"What's on your mind that you need to tell my husband? Out with it—I'm all ears. Or, if you prefer, you two can have your little secret chat. Though, would you really leave me here, all by myself in the office, waiting, darling?" said Evangeline, her eyes playfully teasing Walter.Julia, witnessing that spectacle, was seething with rage."Julia, if there's something you need to say, let's hear it. Right here, right now." Walter's gaze shifted to Julia, the warmth gone and replaced by a chill colder than the one he reserved for strangers."I need to talk to you about our past project—it's about work. Can we talk in private?" There was a touch of desperation in her voice.'Walter, just look at me. I'm the one who really loves you,' Julia silently pleaded."I'm afraid I can't be of much help anymore." Walter shrugged helplessly. "Evangeline holds most of the Gordon Group's shares now. She's the top shareholder, and I even have to follow her lead."Julia could not believe it. Even if
"Cut the sob story, I'm not interested. You can leave my office now. I'll have someone show you out," said Evangeline, pressing the intercom to call the front desk. "I need two security guards to escort Ms. Julia out of the Gordon Group building, please."It was more of a boot than an escort. Julia was seething.Evangeline was not done yet. "Oh, and Ms. Julia? Just so you know, your partnership with Gordon Group is over, including that fancy 'Return of the Princess' project we were crafting for you. No need to come by the office for work anymore. Don't thank me—it's the least I can do."Evangeline's tone was light, but Walter caught the triumphant glint in her eye. He found every side of her utterly captivating.The violin prodigy who had once been the center of attention was then unceremoniously ousted from the building. There had been whispers that Julia might end up as the future Mrs. Gordon, and everyone had been so welcoming each time she visited. However, the real deal had ar
Both Evangeline and Walter eyed the insistent phone. With a nudge, she urged Walter to give her some space.Realizing she had something urgent to attend to, Walter backed off with a resigned sigh and started scrolling through his phone.He was frustrated to no end. Why did every perfect moment between them have to be interrupted? Was fate really against him and Evangeline being together?Evangeline, oblivious to Walter's inner turmoil, could not help but think that her estranged father, Andrew, had unwittingly done her a favor that time."What's up?" she snapped as she answered the call disdainfully."You better come over tonight! Meet me at Crystal Waters Apartment," Andrew barked back, even less politely.Evangeline pulled the phone away from her ear, saving herself from his grating, loud voice."Ha, as if I'll jump just because you say so. Who do you think you are? You think you're something special just because you're my dad?" She lashed out, unafraid. With her grandfather's
"Let me set you straight—you're spouting pure garbage. It was your mother, the one who couldn't keep her legs closed even with a baby on the way. She was the one caught in the act, and she offered herself out of shame. And that baby? Who knows who the father was? You think you've got any right to scream at me? You're just as low as she was!""Shut your mouth, Andrew. My mother's biggest misfortune was crossing paths with a lowlife like you. You're going to get what's coming to you, and if the universe doesn't strike you down, I'll make sure you pay!"Their argument escalated quickly, their heated words crackling through the phone line like electricity."Listen up, Evangeline, I'm onto all the drama lately. If you don't leave Walter and clear your sister's name, I'll spill every dirty secret your mother ever had! And your dear grandfather? If you so much as think about crossing me, I'll snuff him out. He's just a simple farmer—taking him out would be as easy as stepping on an ant," A
Andrew and his posse were gobsmacked, not expecting Evangeline to show up so quickly."How the heck do you have keys to our place, you witch? I'm going to drag you to court for breaking in!" Lydia's eyes bulged, proud to show off the legal jargon she had picked up while fussing over the house situation."Oh, please, sue away," Evangeline drawled, unfazed. "This place is Walter's, and guess who helped him snag it? Yours truly. Walter and I are hitched, which makes this little abode our shared asset. So tell me, did Walter hand over the keys to you? Is there a deed transfer I don't know about?""What deed transfer? Walter already told us the place is ours," Lydia shot back, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.Sure, Walter had promised the apartment to Julia and the others, but there was not a scrap of paper to show for it."Got it, so the trespassers are you guys," Evangeline quipped, her lips curling into a sly grin, thinking that the trio must have a few screws loose."Evang
It looked like her uncle Yale had once secretly visited her mother, and someone had captured the moment. Who could it be?Her eyes turned to Lydia. She was the one who had used those photos to sabotage the relationship between Andrew and her mother, was she not?Evangeline's laugh echoed through the room, her usually graceful face taking on a chilling twist. She rose to her feet, clapping slowly. "Bravo, quite the performance. Mr. James Foster, would you join us?"The door, slightly open, swung wider as James entered at her beckoning. His suit was sharp, his gold-rimmed glasses catching the light, every inch the consummate professional."Evangeline, what's this all about?"The smirks on the faces of the others faded fast with James' arrival. Something was off."Oh, nothing much. Just thought you'd all like to know that our little chat today was recorded. And Andrew, that bit about you threatening to track down my grandfather and using his life as leverage? We got that on tape, to
James watched as Evangeline dropped the pretense and decided he would do the same. "Alright, I'll lay it out for you. The name's Foster, as in from the northern Foster Group empire. Evangeline is my niece."Keep stirring the pot, and I won't hesitate to have you slaving away at a sewing machine for the next few decades. And if you fancy a more 'special' kind of hardship, say, missing a limb or two? I'm your guy."His tone was steady, a stark contrast to Evangeline's fiery demeanor, but the threat in his words was crystal clear. He might play the part of a gentleman, but make no mistake—there was not a single delicate flower among the gambling king's kin.They played nice with him, he would play nice with them. The Foster family did not take kindly to enemies that crossed them, crossed him. The only ones still standing were the Gordons, and that was saying something.Even the most sheltered of folks knew better than to mess with the Gordons of the South or the Fosters of the North—u
The voice on the other end was nothing but deferential."Ha! You little tramp, roping in some stooge to play along with your little act. What's the going rate for that these days? Or did you just scrape up some sleazy gigolo to fill in?" mocked Lydia venomously.Asher's face went stone-cold on the other end. Someone insulted the Foster Group's princess? That was a one-way ticket to trouble."Miss, did you run into some kind of mess over there? Need me to come over with backup?" Asher was all business."No need for the cavalry, but there is something else you could help me with," replied Evangeline calmly.Asher braced himself for what might be a complicated request, but he was ready. "Miss, just lay it on me. Even if it's Foster Group business, I'm on it.""No, that's not it. Remember how I axed that endorsement deal for the newbie, Julia, with our company? I've heard that Gordon Group went behind my back and set her up with Brighton Media. Give them a ring and let them know I ju