"Holden, Dad might be a bit out of it these days, but he can still have moments of clarity. You've got to make sure this stays under wraps, make everyone at the Foster estate zip their lips!""I got it, don't worry."Holden felt a wave of unease. Armed with the news, he hurried back to the Foster family estate, only to find Celina and Cole casually chatting on the living room couch."Mr. Foster, my fiance David caught a chill and got sick, but I can't leave the house, so I had to ask Ms. Evangeline to take him to the hospital for me. You're not mad, are you?"Celina had rehearsed that with Evangeline, but even so, she hesitated for just a second when she mentioned David's name. Her voice, usually so strong and confident, softened without her even realizing it when she spoke to Cole.The old man, with his grandfatherly kindness, made her think of her grandfather.Her parents never wanted a daughter, so they left her with her grandparents right after she was born. Then, as if on cu
"Yeah, Evie should be okay. However, David, the poor kid, is sick, and we've got no news on him. You need to take care of yourself right now, and don't stress. Evie's got things under control, and she'll call as soon as there's any word from David."Cole wrapped an arm around Celina, offering her a comforting squeeze that sent warmth flooding through her. In the midst of that, Celina's mind flickered to the mission Evangeline had left with her grandfather."Mr. Foster, have you found your favorite celebrity yet? Since we can't do much else, let's try to track down the star you're into. That way, when Ms. Evangeline gets back, she can show you what to do next."Pushing down the flutter of anxiety in her chest, Celina flashed Cole a brave smile."Yeah, could you give me a hand? Let's start by tapping this icon, and then..."Together, the two huddled on the couch, fingers dancing over the smartphone's screen, which was displaying WebSphere.Holden watched the tender scene unfold bef
Walter was in the middle of a meeting, but he did not care that the top management was still around. He bellowed in disbelief, "What did you just say?! How on earth could Evangeline just disappear?"He wrapped up the meeting in a hurry and sent out his entire company's workforce, vowing to find Evangeline no matter the cost.The news made him instantly think of Julia.Julia had always been irked by Evangeline, treating her like a constant pain. With her parents gone and no family to speak of, Julia was like a wild card, unpredictable and unafraid.However, what worried Walter more was whether Julia was acting out of pure spite or if the Bennison family was pulling the strings.Everything he knew about Julia and the Bennison family was just guesswork. He had never found any solid proof of a scheme between Julia and the Bennison family.Of course, all those concerns paled in comparison to finding Evangeline. The thought of the baby Evangeline was carrying sent a shiver of urgency t
Julia knew that scene by heart; it was etched into her memory forever.There was no fond remembrance, no sense of reunion, just a surge of hatred that filled her heart.The first time, it was Walter's goons who dragged her there. She was bound and helpless, tied to an old, rusty bed.Ignored by everyone, those men left her there, alone on that cold bed, drowning in a sea of despair.How ironic.Back then, Julia knew nothing, still naively hoping Walt would come to her rescue.Eventually, Walt did show up… but not to save her. He was the one who sent her tumbling into a new kind of hell.A hell far worse than that rusty bed.Julia's steps were deliberate, slow, as if she was measuring the warehouse with her feet.She stopped only when she reached a narrow iron door.Julia's lips twisted into a wicked grin as she pictured the scene inside. She could not believe Evangeline's turn of fate.She fought back a snicker, put her shoulder into it, and shoved the door open.The room w
Conrad had warned her that Cole's health was hanging by a thread, only kept stable by the Foster family's constant care. He could not handle another blow.She prayed silently, desperately hoping Cole would stay in the dark about her kidnapping.However, Julia, pacing around the cot, was deaf to Evangeline's heart's cries, stopping ominously by her side.Winter had wrapped its chilly fingers around the world, and Evangeline was bundled up in layers of clothes. Yet, Julia's eyes cut through the fabric, fixating on the obvious bump that marred the silhouette. A surge of unprecedented loathing bubbled up within her.Why was it Evangeline who got to have Walter's baby, while she, despite all her efforts, had not even gotten close to him?Julia's manicured fingers paused their primping, drifting over to rest on Evangeline's stomach, stroking it ever so lightly.The thick layers muffled the sensation, but Evangeline could feel each of Julia's touches, sending shivers down her spine, her
"Come on, tell me, when have I ever not stepped aside for you? Anything you wanted, I never even laid a finger on it!" Evangeline tried to talk sense into Julia, keeping her voice as even as possible. "Besides, it's always been you who's taken more from me, hasn't it?"However, the moment she said that, Julia's eyes lit up like a spark had ignited within them, shining with an intense fire. "I took what's yours? Evangeline, don't you get it? All those things were meant to be mine from the start, none of it was ever yours!"It was like she was echoing her mother, Lydia. "If it weren't for you and your mother, how would I have ended up the secret butt of jokes, the so-called 'illegitimate' kid everyone sneered at for years? And if it weren't for you, wouldn't I have picked up my beloved violin way sooner?"It was downright maddening!Evangeline's hands balled into tight fists as she shot back, "Did you ever stop to think that if it weren't for you and your mom, the three of us could s
