Unmasking the Heiress

Holden gave a thoughtful nod and looked back at Evangeline, his eyes clouded with concern. "Evie, did you know she's close with Julia, the one who hurt you? How could you even think of saving her?"

He was stewing over Evangeline's mall trip with Walter. Talk about acting on a whim!

Celina, a walking red flag, was getting that close to her. Was that not a glaring sign that the Fosters' security was slacking?

If Celina had not been hurt, who knew what might have happened to Evangeline?

Little did he know that Evangeline did not see it the same way.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Uncle, you've never really met Celina, so you can't quite get her," said Evangeline.

"Celina's just been doing her job as the head of the beauty salon, and she's never done anything to hurt me. If she's actually working with Julia, then maybe... If we're honest with her, do you think she might have a change of heart and join our side?" Evangeline's hopeful plan was more for show than anything else, especially in front of Holden.

Truth be told, she genuinely liked Celina and would not have lied to Holden about it if she did not want her uncle to give Celina a chance.

"I'm not sure if she'll have a change of heart, but what I really want to know is whether she could hurt you," said Holden.

Nothing mattered more to Holden than Evangeline's safety. However, how could Evangeline guarantee something like that?

"I really don't think so. I mean, I did save her life. She wouldn't turn on me after that, would she?"

Evangeline mused, fully aware of her uncle's deep concern. She quickly suggested, "Uncle, if you're worried, why not just talk to her before you send her my way? You're good at reading people. You'll see right through her if she means any harm." Holden nodded in approval.

To ensure Evangeline's safety,

Holden decided not to return to Emerald of the Highlands that time, instead, he went directly back to the Foster family's old house with her.

Cole was getting on in years and had been sick, so he longed for the company of his family more than ever.

Yale and Holden were swamped with work, popping in and out like fleeting shadows. How could they stick by the old man's side around the clock?

On the other hand, Evangeline, cradling a baby bump, was up for the job.

She had been scared stiff that Walter would goof up in front of Cole, which is why she had been laying low.

However, after a shopping spree

that

act fcased their lovey-dovey

to see, she could breathe

easy At least Grandpa Cole would not be suspicious.

At last, she could hang out with her grandfather without a care in the world!

While peace had returned to the Foster family, Walter's world was anything but quiet.

He was acquainted with Celina.

David, the man who had fallen head over heels for Celina and was dead set on marrying her, had once shown Walter her photo. The real deal was a spitting image of her snapshot, and Evangeline's gasp had sealed the deal on Celina's identity for Walter.

Being the boss with a heart, he figured he owed it to David to tell about Celina's mishap.

Right on cue, David's check-in call came in.

"Mr. Walter Gordon, we've cracked the case on the slow-moving diamond mine project," David chimed in.

"The Bennison bunch is eyeing that

diamond mine, so they've been

greasing palms to fix the prices. However, our crew isn't rolling over that easily, and the tug-of-war is what's been dragging this whole mess out."