Chapter 4

Walter did not allow Evangeline to fight back, not sparing her another glance. With a face of stone and a fury that could shake the earth, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The sound was like thunder, and the chill wind that followed seemed to freeze the room, the dark night and churning sea outside consuming Evangeline's heart.

However, she did not rage. She laughed, a laugh that kept the tears at bay, and hurled her cup against the wall. "Walter, you bastard!"

Her inner rebel, long caged, shattered the facade she had maintained for three years. He had flaunted Julia in her face, a clear message to get out of the Gordon family. However, when she was ready to do just that, he balked?

She was not fooled. Walter was not the type to have second thoughts. He was always the one in charge, the mastermind. He would be damned if he was not the one calling the shots in their marriage, too.

He could walk away from her, leaving her to wear the label of a divorcee, but she was not allowed to challenge him.

He could suggest divorce, but she was supposed to stay silent.

Why was it that he could lavish all his love on the woman she despised most on New Year's Eve, and she was expected to step aside, clearing the way for them?

She was determined to end that marriage. She was set on claiming half of the alimony, too. She would not let Julia get off with a windfall.

After one too many drinks, her head spinning slightly, she splashed water on her face in the bathroom.

When she stepped out of the lounge, the party on the yacht had wound down. Even Julia had vanished.

With an arch of her brow, she strutted off the yacht in her stilettos.

The night stretched out, vast and chilly, the wind biting.

Evangeline stood solitary by the shore, on that New Year's Eve of farewells and new beginnings, gazing at the distant twinkling lights of countless homes.

She mustered her courage and dialed her uncle, James Foster.

30 minutes later, James' sleek black Porsche, the epitome of understated luxury, screeched to a halt before her.

Evangeline, looking stunning despite the chill that had nearly numbed her limbs, climbed into the car. A wave of warmth enveloped her, and she finally dropped her defenses, looking up at James tearfully. "Uncle James... What took you so long?"

James Foster, the top lawyer at Halcyonia with a shroud of mystery around him, had risen to prominence in recent years. Ruthless in the courtroom and exceptional in his skills, he had a streak of wins so impressive that it was said he could turn the tide for the dead.

At that moment, his piercing gaze fixed on his niece, he chided her with a mix of frustration and affection, "So you finally thought to call me, kiddo? I was starting to think you'd forgotten all about us!"

Evangeline clung to James' arm, looking pitiful. "Uncle James, I miss you."

James' brow furrowed as he gazed at her, his expression turning grave. "What's going on? It's the holidays, for crying out loud. Where's Walter? Has he been giving you trouble?"

She had not felt that kind of warmth in ages, and she nuzzled against James' shoulder. "Uncle James, can you be my lawyer? I want to divorce Walter. I can't stand being with that jerk any longer!"

James could not stand by and watch his niece endure such mistreatment. "I should've known you wouldn't come to me unless it's serious. What were you thinking, falling for a loser like that? You're so stubborn, but I bet you're regretting it now, huh?"

A mix of heartache and anger surged through James. He flicked Evangeline's forehead in a moment of frustration.

"If your grandpa and your other uncles get wind of this, they'll want Walter's hide."

"No, we can't let that happen! Uncle James, you've got to keep this under wraps for me. I'm scared it might break Grandpa's heart... You've always been the best to me, please."

She could not bear the thought of disappointing Cole.

"Your grandpa's health is fragile. The doctor said he's gotten worse. His biggest dream is to hold a great-grandson, and he's been holding out for some good news from you."

The weight of her Cole's hopes made Evangeline's heart heavy.

When the Foster family, once a powerhouse in the South, took a devastating hit, her grandpa fell ill. Her uncles, besieged by betrayal, struggled to keep the family afloat. To save the Fosters from ruin, she stepped up to marry Walter.

With all her uncles still single, she became the beacon of hope for the family's future.

Cole had big plans for her, seeing her as the one to carry on the Foster family legacy. He wanted her to settle down with Walter and quickly give the family a precious new heir.

However, life had other plans, and things became a mess.

Her desire to have a baby was not just about keeping Walter close, it was about giving Cole peace of mind and a glimmer of hope.

Everyone had pegged her as a simple girl from the sticks when she left the Rearden family for Cole's country home. Little did they know about Cole's real identity: Cole Foster, the enigmatic gambling tycoon of Halcyonia's Southern Port.

Evangeline had her game plan for Cole's dying wish.

"Keep this under wraps for now. Once I'm pregnant, then we'll break the news of my divorce from Walter."

"What are you saying?" James asked.

"Why does the baby have to be Walter's? Any man with the right DNA will do. Why not go for a better option?" Evangeline pushed down her inner turmoil and nonchalantly crossed her legs. "Don't worry, Uncle. Give me two months, and I'll be carrying the Foster family's next golden boy."

James could see Evangeline was playing with fire. "Having a baby isn't a game. We can't rush into this."

They were all invested in Evangeline's future, but they were not about to let her rush into single motherhood just to fulfill a wish.

Evangeline, however, was resolute. "Just handle the divorce, Uncle. I'll take care of the rest."

Did Walter think she could not make it without him?

Walter's mother had just laid down the law, threatening to kick her out in three months. Well, Evangeline was about to show them all. She was determined to prove to Walter that she did not need him to have a life, to have a family with another man.

She would not wait three months; she was already ready to move on. She would find someone far better than Walter—someone a million times better!

That cheating Walter could stay tied to Julia all he wanted.

With that thought, she fired off a message. [I need a man who's ready to start a family. Must be under thirty, standing at about 1.9 meters, drop-dead gorgeous with a genius-level IQ, and let's just say... Well-endowed, skilled in bed. Ivy League grad, of course. And he's got to outshine Walter by miles!]

The person on the receiving end was thrilled to bits but kept it together long enough to respond crisply.

"Got it. Your order will be delivered within a day, my Little Princess Foster. You're finally ready to grace us with your presence."

…

New Year's Day dawned.

The entire Gordon family had gathered, but Evangeline, usually the life of the party, was conspicuously absent.

Aria Jones was fuming. She dared to skip out on family?

When Walter walked into the house solo, the sound of a cup smashing echoed through the room. The livid Trey unleashed his fury on Walter.

"You scoundrel! What mess have you gotten yourself into this time?! How dare you show your face here?!"

The warm vibe of the Gordon family gathering turned ice-cold in an instant.

Towering over most, he carried himself with an effortless grace, his posture rigid with pride. The chill in the air had him wrapped in a camel cashmere coat over his sharp black suit. Stray locks of hair fell across his forehead, adding a touch of disarray to his otherwise icy composure.

In the Gordon household, Trey was the one they did not cross. However, Walter did.

Scolded or not, he greeted the door with a smile, handing his coat to the waiting butler.

A glance around the foyer confirmed the absence of the one he sought, and his smile subtly waned.

"Where's Evangeline?" he asked.