At this point, Evangeline could not hold back anymore. She was out of patience to wait for Alex to admit it himself."You had someone take those photos, didn't you? And that buzz on social media. You orchestrated that too, right?"The silence on the other end of the line said it all. Evangeline did not need to hear his voice to know the truth."Alex, do you actually like me?"A sudden wave of sadness overwhelmed her, and she could not stop the tears. The one person she trusted most had played her, all in the name of love? How could she have been subjected to something so vile?"You're in love with yourself, aren't you?" She did not wait for Alex to respond, already sure of her answer."No, Evie, it's you I'm into, I love you!"Alex's voice was thick with emotion, almost breaking. His feelings for Evangeline had always been pure and true. How could she question them?"Do you have any idea how much I've sacrificed for you? Do you have any clue about the nights I've endured, the h
"Even if you're right, what's it to you? Evie, you're cornered with nowhere to go but into my arms."Alex gloated.He had meticulously cut off every possible escape for Evangeline before he even set his plan in motion. She had no choice but to watch as his scheme played out!After all, a woman who had been married to his brother, then rumored to be involved with him, would be a scandal in any family. For a woman who was divorced, it was downright devastating.The only way for Evangeline to save herself and protect her company was to agree to be with him.He was so sure of himself because he knew Evangeline was smart enough to recognize the best option when she saw it.When Evangeline caught on to his game, her face turned ghostly white with fury. "Alex, how could I have been so blind to your sleaziness?!"She regretted ever thinking of Alex as a confidant, a true friend who she could confide in. She even went out of her way to buy him a birthday present when she knew he was not
Evangeline could not bear to think about it. Then, as if a switch had flipped, she grabbed her phone and dialed Yale's number."Uncle Yale, I need to know where Walter is. Now. Immediately!"Her voice was laced with urgency, a tone that brooked no argument.Yale was puzzled. Evangeline had finally stepped out of Walter's shadow, so why was she suddenly so desperate to track him down?"I'll get someone on it right away, Evie. Though... Why do you need to know?"Evangeline had cut ties with Walter after their divorce, leaving no reason for her to worry about him. However, Yale had no idea that the question he asked was exactly what Evangeline feared most.Her heart was heavy with concern for Walter.Years of love had turned caring for him into something instinctive, something carved deep into her very being.Despite the public humiliation and the way he had dragged her pride through the mud, the pride of being the Foster family's darling, she could not stop her heart from aching
Yale's heart softened as he took in the mix of hurt and annoyance in his beloved girlfriend's eyes.He wrapped an arm around Roslyn's delicate shoulders, the tension draining from him as he propped his chin on her shoulder. "Are you still mad? Please, let's make up."He understood the root of Roslyn's anger.They had chosen to be together, but the age gap left Roslyn feeling insecure.Evangeline had just gone through a divorce, and Roslyn did not want to rub salt in her wounds, so they agreed to delay their wedding.However, there was one thing they could not wait for—starting a family.Yale was fit for his age, but they needed to start planning for a baby to put Roslyn's mind at ease. Giving up smoking was step one."Does it really matter to you if I'm angry?" Roslyn shot back, her words hitting Yale like a punch to the chest.Yale's stubbornness was to blame. He had insisted on treating Roslyn like she was on the same level as Evangeline, and he had gone about it in such an e
"Why should you care if I can handle more drinks? I want to drink today. Who are you to stop me?"The woman gave Walter a pitiful look, but as she did, her eyes locked with Evangeline's.She jumped to her feet and asked excitedly, "Ms. Rearden, what are you doing here?"It was no secret that Walter and Evangeline were an item, and thanks to her sister Julia's fame, Evangeline had made quite a few public appearances. So, it was not a surprise that the woman standing before her knew who she was.Evangeline, with a flick of her wrist toward the door, said calmly, "Time for you to head out. We don't need you here. Take a left once you're out, and someone will handle your pay."She understood the woman had her struggles, which was why Evangeline did not want to embarrass her—just to have her leave.However, she had not anticipated that the woman would not go down without a fight.Arms crossed, the woman stood tall and defiant across from Evangeline as she said challengingly, "Why do
"I'm not going anywhere! Mr. Walter Gordon invited me, and he hasn't told me to leave. What gives her the right to kick me out?"The woman stood her ground, but Evangeline was running out of patience.With a subtle nod, Evangeline signaled the bodyguard, who promptly seized the woman."So you're the Foster family's darling princess, huh? Think you can do whatever you want? Please! Just another spoiled brat riding on her family's coattails." The woman writhed and fought back in the bodyguard's hold."Be quiet!" The bar owner barked in anger.She had single-handedly ticked off two of Avalon City's big shots, and she did not seem to care if it was the end of him!Evangeline, hearing that, had a change of heart and crooked her finger at the bodyguards.The woman was pushed before Evangeline, who gave her a dismissive once-over."My family's name is my ticket, and I'll use it as I please. What are you going to do about it?"Here's a piece of advice for you: better to put your energ
