The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 141

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 141: Admitting Our Faults**

In the dimly lit dining room, a palpable tension hung in the air like a thick fog, wrapping around the gathered guests as they sat around the expansive table. Each person bore their own share of disdain for the couple, but it was Evelyn who felt the sharpest sting of animosity directed toward her. Yet, amidst the sea of judgmental glances, there was one individual who ignited a firestorm of fury within her—Isabella.

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as she directed a seething glare at the woman who had become the embodiment of her frustration. A surge of hatred coursed through her veins, and her hands tingled with the urge to hurl something at Isabella, to unleash the tempest brewing inside her. Violence was not a trait Evelyn typically possessed, yet her stepmother’s relentless manipulation had pushed her to the brink, making her contemplate a drastic shift in her character.

Isabella’s presence was nothing short of toxic, a vile concoction of deceit and malice that seemed to permeate the very air they breathed.

It was no surprise to Evelyn that not a single soul around the table made an effort to intervene as she stood to leave. Many of them were too engrossed in their own petty grievances to even lift their heads from their plates. Caroline, ever the picture of smug satisfaction, leaned back in her chair, leisurely sipping her wine as though the emotional storm brewing around her was merely background noise.

If only she had the strength to flip the table in her fury, to make a statement that would resonate with the assembled guests. But instead, Evelyn felt trapped, her heart racing with a mix of anger and despair. Worst of all, she was left in the dark regarding Alexander’s thoughts, unable to decipher the turmoil that must surely be swirling in his mind.

Before anyone could utter another word, the Alpha pushed himself away from the table, and together they made their way toward the door. Evelyn’s heart ached with the need to articulate her feelings, to explain the chaos that had erupted in such a public setting.

Regret washed over her like a cold wave; she wished fervently that she had opened up to Alexander sooner. Why had she kept her struggles bottled up? It was as though she had subconsciously resolved to keep her truth hidden forever. But now, it had all come crashing down, revealed by the very people she had hoped would support her.

As they walked back to the house in silence, her heart felt as heavy as a stone. The weight of unspoken words hung between them, and she could see the unmistakable tension etched on Alexander’s face. It was clear he was hurting, and Evelyn couldn’t bring herself to blame him.

She longed for a safe space where they could have an honest conversation, free from the prying eyes of judgment. But she had to endure the suffocating silence until they arrived home, where the air felt thick with unspoken tension.

The moment the car rolled to a stop, Alexander bolted from his seat, storming into the house with a fury that left Evelyn scrambling to keep up. “Alexander, can we please talk for just a moment?” she called out, her breath coming in quick, panicked bursts.

He didn’t respond, his focus fixed solely ahead as he marched toward his office. The door slammed shut with a force that nearly rattled the walls, but Evelyn’s reflexes kicked in just in time to catch it.

“Hey!” she exclaimed, frustration bubbling over. “Would you just stop and give me a chance to explain—”

He turned sharply, his gaze piercing through her like a dagger. The anger that flickered in his eyes sent a jolt of fear through her, making her heart race.

“Explain what?” he shot back, his voice laced with venom. “Explain that the only real reason you married me was for money?”

Evelyn bit down hard on the inside of her cheek, fighting against the wave of emotion that threatened to spill over.

“Please, just listen to me,” she pleaded, desperation creeping into her tone. “At that time, I didn’t have a choice.”

The words tasted bitter on her tongue, and she winced at how they sounded.

“What I’m trying to convey is that my parents made it clear—without that money from the agreement, there would have been no way to continue Edward’s treatments. You have to remember, we didn’t know each other then.”

Alexander’s gaze dropped, his frustration palpable as he moved around his desk to sink into the chair. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him.

The realization that her own family had used her brother’s health as leverage was monstrous enough for anyone to comprehend. It was a cruel twist of fate that she hoped Alexander could sympathize with. Yet, the sting of knowing that money had been the catalyst for her persistence in their marriage cut deep. Her determination to forge a bond with him had been fueled by the financial lifeline that the King had dangled in front of her. She had used their union as a means to secure her brother’s care.

Could he truly blame her for that? No, she thought, but it still hurt. It hurt him to realize that her motivation for marrying him had been so intertwined with financial desperation. Dark memories of his past flickered in his mind, memories of Rena choosing another man of higher status over him.

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