Unmasking the Heiress

Evangeline fought the urge to clutch at the hollow space over her heart.

"Forget it, I'm never going to let you have Minnie."

Yale had let her know that Minnie was indeed Julia, one of the culprits who plotted with the Andrews to take down her mother.

"How could someone like her just give herself up so easily?"

Besides, it was not up to her to decide where Minnie went.

The enemy of Julia's family was not just Evangeline-it was the whole Foster family.

"Why? Evangeline, don't you realize how much she means to me?" Walter blurted out in a rush, grabbing Evangeline's hand.

In his mind, he was screaming at her, 'Don't you see? This woman's fate is linked to the survival of both the Foster and Gordon families!'

"Yeah, I get it." Evangeline pulled her hand away, her voice calm and steady. "Minnie means a lot to me,

too."

She almost brought up Minnie's real identity to Walter, but she swallowed her words at the last second.

After all, the moment Walter stood up for Minnie without a second thought, Evangeline realized something: Walter was not worthy of being in on any secrets with her. Knowing that giving up Minnie could mean she would vanish just like Julia did, Evangeline's resolve hardened. She was not going to let history repeat itself.

"So, Walter, you're after Minnie, huh? Alright, let's see who's got the upper hand!"

As they spoke, the car had covered a good stretch of road.

Walter's gaze fell on Evangeline's frosty demeanor, a look of resignation flickering in his eyes.

The Foster family's security was impressive and nationally rècognized. Snatching someone from their grasp was easier said than done.

Out of the blue, Evangeline pointed to a rest area up ahead.

"Could you pull over at the rest area, sir? My ride from the Foster family is waiting for me there." She had planned it all along.

There was no way she would stay in Walter's car when she could switch to one from the Foster family, strategically parked at the rest stop along the highway. The driver, not daring to overstep, stole a glance at Walter for approval.

With a nod, he guided the car into the service area.

As soon as the engine cut off, Evangeline reached for the door handle.

"Hold on." Walter, silent until then, finally piped up.

"Is there something else?" she asked.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

"There is." He nodded, but instead of elaborating, he leaned in close to Evangeline.

Before she could react, Walter's arm was around her, pulling her into an unexpected embrace.

The move was so unexpected that Evangeline only caught a glimpse of Walter's face before she was suddenly wrapped in his wide, protective arms. "Walter, release me!" She fought fiercely against his hold, but it was futile.

Instead, her struggles seemed to make him grip her even tighter.

Then, out of nowhere...

"Stay still," he commanded.

"And why would I do that?" she snapped back.

Evangeline gave him a withering look. "Believe me, if you don't let go this instant, I'll roll down the window and yell for help..."

She was cut off by a heavy sigh from Walter.

"Evangeline, you're alive. That's... That's wonderful."

He had longed to say those words since the moment he saw her, alive and well.

Alive. What a beautiful thing.

The thought of Evangeline, standing there, sharing the same air, made Walter feel like even breathing was a joy.