The moment everything changed was…Yale's gaze snapped upward, but Walter, who had just been there, was then nowhere to be seen.That guy sure knew how to make a quick exit.…Walter was already speeding toward Avalon City General Hospital. His hands shook as he drove, Yale's words echoing in his head.'You think a few months into a pregnancy means the baby is safe?'Meaning, Evangeline's baby was gone. Their baby was gone.How? The baby had been so strong, its kicks so powerful. How could it just be gone?Walter raced to the hospital, bursting into Evangeline's room. There she was, pale as a ghost on the hospital bed.Evangeline had always been stunning, but at this moment, she looked frail. Her hair was a mess, her chin pointed, her cheeks sunken, her eyes dull, and her lips colorless.She was poring over a stack of papers, her hands visibly shaking with each page.As Walter moved to rush to her side, Roslyn blocked his path, standing like a sentinel before Evangeline."Y
Evangeline's eyes briefly touched the medical report before she smoothed it out on the bed, angled for Walter to see.She had just gone through the wringer, enduring a painful procedure to help the doctors with their tests. The results were in, and the thick 30-page report seemed to end too quickly for her liking.The doctor's final verdict, after comparing her new results with the previous ones, was a bombshell that rocked her world.As she glared at Walter, the source of her misery, her heart seethed with hate.If only she were not so drained, she would confront him, demanding to know what he would give for the lives of Cole and their baby.Evangeline knew better than to let her anger take over. She closed her eyes, trapping the fury behind her dark lashes. When she opened them again, Walter had the report in his hands.Roslyn hovered anxiously by Evangeline's hospital bed, her eyes locked on her friend with unwavering intensity.Out of the blue, Evangeline's voice cut through
However, Julia on her own was powerless. What could she do without the shadowy backers who made it a breeze for her to strike at Evangeline's unborn child without anyone catching on? Evangeline was seething with hate.She hated that Walter had let a predator into their lives, hated that she was not strong enough to protect her own baby."Who else could it be but Julia, your devoted girlfriend?" she spat out. "Walter, I've told you over and over, and I've told her too. Why can't you two just leave my child alone?"The miscarriage was tragic, not so much for the physical toll it took on her, but for the tiny life within her that had begun to stir, then never to see the light of day."Evangeline, I... I had no idea..."Evangeline's revelation blindsided Walter.Since Julia's daring escape from that forsaken warehouse, Walter's crew had not caught even a whisper of her whereabouts.As for Julia's motives? He was clueless.Still…"How could I ever harm my own child?""I get it, yo
The rage that Evangeline had been bottling up could not be held back any longer."Get out!"Her shout took Walter by surprise. With a powerful swing, she hurled the pillow from the bed straight at him with all her might."Just go, Walter! I never want to see you or Julia again—ever!"The anguished cry echoed through the hospital room, slipping through the door crack. Roslyn, with Celina trailing behind, did not hesitate—they burst into the room and were met with chaos.Evangeline, in the grip of madness, was throwing anything she could get her hands on at Walter. Papers flew from his hands as he ducked and weaved, scattering across the floor with the glittering shards of broken glass. The room was a disaster zone.Roslyn's heart broke at the sight of Evangeline. Ignoring the risk to her own feet, she dashed to Evangeline's side and wrapped her arms around her. "I'll get him out of here, I'll have the guards take him away! Calm down, Evie, please? You're too weak for this—it's not
At last, with hands shaking, Celina held out the pile of papers to Evangeline. "Ms. Evangeline, did you lose your child because of this?"She desperately hoped it was all a mistake, a wild flight of fancy, or better yet, just a nightmare.However, the reports from after Evangeline's miscarriage… They were different, were they not?Alas, Evangeline's name was there, clear as day on the report. How could it be a lie?Evangeline dabbed at her tears, her gaze filled with confusion as she turned to Celina. "All I did was drink a cup of hot milk, and then... I lost the baby. Celina, is something wrong?"Her intuition screamed that Celina knew something she did not, something earth-shattering."There's definitely something wrong."Celina's gaze fell to the floor, her striking eyes avoiding Evangeline's, not even for a fleeting moment."Ms. Evangeline, I'm so sorry, I never imagined..."Celina's voice broke, and she could not finish her sentence."Celina, you have nothing to do with
Just like that, the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.Out of the four people there, only Roslyn did not know about the tight-knit connection between Celina and Julia. Walter and Evangeline, on the other hand, knew the score all too well.The nasty drug that cost Evangeline her baby was Celina's own creation, which pretty much confirmed that Julia was the one pulling the strings behind the curtain.Walter, all cozy and lovey-dovey with Julia, could not wash his hands of that mess either."Evie, I'm so, so sorry. I had no clue things would go down like this..."Celina's eyes were a pool of regret, but Evangeline was not having any of it.Sorry was just a word, and no amount of regret over that cursed glass of milk could bring her baby back. What was the point in holding onto that pain and letting it eat her up inside?Evangeline met Celina's gaze, her eyes steady, and gave a slight shake of her head. "Celina, you can't pin this on yourself."You did your part in cooking up
If Walter decided to 'repay' her for the favor, using it as an excuse to stick around, Evangeline would be out of options. So, she went all in on the denial.Besides, Walter had been out cold when she saved him, catching only a glimpse of a shadowy figure. He could not tell who was who, or he would not have been fooled by Julia for so long."I see..." Walter's eyes lost their sparkle as he walked out of the hospital, his spirit deflated.…Walter in his usual booth at Kronovia Royale Pub, watching the stage where singers belted out tunes with fiery passion.The music was so loud, Walter felt like his soul was lifting right out of his body.Yeah, he had always been kind of adrift. He could not even remember how he had ended up at the bar on that night.Caden rushed over after getting Walter's call. He was hesitant at first, but one look at Walter's pale face and all he felt was worry."Walter, what's got you down?"Walter's face was a rough map of stubble, his eyes dull and emp
Given Walter's family background, it was more likely he would grow up spoiled and pampered.However, Walter, with all his dough, never strutted around with that typical rich-kid swagger."What are you even saying?" Walter dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "I'm asking for your honest opinion, not for flattery! And from what angle are you judging? As my employee?"No way, man. You have to judge me as a dude, give it to me straight!"The word 'dude' coming from Walter had Caden smelling drama.From what he knew, when a guy started doubting his manhood, it usually meant his pride had taken a serious hit."Uh... you're not feeling your best?"Caden gave Walter the once-over. Walter was in his prime and always kept in shape. Something did not add up.As Caden tried to figure it out, Walter shot him a death glare that screamed he had had enough of Caden's guesses."Caden, do you even hear yourself?"Walter Gordon, the pride of the Gordon family, was in the prime of his life—top