Cole had been a titan in Avalon City. Even his funeral was a testament to that, with a never-ending stream of mourners coming to pay their last respects.The crowd was united in their sorrow, and as Evangeline looked on, her eyes grew red with tears.At the entrance of the funeral home, Yale, the eldest son, stood solemnly before his father's portrait. Evangeline's uncles were scattered around, each lost in their own thoughts.Evangeline made her way to the front, gently laying flowers on the casket.Yale's gaze followed her every move, his eyes brimming with concern. "Evie, why are you here? You should be resting after just waking up...""Uncle Yale." Evangeline's voice trembled as she fought back tears. "How could I miss Grandpa's final farewell?"She dabbed at her tear-streaked cheeks, inhaled deeply, and asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?""You..." Yale started to speak, then paused, struggling with his words. At last, he said, "Just stand behind me."Together, the
"Mr. Gordon, I know this gemstone bracelet was meant for your granddaughter-in-law. But let's face it: my marriage to Walter was a joke, and it would've ended ages ago if it weren't for Grandpa Cole's illness. Now that he's gone, it doesn't seem right for me to keep this beauty, does it?"She laughed, trying to keep it light, and took Trey's frail hand, pressing the wooden box with the bracelet into his palm. "Don't worry, even if Walter and I weren't meant to be, you'll always be my grandpa."With that, Evangeline spun on her heel and walked away, not looking back.It was not that she was distant. It was just that she was afraid if she hesitated, Trey would see the tears she was fighting back.She had a tender heart.After all, how could she not feel a bond with Trey after all the time they had spent together?What Evangeline did not see was Trey, with the wooden box at hand, standing still with tears welling up in his old eyes. He watched her walk away.He knew that the grandd
Evangeline's heart twinged uncontrollably as she thought about the vivid, passionate scene between Walter and Julia.'No! Get a grip, Evangeline! Haven't you decided to move on? Why does it still hurt? You can't let this get to you!' Evangeline's mind raced with the thought.Then, out of nowhere, she smiled radiantly."Maybe Julia just couldn't handle your fiery touch and snuck off when you weren't looking?"She could still recall how Walter had treated her, like she was nothing more than someone to use, pinned down in that car.As for Julia... Could Walter really let himself go that far with her? The thought alone was enough to stun her.However, Walter could not stand even the slightest hint of accusation from Evangeline, his face darkening with anger.He did not realize that his reaction was all the confirmation Evangeline needed.So, Julia had really slipped away?"Let me lay it out for you: Julia is with me now. Sure, I promised Andrew I wouldn't lay a finger on her, as l
Evangeline paused, cradling her growing belly, and slowly spun to take her phone out of her pocket. She dialed Walter's number.As soon as the call connected…"I'm sorry, Mr. Walter Gordon, but Celina doesn't want to see you."Beep, beep, beep!Evangeline ended the call, leaving Walter with nothing but the tone of a dead line.Back at the funeral home, Evangeline's gaze landed on the black and white photos again, and the tears started flowing anew.Julieta was heartbroken to see her like that. With a gentle swipe of her hand, she dried the tears on Evangeline's face and whispered, "Ms. Evangeline, don't be heartbroken...""Mrs. Lewis..."In moments like these, the tender words were like a spell, coaxing out all the grief Evangeline had bottled up inside. She collapsed into Julieta's embrace, crying her heart out.At that moment, Evangeline was not the cherished darling of the Foster family. She was just a girl who had lost her beloved grandfather.Julieta's hand moved in soot
Celina's eyes brimmed with tears as she moved next to the old butler, Edwin, who was also struggling to keep it together. She leaned in, her voice a soft murmur, "Mr. Jamison, is Ms. Snyder's poster all set?"Seeing him nod, she added, "Okay, let's get it sorted for Mr. Foster."Evangeline had mentioned her love for celebrities in passing. However, Cole, bless his heart, took it seriously. Despite his age, he fumbled with a smartphone he barely understood, on a quest to find his favorite star…Evangeline's tears came on stronger, especially when she saw Elliana's glossy poster in front of Cole's old black and white photo. She just could not hold them back.Elliana, looking serious and holding a bouquet of daisies, stepped up to the memorial. "Mr. Foster, we've never met, but I've known about you for ages. Being your idol, and getting invited to such a big moment in your life, it's a huge honor for me..."At first, when Elliana heard about Cole from Celina, she thought it was some
"T-Thank you."Elliana's voice came out in a shaky whisper, her cheeks burning so much that she could barely get the words out.The guy just gave a slight, calm smile. "No problem. See ya."They were at a funeral on a grassy lawn, and the man had picked up the white flower, getting a bit of dirt on his fingertips."Sir!" Elliana could not help but stop him as he turned to leave, noticing the dirt. She felt a wave of embarrassment as she offered, "Your hand... it's got dirt on it. Need a tissue?"She reached for the zipper on her jacket.He looked at his hand as if he would just notice, glanced at the dirt, and casually wiped it away. "I'm good, thanks."He did not look back after that, but Elliana could not help but watch his retreating figure for a long while until her agent interrupted her thoughts."Ms. Snyder? We've got an hour before our next gig, and it's a bit of a drive. We should head out now or we might be late..."Elliana snapped out of her daze. "Right, let's go."
Aemon rushed to Evangeline's side. "Evie, let me handle this, okay? You should go and take a break over there."Helping Yale with the guests was not a huge task, but Evangeline was pregnant and all over the place emotionally. How could she keep up with such stress?"Don't worry, I've got this." Evangeline stubbornly shrugged off Aemon's hand, determined to stay by Cole's side until the very end.Aemon understood where his niece was coming from. However, seeing her pale, delicate face made his heart ache."Listen to me, Evie, go on back. You've done enough. Let me do this last thing for him, as his son..."Aemon's voice was barely a whisper by the end, yet Evangeline caught every word.If it had been any other uncle, she might not have batted an eye, but this was Aemon, the one who always talked about living life on the edge. How could she not be touched?That was when Evangeline realized that her usually over-the-top uncle had toned it down, dressing all neat and proper.She re
Roslyn was steaming when she mentioned the situation, but her anger melted away when she reached Evangeline and saw her pale, tear-streaked face."Evie, how could you keep such big news from me?" The fiery Roslyn suddenly seemed like a hurt puppy, her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at Evangeline."I figured you'd be very busy, so I didn't want to bother you..." said Evangeline.Roslyn glanced at Evangeline's baby bump, let out a resigned sigh, and gently took her hand, cradling it on her own. "Mr. Foster has been like family since I was a kid. I couldn't miss his funeral."Funerals were a big deal, the last chance to say goodbye. They might have been simple, but they were a must for anyone who cared to show up.Roslyn knew what was going on in her heart, but she understood where Evangeline was coming from.She had been stuck on set for the latest movie, her agent keeping her in the dark about everything. It was not until she finally escaped the set that she caught up on a