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
"Evangeline, no—hear me out, my girl. I loved your mom for real. If she hadn't fallen for some guy and gotten knocked up, planning to run away with him, I never would've left her."And it was Lydia! She was the one who lured me in. She even snapped those photos of your mother with that guy. I've been true to you and your mother, you have to believe me." Andrew's legs were unsteady, and he was almost about to collapse.The repulsed Evangeline stepped back while Lydia lunged at Andrew, clawing and smacking him. "You're pinning this on me, you jerk? You were the one who couldn't wait to jump into my bed! I'll knock the betrayal right out of you!""Zip it! If you hadn't stirred the pot, I never would've clashed with Yessica! You're nothing but trouble!"The argument escalated into a full-blown brawl, hair-pulling and face-slapping, while Evangeline backed away, not wanting to get caught in their crossfire.Julia was at her wit's end, hurling accusations at Evangeline. "Are you satisfi
Whatever Walter had planned for Julia's sake, Evangeline's resolve to retaliate against Julia's family was firm, unchangeable."I'll see you in court, Walter!" Evangeline's voice echoed, each syllable of his name a sharp note before she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.Julia's heart clenched at the sight of Walter's troubled face. This could be a disaster! Had Walter overheard her calling Evangeline those awful names? She had to fix that, even if he had heard.Desperate, Julia wiped her tears and rushed to Walter, grabbing his arm with a dramatic flair. "Walt, please tell me you didn't hear the horrible things she said. She's so heartless, not satisfied with kicking us out of the old house. She wants to take back this new place you've given us too! What are we going to do?"I might be young enough to handle living on the streets, but our parents? They're too old for this kind of suffering. She's being so cruel..." Her voice trembled, her eyelashes glistening with tears, i
Julia was not the only one silenced by his words. Andrew and Lydia, who had been loudly urging Walter to leave Evangeline and be good to Julia, froze in shock.Walter had never paid them any mind, and he certainly was not about to start showing them any courtesy."I heard every word you two said. I'm going to dig up every dirty deed you've done to Evangeline. And let me make this crystal clear: If she sheds one tear because of you, you'll pay back tenfold, in blood!"Walter stormed out, not even sure how he managed to leave.Ditching his bodyguards, he found himself in a bar, knocking back brandy after brandy. All he could see was Evangeline's gaunt face, feigning strength.What had he done to her? Why did he not ask more questions and try to understand her suffering?Reflecting on his treatment of Evangeline since their marriage, he was filled with such self-loathing that he could barely stand it.With a final burst of anger, Walter stormed off, his bitter words echoing behind
With a triumphant smirk, Julia slipped by the watchful eyes of the bodyguards and tiptoed out the back door.…Evangeline settled into her private booth at Kronovia Royale Pub, surrounded by glasses of Bloody Mary.The Fosters were gambling royalty, their power unchallenged.Evangeline, a true Foster by blood, had always been drawn to the color of blood.Staring into the deep red of her drink, her favorite, Evangeline could not shake the image of Walter from her mind.'Evangeline! You're the Foster family's treasured princess, the apple of everyone's eye, raised with love and care by your doting grandfather and uncles—not to be mistreated!'What's a guy like Walter even worth? To think he drove you to drink your sorrows away and torment yourself. Does he deserve that power over you? Absolutely not!' ran her thoughts.Evangeline's heart screamed the answer, but her hand betrayed her, lifting the glass and emptying it in one defiant swig.Walter was, after all, a man she had onc
The servant nodded and hurried off.Aria had been convinced that Walter was just fiercely protective of Evangeline, but when Trey's unexpected message reached her, her heart lurched.She was never Trey's favorite, and him seeking her out could only mean trouble. Even so, Trey's word was law in the Gordons' world, and she could not just ignore his summons.With her heart pounding, Aria made her way to Trey's study and asked with a shaky voice, "Dad, you wanted to see me?"Trey waved the servant away, and once they were alone, he finally spoke up, "I brought you here to tell you something."You're aware of Cole from the Foster family, aren't you? Evangeline is his granddaughter."Those words hit Aria like a ton of bricks."Are you kidding, Dad? If she's his granddaughter, doesn't that make Evangeline the Foster family's heiress?""Why would I lie to you? I'm telling you now that Evangeline is leagues above Julia, the perfect match I've handpicked for my grandson. And remember, fo