Chapter 5

...

Aria whispered to her son with a mix of affection and irritation, "Didn't Evangeline go looking for you last night? She's still not back? She's not with you? She can't have kids, and now she's out all night during the holidays, not answering her phone, breaking all the rules. Your grandpa is furious!

"I should've never agreed to let you bring her into this family. She's a country girl, nowhere near your league. Marrying into the Gordons was the luckiest thing to ever happen to her!"

Walter's mind flashed back to Evangeline's determined mention of divorce the previous night, to her drinking and shooting pool, so different from the demure image she maintained at the Gordons'.

Walter chuckled derisively. "We'll see about that."

Aria, not fully grasping Walter's intent and preferring to avoid the topic of the unwelcome daughter-in-law, said, "I heard Julia is back. I don't care if your grandpa agrees or not, I'm giving Evangeline three more months. If she can't get pregnant, she'll have to step aside for Julia!"

Walter's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes grew more distant. "Mom... Did you bring up the divorce with her?"

"What, should we let her keep her place in the Gordons forever?"

Walter could not help but laugh in frustration, wordlessly storming through the door.

"Hey! Walter!" Trey was waiting for him, propped up on his cane at the top of the steps. His face twisted with displeasure. "Get in my study, now!"

Walter strolled into the study with a defiant swagger.

Trey took a swing with his cane, landing a solid hit on Walter's leg. "You good-for-nothing, gallivanting around on New Year's Eve! I've heard the stories. Evie's talking about divorce!

"Listen to me: You still have a chance to fix this. Go find Evie, swallow your pride, and apologize. Do not take her for granted, because once she's gone, she's gone for good.

"I'm telling you right now that you won't find a better wife than Evie anywhere in this world!"

With his hands in his pockets, Walter stood there, biting back the pain. He lazily raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? You think you know her better than I do?"

"I certainly do!"

Walter's lips pressed into a thin, icy line.

Trey huffed. "I can't fathom you. You were the one who wanted to marry Evie. When she was down South, you were the one hiding her picture in your wallet. And now that she's your wife, you treat her like this? What's gotten into you?

"Let me make this clear: Evie is the only granddaughter-in-law I recognize. If you go through with this divorce, you can kiss your inheritance goodbye—your brother Alex can have it.

"And another thing: You've got three months. If there's no baby, don't bother calling me Grandfather again."

Walter's expression turned stone-cold. His reply was sharp and defiant. "If you're so desperate for a great-grandchild, Grandpa, ask Alex to give you one. Don't waste your breath on me."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out, leaving the old man behind.

The meeting ended with both parties storming off in a huff. The old man was livid, his voice thundering through the halls, "Go ahead! If you dare hurt Evie, you'll live to regret it!"

Someone would surely set things right in due time.

Walter stormed out of Trey's study, his face a thundercloud, and headed back to the bedroom he shared with Evangeline in the family mansion.

It was his bachelor pad before the wedding. He rarely stayed there after getting hitched because Evangeline lived there. At this point, the room felt hollow, clearly untouched since the previous night.

After a few calls, it was confirmed: Evangeline had not returned to their shared bedroom, and the cruise's staff reported she had vanished in the wee hours.

Walter's handsome face was marred by a deep scowl.

Just then, Daniel Harris, the family's butler, knocked and presented him with an express-delivered envelope. "Mr. Walter Gordon, this urgent document was just rushed over for you."

By the window, Walter unfolded the papers—a divorce summons.

The attorney on record was none other than the illustrious James.

A legal eagle of Avalon City, the fifth son of the prestigious Foster family from the South, James was a man of sterling pedigree, known for his criminal defense work, never for divorce. He did not just take any case—his hourly fee was astronomical.

Had Evangeline been acquainted with him all along? Was that why he would take her case, indicating she had been plotting that divorce for some time?

Daniel, the butler, did not peek at the papers, but he could not miss the storm brewing on Walter's face. "Mr. Walter Gordon, are you okay? Should we take care of that wound on your leg?"

Trey sure did not hold back.

"It's fine, Daniel. You go ahead."

Daniel did not push it and left quietly.

Walter stood by the panoramic window, his tall figure shrouded in a somber chill. Lips tight, he pulled out his phone and tried to call Evangeline, his face set in stone.

However, the call would not go through.

Next, he attempted a voice call through the messaging app, only to discover she had blocked him.

The light cast his sharp features into relief as Walter dialed the number for James from the legal complaint. It took ages for James to pick up.

"Hello, who's this?"

"Walter," said Walter, his voice a blend of deep tones and frost.

"Mr. Walter Gordon, did you get the legal complaint? Calling to say you're ready to divorce my client?"

Walter cut to the chase, his eyes a stormy brown. "Where is she? If she wants a divorce, tell her to come to the Gordon estate once more, or forget it."

"My client probably won't go for that, Mr. Walter Gordon. If you want a divorce, just agree to my client's terms, and let's end this cleanly. If you're going to be stubborn about it, we'll settle this in court. You saw the date, right? Next Monday morning, nine-thirty."

Walter's face turned icy with a mocking smile. "James, I'm not here to negotiate."

No one in Avalon City had ever dared to drag him to court.

"I'm not scared of your threats. Come at me, Walter!"

Then, with a cool click, James hung up.

"..."