"Walter, what are you getting at? Is there trouble at Gordon Group?"Walter's track record at Gordon Group was no secret. That 18-year-old, armed with only his basic college knowledge, had taken the reins of Gordon Group and steered it to success, even outshining Alex in some respects.Walter's silence spoke volumes. His eyes cast downward, and his forlorn expression painted a picture of a thousand words.Ups and downs were part of the business game; nobody won every battle. However, he could not let Evangeline find out about it, not in a million years.Those words Evangeline had said, they were as clear as day to him—how could they be anything but a confession?Holding back the surge of excitement was torture, so intense that he felt like shouting it out to the heavens!He had been skeptical at first, but Yale's unwavering certainty had convinced him: Evangeline's heart had always been his.However, the memory of his own failings haunted him. He had let her down time and again
"I've got Evie's back," said Yale with a firm nod.He rose to leave, but at the door, he could not resist a final glance at the man in the hospital bed."Walter, I've got to be honest: you're not who I had in mind for Evie's forever guy. But what can I do? My niece has made up her mind."With a heavy sigh, Yale left him with one last thought. "You can reach me anytime, day or night. My phone is always on."'Thanks, Uncle Yale,' thought Walter, wishing he could say it out loud. However, Yale had already left the room, and Walter's condition did not allow for shouting.Men did not need many words to understand each other. A simple 'anytime' was enough for Walter to know that Yale might not want to dig into the Gordon Group's troubles, but he would always be there to back them up.How could Walter not be touched by such a family leader, such a supportive elder?It was just too bad he had realized everything too late—Evangeline's feelings, the betrayal in Gordon Group.Walter glanc
Yale's brow creased as he mulled it over before he said, "Just let him be."Walter was not the type to be reckless. Maybe something was up with Gordon Group?He then rang up Holden, his younger brother. "Holden, can you dig up what's going on with Walter?"Holden was at the Fosters' old place, hanging with Evangeline. The thought of the guy who made his favorite niece bawl made him see red."Why should I bother with Walter after he's been such a jerk to our Evie?"Yale felt rather stuck, not knowing what to say, so he confessed, "There might be some big shake-ups coming from Gordon Group, and it could hit our company. Better to get the lowdown now and be ready than to be blindsided later."However, what Yale did not know was that this lit a fire under Holden."Did you catch some juicy gossip or something?"Holden was not in the family business, but he knew that news like that was usually hush-hush.Yale was not about to spill without a solid lead."Don't sweat the details. Th
Walter brushed off the pressing issue, flashing Emma a sly grin. "Ms. Carter, be honest, did you even glance at this document?"Emma did not play coy. "Sure did.""And what do you make of this partnership proposal?"Walter had crafted the documents based on the infamous Southern Crownlands diamond mine scandal, not naming names but laying out the details crystal clear.If Emma was a spy for Southern Crownlands, she would slip up then.Walter expected her to ponder before answering. However, Emma shook her head so fiercely, he would think it was a rattle drum."Only a complete idiot would sign off on such a lopsided deal!"She caught herself mid-rant."Scratch that, even idiots would pass! It's a setup where one side takes all the hits, and the other side just kicks back and cashes in. Who'd agree to that? Even a fool knows better than to give away their own stuff."Charity is one thing, but you want to look good doing it, right? A company playing the charity card under the gui
No sooner had Emma sent the message than she got a reply.[Check out what's going on. If he's hurt, let me know as soon as possible.]In his private villa, Alex lounged on the couch, a smirk playing on his lips as he read the message on his phone.Walter injured? If that was true, was this not the perfect chance for him to step up?Out of nowhere, two guys in black suits burst in, rushing over to Alex in panic. They caught one look at Alex's annoyed expression and clammed up."How long have you been with me, and you're still freaking out over every little thing?"He was on track to be the Gordon Group's big boss. He could not have his people losing their composure—it made him look bad.The men looked down, embarrassed, but one blurted, "Sorry, sir, but it's serious—Ms. Rearden is hurt."Alex, figuring they meant Julia who should have been back in Southern Crownlands by then, casually set his phone aside. "And why is Julia's injury your problem?"His gaze darkened, hinting at a
"It's not my brother Walter, is it?"Being the second son of the Gordon family was not something he could hide, especially not with a face that was a spitting image of Walter's. If they were not related, that would be the real shocker.Wyatt scoffed, "Sir, you and Mr. Walter Gordon are practically identical for all intents and purposes. How could I mistake him for anyone else?"However, this guy is a total stranger. I did some digging, and it turns out he's the big-shot CEO of the Foster Group who goes by the name—""Hank.""Hank!"The name burst out of Alex and Wyatt at the same time."And how are those two getting on?"A guy and a gal, both unattached, heading off to Aurora Mountain for some fun… and they were in the same age bracket, too.It did not take a genius to guess they might be more than just friends.Things were looking up, the pair walked hand in hand, and Yale of the Fosters watched their closeness without any sign of objection. Was he the new love interest the
