Evangeline had not forgotten, not for a second. However, she had to hand it to Walter, even with a last-minute leading lady swap, he played his part to the hilt. What a show of commitment.Out of nowhere, the sweet strains of a violin filled the air, weaving a melody that washed over her, stirring something deep within.Walter caught her eye, as if he could read her every thought, and stood. He leaned in, offering his hand just like he had at the masquerade ball, behind that quirky green frog mask.Evangeline's heart clenched, caught in an invisible grip, leaving her at a loss for words. Then, his voice broke through her trance."Would the beautiful princess honor me with a dance?"Instinctively, her hand reached for his. However, as she tried to rise, her body froze, caught in the moment's gravity."Sorry, I'm in flats today, not exactly dance-floor material."She quickly looked down, locking away the storm of feelings behind her eyes.Once upon a time, she would dance in secr
However, Minnie's anger had to wait.A sudden memory hit her. Walter's party had started at 10 in the morning, and then it was way past bedtime. If she hurried, she could still make it in time to give Walter his birthday surprise.Without her phone and without anyone to help, Minnie knew she had only one option, and that was to find Walter on her own.With her mind made up, she did not waste another second. She slipped into her high heels and stepped out of the room.The world outside her door was a whirlwind of life and noise, a total flip from the silence she had been trapped in. Ignoring the throbbing in her head, she moved through the crowd, her steps uneven but persistent.The dance floor was alive with energy, with couples spinning to the beat. Others lounged around, soaking in the scene. Minnie pushed forward, driven by a single goal—to find Walter before the night slipped away.Minnie spotted Walter's best friend Caden in an instant.Under normal circumstances, she would
Minnie's hair was a tad unruly, but her fingers worked through it, smoothing it back to sleek perfection.Catching her own reflection, finally free from the mess and shining bright, Minnie flashed a self-satisfied grin and sauntered into the ballroom.Whether it was Julia or Minnie, they were always the center of attention—unless Evangeline was around.So when the revamped Minnie stepped in, she instantly drew many admiring looks. The crowd watched her with hopeful eyes, each man aboard the ship wondering who might win her favor.With a casual flick of her delicate hand, she singled out the most unremarkable guy tucked away in the corner.Eyes from all corners of the room zeroed in on the man as he rose from his seat, his hands shaking like leaves in a storm.Minnie, with the spotlight on her, sauntered over to him and murmured, "Hey, could you... help me out?"Her eyes sparkled with mischief, practically casting a spell on him.The guy, who looked like he had never been the ce
Bathed in the soft glow of the lights, Minnie stood by the cruise ship's railing, pulled out the phone, and dialed a number. A stranger's voice answered."Hello, who are you looking for?"Lydia, ever cautious since her hospital escape, never took calls from unknown numbers.Minnie was aware of that and did not bother with pleasantries. "It's Minnie. Put Mrs. Lydia on the phone, quick."Lydia's voice came through shortly after. "Julia, you know I avoid unknown calls. Why'd you dial me with a strange number?""There's been a bit of trouble, and it's too much to explain right now."Minnie rolled her eyes at the thought of drudging through a mess of details. "Mom, cut to the chase. You said last time that everything was set, we just needed to find that woman. Was that for real?"Lydia could not hide the smugness in her voice as she replied, "Absolutely. The moment Evangeline, that little snake, lands in my grasp, she's done for!""Perfect!" That was exactly what Minnie was waiting
Walter's attention had been solely on Evangeline throughout the entire cruise party. As the festivities wound down, he realized he had neglected to spend time with his good friend Caden.With a sense of duty, Walter answered the call."Walter, where the heck are you? Don't tell me you invited us on this cruise and then decided to play hide-and-seek," Caden's voice came through, half-joking, half-annoyed.Walter could not help but smile, unfazed. "Of course not, I'm here. Just got tied up with some stuff and couldn't make it until now. How about we catch up over a drink now?"Walter tossed out his idea with such ease, his breezy voice hiding the fact that he would rather be anywhere else.Who would ditch their wife to hang out with a buddy, right?"Look, the drinks are just a bonus, Walter. I have to know: What's the deal with you and Minnie? You even invited her to your birthday bash. Don't tell me the gossip's true... you're looking to trade in Evangeline?"Caden threw the ques
David was strong and his anger fierce. The bodyguard, caught off-guard, was knocked flat. Knowing his error, the bodyguard did not even try to stand, instead pleading from the floor. "Mr. Zimmer, we messed up! We got caught up in all the excitement outside, and she was out like a light, so we... we just lost track of her!"Please, just let us off the hook this one time. Next time, I swear, you could knock me out cold, and I'd still be glued to that door, not budging an inch!"The bodyguards were all pleading, their faces long and gloomy, echoing the lead bodyguard's desperate plea."Next time, you say?" David smirked coldly, his teeth a stark white against the dim backdrop, giving off an ominous vibe. However, it was his words that really sent shivers down the spine. "After losing the person Mr. Walter Gordon wanted, do you really think there's going to be a 'next time'?"Right then, Walter burst into the room, flanked by his own bodyguards. He plopped down on the couch, his face a
While everyone else was off having a good time, Walter, David, and their bodyguards chaotically scrambled to get things under control.Walter realized that staying in the room would not change a thing. So, he decided to stick close to Evangeline, watching over her as she slept soundly through the night.Minnie was not the average troublemaker; she had the Bennison family in her corner. Whatever stunt she pulled, it never really came as a shock to him.David's investigation revealed that when Minnie made her getaway, he and Evangeline had been cutting a rug on the rooftop.The rooftop was a stone's throw from her room, so close that she did not even need to step outside to spot the dancing duo.However, Walter's worry was not for Minnie. It was all for Evangeline.If Minnie caught a glimpse of Evangeline getting cozy with him, her spiteful streak would kick in, and she would use her power to make Evangeline regret it.Everyone else might brush it off, but not Evangeline. Whenever
Evangeline froze. She could not fathom why Walter would blurt such an odd question.She was head over heels for Walter. The thought of marrying him filled her with such secret delight that she could barely contain it. Regret was the last thing on her mind.However, the harsh truth silenced the words she longed to say.Reflecting on the joyless marriage, Evangeline went quiet.She wriggled free from Walter's arms and sat across from him, their eyes meeting.Her beautiful eyes mirrored Walter's face, the one she had been dreaming of, and her stern look melted into one of ease and happiness.Walter caught every flicker of change in her, and his heart quietly danced to the rhythm of her moods.Maybe it was the intensity of Walter's stare that made Evangeline look away, feeling guilty. Her eyes drifted to the newly risen sun.Time seemed to stand still until Walter finally heard Evangeline's voice."Why get hung up on the past?" she said softly. Her hand gently caressed her growing