The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 1

[Evelyn’s POV]

Today my boyfriend, Liam, will finally propose to me in front of my father.

He didn’t inform me in advance, but it was already widely discussed amongst the servants for a whole week. If he wanted it to be a surprise, then I was more than prepared to act like it was one.

But I wasn’t sure if I could hide it well after I saw him, though. Even thinking about what was going to happen, caused a shiver of excitement to race through me.

It had been ages since the Silverwood family last planned a wedding. In fact, the last true gathering the grand estate held was for my father’s second marriage to my stepmother, Isabella.

Isabella was a proud woman whose painted red lips would always be pursed with an attitude of arrogance and entitlement. The woman’s interests were strictly in line with either herself or her daughter, Samantha. Needless to say, she never failed to make me feel less than others around me. To her, I was considered no more than just another servant. A troublemaker. A ‘wild child’.

I supposed in a way I was wild. Well, I certainly wasn’t conventional on a social level, that was for sure. Growing up, I found comfort amongst the staff in the pack rather than my own relatives.

But I stopped caring about their opinions a long time ago. As Liam and I got closer, I realized that all I truly wanted was the one thing I never felt like I had. A family. A true pack that I could call my own. And I was more than ready to have it all with Liam.

The love that came to be between us had blossomed like a special flower. Over time, he became my reason for wanting more beyond the estate. On the hardest days, the mere thought of him made me smile and feel better.

*Knock. Knock. Knock.*

I turned my head at the subtle knocking at the door.

“Miss Evelyn,” one of the servants called softly. “Everyone is waiting for you in the drawing room. You must get ready.”

A glorious smile curved my lips as another whirl of giddiness coursed through me. Pulling back the bed covers, I slipped out of bed and rushed toward my wardrobe. I grabbed one of my better dresses and quickly hauled myself into the bathroom.

Unlike my stepsister, I preferred to get ready in the morning without the help of several other maids. I found that it was a process that took far too long. Once I was properly dressed, I made a quick work of my hair and decided to keep my makeup light and natural.

With one last look at myself in the mirror, I slipped out of my room.

As I made my way toward the front drawing room, I walked past a small group of staff members, who all glanced at me with a pale, grave look.

It was as if they knew something that I didn’t.

It was almost enough to make me stop and ask what was wrong. However, a few more steps and I was already standing in the doorway of the drawing room. I was quick to discover that the energy in the room was as cold and dismal as it was in the hall.

All the excitement I had built up to this very moment had instantly depleted.

Both my father and stepmother stood on one side while Liam and Samantha were placed on the other side. As usual, my heart fluttered when my eyes caught sight of Liam.

However, his eyes remained locked on the floor, not sparing a single glance at me.

What was going on?

I tried to approach him. “Liam? What—”

“Evelyn.” Isabella swiftly stepped in my way, blocking me from getting to Liam with her typical, fabricated smile painted on her lips. “You see, dear...Well, there’s been a sudden change.”

My brows pulled together in question. Suddenly, my father, speaking out in his icy tone, spoke directly.

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