The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 164

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 164: Edward’s Doctor**

[Evelyn’s POV]

Anxiety coursed through my veins like a relentless tide.

Despite my best efforts to quell the storm of nerves raging within me, I found it nearly impossible to maintain a sense of calm for more than fleeting moments. Each tick of the clock echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the uncertainty surrounding Edward’s health.

When I decided to reach out to Edward’s doctor, I was engulfed in a haze of apprehension. What was I truly expecting from this call? I wasn’t sure, but it had to be something related to the alarming changes in my brother’s condition.

Deep down, I clung to the hope of hearing something—anything—that could provide a glimmer of clarity. Perhaps some statistical probabilities or a time frame indicating when I might see my brother’s eyes flutter open again. Yet, I was painfully aware that such optimistic assumptions were likely to lead me to disappointment.

As I sat there, I realized I should have anticipated the unpredictability of the doctor. When he first answered the phone, I had braced myself for a low, gravelly voice that spoke with years of experience. Instead, I was greeted by a surprisingly youthful tone, brimming with enthusiasm.

“Evelyn…Evelyn Kingston?” he said, his voice almost sing-song in its excitement.

“Yes, that’s me. You’ve been treating my brother, Edward, for the past few months and I understand you’ve been trying to reach out,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly. “I apologize for not getting back to you sooner—”

“Oh my God! This is wonderful! Yes, of course, I’ve been hoping we could talk,” he interrupted, his enthusiasm palpable. “I’ve been monitoring your brother’s progress closely over the past few weeks, and I still can’t fathom how he’s managed to rebound from such a severe decline in his health.”

A rush of emotions surged through me as I recalled those harrowing days. The memory ignited a fire of anger and resentment toward my stepmother, who had played a role in this chaos.

“Believe me, no one was more bewildered and shocked by that sudden drop in his health than I was,” I muttered, the bitterness creeping into my tone.

“Mrs. Kingston, I must tell you that I have identified the cause of your brother’s sudden health failure,” he said, his voice steady but urgent.

“What?!” I gasped, nearly losing my balance in my chair. My heart raced as I sprang to my feet, pacing the room in a frenzy.

“Yes, is there a chance we could meet in person to discuss this matter in greater detail?” he proposed, his eagerness unmistakable.

I halted mid-pace, my body freezing as a wave of uncertainty washed over me.

“M-Meet in person?” I stammered, my throat tightening and palms growing clammy with anxiety. The thought of this man holding vital information about Edward for who knows how long made it feel wrong to refuse him.

My hand instinctively brushed against the cool, hard surface of the mask resting against my cheek—a constant reminder of my own hidden struggles. Only Samantha and Liam were aware of my current condition; everyone else remained blissfully ignorant.

“I have a comprehensive set of reports detailing your brother’s progress since the incident,” he continued. “It would be much more effective if you could review them in person.”

That made perfect sense.

“Alright, but the thing is, I’m not in the best shape to be out and about right now. Would you be able to come to Kingston Hall?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Absolutely. Would tomorrow afternoon work for you?”

“Yes,” I replied, my voice shaky but resolute.

I had little choice in the matter; the urgency of the situation left me no room for hesitation.

“I spoke with some of the staff at Silverwood Estate,” he explained, his tone earnest. “They mentioned that you rushed to his side when you learned he was in trouble. Evelyn, what did you do? How did you manage to identify the problem?”

His genuine curiosity touched me.

“At first, everything felt utterly nonsensical,” I recounted, my voice steadying as I delved into the memories. “Edward’s treatment had been progressing beautifully. I truly believed he was on the verge of waking up. But then, hearing that his health had taken a sharp turn for the worse—it felt impossible. I refused to accept it. I returned home, poring over his charts and treatment plans. Nothing added up.”

The thought of my brother teetering on the brink of death clenched my heart painfully.

“What troubled me more was the absence of any signs of external interference,” I continued, my voice firm. “It could only mean that something within his treatments was being compromised.”

“Yes, you’re correct,” he affirmed, his admiration evident.

“I immediately replaced his IV drip with a new one and simply hoped for the best,” I admitted, my honesty spilling forth. “Over the following days, it became clear that my instincts were right—Edward’s health began to improve once again.”

Henry’s astonishment was palpable, his smile unwavering as he shook his head in disbelief.

“I promised I would reveal to you what was actively endangering Edward’s life,” he said, his expression turning serious.

“Yes,” I urged, my heart racing in anticipation.

The suspense was nearly unbearable. I needed to know!

“It was Hemlock,” he stated, his voice steady but grave.