Chapter 187


    Evangeline went to slide the bracelet off, but Walter''s hand gently stopped her.


    "It''s a Gordon family treasure. Passing it to you was Grandpa Trey''sst wish. Just keep it, for his peace of mind, okay?"


    The bracelet was icy to the touch, but somehow, it felt like it carried a bit of Trey''s warmth with it.


    Evangeline gazed at the bracelet circling her wrist, a wave of sadness washing over her. Trey had always been a rock, rooting for her and Walter to make it work, When i came to love though, what good was an old man''s blessing?


    She was not meant to be a Gordon bride, and trying to force it was just a waste of time. The bracelet felt out of ce on her arm, like a borrowed treasure she would have to give back one day. It was a gift from Trey, so she would wear it a little longer, nning to return it w She could not tell if it was all in her head, but she really dug Walter''s style tips. Checking herself out in the mirror, Evangeline could not help but smile. The deep blue and ice-


    green jade should have shed, but somehow, she pulled it off with an air of grace and ss. "Yeah, this works," she mused.


    Her moment of self-admiration was cut short by a knock. The maid''s voice filtered through the door, "Ms. Evangeline, the banquet''s kicking off, and they are asking for you downstairs."


    "Be there in a second!" she called back. She shot Walter a quick look, smoothed her hair, and headed out.


    With


    Evangeline gone, Walter felt out of ce lingering in her room, so he trailed after her.


    The banquet was in full swing. Yale Foster, Evangeline''s eldest uncle, had been parked in his seat for ages. Then he spotted Evangeline and Walter, striding in one after the other, and without missing a beat, they took their seats side by side, all eyes on them. Evangeline had never donned such a vibrant, show-stopping color before. It was so dazzling that Yale could not ignore it even if he tried. The thought that his niece might have been harassed by that lowlife again sent him rushing to her side, his voiceced with barely contained fury.


    "Why the outfit change?"


    Switching up the dress in the middle of an event was always a head-turner, but showing up with Walter added ayer of intrigue that was hard to miss.


    She could practically hear the gears turning in her uncle Yale''s head.


    Yale was sharp as a tack, and she doubted any fib would slip past him, so she opted for the truth.


    Evangeline lifted her right hand, giving Yale a glimpse of the bracelet.


    "Mr. Gordon gave this to me for my birthday. He wanted me to wear it at the party. The dress I had on before just didn''t do it justice, so I decided to change. Yale had already spotted the pricey bracelet on Evangeline''s wrist. Hearing it was a gift from Trey, he could not help but feel a pang of emotion.


    Trey really did care for Evie. A shame Walter could not measure up.


    Evangeline did not look like someone who had been pushed around though


    "As long as you''re okay. I''ve got to handle some things backstage."


    and that eased Yale''s mind,N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Yale had only stepped away because he was concerned for Evangeline, but finally reassured, he quickly returned to his hosting duties.


    Just then, Minnie wheeled Alex into the bustling scene.


    Evangeline always went for the edge seats-it was her thing. Walter plopped down right next to her, leaving just one


    spot open, Minnie did not hesitate and snagged the seat next to Walter, while Alex rolled up in his wheelchair, fitting snugly beside her. "Talk about deja vu, Mr. Walter Gordon. Here we are again." Chapter 188