"But how can I not worry..."Evangeline seemed to have lost all her energy, collapsing onto the bed with a sigh.This was about her pride. Anyone else, and it would not be a big deal. However, this was her ex-husband, Walter, throwing a birthday party just to spite her. How could she allow herself to be humiliated?"Mrs. Lewis, can you help me look... more poised?"Julieta did not fully grasp the whirlwind of emotions Evangeline was going through, but she was eager to help her tackle that challenge.After pondering for a bit, Julieta pulled out a chic light brown camel hair coat and a super simple top from Evangeline's closet."Ms. Evangeline, I've done my best with these picks. Try them on and see."Evangeline slipped into the dressing room and tried on the outfit Julieta had put together. When she stepped back in front of the mirror, she was transformed, her confidence soaring.The coat, unable to button over her baby bump, hung in a way that was both flattering and discreet.
That way, they would have rocked out for a full day and night, making Walter's birthday a total blast. However, even the best-laid plans could go sideways.Walter, eyeing Minnie all prepped and primed, got a wild idea to head to the ship early and hang tight.The Gordons had poured a fortune into that cruise ship, and it was the epitome of luxury. Words just did not do it justice.They stepped into the luxurious, romantic restaurant, bathed in soft light with violin music floating through the air—everything Minnie had ever wished for. She happily ordered red wine and steak, ready for a candlelit breakfast date with Walter.However, after just half a glass of wine, Minnie was out like a light and slumped over right in front of Walter.Walter? He did not even bat an eye. With a casual wave, he had the bodyguards whisk Minnie off to her room and brushed it off.The restaurant, once a haven of romance, underwent a lightning-fast transformation. Its decor then dazzled with splendor,
Everyone figured Walter was just being the mysterious host.Truth be told, if it were not for the need to keep Minnie off her game, he would not have hosted that party at all.Would a quiet birthday with his wife and kid not have been so much better?Walter lurked in the shadows, eyes fixed on a certain someone in the crowd, biding his time to make his entrance.When Walter caught a glimpse of Evangeline's pale face in the glare of the flashbulbs, he could not stay put any longer.The masquerade was the party's opening act, all about cranking up the excitement.Evangeline, eyeing the parade of guests, quietly stepped out of the limelight and settled into a secluded corner.Even though she was there, Evangeline never forgot Holden's strict instructions: She was to stay out of the public eye unless it was do-or-die, and always keep it low-key.She had thought Walter and Minnie had pushed her too far, and she was ready to throw caution to the wind. To her surprise, the star of the
The way he talked, with those thoughtful pauses and the way his voice went up at the end, was like a neon sign flashing his guy instincts to take charge.Evangeline could tell she had snagged his interest. The party was buzzing, and after a string of dull days, that charming-voiced, frog-masked 'little brother' had her feeling mischievous."Smart cookie, aren't you?" she teased, her fingers dancing along his chiseled jawline."What if I'm getting curious about you?""That's easy to handle." He had a quick answer for that.In a flash, his hand was around her wrist, pulling her close. His breath was warm against her ear, and his lips barely brushed her skin."It's simple. You take me away, or I take you away. Your call."That was intriguing.Evangeline narrowed her eyes, a playful glint in them, as she pondered the mystery of her own allure. How could she, a woman in the full bloom of pregnancy, captivate someone so completely?Alas, Evangeline was small and quick on her feet. W
Evangeline's heart raced as she faced Walter's unusual behavior.Alone with him in the room, she could not guess what his next move would be. However, Walter was calm, even as she watched him closely.With a slow, deliberate motion, he peeled away the hideous frog mask, revealing the handsome features she knew so well.Evangeline's eyes widened. She had suspected, but still, how had he managed to disguise his voice so completely?Walter's deep, familiar voice enveloped her, a soft echo in the quiet room."Evangeline, would you watch the sunrise with me? Just once," asked Walter, his voice trailing off into a whisper that was nothing like his usual commanding tone. It was a plea, something raw and uncharacteristically vulnerable.The word 'humble' was not one she would find in Walter Gordon's vocabulary, not the Walter who stood tall in the ranks of the Gordon family. However, there he was, standing before Evangeline, feeling something he had never felt before.The mere thought o
If it were Evangeline, not even the worst conditions could keep her away, come hell or high water. She would be there on time. It was not about Walter's birthday; it was a matter of personal pride.Evangeline's words grew more charged with every breath, and she shot Walter a look that was heavy with implication. "Seems like your new flame isn't all that into you, huh?"That look made Walter squirm.Minnie had been primping and preening non-stop since she got wind of the birthday meeting, wanting to look her absolute best for Walter. Walter kept his opinions about Minnie's treatment of him to himself, but truth be told, she had really put in the effort for that occasion.However, what was the point? He had no intention of letting Minnie steal the spotlight. After all, a show had just been a show—it always wrapped up, and the crowd went home.The only real things in life had been his wife and children."Evangeline, it's just us here now. Bringing up someone else all the time just k
For some reason, even as Walter's voice rang out in frustration, Evangeline saw only weariness in his eyes, which was a sight she had never witnessed in him before.In her eyes, Walter was unstoppable. No matter the workload or the complexity of his social life, he always seemed to glide through gatherings with a wine glass in hand, effortlessly becoming the center of attention, the brightest star in the room.However, he was showing signs of fatigue. Was it the relentless demands of his job, or was it because of Minnie, who would not make an appearance simply because she was not feeling well?He was hurt, deeply affected by the woman he adored. What an irony it was that the woman he adored was not her.Her heart, once as sturdy as a rock, felt as if it had been punctured. Her once impregnable heart had crumbled in a moment.Evangeline found herself, against her better judgment, feeling a wave of tenderness for Walter.She longed to be by his side.However, she had her own reaso
Alone in the vacant room, Evangeline's cheeks were on fire. Sitting on the bed, she clutched at her chest, taking deep breaths for what felt like an eternity until she could steady her racing heart.It was all too much…Walter was irresistibly charming. How could she possibly hold back?He was the man she would give everything to adore. Then, with just a touch of his tenderness, she was on the verge of succumbing.What was she to do?Evangeline peered at her reflection, her eyes alive with a youthful glow. Her face was warmed by a rosy blush, and her lips, bitten in a nervous flutter, betrayed her inner turmoil.That was the unmistakable look of someone swept up in the throes of a passionate romance, was it not?'No, that would not do, Evangeline. It was all just an act.'Walter wants you by his side for his birthday. That's why he's showering you with kindness now, but it's all for him, all because Minnie didn't show up.'In truth, this whole charade, every last detail, was c
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