James set his phone aside and, as if they were the only two people in the world, explained to Evangeline, "Just some newbie at the firm, a legal assistant who can't seem to get even the simplest things right. It's driving me up the wall, honestly."Evangeline had caught wind of that new assistant, and she was puzzled.James was practically a legend in the legal field, and he was fussing over a bumbling assistant?If their performance was not up to the required standard, would it not be easier to just let them go? Why was James spending his precious time, painstakingly coaching them on their job?Unless…A mischievous idea popped into Evangeline's head. With a sly grin, she softened her gaze at James. "What's so bad about being a bit clueless? It's endearing, isn't it?"With a look that was both inquisitive and loaded with implication, Evangeline asked in a tone rich with suggestion, "Uncle James, can I ask if this bumbling legal assistant is a guy or a girl?"They were standing
A spark of determination lit up Julia's eyes.She could not just stand by and watch those two fall in love. This was her opportunity to orchestrate a little drama for them…Just then, the bodyguard knocked and came in with permission. "Ms. Rearden, have you picked a flight yet? The boss's people are asking."Julia, already annoyed from her run-in with Walter, sat up on the couch and flung a pillow out in frustration. "Why the rush? I said I'd go back in a week, didn't I? When have I ever broken a promise?"Julia was already feeling frustrated because of her issues with Walter, and the bodyguard came in with even more irritating news!The bodyguard hesitated, then said with a resigned tone, "If you're still undecided, I'll let the boss know."Nobody else could decide when Julia would head back—that was up to her. Even the boss had to respect Julia's wishes."No, that won't be necessary."Julia knew that if she tried to bow out again, the phone would ring with another nudge from
"Oh, and make sure Walter comes alone. If he brings a posse, he might not get the chance to see me."Julia was not about to let any randoms mess up her master plan. Walter was hers for the taking.…"Achoo!" Walter, buried in paperwork, sneezed so hard that his spine tingled. He shivered, a sure sign spring was playing tricks with the weather.He glanced out at the street, then touched with hints of green, but his thoughts were all on Evangeline.Walter counted the days, wondering how Evangeline was doing. The last time he saw her, her lips were ghostly pale, a clear sign she was far from strong. Should he not swing by the Foster place to check on Evangeline?Then there was Julia.He had just gotten an invite from her, delivered by one of her minions. Julia, that wild card, wanted to meet him at Kronovia Royale Pub—alone.That was just fine by him. He had a burning question from the past that only Julia could answer.Ever since he found out Julia was not the one who saved hi
Evangeline flashed a 'come-and-see' smile. "Go ahead and look, I'm an open book!"She was always a straight shooter with her friends.Except for that tiny bear keychain tucked away at Amberstream Riverbank, she had locked away all her secrets in her hideout. So, Celina had nothing to sneak around for.Celina flipped open the invite and her eyes instantly landed on two names she knew all too well."Julia, Walter..." She whispered under her breath, then her gaze swiftly shifted to Evangeline. "Ms. Evangeline, this invite... you're not actually thinking of going, are you?"It was clear to Celina what the invite was all about, and she was just worried about Evangeline.Evangeline's name was not on the invite, which screamed that showing up would be social suicide.She was sure Evangeline could read between the lines too.However, seeing Walter's name on the guest list threw her off a bit. Everyone knew Evangeline's heart skipped a beat for Walter."No way." Evangeline took a swig
It was kind of sad, really. Julia's invite for Walter to hang out at Kronovia Royale Pub had somehow ended up in her hands. There they were, not even officially divorced yet, and the whole thing was out in the open.What was Walter thinking? Maybe he finally felt bad, like he actually wanted to make things right.Of course, who ever said no to a little extra cash? If Walter was in a giving mood, Evangeline figured she might as well go with it.She scribbled her name on the bottom of the new divorce papers Walter had whipped up and slid them back into the folder.Then both their names were on it. All she had to do was send the thing off to James, and the big day would be just around the corner.Evangeline plopped down on the bed, staring out the window, but her mind was miles away.Was that really it for her and Walter?It all seemed like some weird dream.Just yesterday, she was the beaming bride, trying to figure out how to get Walter to buckle down and start a family.Then,
Evangeline noticed the bodyguard's lingering concern and tossed him a verbal lifeline. "Relax, if anything goes south, you can point the blame at me."With a conflicted heart, the bodyguard exited Evangeline's room.As he replayed Evangeline's instructions in his head, a shiver of anxiety ran through him.What if things took a turn for the worse? Even if he pinned it all on Evangeline, would that really make a difference?The Foster family members were all about results. They would not let him off easy just because he tried to pass the buck.Unbeknownst to him, Celina noticed his hesitation from her vantage point at the stairwell corner.She had sensed Evangeline's sour mood the moment she laid eyes on that invitation. Thus, when Evangeline asked for some time alone in her room, Celina did not stand in her way.However, her lack of protest did not mean she was not worried, especially not after seeing the bodyguard's troubled exit from Evangeline's room.She decided to approach
Celina was a master at reading people, and she quickly got the bodyguard to reveal his fears.He thought to himself that he had no real connection to the Foster family, who would not hesitate to punish him. However, Celina was different, she was Ms. Evangeline's right hand. The Foster family would likely go easy on her for Evangeline's sake.Why not have an ally to share the blame?Still, he had to set one thing straight."I'll tell you the truth, but you can't let Ms. Evangeline hear about this, okay?"After all, crossing the Foster family or Evangeline was something he could not afford to do.Celina understood where the bodyguard was coming from and gave him a reassuring nod, even giving his shoulder a comforting pat. "Don't worry, since you've spilled the beans to me, we're in this together. If there's trouble, nobody's getting off scot-free. But you know, better safe than sorry. If anything were to happen to Ms. Evangeline, you couldn't handle it alone, could you?"Tell me a
Celina did not wait for the bodyguard to take it. She just slipped it into his pocket."Why are you being so old-fashioned? We've got to play it by ear in situations like this. We can't stop Ms. Evangeline from stepping out, but if the big shots ask and we're clueless about her whereabouts, aren't we in deeper trouble? It might not be the most upright move, but at least we're keeping Ms. Evangeline safe, right?"…In the CEO's office at Gordon Group headquarters.Walter wrapped up his work for the day, his eyes drawn to the invitation on the corner of his desk. The red with gold lettering was impossible to miss.Somehow, Julia's actions had escaped his grip, and she kept pulling stunts that surprised him.The letter was an example. While his people were out there turning over every stone for her, she had the nerve to send an invite right to his doorstep!Well, that worked out. It meant he could stop the wild goose chase.However, he was not about to let Julia keep playing hooky
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,