Walter had seen firsthand the clout of the Bennison family. He was clueless about what to expect in Avalon City or what tricks they might pull to nibble away at the Fosters' empire.However, his priority was to safeguard Evangeline. Only then could he square off against that tough adversary with a clear head."Why?" Evangeline's tone was dead serious, a stark shift from her usual demeanor."That salon's got more secrets than you can imagine. If it's pampering you're after, pick any spot in Avalon City. It's on me.""You think the Fosters can't afford my beauty treatments?" Evangeline scoffed, her gaze mocking as she looked at Walter, her smile widening as if he were just a clown there for her entertainment."Walter, I'll be going to Sunny Glow, no matter what. You've got your reasons, and I've got mine. We've finally got our lines drawn, and I like it that way—our lives, our rules. So let's not start mixing things up again."Evangeline's words rang with truth.Every encounter wi
Walter's hand that had been holding Evangeline too firmly then rested gently on her slightly swollen belly, under her stern gaze.It was a strange and wonderful feeling. Walter knew the baby was just a tiny, developing life, but the thought of it growing inside Evangeline, the woman he loved, filled him with warmth.That warmth flooded through him as he touched her belly, and he felt like the luckiest guy on the planet.A wave of guilt washed over him for not being there for his wife and child. He silently vowed that once he sorted out his mess, if Evangeline could still stand him, he would make it up to her and their little one."Evangeline, take care of the baby," he said, leaving the rest unsaid. "And take care of yourself."He swallowed the rest of his words, knowing that Evangeline might see his promises as insincere, like a fox offering a chicken well wishes. It was better to leave them unspoken.Evangeline was taken aback by Walter's sudden softness which was so at odds wi
At the Emerald of the Highlands villa.It was the dead of winter, but inside the villa her uncle had set up for her, Evangeline could not feel the chill. It was actually too hot for comfort.Julieta, ever the worrier, kept a tight leash, fearing Evangeline might catch a cold. So, under the guise of getting some healthy sunshine, Evangeline snuck off to the brightest balcony when the afternoon sun was at its peak to enjoy a breath of fresh air.Rocking gently in her chair, with just a pane of glass between her and the lazy sunbeams, Evangeline basked in the warmth. Her eyes nearly closed in bliss.Julieta came by with a plate full of neatly sliced fruit and silently set it down on the coffee table right in front of Evangeline."Ms. Evangeline, munching on fruit while you're expecting is great for your baby's skin. You've got to make sure you eat plenty," urged Julieta, though she had already loaded Evangeline up with more fruit than she could stomach.Just the sight of fruit made
"Is that really what you think?"The last time they saw each other was at that cafe, right when the drama with Walter and Minnie blew up.Instead of leaving with him, Evangeline dashed off to find Walter, leaving Alex to wonder about all sorts of things.Alex knew he was closer to Walter than Evangeline was, but he had not stepped in. Would Evangeline think he was heartless? The more she pulled away, the more he could not stop thinking about her. It was not right to just show up at her place, but he could not help himself and ended up at the villa where Evangeline was resting up for the baby."Sure thing," agreed Evangeline without a second thought, and Alex felt a wave of relief. It was a relief she did not see him that way. He was worried about ruining his image in her eyes, especially when her marriage to Walter was on the rocks. If he messed up, he would regret it forever.Lost in his worries, Alex did not notice Evangeline's quiet, searching look. "You didn't come all this wa
Evangeline had it in her head that Minnie was the new girlfriend Alex had brought home. However, it was obvious that Minnie only had eyes for Walter, and Alex was out of the picture.When Evangeline shared her hunch, Alex just wrinkled his brow and said, "Evie, you're way off base! Don't you know the awesome news? Why would you think it's some lovey-dovey soap opera stuff?"Alex's blunt way of putting things made Evangeline's mouth twitch. She could not remember when she had first noticed that side of him."So, you got a raise then?" She figured if romance was the wrong track, work had to be a safe bet, right?Alex let out a deep sigh, looking frustrated. "Let me give you a clue!" His hand, which had been resting on the wheelchair's armrest, shifted gently onto his legs.That could only mean...Evangeline's mind raced, and she pointed at Alex's legs, her voice tinged with disbelief, "Your legs..."As she saw a shimmer in his eyes, she asked, still not quite believing, "Alex, y
"Does he care about me?" Alex let out a sharp, mocking snort, his eyes frosty. "Evie, my drama with the Gordons is not your problem. Just stay out of it, okay?""This phone call..."Before Evangeline knew it, Alex's hand was over hers, and he grabbed the phone right out of her grip."Don't bother calling. It'll just make a mess for everyone."Evangeline was shocked. She remembered Alex as that smooth, polite guy, not that... dictator.She wanted to say something, to stick up for Trey, but the storm brewing in Alex's dark eyes stopped her. The words just would not come out.No one could understand someone's pain if they had not lived it.She had no clue what Alex had been through with the Gordons, and maybe she was not in any position to push him toward making up with Trey."Okay, I won't tell Mr. Gordon. Let's keep this our little secret, okay?"Somehow, she just knew that keeping quiet would make Alex smile. All she wanted was to see a glimmer of happiness in his eyes.Deep
Julieta's voice cut through the air, yanking Evangeline back to reality.It was only then she realized she was too close to Alex, way closer than a sister-in-law should be to her husband's brother. It was way beyond what friends would consider normal.Her move was out of line."Ah, lemon water would be great, thanks. And yeah, pile on the sugar." Snapping out of it, Evangeline quickly put some space between her and Alex, settling back into her rocking chair.Alex seemed unfazed, however. "Evie, what's up?"Julieta had just delivered their drinks when Evangeline excused herself to the restroom, asking Julieta to keep their guest company for a moment before she dashed away.In the restroom, Evangeline's heart raced, thumping against her chest as if trying to escape. She could not believe it—the twinkle in Alex's eyes, it was because of her!Or was she just reading too much into it?Alex always hung out with her like they were nothing more than friends. Maybe it was just her early
It snagged Evangeline's attention, and she picked up without a second thought."Could it be an update on Lydia's location?" Evangeline asked, her voice thrumming with hope.Since the day she had scoped out Sunny Glow Beauty Salon and sketched out a map of its layout for Snow Wolf, all had been quiet on his end. That unexpected call had her mind racing. Could it be the break they needed?She was right. A cheerful male voice greeted her from the other end."Yes, we should've had news sooner, but we hit a snag," Snow Wolf admitted, pausing for a moment before diving back in. "The map you handed over was just a slice of the salon's real footprint. We had to crack their system wide open to snatch the hidden part of the blueprint they were sitting on."Now we're pretty sure there's a secret door tucked away in the back of the director's office. And Lydia, the one you've been chasing shadows to find, is holed up in a room right behind that door."Lydia's disappearance had stretched on f