, leaving women in awe.James, her companion, was the epitome of sophistication in his wine-red designer suit and gold-rimmed glasses, his handsome features rivaling the heartthrobs of Hollywood.Together, they were a breathtaking pair, stealing the show effortlessly.Julia's aura paled in comparison, and her envy boiled over. Why did Evangeline always have to outshine her?"Walt, look, isn't that Evangeline? What's she doing with the Fosters?" taunted Julia, noticing Walter's displeasure.A chilling dread settled over Walter.So James was a Foster after all. That explained his confidence and audacity to challenge Walter head-on
"Sixty million dollars."The room hushed in an instant. Walter was the one who bid, casting a challenging look at James and Evangeline, a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes set on the Foster Group's treasured heirloom.James caught Walter's challenging gaze, as sharp as a thorn, and then shared a knowing look with Evangeline. With her silent nod, he countered, "Sixty-seven million five hundred thousand dollars.""Seventy-five million dollars," Walter shot back, lifting his paddle once more.The auction had turned into a private war between the Gordon family and Foster Group. The rest of the crowd, recognizing the futility of competing, bowed out gracefully.The sapphire necklace, rare as it was, should not fetch more than 30 million at its peak. The current bid was astronomical, way beyond the necklace's worth. No one else was willing to play the fool and foot that bill.Encouraged by a subtle cue from Evangeline, the two headstrong men kept upping the ante until the price hit a
"Oh, Mr. Walter Gordon, do you have some secrets that can't stand the light of day?" Evangeline's voice dripped with scorn.Walter's expression turned stormy, a dark cloud over his features.Before the stunned crowd, he pulled Evangeline away without so much as a second thought, leaving a ripple of shock in their wake.Their marriage was a well-kept secret, known only to a select few. Walter whisking her away like that had set tongues wagging.It was not until they reached the seclusion of the stairwell that Evangeline wrenched herself free, inwardly cursing him as a 'damn guy', Her wrist was red where he had gripped it."Are you out of your mind, Walter?" she exclaimed. "Leaving your sweetheart behind like that, aren't you worried about the rumors?""You're the one who's lost it! Have you forgotten who you are, Mrs. Walter Gordon? Flaunting yourself for another man, do you think that's fitting?" Walter shot back, matching her sarcasm with his own.Evangeline's black coat flutte
Julia's mind raced. If Walter just whisked Evangeline away like that, it would be a slap in her face.That night was her chance to show everyone who was in charge. She could not let Evangeline, that homewrecker, outshine her."Go ahead, hail a cab on your own." Walter did not even glance back, leaving Julia seething with envy and rage as she watched them from behind.Evangeline stormed home alongside Walter, her anger simmering.To her surprise, the moment they arrived, Walter flung a fancy jewelry box at her as if it were nothing more than garbage.She instantly recognized it as the case for the sapphire necklace."Here, take it. Not everyone's keen on second-hand stuff, so let's call it charity," said Walter indifferently.Yet, despite his biting words and the fact that 135 million dollars was a drop in the bucket for him, Evangeline felt a pang. That necklace was not just any trinket. It was the Foster family's treasured heirloom, a wedding gift from her grandfather, laden wi
Evangeline felt a stir in her heart as Alex's persuasive voice washed over her. She knew he was twisting the truth, but she could not quite pin down a comeback to shut him down.Hurting someone in the name of love could not possibly be true love, could it?She saw right through Alex's charming tricks—classic manipulator moves. If she let herself get sucked into his logic, she would be brainwashed in no time, turned into his personal puppet. 'Alex, you're seriously scary,' she thought to herself.If she fought back too hard, he would only come at her with worse, and she was not exactly in a position to fight back. She was about as intimidating as a kitten.No, she had to be clever about that."I believe you," she said, her voice light and airy as if she did not have a care in the world. Even tied up as she was, her smile and bright eyes made her look utterly adorable."You know, Alex, you're making a lot of sense. I mean, what have I gotten from chasing after Walter all this tim
Foster Group had revamped its game, and it was a whole new ballgame. However, just because they had ditched their old ways, did that mean nobody was left to pick up the slack?Alex was clued in on all of that, yet fear was not in his vocabulary."You really think I'm scared to mess with you because of that?" Alex's voice dripped with icy mockery. "Evangeline, the only reason I haven't pushed you is because I love you too much to make you do anything... intimate."However, if my caring turns into your scorn, then sorry, I can't just stand by and do nothing.""Too much love to force me?" Evangeline laughed like she had heard the funniest joke ever. "Does your face turn red when you say that? Does lying make you squirm?"You say you can't force me, but did I come to this creepy place because I wanted to? Did I ask you to tie me up like this?"Alex's face hardened, and his words were laced with pure fury."Evie, if you keep bad-mouthing me, keep getting me wrong, I'm going to lose
"Spill it, why did you bring me here, and why am I all tied up?"Evangeline had already taken in every detail of the room, feeling a wave of strangeness wash over her.She knew for a fact she had never set foot in that place before.Then again, this was Alex's secret lair. How could she have ever been there?Alex did not answer right away. Instead, he caressed her cheek with one hand, boasting arrogantly, "When I bring my girl to my place, there's no need for a reason."Evangeline tried to shrink away from his touch, but the ropes made it impossible to move.She resigned herself and thrust her bound hands toward Alex. "Alex, is this your idea of treating a woman right?"Drugging me, tying me up while I'm knocked out? Don't you think these tactics are a little low, even for you?"Before this, Evangeline had never thought Alex could be so vile.However, there he was, his hand casually resting on the ropes that tied her up, while his other hand reached out to grab hers. He looked