Walter was in on it too?Alex mulled it over, and the pieces clicked into place.With Walter around, Evangeline's crush on him could definitely lead her to grab Hank's hand.He recalled the report Emma had given him.Was there a chance Evangeline had something to do with Walter getting hurt?Alex nodded, lost in thought, and Carl could not help but shoot a smug look at Wyatt.'Look at that, I've still got it. You've got a lot to learn, kid.'Wyatt just shrugged off Carl's gloating. He knew Carl was just a straightforward guy, not wanting to be outdone or replaced. After all, was it not normal to hustle for a paycheck? Especially if it could give him an edge.Alex was clueless about the silent battle raging between his two guys, his gaze briefly flicking toward the door."Okay, I've got the picture."Evangeline was hurt, and he had to at least pretend to care."Carl, find something nice for Ms. Rearden, and make it quick.""Got it."Carl agreed but hung back, sneaking peeks
Wyatt shrugged, looking frustrated."You knew it all along?"Alex let out a sharp, dismissive snort. "Sure, as your boss, I've got no grounds to fault you. However, as a man? You've made my girl suffer, and I'll never forgive that!"His words were so resolute that they sent a chill down Wyatt's spine.If Wyatt had not known the messy love triangle they were all tangled up in, he might have bought into the idea that Alex was head over heels for Evangeline."Before we even get into whether Ms. Rearden is 'your girl', I think if a guy really likes a girl, the first thing he's got to do is make her happy."Dude, you keep saying you're all about Evangeline, but what have you actually done for her? Were you there with tender care, or did you step up when times got tough? Or maybe you were her constant shadow, day and night?"No offense, but you haven't been any of that, right?"Wyatt watched as a storm brewed on Alex's face, but fear did not touch him.Truth be told, he had come to
Celina noticed that Evangeline was about to leave and asked with concern,"Are you going out, miss?"Evangeline nodded while picking up her bag, not understanding why Celina's brows were furrowed.Before she could ask, Celina continued, "The Gordon family is in turmoil recently, and with your relationship with Walter… it might be best if you don't go out and attract attention."Evangeline could easily understand the meaning behind Celina's words. The Gordon family was in a crisis, and she had poured more fuel on the fire at a critical moment, practically throwing herself into the whirlpool of public opinion. If she went out, it was highly likely that paparazzi and reporters would follow her, and the consequences could be unimaginable."I'm sorry, but I still need to go."Evangeline's worry for Trey had reached its peak. Facing Celina's concerned expression, she reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. If necessary, I'll bring a few more bodyguards."Celina knew she could not
Some people also said that Walter had pushed out Alex. Gordon Group was going through a period of turmoil, suffering from investment failures, compounded by The Bennex Corporation's reckless and aggressive maneuvers, which were essentially pushing the company to the brink of collapse.The only way for Walter to temporarily calm the storm and give the company a chance to regroup was to push Alex out and take the blame for everything.As the news spread, its impact grew larger, and some even dared to publicly tag Gordon Group's official social media account. It was expected that Gordon Group would follow their usual approach of not responding and turning a blind eye.To everyone's surprise, the company issued an official statement within 10 minutes.The news that Mr. Alex Gordon had been incarcerated was true, but the specific reasons would need to wait for the police's verdict.This brief announcement confirmed the speculations of social media users.However, Gordon Group was not
Evangeline listened to Thomas's lament and felt a wave of sadness in her heart.However, there were too many such people and stories in Avalon City, and she could not sympathize with all of them.Besides, Carl had done many bad things while working for Alex. How could she pity him?"Is there nothing else? No more information? Those who are pitiful must have their faults."Evangeline was not someone whose sympathy overflowed, nor did she want to connect with this situation."My men discovered that Carl has been wandering around Avalon City recently. His whereabouts are completely uncertain, and we've been unable to track him down or know where to start looking."Thomas fell silent for a moment, and Evangeline could only hear the sound of a mouse clicking.After some time, he added warily, "Carl is probably looking for his family."Before Alex was arrested, Carl secretly returned home one night. What exactly happened is unclear, but the next day, his family was taken away. And the
