Unmasking the Heiress

She had caused her grandfather's death!

Tears slid down silently, leaving trails on Evangeline's face, her sobs then just a whisper.

At that very moment, the hospital room door swung open. Walter, his face ashen, appeared at the threshold. Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, he fidgeted uncomfortably, his hand brushing the back of his neck.

"I heard Mr. Foster was ill, so I... I just came..."

"What are you even doing here?" Evangeline shot up from her seat and marched straight toward Walter. "Walter, did you have something to do with my grandpa getting sick? Did you really have to come here and play the concerned visitor?"

If Walter had not been so hung up on Julia, if she was not worried about how heartbroken Cole would be to see Walter being mean to her, why would she have ever spent so much time away from Cole's side?

"Evangeline, what are you doing here?"

Walter was in total disbelief.

Had not Julia taken Evangeline away? He had scoured every corner of Avalon City and had not caught even a glimpse of her, yet there she was? Evangeline laughed, but it sounded hollow.

"If I'm not here, where would I be? Hiding in some abandoned warehouse, waiting to catch you and Julia's private show?"

She could not even muster the courage to think back on the scene she had stumbled upon.

'Walter, how could you be so heartless?' she wondered.

All the hurt she had been holding back ignited in a fiery outburst.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

"I don't care why you're at the hospital, but my grandfather is gone now, and he wouldn't want you here, so just leave."

"How can I leave? I'm Mr. Foster's grandson-in-law, after all," said Walter, refusing to leave.

He looked up and locked eyes with Evangeline, hers blazing with loathing.

They faced off in silence.

The room, already somber from Cole's death, was suffocating under a tense silence.

Holden quickly stepped in, pulling Evangeline to his side, and squared off with Walter, saying, "Walter, we get it, you're trying to be nice. But let's face it, you just don't belong here with the way things are now. Time to head out, okay?"

If Cole had been okay with Walter, he would not have been all 'think about your happiness first' to Evangeline when he was on his way out. He definitely would not have made a point of bringing up her unborn child.

Yeah, Cole had totally seen through the whole Walter-and-Evangeline show.

Walter's mouth worked like he was trying to say something, but it took a second before he could actually make any sound. "Uncle..."

Holden cut him off with a 'stop right there' kind of wave. "Don't call me that, Mr. Walter Gordon. That's a no-go for me." Holden backed up a bit and signaled to the door guys.

"Time to show our guest the door!"

Tough-looking dudes closed in, giving

Dond alter that apologetic I t make this hard on ut

"Mr. Walter Gordon, you ha

go.

Walter was a big deal in Avalon City, and even with the boss's orders, those guys had their rep to think about.

Walter shot Evangeline one last look, then spun on his heel and split from the hospital.

As he turned, his eyes went blood-red, and tears just started spilling out.

Guys were not supposed to cry, right? Except when it really, really hurt.

He only faked his flirtation with Julia, but Evangeline had busted them big time.

All he wanted then was to dash back and clear the air with Evangeline, but the question was... would she even buy his story?

Then, all of a sudden, he balled up his fists, lips going tight.

Julia. She was the start of all that mess!