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

"I certainly do!"

pressed into

can't fathom you. You were the one who wanted to marry Evie. 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 like

the only granddaughter-in-law I recognize. If you go through with this divorce, you can kiss

If there's no baby, don't bother

give you one. Don't waste your breath on me." With that, he turned on his heel

meeting ended with both parties storming off in a huff. The old man was livid, his voice thundering through the halls, "Go ahead! If you dare hurt Evie, you'll live to regret it!" Someone would surely set things right

and headed back to the bedroom he shared with Evangeline

pad before the wedding. He rarely stayed there after getting hitched because Evangeline lived there. At this

not returned to their shared bedroom, and the cruise's staff reported she had vanished in the

was marred by

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

window, Walter unfolded

record was none other than

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 Evangeline been acquainted with

did not peek at the papers, but he could not miss the storm brewing on Walter's face. "Mr. Walter Gordon, are you okay? Should

sure did not hold

Daniel. You go

push it and

his tall figure shrouded in a somber chill. Lips tight, he pulled out