Perhaps going out for a walk with Celina to clear her mind would help her regain her composure.To her surprise, Celina declined Evangeline's suggestion and said, "No, I want to go on a stroll alone.Seeing the sadness in Celina's eyes, Evangeline did not know what to say."Ms. Evangeline, I'm just feeling down for no reason. You don't need to worry about me. Maybe it's because… I've been too idle."In the past, Celina always had various tasks, but after returning to the Foster family, there were no more tasks, no work, and her sole focus was on David.All of a sudden, Zhang Tao recovered and no longer needed her.She needed some quiet time to rediscover her own value. Otherwise, she would only live in confusion and self-doubt.Evangeline did not insist. Adults need time for themselves, after all. She could not take away the time for solitude that Celina needed just because they had a good relationship."Then… be careful."Evangeline patted Celina's shoulder and watched her le
Evangeline's brow furrowed. This situation was indeed tricky."Why is Carl Fowler still running around outside on his own when his boss has been exposed? If I were him, with Alex arrested, I'd rush back to Southern Crownlands immediately. Even if I couldn't return here, I'd send the message to the Bennison family as quickly as possible."Instead, he's been wandering around Avalon City!"Evangeline's speculation was not without merit. After all, if Carl had sent news of Alex's arrest back to Southern Crownlands, the Bennison family would have taken action. They would not be unaware, like they were at this moment where they've fallen for Walter's smokescreen and did not even realize it.David stroked his chin thoughtfully. "There's definitely something else going on here, and we just haven't figured it out yet. Is Carl wandering around because he's looking for something—or someone?"Having been by Alex's side, he naturally understood the dangers around him.Avalon City was especiall
"Insufficient evidence!"Evangeline and David seemed to be perfectly in sync. David looked at Evangeline with admiration."You truly are incredible, ma'am. Your analytical skills are simply amazing!""You don't need to flatter me. Since you led me to this conclusion, you must have a solution, right?"Gordon Group never kept idle people, and Walter was a perfectionist when it came to hiring. Therefore, the fact that David had worked under Walter for so many years was enough to prove his capabilities.Realizing he had been seen through, David awkwardly scratched his head. "I do have a plan, but it's still a bit underdeveloped, and I don't know if it will help Mr. Gordon."Since he was not sure, he did not dare to bring it up to Walter, only discussing it behind his back with Evangeline."Come on, tell me. Maybe it'll help."If the evidence Walter had was not enough, Gordon Group would remain in turmoil. Trey Gordon was still in the hospital recovering, and the situation at Gordon
David and Celina had lived in Southern Crownlands for a while, so they knew where the Bennison family's base was located. What Evangeline was concerned about, however, was the enormous amount of information carried by this statement."Do you know where Walter got this phone number from?"Whoever used this number would prove to be connected to the Bennison family.If the key person behind the scandal involving Gordon Group could be traced, the company's troubles would be resolved in an instant.David shook his head. "Mr. Gordon only instructed me to investigate this phone number. He didn't say where it came from."Ma'am, the president is holding up Gordon Group on his own. Don't you think we can do something too? Like, helping him catch the key person?"David's tone was uncertain, but his eyes flashed with a sly glint.Evangeline knew he had already devised an idea before speaking to her. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and glanced at him sideways. "Speak up, what's yo
"But you know David didn't do anything wrong, right?"If he had, then Celina would not have said she was waiting for him to finish his task. Instead, she would have barged into the study and confronted him immediately.Celina lowered her gaze. "Yes, I know."Both of them were workaholics, and once there was work to be done, they would not care about anything else. So, Celina understood David's feelings very well. That being said, she did not want him to neglect her."I just hate his boss. If it weren't for him giving David some task, he wouldn't be like this."Walter is such a heartless boss. My David is still seriously injured, yet he gave him such an important task. It's practically exploitation!"Just when David could barely move around again, he started working like a dog for Walter!Evangeline did not care about any of the exploitation talk. Her attention was solely on one thing, and that was…"What task did Walter assign to David?"Evangeline's intuition told her that th
After all, if The Bennex Corporation knew about it, it would mean there was an insider in Gordon Group who was working for the Bennison family. At that point, it would trigger another internal purge.Walter finally regained his focus, and the entire Gordon Group was filled with a sense of harmony and renewed vigor. Even the department head of the Operations Department, who had been tortured by stress for days, looked relieved. He knew that the time for their president to strike back had finally arrived!The intense applause from the employees expressed their excitement.Walter felt unexpectedly touched. After all, if the employees did not have any sense of belonging to Gordon Group, they would not have been moved by his sudden actions.Some even shed tears.Evangeline also had not expected that the moment of action would come so soon. She really had waited for Walter to strike back.Apart from this, what surprised her was that David had mysteriously gotten busy. Even Celina, who