David did not beat around the bush and owned up to it."Sharp as a tack! But relax, I'm just here to ask you a few things. Answer me honestly, and I'll be out of your hair in no time."In that moment, David might as well have been Walter himself. Walter, even though they had never met, she felt like she knew him inside out.Then she knew who she was dealing with, Celina's nerves settled, and she even cracked a smile."So, I'm curious. What if I don't spill the beans? What's your play? I'm new to Avalon City, and I'm not sure if an assistant to the president of Gordon Group making people disappear is the kind of headline that gets attention. Could that stir up trouble for your Gordon Group?""Feel free to test the waters." David pulled out a tiny vial from his pocket, his meaning crystal clear as he spoke, "Okay, I know it sounds nuts, but I'm dying to see how this works on you. I mean, the Gordon Group has been the big dog in Avalon City for years. It's a total waste to let all th
However, things were different. Minnie's top priority was to have Walter's baby, and fast.If David, the ever-watchful guardian, was truly absent, was this not the golden chance to charm Walter?The thought brought a gleam of excitement to Minnie's eyes, but knowing Walter's sharp mind, she reined in her eagerness, squashing down her thrill.Walter glanced up at her briefly before his eyes darted back to the papers he was reviewing. "He mentioned something urgent at home. I figured since there's nothing pressing for me here, I let him take off."Minnie listened to Walter's laid-back tone and realized he was not at all concerned about David's sudden departure.However, she could not afford to be so nonchalant. David was a straight shooter, and if he returned just as she was about to seal the deal, it would ruin everything."Will he be back later?" Minnie glanced at the clock. There was still an hour left until quitting time.With David needing to handle his family situation and t
"As long as you're happy," said Walter, his smile just a flicker. The hard edge and fierceness in his eyes were tucked away, leaving only what Minnie hoped to see.Out of nowhere, a delicate finger poked at Walter's chest, followed by Minnie's voice, tinged with a hint of jealousy."Walter, have you ever been this nice to any other girl? Ever been this patient, explaining things to keep another girl's worries at bay?"The thought alone soured Minnie's mood like a spilled bottle of vinegar. If Walter dropped Evangeline's name right then, she was sure she would lose it."Just you," said Walter, without missing a beat.For him, the question was a no-brainer. His status meant he never had to justify himself to anyone."You're fibbing," Minnie accused with a playful pout. "Didn't you ever have to explain yourself to Evangeline? You've been married forever..."She drew out her words, teasingly leaving the sentence hanging, inviting wild guesses.However, Walter was not having any of
"Walter, how long have we been together?" Minnie asked."A little over a month, why?" Walter replied, eyeing her with a hint of suspicion but with a smile hidden in his heart.Minnie always tried to outsmart him, and he had grown tired of playing her games.She had nearly gotten her way last time because he had not been on guard. This time, her intentions were clear as day. Was she planning to pull the same stunt again?"So, you're aware it's been a month," she said.Minnie's eyes blazed with the hurt she had been bottling up, and she let it all out at Walter, not bothering to hide her frustration. "For the past month, the most we've done is hug. Don't you think that's a little too... well, you know."She could not even bring herself to say the word. It was too mortifying. There was Walter, smirking at her like he knew exactly what she meant."Come on, you don't like me, do you?""Why do you say that?" Walter chuckled, his hand that Minnie had grabbed slipped away unnoticed."
Walter's finger pressed gently against Minnie's lips as he teased, "Don't talk like that. There are lines I've drawn that I won't cross. Stirring the pot will only make things harder for me."Frankly, he wanted zero physical contact with Minnie at this very second.Minnie mistook his self-control for deep care, and her cheeks turned a rosy pink. "I wish we could keep this up forever."Just as they were wrapped up in each other, Walter's phone shattered the moment. He hit the answer button, and his face said it all—total resignation."Where in the world are you, you rascal?" Trey's voice crackled through the phone, bristling with anger."At the office." Walter's reply was detached, brief, and to the point."Swing by after you clock out!"Trey did not even flinch at his grandson's curt tone, barking out the command."Why should I bother going back?"If Evangeline was not there, Trey would just go on and on about chasing her down.With Minnie still in the picture, how could he e
Juggling Minnie every day was draining enough for Walter, and adding Trey's nagging about Evangeline to the mix? He was on the verge of a meltdown.Ever since he had fallen for Evangeline, his nerves were shot—so much that he almost laughed at his fragility.Love, he figured, was a real piece of work. It had him all tied up in knots and walking around like a lost soul.Trey could see Walter was set in his ways, so he did not push him. "Tell me, after you pulled that awful stunt, did you ever apologize to Evie?"A whole month had gone by, and Walter had not stepped foot in the Gordons' place since the day he left with a bruised ego—and face.Trey was torn between being furiously angry and feeling a pang of sympathy for his pregnant granddaughter-in-law, all alone."Grandpa, just leave Evangeline and me out of this, okay?"The whole mess was so knotted up that Walter could not figure it out himself. Thus, how could Trey, who was pretty much out of the loop, get it?Walter was dro
Walter fell silent.Walter knew David like the back of his hand after years of working side by side. David would never come knocking that late over something minor. So, Walter sat back, ready to listen to the whole scoop in one go.As expected…"You've been suspicious about Miss Minnie's identity for a while, which is why I shadow her day and night. But tonight, I've got something bigger. It's about who Minnie really is."Minnie's backed by some heavy hitters—a family with big dreams. They've heard about the Gordons owning the South and the Fosters running the North, and they're itching to shake things up, make it a three-way power play."Walter rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Who's feeding you this?" he asked."Celina, the boss of Sunny Glow Beauty Salon. Don't let her youth fool you—she's connected, knows everyone, and has the scoop on everything."David was earnest.In less than an hour with Celina, he had pegged her as sharp as a tack. Plus, her story checked out with his in
However, there was Julia, whom he had sent off to Northern Montavia. In a twist of events, the Bennisons had sneakily helped her switch identities and pulled her into their orbit.The string of coincidences was too much for Walter to brush off as mere chance.What was the Bennison family really after? If David was right, they were gunning for the Gordons and the Fosters.How bold must they be to even think about taking over both families' empires?By then, Julia's true identity was the least of Walter's concerns. The Bennisons, on the other hand, were a puzzle he intended to solve.The following day, the Sunny Glow Beauty Salon had the honor of serving a very prestigious client.She arrived with a subtle curve to her belly, draped in Chanel's latest winter collection—a limited edition that kept her cozy and showcased her stunning figure to perfection.That woman was none other than Evangeline.The moment Evangeline found out that Lydia, the one behind her mother's tragic death,