Evangeline stopped fighting it.She could not remember the last time she and Walter had just relaxed together like this. This rare, peaceful moment was something she felt she had to savor, for some reason.If he was convinced it was all just a dream, then why not play along? What was the worst that could happen?"Walter, do you really think this is all just a sweet dream?"Considering how Walter usually acted, the idea of him dreaming about her and calling it sweet was sort of hilarious.Evangeline sensed something was off and realized that a tipsy Walter might drop his guard. Maybe she could get him to spill some secrets he would normally keep locked up tight?"Mmm..." Walter snuggled into the crook of Evangeline's neck with a soft hum, taking a deep breath that sent a shiver down her spine.His flirty move made her cheeks flush a bright pink.She might not want to admit it, but her body remembered his touch all too well. Just that little contact sent waves of heat she had not
The memory was etched in Evangeline's mind.Walter had heard, clear as day, Julia's family confess to the crime that took his mother's life. Yet, he chose to whisk Julia away right under his nose, stashing her where he could not find her.However, Walter seemed to snap back to reality, his eyes scanning the area warily. Then, with a goofy look, he blurted, "This is a dream, isn't it? Because if it's not, there's no way I'd talk my heart out!"Evangeline was not about to skimp on a white lie when she saw how adamant Walter was.She gently caught his wildly gesturing hand and reassured him with a smile, "Of course, it's a dream. So you can say anything. No one will ever know. Isn't it exhausting to keep secrets? You'll feel better once you let it out, won't you?"She was trying her best to convince Walter they were in a dream.To her surprise, Walter glanced at their intertwined fingers. Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he nodded. "Yeah, this has got to be a dream.""Right, right
Evangeline felt a stir in her heart as Alex's persuasive voice washed over her. She knew he was twisting the truth, but she could not quite pin down a comeback to shut him down.Hurting someone in the name of love could not possibly be true love, could it?She saw right through Alex's charming tricks—classic manipulator moves. If she let herself get sucked into his logic, she would be brainwashed in no time, turned into his personal puppet. 'Alex, you're seriously scary,' she thought to herself.If she fought back too hard, he would only come at her with worse, and she was not exactly in a position to fight back. She was about as intimidating as a kitten.No, she had to be clever about that."I believe you," she said, her voice light and airy as if she did not have a care in the world. Even tied up as she was, her smile and bright eyes made her look utterly adorable."You know, Alex, you're making a lot of sense. I mean, what have I gotten from chasing after Walter all this tim
Foster Group had revamped its game, and it was a whole new ballgame. However, just because they had ditched their old ways, did that mean nobody was left to pick up the slack?Alex was clued in on all of that, yet fear was not in his vocabulary."You really think I'm scared to mess with you because of that?" Alex's voice dripped with icy mockery. "Evangeline, the only reason I haven't pushed you is because I love you too much to make you do anything... intimate."However, if my caring turns into your scorn, then sorry, I can't just stand by and do nothing.""Too much love to force me?" Evangeline laughed like she had heard the funniest joke ever. "Does your face turn red when you say that? Does lying make you squirm?"You say you can't force me, but did I come to this creepy place because I wanted to? Did I ask you to tie me up like this?"Alex's face hardened, and his words were laced with pure fury."Evie, if you keep bad-mouthing me, keep getting me wrong, I'm going to lose
"Spill it, why did you bring me here, and why am I all tied up?"Evangeline had already taken in every detail of the room, feeling a wave of strangeness wash over her.She knew for a fact she had never set foot in that place before.Then again, this was Alex's secret lair. How could she have ever been there?Alex did not answer right away. Instead, he caressed her cheek with one hand, boasting arrogantly, "When I bring my girl to my place, there's no need for a reason."Evangeline tried to shrink away from his touch, but the ropes made it impossible to move.She resigned herself and thrust her bound hands toward Alex. "Alex, is this your idea of treating a woman right?"Drugging me, tying me up while I'm knocked out? Don't you think these tactics are a little low, even for you?"Before this, Evangeline had never thought Alex could be so vile.However, there he was, his hand casually resting on the ropes that tied her up, while his other hand reached out to grab hers. He looked