Julia had toyed with the idea of one last visit to her parents. However, she just did not have the guts.That was exactly why her anger at Evangeline burned even hotter. She blamed Evangeline for wrecking her entire life!Evangeline was so enraged that she was at a loss for words.She finally understood that she and Julia were way past the point of talking things out."Julia, let's face it, the past is done. My dad and your mom are in heaven now. There's no point in us fussing over their old troubles."You're after Walter, right? Well, here's the straight truth. My marriage to Walter has been dead in the water for ages. I only decided to have this kid because my grandfather got sick. And the only reason we haven't signed those divorce papers is because of him."She took a deep breath and forced herself to get it all out. That was the last thing Evangeline wanted to admit, but she had no choice.She had to make it crystal clear that she and Walter were history, that she would nev
Still, there was one thing she was not sure about."Evangeline, do you think Walter will come rescue you all by himself? He has to, right? If not for anything else, then at least for the baby you're carrying. He wouldn't want you to die here all alone..."The more Julia thought about it, the more thrilled she became. With a sharp snap of her fingers, the bodyguard approached with utmost respect."Silence her."She could not stand to listen to Evangeline anymore, not even a whisper.Meanwhile, Walter, racing toward the abandoned warehouse, was startled by a strange number flashing on his phone. It was Julia's voice that greeted him when he answered."My dear Walt, you must be so worried. Missing me, are you?"Walter was frantic and fuming, quickening his pace, struggling to keep his composure."Where have you taken Evangeline? Julia, if you lay a finger on her, you'll regret it!"However, Julia was no longer intimidated by his threats."So, you're not scared that Evangeline mi
The pain was so intense that Alex felt like he was choking.He tried to speak, to ask why, but memories of his younger years clamped his mouth shut. After all, calling out Trey for his unfairness was like asking to be kicked when he was already down.Alex had always been the outsider in the Gordon family, especially in Trey's eyes.Both were grandsons, but Trey treated Alex and Walter worlds apart. Alex could do something flawlessly and barely dodge a scolding, but if Walter did the same, Trey would sing his praises to the heavens.Eventually, every servant in the Gordon mansion knew Alex was the grandson Trey did not care for. He became the invisible one, the kid who got nothing from the Gordons but food, drink, and a ticket to school. Not a shred of the warmth and affection that should come with family.Little Alex watched everyone fawn over Walter, and a seed of envy and jealousy sprouted silently in his heart. Those feelings for Walter, tangled and twisted, just grew more comp
However, the line between paradise and disaster was just a heartbeat away.At Walter's eighteenth birthday bash, Trey handed over the reins of Gordon Group to him as a rite of passage gift, right in front of everyone.Alex, who had always seen himself as the head of the Gordon family, turned into the punchline of a bad joke that day, in the eyes of all the guests and the Gordon family.Stunned, Alex stood rooted to the spot until Trey's pointed look snapped him back to reality.He gritted his teeth and stayed until the party was over. Walter, holding the appointment papers, looked bewildered as he caught Alex's eye.It was obvious that he was just as clueless about why a simple birthday had turned his world upside down.The brothers were about to speak when Trey suddenly whisked Alex away.In the silence of the study, Trey did not lecture Alex. He just floated a few comforting words his way."Alex, you've put in a ton of work at the company over the years. Now that Walter is al
Alex's eyes were dead serious. He was not kidding around.Walter's gaze sharpened as he tucked away his inner scoff. "Why the sudden need for a job? What's got you coming to me?"Or could it be that the mighty son of the Gordon family can't snag a job in the sprawling Avalon City?"By the end of his words, Walter's eyes brimmed with scorn.The brothers had shared their childhood, growing up side by side.Walter, the youngest son of the family, was always tagging along after Alex, calling him 'big bro' this and 'big bro' that. They had been thick as thieves.However, at some point, a thin veil of distance had settled between them, turning their once robust bond of brotherhood into something delicate and strained.Then came Evangeline, whose arrival sent their shaky bond into a tailspin.Out of everyone in the Gordon family, Alex was the one Walter could not stand the most.However, Walter's petty schemes barely registered with Alex, who just gave a half-hearted smirk, a grin th
