Chapter 232
Hazel refused to let Giselle marry into any other powerful families. With only two daughters, Winston had no choice but to put all his hopes back on Evangeline.
That thought made Winston chuckle. “Evangeline, I was looking through the photo albums earlier-there are so many pictures of you and your mother, even some from when you were little. Brought back a lot of memories for me p>
He smiled, his eyes crinkling, just like he had after her mother passed away, when he decided to bring Hazel into the family.
Back then, Winston had sat her down, looking troubled, and told her he struggled to take care of her on his own. He said he wanted to find her a new mother, but if she didn’t want that, he’d let it go.
She didn’t want it. Anyone could see how badly Winston wanted to remarry. But she’d just lost her mother, was barely home as it was—she didn’t want to be selfish, so she agreed.
And look where that got her.
Evangeline paused, then asked, “What’s the catch p>
“We can talk about that when you come home,” Winston replied.
She let out a dry laugh. “Funny. I remember when I left the Whitmore family, you
told me we were finished. That I wasn’t one of you anymore p>
And she hadn’t set foot in the Whitmore house since.
Yet time and again, Winston and his new wife had called on her to use her married status to open doors for them.
Other women had families who protected them.
Her family used her, expecting her to protect them.
Winston’s expression faltered for a moment, but then he forced a smile. “That was ages ago. I’m still your father. Why can’t you let go of old grudges p>
“Your stepmother and I just miss you. We want to see you, just the three of us.” Evangeline cut through his act. “Do you even believe that yourself p>
His patience snapped, irritation flickering across his face. “Evangeline, I’m asking you one last time. Are you coming back or not p>
“No p>
As soon as the word left her lips, she saw the camera turn to reveal a metal basin on the floor, flames flickering inside.
Winston pulled out a stack of photos and held them over the fire.
“I’ll ask you one last time,” he said, all pretense of warmth gone.
Time seemed to slow. Evangeline watched as the edge of a photo hovered dangerously close to the flames, the white border curling and turning yellow.
Panic shot through her.
“Stop!” she blurted.
Winston didn’t slow down.
“I’ll come back,” Evangeline said quickly.
That finally did it. Winston withdrew the photos, tucking them safely away.
His smile returned, smooth as ever. “We don’t have much space at home. Sometimes you have to clear things out, you understand, right? It’s nothing personal p>
Evangeline couldn’t be bothered to respond. She hung up on him.
She remembered what Winston had said at the last birthday dinner. She could guess what he was after-marrying her into the Fawkes family had brought him plenty of benefits. Now, he was probably hoping to cash in again.
She was turning over in her mind how to deal with this when her phone chimed.
A message from Finn popped up, inviting her to a movie that evening.
She started to type a reply, then paused, an idea forming. “Want to come with me to the Whitmore house p>
Finn responded almost instantly. “Is this your way of introducing me to your family p>
“Not exactly,” Evangeline replied.
She added, “But I promise, it’ll be way more entertaining than any movie p>