Unmasking the Heiress by Sisi Yea

Aria whispered to her son with a mix of affection and irritation, "Didn't Evangeline go looking for you last night? She's still not back? She's not with you? She can't have kids, and now she's out all night during the holidays, not answering her phone, breaking all the rules. Your grandpa is furious!

"I should've never agreed to let you bring her into this family. She's a country girl, nowhere near your league. Marrying into the Gordons was the luckiest thing to ever happen to her!"

Walter's mind flashed back to Evangeline's determined mention of divorce the previous night, to her drinking and shooting pool, so different from the demure image she maintained at the Gordons'.

Walter chuckled derisively. "We'll see about that."

Aria, not fully grasping Walter's intent and preferring to avoid the topic of the unwelcome daughter-in-law, said, "I heard Julia is back. I don't care if your grandpa agrees or not, I'm giving Evangeline three more months. If she can't get pregnant, she'll have to step aside for Julia!"

Walter's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes grew more distant. "Mom... Did you bring up the divorce with her?"

"What, should we let her keep her place in the Gordons forever?"

Walter could not help but laugh in frustration, wordlessly storming through the door.

"Hey! Walter!" Trey was waiting for him, propped up on his cane at the top of the steps. His face twisted with displeasure. "Get in my study, now!"

Walter strolled into the study with a defiant swagger.

Trey took a swing with his cane, landing a solid hit on Walter's leg. "You good-for-nothing, gallivanting around on New Year's Eve! I've heard the stories. Evie's talking about divorce!

"Listen to me: You still have a chance to fix this. Go find Evie, swallow your pride, and apologize. Do not take her for granted, because once she's gone, she's gone for good.

"I'm telling you right now that you won't find a better wife than Evie anywhere in this world!"

lazily raised

"I certainly do!"

lips pressed into a thin, icy

When she was down South, you were the one hiding her picture in your wallet. And now that she's your wife, you treat her

If you go through with

If there's

ask Alex to give you one. Don't waste your breath on me." With that, he turned on his heel and strode out, leaving the old man

man was livid, his voice thundering through the halls, "Go ahead!

face a thundercloud, and headed back to the

pad before the wedding. He rarely stayed there after getting hitched because Evangeline lived there. At this point, the room felt hollow, clearly untouched since the

few calls, it was confirmed: Evangeline had not returned to their shared

marred

then, Daniel Harris, the family's butler, knocked and presented him with an express-delivered envelope. "Mr. Walter Gordon, this urgent document

window, Walter unfolded

was none other than

from the South, James was a man of sterling pedigree, known for his criminal defense work, never for divorce. He did not just take any case his hourly fee was astronomical. Had

the butler, did not peek at the papers, but he could not miss the storm brewing on Walter's face. "Mr. Walter

sure did

fine, Daniel. You

push it and left

somber chill. Lips tight, he pulled out his