Unmasking the Heiress

A fan club waved their light-up signs in the air, celebrating the queen's arrival, their cheers thunderous in the throng.

Walter was seething with a possessive rage, feeling as though his brightest star had been stolen from him.

"You've won, congratulations. Tonight, you own me," said Walter, his gaze intense and piercing as he pushed through the crowd to face he

Evangeline's eyes were icy, laced with scorn, Walter was hopelessly sentimental, rooted to the spot at the mere sight of the racing goddess. He had chased her from Sunlit Heights to Mystic Opal Hill, still playing the lover while refusing to let go of their marriage. What would his reaction be if he discovered she was the same racing goddess

ne adored?

Imagining Walter's dumbstruck face made Evangeline chuckle. She removed her helmet, her black hair tumbling down like a waterfall, her stunning features then fully visible to the wind and the world.

Her gaze met his mockingly. "Sorry to burst your bubble," she said, her eyes gleaming with defiance.

Walter's face turned to stone, a chilling mask of shock.

The crowd got a clear view of the racing goddess's true identity-it was Evangeline, the same woman who had made headlines for her dramatic divorce from Walter and for ruthlessly evicting her own parents. The buzz around her was infamous. The once eager crowd recoiled, realizing that was a woman who would not even spare a magnate like Walter any dignity.

No matter how alluring, no one wanted to keep a beautiful but deadly poison at home.

There, among the spectators, was the wealthy Walter, then recognized by all as the man from the rumors.

The place usually buzzed with kids from business dynasties, but no one dared cross the Gordons. As the commotion settled, the crowd thinned out, leaving only Walter and Evangeline behind.

ChapterEvangeline was about to take off when Walter caught her, pressing her against his car. The guy who had swapped cars with him earlier did not even have the guts to take off after finding out who Walter truly was.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you, race queen? What else are you hiding from me?" asked Walter, his voice edged with curiosity.

They were standing too close for comfort. Evangeline could feel the danger radiating off Walter like he was some kind of predator ready to snap. She pushed him away with all her might.

Walter winced, holding his chest, his face twisted in pain. He had taken a tumble from the car while saving Evangeline. She was fine, but he had taken the brunt of it.

"You're hurt?" Evangeline's voice was laced with concern.

"Yeah, right here," said Walter, gesturing to his heart.

Evangeline could not help but roll her eyes. Leave it to Walter to crack jokes even then. Nonetheless, she could not shake off the guilt. After all, he had gotten hurt trying to save her.

11

"If you're genuinely hurt, get to a hospital. Just send me the bill, and I'll take care of it, she said, slipping on her helmet. With a swift, graceful motion, she was on her bike and gone. "You're leaving me here, just like that?" Walter was stunned. She used to be so caring. He remembered how she had even bought him medicine for a simple stomach ache.

"What else could I do? I'm not a doctor, and I can't treat you. Besides, it's your chest that's hurt, not your leg. You've got a car, don't you? Drive yourself back!" Evangeline revved up her motorcycle and sped away from the racetrack without a backward glance. The lively place was then deserted, leaving Walter alone in the biting wind.

Regret washed over him. Why had he not learned to value what he had? He remembered how he had carelessly thrown away the medicine right in front of Evangeline.

He could not imagine how she must have felt at the time, but it seemed like it really hurt Evangeline.

Wahe climbed into his car, where the radio was abuzz with the latest on the racing sensation. The woman he was divorcing, the one he had taken for granted, was the same goddess the online world could not stop talking about. It hit hirm then just how Incredible she truly was

He had been so blind, never seeing her true value, mistaking all her kindness for mere flattery.

However, the truth was that Evangeline had never owed him a thing.

Back at home, Aria was glued to the television, which was also airing the reveal of the racing queen's identity. The sight of that helmet coming off made Aria's blood boil.

"Walter, take a good look. This is the woman you were so smitten with. She's been masquerading as the perfect wife in the Gordon family for two years. Now she's asking for a divorce, and before she's even out the door, she's out there showing off, playing the racing quee "What kind of respectable girl gets into racing and lets herself be idolized by these creeps? I'll tell you what she is-a harlot! She's brought nothing but shame to the Gordon name!"

Walter's voice was icy as he confronted Aria. "Mom, you need to treat Evangeline with respect. And don't think I'm clueless about what you did last time. I just chose not to call you out on it."

Aria's voice shot up in pitch, incredulous at his coldness. "Walter, what are you saying? I'm your mother! Are you really going to turn your back on me for that woman?"

"It's precisely because you're my mother that I've looked the other way so many times. Trust me, if you were anyone else, it wouldn't slide."

Disgust flickered in Walter's eyes as he looked at Aria, a reaction that almost broke her.

She clutched at his sleeve, her voice desperate. "Did she turn you against me? You've changed since she arrived. I won't let her get away with this!"

Walter pulled away and stepped back. "This is on you, not her. Can't you see how shameful your actions are? I'm telling you, stop hanging out with Julia and her family.

"Walter, I'm your mother! How can you speak to me this way?" Aria's face twisted with rage, a far cry from the poise of a well-bred lady.

"Yes, you're my mother, and it's high time you started acting like one. Stay out of my business. Your credit card? It's cut off until you apologize to Evangeline." With those final, frosty words, Walter turned and headed upstairs.