With Trey's life hanging by a thread and no word on changing the heir, it looked like Gordon Group might end up in Alex's lap.That was exactly what Alex had been gunning for.So why was he the one asking questions then?"What's it to you?"Alex let out a scornful laugh, "Evangeline wore that Gemstone Bracelet again, which pretty much means she's owning up to being the Gordon family's granddaughter-in-law."So, as your brother, I guess I should be saying congrats, huh? Congrats on winning over the girl!"His words were all congrats, but his voice was laced with a bitterness he could not hide.His love for Evangeline was just as strong as Walter's, perhaps even stronger.In the end, she chose Walter!How was he supposed to live with that?Walter got the message loud and clear: Alex had it all wrong. However, he did not feel like clearing things up. After all, something far more important had just crossed his mind.Alex had been fooling himself about Evangeline for years. Then
It did not matter if Evangeline agreed to it or not; Alex was dead set on making his dreamy romantic scenario a reality. He was ready to lay it all on the line for a shot at bliss in front of the woman he adored."Hahaha!"Walter could not contain his laughter."What's so funny?" Alex's voice was icy with offense. He had laid his heart's desire bare, only to be met with Walter's scoffing. How could he just take that?"So, my brother is gearing up to pop the question to my ex, and you expect me to cry instead of laugh?"Walter's eyes moved from Alex's legs up to meet his face."That little dream of yours... I'm not going to let it happen."If Alex's taboo fantasy came to life, it would turn the Gordon family into the punchline of a terrible joke. Walter was determined to stop that from happening.However, Alex, misreading the situation, thought Walter was green with envy and shot him a sidelong glance. "Evangeline's heart has only ever had room for me. So tell me, Walter, does y
Walter, who had just walked away, found himself in David's hospital room, not even caring that Celina was there too. He looked straight at David and said, "David, I know you've worked hard to dig up evidence, but it's time to drop the whole Alex situation."Walter was dead serious, not a trace of humor in his voice.David's eyes went wide with shock, and even Celina at his side was stunned."Mr. Walter Gordon, do you realize what you're saying?"He seemed not to grasp it, so he asked again to be sure, "You're kidding, right? How can we just let such a big deal go?"All three of them knew what Walter's words meant, especially Evangeline, who had been on her way out of the hospital but stopped when she saw Walter coming. What was Walter implying?Evangeline's fist tightened at her side without her even thinking about it.She had waited so long and had finally found the smoking gun in the surveillance footage that could take Alex down in one fell swoop.All that, and Walter decide
With the room's door shut, Evangeline did not even glance at Walter. She touched the bracelet on her wrist and, without a second thought, slipped it off."This is the Gordon family's. I'm returning it to you."Trey had given her the bracelet, but it was just a ploy to use their bond to mend her relationship with Walter.Evangeline knew all too well what was going on, but there was a saying that those on their deathbed always spoke kindly.Regardless of Trey's intentions, the fact that he was gravely ill and still wanted her to have the bracelet meant she had to accept it in his presence.After all, the bracelet was a treasured heirloom of the Gordon family.Bathed in sunlight, the bracelet on Evangeline's wrist sparkled with a soft green glow, casting a magical sheen on her pale hands."You've got it all wrong. I didn't come here to talk about that."Walter's voice faltered as he caught the frosty look in her eyes.For whatever reason, the sight of Evangeline slipping the brac
Evangeline was livid.Walter had never once considered her feelings. He always acted on his own whims.Their marriage had started because of her own wishful thinking, and she had let Walter have his way. At this moment, with Walter being the one in pursuit, why should she ignore her feelings?Walter had left the Gordon Group's high-flying world behind, and there stood Evangeline, still the darling princess of the Foster family. Could anyone be sure that Walter's sudden olive branch was not just a play for something else?Evangeline's face lit up with a look of realization. "I get it now. Mr. Gordon gave you the boot, and now you're eyeing the Foster fortune, aren't you? You might as well forget about it. I've stumbled in love once before, and there's no way I'm tripping up again!"I'm going to marry someone who loves me, and who I love in return, someone to grow old with!"Her words were fierce and full of conviction, but Walter cut in quickly when he spotted the slip in her armo
Evangeline's cheeks flushed a sudden pink as she noticed Walter's confident gaze, sure he was going to get what he wanted.She had meant to help from the shadows, yet Walter had spotted her intentions with just one look.However, she could not—would not—admit it!Admitting it would mean confessing her feelings for Walter, and that was something she refused to do!Was she just something for Walter to pick up or drop at his whim? Who did he think she was?"You should be asking David that, how should I know—" Evangeline retorted with an icy edge to her voice.Walter cut her off, "But you're the only one in the Foster family who knows that watch."Face it, Evangeline, you're in love with me."Walter did not even let her get a word in edgewise; he just laid out his verdict.His hand lightly touched Evangeline's slender shoulder, feeling the tension in her frame.Unable to hold back his longing any longer, he pulled her gently into his arms.Their breaths intertwined, sharing the
How could Evangeline think so little of him?However, to her, his silence was enough of an answer. She did not need his words.With a firm, small hand, she pushed him away, setting a boundary he could not cross. They locked eyes, a gulf of space between them."Relax, the Fosters will have your back," she assured him."No..."Walter tried to cut in, but Evangeline was not having any of it."Don't even start with 'impossible'. Sure, my uncles call the shots at the company, but I've got my share. Believe me, I'll get them on board to help you reclaim what's yours."And about Mr. Gordon... I'll stand by you, put on a show so the old man can leave this world without regrets."Trey always dreamed of Evangeline and Walter finding happiness together. She was well aware of that."But we don't have to..." Walter began, his protest cut short."Enough!" Evangeline snapped, silencing him.Evangeline's fingers lightly touched Walter's lips. "You were there for me, pretending to be strong
When Walter got what David was suggesting, he playfully smacked him on the forehead.Celina, who was by David's side, did not like that one bit. "Mr. Walter Gordon, you might be David's ex-boss, but that's no way to treat him, especially when he's hurt!"She stepped in front of David, ready to take on the world for him. Walter could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy. If only Evangeline would show him that kind of fierce loyalty, he would be grinning in his sleep!"David, get a grip on your girl!" Walter's voice dripped with envy and a hint of spite.However, David, being a guy himself, caught the unease in Walter's tone right away. He reached out and gently took hold of Celina's wrist. "Hey, I'm okay. Mr. Walter Gordon here wasn't rough or anything. And you, you've been looking after me all day, must be wiped out. Go get some rest, okay?"David had a hunch that Walter wanted to talk about some guy stuff, the kind of things he did not chat about with a lady around.He did not
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