Unmasking the Heiress (Evangeline and Walte)
Bitten Once Shy Forever 382

Chapter 382

The old Gordon family home had undergone some obvious changes

Every hard corner had been cushioned with soft padding, and any dips or bumps in the floor had been evened out by skilled hands. No one had to tell Evangeline why. She knew those were all Trey's doing, baby-proofing the place for the little one she was carrying. Walking through the house, each alteration from her memories made her eyes well up with tears she fought to keep at bay.

Evangeline had lost her mother at a young age, and with her father remarried, she never got to bask in the kind of love and attention she had craved. Sure, Cole and her uncles had showered her with affection later on, but she could not replace a lost childhood. Seeing her own child receive such love had filled her with a deep sense of relief.

She had heard rumors e that Walter was still bunking in their wedding suite, so she picked up the pace. When she walked in, she spotted a maid in the middle of wiping Walter's face with a wet towel. The maid, caught off guard by Evangeline's sudden entrance, clumsily slapped the towel right over Walter's nose. Walter, acting on reflex, jerked his head away.

Realizing her blunder, the maid quickly removed the towel and gave a flustered curtsy. "Good day, Mrs. Gordon."

Evangeline gave a composed nod and noticed Walter's face was a bit red from the heat of the towel. "Til take over," she said, a hint of resignation in her voice.

It was not really the maid's fault. Evangeline's surprise visit had spooked her, after all. However, seeing Walter's chapped lips and the flush from the scalding towel, Evangeline's heart softened.

Well, they were both on their way out of each other's lives. She would do what she could for him, and that was that.

The maid ran off like a scared rabbit

The water in the basin on the nightstand had cooled down after the little commotion. Evangeline rinsed the towel, checked the temperature with a careful touch, and then sat beside the bed to gently wipe his face Walter maintained his composure on the outside, but inside, he was reeling from the surprise.

It felt like forever since Walter had seen Evangeline that way-so kind and wise, the picture of a perfect. partner and mother

He noticed her face was a shade too pale, and it hit him. How could he have forgotten? Evangeline was pregnant with his child. He should not have her waiting on him hand and foot

He reached out, his hand covering hers, halting her mid-wipe.

However, she resisted

+25 BONUS

"Stay still," she said, her voice soft but firm as she slipped away from his grasp. The towel continued its wat path across his face, then down to his hands.

As she worked, Evangeline could not help but notice the bandages on Walter's back, the blood seeping through hinting at the severity of the wounds beneath. "Grandpa really went too far this time. I can't cover for you. Just focus on healing. And maybe lay off seeing Minnie until the divorce is final..."

Her words were not fueled by jealousy or anger. Those feelings were meaningless at this point. She had to stay calm for the baby, for stability.

Walter tensed at her words, and she quickly added, "You backed me up with that fib we told Grandpa Cole, but he actually bought it and passed it on to Grandpa Trey. So now, we have to keep up this lovey-dovey charade in front of the old folks.

"I'm not saying you gotta call it quits with Minnie. Just be more discreet, okay? Don't let every little thing blow up like it did this time. We got lucky the press didn't catch wind of it, or both the Gordons and the Fosters would be in a world of trouble."