David took the keychain and offered it up to Walter with all due respect. "You dropped this."Walter only realized what David was handing him when he saw it—a keychain. He took it, turning it over in his hands, feeling its weight. "Thank you. This means a lot to me.""Did... Did Mrs. Gordon give this to you?"David knew better than to dig into his boss's personal life, but he could not help asking, given how much Walter seemed to care about the keychain.To David, it seemed like only Evangeline could make Walter hold something in such high regard.Walter managed a weak smile in response. "I wish it was from her..."If only Evangeline had been the one to save him, then all the troubles he faced would have melted away…He let his voice trail off, making no attempt to hide his feelings."You didn't bring it up, but I almost forgot. When you get back, you'll have more than just your regular duties. You'll need to help me with an investigation..."He was determined to find out the
Guilt washed over David, and his heart throbbed with pain.A thought struck him. Maybe he owed it to himself to try again, to make amends to the woman who had lost hope because of him.Little did David know, his seemingly simple question had set off a tidal wave in Walter's heart.Walter's history with Evangeline was like a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces missing. It was not as easy as just wanting something anymore.Without Cole, without the kids, Evangeline, who never really liked him, would not even spare him a second glance. It was just like Alex had said.Evangeline had only married him because she thought he was someone else.For whatever reason, Julia, with her web of lies, made him neglect his one true love, Evangeline. He even shamed her when she longed for a child.The mistake was made worse, the guilt heavier. Even if he could not make sense of it, his chances were gone…With that thought, Walter cracked a wry smile. "We're different, and whether it makes sense or
"Is there really no chance for you and Celina to...?" Walter began, his curiosity getting the better of him, but David cut him off."Mr. Walter Gordon, it's time to leave the past behind."With the Southern Crownlands diamond mine case wrapped up, David felt a weight lift off his chest.He could not afford to take a break. The moment he did, Celina's face, filled with disappointment in the blizzard, would haunt him.He had always figured that being a guy, it was normal to miss out on time with Celina because of work commitments. He just had to swallow his pride, talk to her heart-to-heart, and she would get where he was coming from.Thus, when he finally got to see her, he laid his cards on the table, all his sincerity on show.However, things did not pan out the way he had hoped, and it was not just him who paid the price—Evangeline and the Foster family got dragged into a whole heap of trouble.Then, haunted by guilt, Celina's disappointed face haunted his dreams, growing shar
In the past, Julia would not have batted an eye at whatever grand gesture Ethan made for her.However, things had changed. After pouring her heart out for Walter, only to have it wasted, how could she not feel a pang of guilt and a rush of gratitude when Ethan still stood by her side, ready to give his all?Ethan gently stroked her hair, his eyes soft with affection. "Julia, you shouldn't have to worry about this...""But I can't help it!" Julia's voice broke through her restraint, loud and clear. "Why should Walter get away with hurting me, and then turn around and manipulate you?"Ethan's eyes flickered shut for a moment, clearly done with the conversation. "Let's go home."Hand in hand, they made their way onto the plane at Meadowvale's private airstrip. Walter, bound by his deal with Ethan, had no choice but to bid them farewell.He watched the sleek private jet take off, his gaze deep and calculating, a sly smile playing on his lips. That was his first chess move against t
Julia gazed at the man's face, her mind wandering.Was it true? This man, who everyone looked up to, dropped everything—his work, his family duties—to be there, all because he did not want her to be alone?What kind of feeling was that?Whatever it was, just seeing what he had done was enough to stir any girl's heart.Even Julia, who had Walter in her thoughts, could not hide her emotions.Tears filled her eyes, and without a care for the watchful eyes of the bodyguard, she lunged into the man's embrace."Thank you. Thank you for still choosing to love me, Your Highness."She hardly ever used such formal titles for the guy, standing in front of her.Titles like 'duke' or 'viscount' from overseas just were not her thing. She even thought that using them created an invisible gap between people.However, right then, she felt compelled to use his title, as a reminder to herself of just how incredible he was.In Julia's eyes, Ethan Jefferson was infinitely better than Walter—by a
The diamond mines in Southern Crownlands were a gold mine, literally. Any official could name their price and be set for life. There was no way they would turn down a fortune that was practically in their hands.Unless... It was all because of the guy standing in front of Walter.As Walter locked eyes with him, the man casually threw up his hands. "No need to be suspicious. I gave him a ring before I came to see you. For a deal this big, he wouldn't dare call the shots without backup."Walter's stoic expression betrayed none of his thoughts, while the man in front of him seemed like he could not wait a second longer."Do you still have reservations? If you do, why don't you mull it over here while I go see Julia?" The man spoke as he casually opened his arms, allowing Walter's crew to give him a quick pat-down."Don't worry, I'm here to rescue, not to wreak havoc. Why would I bring anything dangerous?"Walter caught his bodyguard's eye with a meaningful glance.Getting the hint,