Unmasking the Heiress

Oscar was a die-hard Cole fan. Cole's larger-than-life tale had even hit the silver screen, with flicks like 'The Gambling King's Saga' and 'The Gambler and His

Three Thousand Ladies'. He had grown up on those stories and had dreamt more than once of being spotted by Cole, becoming his protege, and ruling the casinos. He imagined striking it rich overnight and living a life dripping with wealth and excess. The harsh truth was that his job was breaking his heart day after day, and trying to find someone had become as futile as searching for a needle in a haystack, with the constant threat of getting the ax hanging over his head.

The next morning, Walter was up with the stars, waiting outside Evangeline's old place-â charming Victorian house she had lived in as a kid, back when her mother was still around.

Walter remembered how her mother was a woman with flowing hair and warmth that could light up a room.

Staring at the house brought a flood of childhood memories. He had lived just around the corner, and he and Evangeline had been inseparable like two peas in a pod. They had walked to school together, she had gifted him a bamboo dragonfly, and he had shown her how to make kites from scratch.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

They had run through fields, kites soaring behind them until the strings ran out and the kites slipped away into the sky-just like they eventually did from each other's lives.

Time had flown by too fast. They had been so close back then, and he could not figure out how everything had changed so much.

Evangeline was up at the crack of dawn, too. Trey had asked her to swing by the Gordon Group building for a chat, and she had no clue what it was about. Maybe he was gearing up for

a divorce and planning to hand over half of Walter's fortune to her. It was Walter's loss, and she was not one to turn down a freebie.

She dolled herself up, ready to step into a new, wealthy chapter of her life.

Stepping out, her eyes caught a glimpse of a license plate with the number 777-a lucky streak most people would not even spot.

Walter rolled down his window, a dashingly handsome face greeting her, "Heading to Gordon Group? Hop in, I'll drive you."

4

The morning had started off on the wrong foot when Evangeline, trying to keep her cool, firmly said, "Thanks, but it's not necessary. I'll just grab a cab!"

Walter looked around at the passersby and smirked, "If you don't hop in, I might just give everyone a show. After all, your fame as the 'racing queen' is pretty hard to miss.

Reluctantly, Evangeline slid into the passenger seat. "Just so you know, I'm not backing down from a fight. It just so happens we're headed the same way, and we might as well discuss the divorce," she snapped.

Walter's smile widened, knowing he had won this round. "We've got a good thirty minutes ahead of us. Plenty of time to talk.

Evangeline spent the ride ignoring Walter, the tension thick in the air. At least Walter was a skilled driver, and they reached Gordon Group ahead of schedule.

He parked in a secluded spot behind the company's building, surrounded by trees.

"Why here? It's a good fifteen-minute walk," Evangeline complained, not in the mood for an awkward trek with Walter.

"I'll need you to play a part in a little act later," said Walter cryptically.

"And why would I do that? We're getting divorced, Walter. What are you up to now?"

she demanded.

As Evangeline unbuckled her seatbelt to leave, Walter pushed her back into the seat. She tried to knee him, but he was quicker, pinning her down with his leg.

Her hair fell in disarray around her face as Walter held her down, their bodies pressed together so tightly that Evangeline struggled to breathe.

Evangeline was frozen in a pose too suggestive to risk even the slightest movement, afraid of an accidental, inappropriate touch. She realized any attempt to fight back was pointless. She locked eyes with Walter and dropped her guard. "Out with it, what's your grand plan?" Evangeline's sweet fragrance wafted through the car, leaving Walter visibly enchanted.

"Now you're playing nice," he remarked, eyeing the subdued Evangeline. "Today, you're going to be the doting wife at the office, squash those divorce rumors, and let everyone think we've just hit a rough patch."

"Walter, are you out of your mind? After everything, you think I'll just roll over? No way! "Evangeline's anger flared. Did he really take her for fool?

"Just for today. Your little stunt hurt Gordon Group's reputation, and our stocks took a dive. Don't you think you owe us some damage control?"

"In your dreams! Why should I do anything you say?" Evangeline snapped back, realizing his early morning pickup was anything but a kind gesture.

Walter's voice, smooth and seductive, brushed herear. "You could say no, but I wouldn't mind giving the crowd a live show of our 'marital bliss' right here in the car. Either way, I get what I want." His words left Evangeline seething with humiliation and rage.

1

Blinded by anger, she sank her teeth into Walter's shoulder. "You're insane, Walter, and utterly despicable!"

Walter grimaced from the pain but quickly regained his composure. "Looks like I'm due for a rabies shot," he quipped.

Once again, she was at the mercy of that devil.

Evangeline was cornered by Walter's threats. He might have lost all sense of shame, but she still held onto hers.

Walter pulled up to the company's bustling main entrance, and with all eyes on them, Evangeline clung to his arm as they made their grand entrance into the lobby.

**S BOUS