Unmasking the Heiress

Walter's phone buzzed to life out of the blue.

"Sir, I'm feeling a lot better now, ready to get back to the mission in Southern Crownlands."

David's voice was stuffy and sounded like he was on the tail end of a cold.

He already knew the whole drama about Evangeline getting nabbed by Julia while trying to rush him to the hospital.

Taking a beat, he cautiously broached the subject, "How's Mrs. Gordon holding up?"

It was not that he doubted Walter's expertise, but Evangeline's trouble was tied to him, and he could not shake off the guilt without checking in.

"She's fine now." Walter kept his voice even, masking whatever he was feeling.

"She's fine?" David echoed, relief flooding his words. "That's a relief, a huge relief."

Knowing Evangeline was out of hot water made his own heart lighter.

"I'll head out tonight, catch a flight to Southern Crownlands."

He mulled it over briefly before filling Walter in.

"Sure about that?" Walter was the one caught off guard then. "Weren't you and Celina in a spat? You don't have to go..."

He saw David as a brother and took his brother's big life moments to heart. However, before he could get all the words out, David cut him off.

"No need, Mr. Walter Gordon. I appreciate the thought." David inhaled sharply on the other end, "Stepping away is the best thing for her right now." His fever had broken, and though his head was still foggy, his heart had found some peace.

Celina's words kept replaying in his mind, haunting him with every echo.

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He was not there when Celina's life hung by a thread. He was not there when she cried out for help. It was like he was perpetually missing from her life's critical moments.

Whether he was powerless to change that or not, he was not by her side, and that was the harsh truth. Why keep obsessing over it?

She was right about one thing: they were from different worlds. Dreaming of being together was nothing but a fantasy.All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

A sharp pain clenched his chest as

her

he thought of her. Celina's sweet face flashed before his eyes, but her determined look cut through him like a blade.

His life was bound to Walter's path. How much time could he really give her?

If he could not make her happy, it was time to... let go.

"I've settled things with Celina. It's over. Now, I just want to throw myself into my work."

Diving into his job was the only way to drown out the butterflies and bring back the old, steady David, the one who could focus on the mission Walter had given him...

"Okay then." Walter exhaled, a mix of relief and regret in his breath. The choice was made, and all he could do was stand by it.

"If you ever change your mind, you know how to reach me."

He got where David was coming from. He had been there, using work as a balm for the pain. However, that trick did not work for him anymore.

He just hoped... it would do the trick for David.

With that thought, Walter ended the call and dialed another number.

"Have you found Julia?"

"Mr. Walter Gordon, we still haven't found her," came the hesitant voice on the other end of the line, sparking Walter's fury.

"What are you even doing? How can you not find one woman after all this time?"