The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 144

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 144: Torture**

[Evelyn’s POV]

What on earth has happened to me? Ugh! My head feels like it’s splitting open!

The last memory that flickers in my mind is of the Silverwood Estate. I can almost see myself stepping out of the living room, feeling a strange sense of foreboding. And then—BAM! A thunderous pain exploded at the back of my head, as if I had been struck by a heavy object.

The ache radiated through my skull, pulsing like a relentless drumbeat. I instinctively tried to raise my hand to touch the painful spot, but to my horror, I found that I couldn’t move. My arms were bound tightly, restrained in a way that left me utterly powerless.

My mouth was parched; my tongue felt swollen, heavy, and uncomfortable. But that was only the beginning of the nightmare I was trapped in.

My arms weren’t the only parts of me that were helpless. My entire body was firmly strapped down to a cold, metallic table, rendering me immobile.

“What the hell is going on?” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper against the oppressive silence.

No matter how fiercely I struggled, the restraints held me fast. I was ensnared, trapped in a nightmarish situation, completely at the mercy of whoever had brought me here.

I inhaled deeply several times, desperate to calm the rising tide of panic within me and to take stock of my surroundings. The lights above were blindingly bright, yet curiously, they didn’t sting my eyes. Still, the stark illumination cast eerie shadows that danced along the stone walls, amplifying the dread that coiled in my stomach.

The room was circular, its walls constructed from ancient stones and bricks, reminiscent of the hidden cellar at Kingston Hall. The air was thick and stale, laden with dust that clung to my skin and made it hard to breathe.

A wave of nausea washed over me.

Oh, God…

My heart plummeted as I scanned the room and caught sight of something that sent chills racing down my spine. Sharp metal instruments and knives hung ominously from the walls, glinting like malevolent eyes in the dim light. It felt as if I had been transported back to that dark, horrific cellar I had once known so well.

But I quickly realized this was not that place. This circular prison seemed isolated, devoid of the long, desolate hallways and other cells. Where in the world was I?

Suddenly, the sound of two chattering voices pierced the thick air, jolting me from my thoughts. Moments later, I was met with the unwelcome sight of Isabella and Samantha, their faces twisted into malicious grins as they cackled over some shared joke. Their laughter fell silent as they noticed my eyes fluttering open.

“Well, look who’s finally awake,” Isabella sang, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness.

A shiver crept down my spine at her false innocence.

“Where the hell am I?” I demanded, my voice laced with bitterness. “What did you do to me?”

Samantha let out a giggle that sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me. “Not feeling so high and mighty now, are we?”

Isabella stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with a wild intensity that made my muscles tense involuntarily.

“You’ve become quite the thorn in my side, Evelyn,” she hissed, her voice low and menacing. “Your marriage to Alexander was supposed to serve a purpose, a means to an end. But who would have thought that you—of all people—could charm that monstrous excuse for a man?”

A surge of fury erupted within me, and I struggled against my restraints, feeling the heat of indignation wash over me. No matter the state of my relationship with Alexander, I would not stand by and listen to such disparagement.

“Let me out of here,” I seethed, my teeth clenched tightly.

“No. I don’t think I will,” she cooed mockingly. “You see, I’ve come to a rather unsettling realization… All my problems would simply vanish if you were to disappear. Just imagine it: if you were gone, the money spent on Edward’s treatments would cease, and he would likely fall ill again. Once you’re out of the picture, Alexander would be free to remarry, and that would give Samantha the chance to be with the Alpha she was meant to be with all along.”

Good God. If that was truly her plan, I had gravely underestimated her cunning. I knew the chances of Alexander ever choosing to marry Samantha were slim, but the mere thought of it ignited a firestorm of rage within me.

“You’re utterly delusional if you think Alexander would ever marry someone as foolish and useless as her!” I spat back defiantly.

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