The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 174

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 174: The Jewelry Box**

[Evelyn’s POV]

A jolt of anxiety raced through my chest, causing my heart to flip and twist in an unsettling rhythm. It was no shock that the Alpha King had finally uncovered Alexander’s secret—a truth that had long been buried beneath layers of deception.

“Well, we both knew that it was bound to happen,” Alexander remarked, his voice low and resigned.

I fought to suppress the rising tide of dread that churned in my stomach. “What’s going to happen now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would make the reality more unbearable.

Alexander’s face remained a mask of stoicism. “I’ll stand before the Royals and let them criticize me, call me out on my actions. They’ll undoubtedly demand an explanation, and I’ll give them the truth.”

“Sounds tedious,” I replied, attempting to inject a hint of humor into the gravity of the situation.

“It most likely will be,” he agreed, his tone weary, as if the weight of impending judgment already pressed heavily upon him.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I rose from my chair, the decision surging through me like a current. I strode toward the door, sensing both my father and Alexander freeze, their gazes fixated on me with a mix of expectation and concern.

“What?” I challenged, meeting their eyes with determination.

“Evelyn…I don’t think it would be wise for you to—”

“I’m not letting you go alone,” I declared, the defiance in my voice surprising even myself.

He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes for a brief moment. I could sense he was preparing for an argument, but I was too exhausted for that. Today had already been laden with disappointment, especially knowing we couldn’t even lay our hands on the Hemlock.

“Look, we can all guess how the King found out about your ability to walk,” I pointed out, my mind racing. “Samantha probably informed Isabella.”

“And Isabella likely reached out to Caroline,” he finished, his voice laced with frustration.

Anyone with a direct line to the Royal family was inherently dangerous, and though Caroline hadn’t been present during my ordeal, I had a gut feeling she was somehow entwined in this unexpected summons.

“What are the odds that Caroline will be there?” I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

“It’s possible,” Alexander replied, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Then perhaps, we could use this as a chance to inquire about Fiona’s current whereabouts,” I suggested, a smile creeping onto my lips, buoyed by the idea of taking control of the situation.

Slowly, Alexander’s demeanor shifted, the tension easing as he mirrored my sly expression. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and I felt a flicker of hope.

“Are you sure you’re up for being around all those people?” he asked, concern etched in his features. “I don’t want you to feel pressured to push yourself beyond your limits.”

I placed my hands firmly on my hips, squaring my shoulders with resolve. “I’m going.”

My gaze flickered to my father, who watched our exchange with an amused glint in his eye.

“You two remind me of how your mother and I used to be,” he remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

My heart clenched at the mention of my mother—a topic he rarely broached. As always, he chose the most inconvenient moment to bring her up. Shaking off the wave of emotion, I focused on the task at hand.

“Um, there’s going to be a small team of men here shortly,” I informed him. “They’ll be combing through the greenhouse, taking photographs and collecting any evidence they can find.”

Leonard nodded, his expression serious. “That’s fine. Were you able to find what you were looking for?”

Years had passed, and I was done with caution. The urge to snatch the jewelry box and hurl it against the wall surged within me, especially knowing it was likely locked.

With determination, I reached into my hair, retrieving one of the pins that held my locks in place. I began to fiddle with the tiny lock, my heart racing until I heard the satisfying ‘click.’ I slipped the lock free and lifted the lid of the box.

My breath caught in my throat, half escaping in a gasp while the other half remained trapped like a secret.

“Holy shit,” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper.

“This is it, isn’t it?” I asked, glancing at Alexander, who stood beside me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the unassuming plant nestled within. A whirlwind of exhilaration and loathing twisted in my gut. It was astounding to think that such a delicate flower could unleash so much pain and devastation.

Inside the box, carefully wrapped in a small plastic bag, were several clippings of Hemlock. They looked naturally aged, clearly not preserved with any care, as Isabella had likely not anticipated needing to safeguard them.

Leonard reached out to touch the green leaves, but Alexander quickly intervened. “No. It’s best that none of us handle anything else,” he instructed firmly. “When the team arrives, have them take fingerprints and recover the Hemlock as it is.”

I gently placed the box back down, stepping back to give it space, my heart racing with a mixture of triumph and disbelief.

Oh my God… We did it.

It was hard to fathom that we had uncovered the evidence we so desperately needed, and it was all thanks to my father—the man who had kept me at arm’s length for as long as I could remember. The same man who had used me as a pawn in his own games, striving to cultivate connections with those in power.

My eyes remained glued to the small jewelry box, a triumphant smile spreading across my lips.

To think, this box might very well hold the key to Isabella’s future prison cell.