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
Celina noticed that Evangeline was about to leave and asked with concern,"Are you going out, miss?"Evangeline nodded while picking up her bag, not understanding why Celina's brows were furrowed.Before she could ask, Celina continued, "The Gordon family is in turmoil recently, and with your relationship with Walter… it might be best if you don't go out and attract attention."Evangeline could easily understand the meaning behind Celina's words. The Gordon family was in a crisis, and she had poured more fuel on the fire at a critical moment, practically throwing herself into the whirlpool of public opinion. If she went out, it was highly likely that paparazzi and reporters would follow her, and the consequences could be unimaginable."I'm sorry, but I still need to go."Evangeline's worry for Trey had reached its peak. Facing Celina's concerned expression, she reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. If necessary, I'll bring a few more bodyguards."Celina knew she could not
Some people also said that Walter had pushed out Alex. Gordon Group was going through a period of turmoil, suffering from investment failures, compounded by The Bennex Corporation's reckless and aggressive maneuvers, which were essentially pushing the company to the brink of collapse.The only way for Walter to temporarily calm the storm and give the company a chance to regroup was to push Alex out and take the blame for everything.As the news spread, its impact grew larger, and some even dared to publicly tag Gordon Group's official social media account. It was expected that Gordon Group would follow their usual approach of not responding and turning a blind eye.To everyone's surprise, the company issued an official statement within 10 minutes.The news that Mr. Alex Gordon had been incarcerated was true, but the specific reasons would need to wait for the police's verdict.This brief announcement confirmed the speculations of social media users.However, Gordon Group was not
Evangeline listened to Thomas's lament and felt a wave of sadness in her heart.However, there were too many such people and stories in Avalon City, and she could not sympathize with all of them.Besides, Carl had done many bad things while working for Alex. How could she pity him?"Is there nothing else? No more information? Those who are pitiful must have their faults."Evangeline was not someone whose sympathy overflowed, nor did she want to connect with this situation."My men discovered that Carl has been wandering around Avalon City recently. His whereabouts are completely uncertain, and we've been unable to track him down or know where to start looking."Thomas fell silent for a moment, and Evangeline could only hear the sound of a mouse clicking.After some time, he added warily, "Carl is probably looking for his family."Before Alex was arrested, Carl secretly returned home one night. What exactly happened is unclear, but the next day, his family was taken away. And the
Perhaps going out for a walk with Celina to clear her mind would help her regain her composure.To her surprise, Celina declined Evangeline's suggestion and said, "No, I want to go on a stroll alone.Seeing the sadness in Celina's eyes, Evangeline did not know what to say."Ms. Evangeline, I'm just feeling down for no reason. You don't need to worry about me. Maybe it's because… I've been too idle."In the past, Celina always had various tasks, but after returning to the Foster family, there were no more tasks, no work, and her sole focus was on David.All of a sudden, Zhang Tao recovered and no longer needed her.She needed some quiet time to rediscover her own value. Otherwise, she would only live in confusion and self-doubt.Evangeline did not insist. Adults need time for themselves, after all. She could not take away the time for solitude that Celina needed just because they had a good relationship."Then… be careful."Evangeline patted Celina's shoulder and watched her le
Evangeline's brow furrowed. This situation was indeed tricky."Why is Carl Fowler still running around outside on his own when his boss has been exposed? If I were him, with Alex arrested, I'd rush back to Southern Crownlands immediately. Even if I couldn't return here, I'd send the message to the Bennison family as quickly as possible."Instead, he's been wandering around Avalon City!"Evangeline's speculation was not without merit. After all, if Carl had sent news of Alex's arrest back to Southern Crownlands, the Bennison family would have taken action. They would not be unaware, like they were at this moment where they've fallen for Walter's smokescreen and did not even realize it.David stroked his chin thoughtfully. "There's definitely something else going on here, and we just haven't figured it out yet. Is Carl wandering around because he's looking for something—or someone?"Having been by Alex's side, he naturally understood the dangers around him.Avalon City was especiall
"Insufficient evidence!"Evangeline and David seemed to be perfectly in sync. David looked at Evangeline with admiration."You truly are incredible, ma'am. Your analytical skills are simply amazing!""You don't need to flatter me. Since you led me to this conclusion, you must have a solution, right?"Gordon Group never kept idle people, and Walter was a perfectionist when it came to hiring. Therefore, the fact that David had worked under Walter for so many years was enough to prove his capabilities.Realizing he had been seen through, David awkwardly scratched his head. "I do have a plan, but it's still a bit underdeveloped, and I don't know if it will help Mr. Gordon."Since he was not sure, he did not dare to bring it up to Walter, only discussing it behind his back with Evangeline."Come on, tell me. Maybe it'll help."If the evidence Walter had was not enough, Gordon Group would remain in turmoil. Trey Gordon was still in the hospital recovering, and the situation at Gordon
David and Celina had lived in Southern Crownlands for a while, so they knew where the Bennison family's base was located. What Evangeline was concerned about, however, was the enormous amount of information carried by this statement."Do you know where Walter got this phone number from?"Whoever used this number would prove to be connected to the Bennison family.If the key person behind the scandal involving Gordon Group could be traced, the company's troubles would be resolved in an instant.David shook his head. "Mr. Gordon only instructed me to investigate this phone number. He didn't say where it came from."Ma'am, the president is holding up Gordon Group on his own. Don't you think we can do something too? Like, helping him catch the key person?"David's tone was uncertain, but his eyes flashed with a sly glint.Evangeline knew he had already devised an idea before speaking to her. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and glanced at him sideways. "Speak up, what's yo
"But you know David didn't do anything wrong, right?"If he had, then Celina would not have said she was waiting for him to finish his task. Instead, she would have barged into the study and confronted him immediately.Celina lowered her gaze. "Yes, I know."Both of them were workaholics, and once there was work to be done, they would not care about anything else. So, Celina understood David's feelings very well. That being said, she did not want him to neglect her."I just hate his boss. If it weren't for him giving David some task, he wouldn't be like this."Walter is such a heartless boss. My David is still seriously injured, yet he gave him such an important task. It's practically exploitation!"Just when David could barely move around again, he started working like a dog for Walter!Evangeline did not care about any of the exploitation talk. Her attention was solely on one thing, and that was…"What task did Walter assign to David?"Evangeline's intuition told her that th
After all, if The Bennex Corporation knew about it, it would mean there was an insider in Gordon Group who was working for the Bennison family. At that point, it would trigger another internal purge.Walter finally regained his focus, and the entire Gordon Group was filled with a sense of harmony and renewed vigor. Even the department head of the Operations Department, who had been tortured by stress for days, looked relieved. He knew that the time for their president to strike back had finally arrived!The intense applause from the employees expressed their excitement.Walter felt unexpectedly touched. After all, if the employees did not have any sense of belonging to Gordon Group, they would not have been moved by his sudden actions.Some even shed tears.Evangeline also had not expected that the moment of action would come so soon. She really had waited for Walter to strike back.Apart from this, what surprised her was that David had mysteriously gotten busy. Even Celina, who