Unmasking the Heiress by Sisi Yea

Chapter 37
Evangeline nestled into the bedding, her body colled with discomfort, commanding herself not to ponder where Walter had
disappeared to.
She tried to focus on the upcoming board meeting and what challenges it might bring.
Everyone knew that in the Foster family of the South was a beloved young woman. who was the center of attention and
adoration. She was the cherished granddaughter of Cole and the niece of James, the fifth son of the Cole family. She had been
groomed as the future h old legacy.
The 'Little Princess Foster' was once a legend among the southern gentry. She was said to be fiery, radiant, and imperiously
unyielding, always getting her way.
Yet, for the past three years, the princess who was once the object of envy and spite -had vanished.
Rumors swirled that she had lost her inheritance for crossing Cole. Whispers of foul play within the family's ranks circulated.
However, the truth of her absence was unknown to all-she had married. Married to a man whose heart held no love for her.

The Foster family was in turmoil once again. Cole lay ill, his life hanging by a thread, while his sons showed little interest in the
family empire. Meanwhile, others lurked in the shadows, hungry for the chance to step into the role of heir. Evangeline's mind
drifted to Cole's words.
He and his brothers had built the Foster empire from the ground up. Passing it on was not just about handing over the keys; it
required guts and grit. Foster Group had no room for slackers.
He saw potential in Evangeline and hoped she would be the one to take the reins. Yet, he feared the weight of expectation might
crush her, just as it had her mother, who had been so easily swayed by her father's fleeting affections. If it came down to it, Cole
would rather see Evangeline carve her own path than be burdened by the Foster legacy.
Staring at an old photo on her phone, Evangeline saw her mother as a young girl, braids and all, safe in Cole's embrace. Back
then, he was a dashing figure. At this
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moment, all that was left was a frail man on a hospital bed, his silver hair a stark reminder of time's passage.
The pain Cole must have felt when Yessica passed away was unimaginable. Back then, Evangeline was powerless, forced to

watch as her mother succumbed to Lydia's treachery and her father's betrayal. However, she was resolute- she would not let any
of them get away with it.
*Grandpa, there was a time when I was too young to do much, but now I'm all grown up. It's my turn to look after you," whispered
Evangeline to the photo on her phone, her mind wandering, before drifting off into a deep'sleep on Walter's bed. She had not
slept so soundly in ages, and she nearly overslept.
Thankfully, her assistant Wade had called her. He had even picked out her outfit and prepared her speech; the car was waiting
right outside her apartment.
The buzz was all about the fabled missing Foster family heiress, who was rumored to be making an appearance.
Foster Group was abuzz with anticipation.
Cole had only one daughter, Yessica, and the company's top brass had never laid eyes on that mythical granddaughter.
The rumor mill was working overtime, painting the so-called Foster heiress as nothing more than a pretty face. Whispers of her
being an illegitimate child grew louder.
In no time, the gossip took a wild turn, with some suggesting Evangeline was merely Cole's goddaughter, a title that might mean
one thing in public and quite another behind closed doors.
Cole, once the renowned gambling king of Halcyonia, had built his empire on the roll of the dice. Back then, the borders were a
wild frontier, and he wielded power like a king.
His legendary gambling prowess had landed him a spot as the son-in-law of a local power player, making him a force to be
reckoned with.