The room was so soundproof that Evangeline did not catch a word of the conversation. If she had, she would have laughed and said that the biggest danger she faced was Alex himself.Too bad Evangeline was out of earshot, and Yale was clueless that Alex was just faking concern. Considering how close Alex seemed to be with Evangeline and how worried he acted, Yale pushed aside his suspicions.Alex played the caring friend perfectly, offering Yale a few comforting words. However, Yale was too focused on the search for Evangeline to chat, so he hung up quickly.As soon as the call ended, the worried look on Alex's face melted away, replaced by a smug grin.'Yale, I wonder how you'll look next time we meet, when I'm introduced as Evangeline's boyfriend? Will you be relieved, or will you be steaming mad? Either way, I bet it'll be a picture worth seeing.'Of course, Yale's reaction did not matter. Alex had one thing on his mind today: to win Evangeline over.In a perfect world, he would
Walter did not buy the story for a second, his eyes locked on Thomas."That toy you're holding is the Shadow Wing, isn't it? A casual one million five hundred thousand dollar purchase—come on, you're no average person."Even though Thomas was riddled with doubts, he knew that was not the time to get caught up in them."Thomas, once we wrap this up and Evangeline's back safe, let's really get to know each other, okay?"Thomas just gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure thing, I'm ready whenever you are."Just then, Thomas's eyes sparkled as he zeroed in on the screen."Got her! She's right here!"Walter glanced over at Thomas, and there was Evangeline's face on the screen, pale with fury.In a room on the third floor of the mansion, at the turn of the corridor, Evangeline was lying on the bed, a flimsy blanket her only cover. Tightly bound beneath the thin fabric were her wrists and ankles.As the memories from before she blacked out rushed back, Alex's triumphant smirk haunted Evangel
The gas pedal hit the floor, and the car surged forward faster than ever.Walter's mind was racing, fixated on the upcoming rescue.However, the place they pulled up to was all too familiar.It was the very villa where Walter's secret rendezvous had once been exposed.Stepping out of the car, Thomas could not suppress a chuckle at the sight of the private estate."It's kind of funny, you know? I thought bumping into an old friend while out and about was surprising enough, but to end up in the very same place, too?"Walter was not shocked, however.He had suspicions about Alex and had done his homework. This villa? It was Alex's hideout.What he did not expect was Alex could be so bold as to drag Evangeline there.Walter had been to that villa once. It was huge, with rooms galore, and pinning down which one Evangeline might be in was like looking for a needle in a haystack. If they were going to find her, they would have to check each room, which was a real pain.Walter caught
"How do I save Evangeline? And who the heck are you?"That enigmatic tipster, who kept dropping hints about Evangeline's peril, was no ordinary person.However, instead of an answer, all Walter got was the infuriating buzz of a busy signal.[Meet at the Dell family's alley crossroads in ten minutes.]Walter stared at the text, his curiosity about this cryptic informant spiking. It was like they knew exactly where he was, setting up the rendezvous right around the corner from the hospital.[Why should I trust you? And who are you, really?]Uncertainty swirled around Walter like a thick fog, but he was not about to let go of that mysterious lifeline that might just pull Evangeline back to safety.He shot back a quick reply and turned to David. "How many can we muster from the Gordons' forces?"Walter never imagined his grandfather would kick him out of Gordon Group. He had always focused on keeping the business running smoothly, never bothering to build up his own crew.However,
The thought struck David like lightning."All the Bennison family's clout is in Alex's grip. Could Alex be plotting against Ms. Evangeline? But wait, doesn't Alex have a thing for her? They could meet up in the open, no problem. So why would the Fosters kick up such a storm?"Nonetheless, who else in all of Avalon City would dare to mess with the Fosters' darling Evangeline in the open?As Walter was racking his brains, David suddenly gasped, a eureka moment lighting up his face."I got it! Alex has booted you from the company and got the thumbs up from Mr. Gordon. Gordon Group's practically his. He's on top of the world. If he now goes after Ms. Evangeline..."David clamped his mouth shut mid-sentence, realizing the rest was too risky to voice in front of Walter.However, he trusted Walter's smarts. Even without spelling it out, Walter would get the picture.He did. The moment Walter caught on to the unspoken words, panic washed over him, and he started sweating bullets.Alex
Yale's search revealed that the bodyguards assigned to Evangeline had been secretly taken out.The enemy's bad intentions were obvious.However, they were clueless and had no idea who the bad guy was.Evangeline had vanished without leaving a single clue, leaving Yale with nowhere to start."What do we do now?" Roslyn was pacing back and forth, frantic.Celina, biting down on her teeth with regret, said, "If only I'd stayed with Ms. Evangeline when she went out, or stopped her from leaving!"However, wishing for do-overs was like hoping for a magic cure for regret. It simply did not exist. No matter how much they were hurting, they could not rewrite the ending.The real problem was, they were clueless about who they were up against. The people the Foster family had sent out were just running in circles at the last place Evangeline had been spotted, like they were chasing their own tails.Then, Roslyn had a lightbulb moment."Evie got a call before she left. Can we dig into her