The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 355

Chapter 174-2

25 Points

Locke looks over at me, his eyes softening into something so intensely tender it makes my breath hitch. “You’re something else, you know that?”

After twenty minutes of winding through the white landscape, Locke slows the truck down, turning off the main road and onto a long, private gravel driveway lined with towering spruces,

At the end of the track, perched right near the absolute edge of a snowy bluff overlooking the wild ocean, sits Evelyn’s home. It’s a warm, timber-framed sanctuary with deep green shutters, soft yellow light glowing from every multi-paned window, and a thick plume of gray smoke curling lazily, from a massive stone chimney into the pale winter sky.

“She doesn’t like company,” Locke says quietly as he turns the key, cutting the ignition. The heavy rumble of the V8 engine dies out, leaving only the soft whistle of the coastal wind through the trees. “She built this place to be a fortress. But when I told her about you, she didn’t even hesitate. She told me to bring you.”

My heart does a soft, heavy flutter in my chest. Knowing Evelyn’s past – knowing the horrific stalker åttack she survived and how fiercely she guarded her peace in this isolated haven – makes this invitation feel like a sacred gift. She doesn’t just open her door to anyone. To be welcomed here means Locke told her I was his family now.

I’ll be on my best behavior, handsome.”

“You don’t have to be anything but yourself, baby. She’s going to love you.”

The front door opens before our boots even touch the bottom of the porch steps… and out steps a towering, magnificent mountain of a dog.

“Is that a horse?” I say.

“It’s a Caucasian Shepherd. They were bred to fight off bears and wolves.”

“Wow. How much does he weigh?”

“Around one eighty, I think.” Locke opens his door, under the watchful gaze of the dog. “Give or take ten pounds.”

“Jesus.”

Locke smiles, his whole face softening. “Hey there, Titan.”

At the sound of Locke’s deep voice, the massive dog lets out a low, heavy huff that turns into a thick white puff in the freezing air. Its heavy tail starts swinging in broad, rhythmic thumps against

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the wooden porch railing.

+25 Points

As Locke comes over to my side of the truck, Titan dashes up to him, standing on his hind legs for a second to plant two massive, dinner-plate paws squarely on Locke’s chest, leaning his massive head into Locke’s neck with deep, affectionate groans.

“Yeah, yeah, good boy, Titan,” Locke chuckles softly, wrapping his heavy arms right around the dog’s thick neck and burying his face into the dense fur, scratching behind Titan’s ears with practiced ease. The huge dog practically melts into him, leaning his full weight against Locke like a furry boulder. “Missed you too, big guy.”

Evelyn stands in the warm, golden doorway right behind him, wrapped in a thick knit black sweater and dark trousers. As I stand there stretching my legs a bit, my eyes are immediately drawn to the quiet, unshakable strength in her posture.

A pale, jagged scar traces across her forehead, starting near her hairline and dipping down toward her left eyebrow, partially softened by long, sideswept bangs. As she steps forward onto the porch to greet us, she moves with a faint, pronounced limp, her left leg taking her weight with deliberate

care.

But there’s no weakness in her face… only a deep, calm resilience that commands instant respect.

“Look what the storm blew in,” Evelyn calls out, her voice rich, dry, and full of effortless humor. “Titan, off! Let the man breathe. Be nice to him.”

“Put me down, Titan!” Locke laughs, patting the dog’s broad flanks until Titan drops his front paws back down to the ground, though he stays glued straight to Locke’s side, his flank leaning heavily against Locke’s knee.

Locke escorts me to the porch steps, carefully helping me up. Then he pulls Evelyn into a big, careful hug that lifts her clear off her feet for a second. “Hey, Evie.”

“Put me down, you big ox!” she laughs, swatting at his heavy shoulder with zero fear. The bond between them is instant and obvious, a fierce, protective brother-and-sister dynamic forged through surviving the darkest chapters of their lives. “You’re tracking snow onto the porch, Rex.” “It’s winter in Maine, Evie. The snow is supposed to be here,” Locke grunts, though he sets her down gently, keeping one hand on her shoulder for a second to steady her balance.

Evelyn turns her dark, sharp eyes onto me, and the dry teasing instantly melts into a deep, genuine

warmth.

“Zara,” she says softly, stepping close. She doesn’t hesitate or act guarded. She reaches out with both hands, taking mine before pulling me into a gentle, open-armed hug. “It is so wonderful to

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finally meet you in person.”

+25 Point

“You too, Evelyn,” I say, leaning into the soft, lavender-scented warmth of her embrace. “Thank you so much for having us. Your home is absolutely breathtaking.”

Before Evelyn can reply, Titan steps up between us. The giant Caucasian Shepherd lowers his

massive snout, sniffing gently at my boots, tracking up my leggings, and lingering with intense,

slow focus right at my stomach.

I stand completely still, letting him inspect me. Locke watches closely, one heavy hand resting on the back of my coat, but Titan’s deep brown eyes are remarkably gentle.

He gives my cheek a quick, warm, raspy lick, then lets out a low, contented breath and steps right beside me, pressing his massive, warm side firmly against my legs as if certifying me as official family on the spot.

“Well, look at that,” Evelyn says, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Titan usually gives strangers the silent, terrifying glare for at least an hour. You’re officially approved, Zara.”

“That’s a relief.”

Evelyn leads us inside, into a hallway that smells heavenly, like crackling birch wood, cinnamon, and roasting garlic.

“Go on up and drop your things off,” she says. “I put you both in the east room. It gets the best morning light over the water, and the bed has the thickest down feather mattress in the house. Get cleaned up, if you want. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes.”

“Lead the way, Reginald Rex,” I whisper.

He stops on the bottom step of the carved wooden staircase, giving me a warning half-smirk over his broad shoulder, his eyes glinting with lazy heat, “Watch it, baby. I might just take you upstairs and forget all about dinner.”

“Try it,” Evelyn calls out from the kitchen without looking back. “I’ll hit you with a wooden spoon, big guy. Don’t think I won’t.”

Locke chuckles and leads me up the stairs – the sheer relaxation dropping off his broad shoulders in this house – is something I intend to treasure for the rest of my life.

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