"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
As if that was not enough, Evangeline let out a couple of low, suggestive moans.A tidal wave of shock surged in Walter's eyes. He grabbed her hand with a stern look, his voice rough with barely contained frustration, "Evangeline, cut it out..."Then, Julia's voice shattered the tense air."What the heck are you two doing?!" she shrieked, "Walt..."On the other end of the line, Julia was a mess, her words tangled in sobs. Her mother, Lydia, took the phone from her, her voice thick with tears as she explained the night's horrors.After the charity dinner, Julia had been forced into a car by strangers. If not for a random traffic police checkpoint, she might have been assaulted by the men inside.Julia, naive and unprepared for such horror, was frozen with fear.Back home, overwhelmed by shame and anger, she had tried to take her own life, but Lydia found her just in time. They then rushed to the hospital, Julia still in the throes of panic."Walter, you've got to help our Julia.