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
"So, what am I like now?" asked Evangeline, her curiosity piqued as they walked arm in arm toward the funeral home.Truth be told, Roslyn was hoping Evangeline would stick by her side.With Cole gone, and his eldest son Yale bound to be at the reception thanking guests, she felt uneasy.It had been ages since she had seen him. Having Evangeline there would make things less awkward.The black and white photo showcased Cole's gentle, benevolent face.Roslyn looked up, studying the lines of the face she knew so well, and bowed deeply in a silent gesture of respect.Evangeline was just behind her, but she could not take her eyes off Cole's photo.Yale looked the same as ever, his voice flat as he thanked Roslyn."My sympathies." Roslyn nodded politely, ready to lead Evangeline away.However, Yale then broke the silence. "It's been ages, Roslyn.""Yeah, what, over two months?"Roslyn recalled the last time she saw Evangeline, who was not showing at all. Times had changed, and her
The laughter was just for show, a mask to keep the grown-ups from worrying.Evangeline's eyes darkened with another wave of sadness."You're doing great, getting through this," said Roslyn.She gazed at Evangeline's face, streaked with tears, her lips so pale and cracked that they looked like they might split.Just then, a waiter in uniform walked by with two steaming cups of milk.Roslyn stopped him, grabbed a cup, and handed it to Evangeline. "Drink some milk. You've got a baby to think about, remember? So try not to be too down, okay?"Roslyn knew how close Evangeline and Cole had been, and it hurt her to see her best friend so broken.However, her words, meant to comfort, were like opening a dam. Tears flooded Evangeline's eyes, and she began to sob uncontrollably. "How can I not be sad?"Memories came rushing back. She clutched Roslyn's wrist, and when she looked up, her face was wet with tears."Roslyn, do you know? It's my fault Grandpa is gone! If I hadn't been so set
"You know I'm your best friend, and now I've gone and fallen for..."Roslyn trailed off, too shy to finish, but she was sure Evangeline would get it."What's so bad about having a crush? And honestly, I've always thought you're too awesome to just hand off to anyone. If it's Uncle Yale... I guess that's not too bad."Yale was all about his job, and she could not even begin to imagine what a relationship with him would look like."You really think that?"A glimmer of hope shone in Roslyn's eyes, but it was quickly clouded by sadness. Yale had turned her down before, saying the age difference and Evangeline being in the mix was too much. How could they ever work?However, Evie seemed to be saying she was fine with them as a couple. So, Yale's reasons were just excuses to push her away."Evie, don't stress about me and Yale. You've got your own thing—taking care of the new Foster family addition!"Roslyn tried to sound nonchalant. "As for us... we'll just see where things go."De
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,