The room was so soundproof that Evangeline did not catch a word of the conversation. If she had, she would have laughed and said that the biggest danger she faced was Alex himself.Too bad Evangeline was out of earshot, and Yale was clueless that Alex was just faking concern. Considering how close Alex seemed to be with Evangeline and how worried he acted, Yale pushed aside his suspicions.Alex played the caring friend perfectly, offering Yale a few comforting words. However, Yale was too focused on the search for Evangeline to chat, so he hung up quickly.As soon as the call ended, the worried look on Alex's face melted away, replaced by a smug grin.'Yale, I wonder how you'll look next time we meet, when I'm introduced as Evangeline's boyfriend? Will you be relieved, or will you be steaming mad? Either way, I bet it'll be a picture worth seeing.'Of course, Yale's reaction did not matter. Alex had one thing on his mind today: to win Evangeline over.In a perfect world, he would
Walter did not buy the story for a second, his eyes locked on Thomas."That toy you're holding is the Shadow Wing, isn't it? A casual one million five hundred thousand dollar purchase—come on, you're no average person."Even though Thomas was riddled with doubts, he knew that was not the time to get caught up in them."Thomas, once we wrap this up and Evangeline's back safe, let's really get to know each other, okay?"Thomas just gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure thing, I'm ready whenever you are."Just then, Thomas's eyes sparkled as he zeroed in on the screen."Got her! She's right here!"Walter glanced over at Thomas, and there was Evangeline's face on the screen, pale with fury.In a room on the third floor of the mansion, at the turn of the corridor, Evangeline was lying on the bed, a flimsy blanket her only cover. Tightly bound beneath the thin fabric were her wrists and ankles.As the memories from before she blacked out rushed back, Alex's triumphant smirk haunted Evangel
The gas pedal hit the floor, and the car surged forward faster than ever.Walter's mind was racing, fixated on the upcoming rescue.However, the place they pulled up to was all too familiar.It was the very villa where Walter's secret rendezvous had once been exposed.Stepping out of the car, Thomas could not suppress a chuckle at the sight of the private estate."It's kind of funny, you know? I thought bumping into an old friend while out and about was surprising enough, but to end up in the very same place, too?"Walter was not shocked, however.He had suspicions about Alex and had done his homework. This villa? It was Alex's hideout.What he did not expect was Alex could be so bold as to drag Evangeline there.Walter had been to that villa once. It was huge, with rooms galore, and pinning down which one Evangeline might be in was like looking for a needle in a haystack. If they were going to find her, they would have to check each room, which was a real pain.Walter caught
"How do I save Evangeline? And who the heck are you?"That enigmatic tipster, who kept dropping hints about Evangeline's peril, was no ordinary person.However, instead of an answer, all Walter got was the infuriating buzz of a busy signal.[Meet at the Dell family's alley crossroads in ten minutes.]Walter stared at the text, his curiosity about this cryptic informant spiking. It was like they knew exactly where he was, setting up the rendezvous right around the corner from the hospital.[Why should I trust you? And who are you, really?]Uncertainty swirled around Walter like a thick fog, but he was not about to let go of that mysterious lifeline that might just pull Evangeline back to safety.He shot back a quick reply and turned to David. "How many can we muster from the Gordons' forces?"Walter never imagined his grandfather would kick him out of Gordon Group. He had always focused on keeping the business running smoothly, never bothering to build up his own crew.However,
The thought struck David like lightning."All the Bennison family's clout is in Alex's grip. Could Alex be plotting against Ms. Evangeline? But wait, doesn't Alex have a thing for her? They could meet up in the open, no problem. So why would the Fosters kick up such a storm?"Nonetheless, who else in all of Avalon City would dare to mess with the Fosters' darling Evangeline in the open?As Walter was racking his brains, David suddenly gasped, a eureka moment lighting up his face."I got it! Alex has booted you from the company and got the thumbs up from Mr. Gordon. Gordon Group's practically his. He's on top of the world. If he now goes after Ms. Evangeline..."David clamped his mouth shut mid-sentence, realizing the rest was too risky to voice in front of Walter.However, he trusted Walter's smarts. Even without spelling it out, Walter would get the picture.He did. The moment Walter caught on to the unspoken words, panic washed over him, and he started sweating bullets.Alex
Yale's search revealed that the bodyguards assigned to Evangeline had been secretly taken out.The enemy's bad intentions were obvious.However, they were clueless and had no idea who the bad guy was.Evangeline had vanished without leaving a single clue, leaving Yale with nowhere to start."What do we do now?" Roslyn was pacing back and forth, frantic.Celina, biting down on her teeth with regret, said, "If only I'd stayed with Ms. Evangeline when she went out, or stopped her from leaving!"However, wishing for do-overs was like hoping for a magic cure for regret. It simply did not exist. No matter how much they were hurting, they could not rewrite the ending.The real problem was, they were clueless about who they were up against. The people the Foster family had sent out were just running in circles at the last place Evangeline had been spotted, like they were chasing their own tails.Then, Roslyn had a lightbulb moment."Evie got a call before she left. Can we dig into her