The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 176

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 176: The Palace Part II**

[Evelyn’s POV]

Caroline squared her shoulders and forced a smile that could only be described as painfully insincere. The atmosphere in the room shifted, a heavy silence settling over us, broken only by the sharp, echoing clicks of her heels against the polished marble floor. Each step seemed to resonate with an unspoken tension, a prelude to the confrontation that loomed ahead.

As she approached Alexander and me, her lips pursed in that all-too-familiar condescending way, I could almost feel the disdain radiating from her.

“Well, I must say, this has all been quite the surprise,” Caroline chirped, her voice dripping with feigned enthusiasm. The venom behind her words was palpable, a tangible force that seemed to hang in the air. “I think it’s rather… wonderful to see that you’re not actually trapped in that terrible wheelchair or hiding behind that ugly mask.”

Her last comment struck me like a slap, the sting of her glare piercing through the mask I wore. It was astonishing how bold she had become now that I was the one concealed behind the mask, her opinions flying free as if I were a target for her barbs. But honestly, I couldn’t care less about Caroline’s thoughts on me, whether her remarks were aimed directly at me or shrouded in veiled insults.

What truly delighted me was the fact that we had managed to catch both her and the King off guard. Alexander, however, was not sharing in my amusement.

I could sense the tension radiating from him, a taut wire ready to snap. The low growl that emanated from his chest sent a shiver down my spine. In an attempt to soothe his frayed nerves, I gently placed my hand on his arm, hoping to ground him amidst the brewing storm.

“So it appears that my wife’s theory was correct,” he said, his voice smooth yet laced with an undercurrent of anger. “You were the one who relayed the rumor to the King. Tell me, was it Isabella who reached out to you, or was it Samantha?”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. “Isabella, in fact. I’ll admit, I almost didn’t believe her when she told me this unexpected bit of news. I figured it was just the pregnancy hormones getting to her or something, yet here we are.”

Her admission piqued my curiosity. What was the nature of the relationship between Isabella and Caroline? Back at the Luna gathering, Caroline had seemed unwilling to even acknowledge Isabella’s existence. Yet, here they were, conspiring together to attempt to tear Alexander and me apart.

What else did Caroline know? Had Isabella confided in her about the monstrous attack she had launched against me? Or was it Fiona who had spilled the secrets?

My lips curled into a somber smile as I addressed Caroline. “I’d say it’s good to see you again, Caroline. However, the last time we shared the same space, you and Isabella were quite intent on sabotaging my relationship with Alexander.”

“I was merely trying to get my son to realize that he’d been taken for a fool by agreeing to marry someone who was just after money,” Caroline hissed, her voice sharp as a knife.

I stepped forward, positioning myself directly in front of her, channeling my resolve. “Money that I never saw,” I clarified, my voice steady. “Money that went directly to my brother’s treatments for the near-fatal condition he was left in because of your son’s malicious plan to kill Alexander.”

The shock on Caroline’s face was evident; her eyes widened, and her lips parted in disbelief. I savored this small victory, relishing the moment where I had reduced her to silence. Once the proud woman who thrived on belittling me, she now found herself on the receiving end of my defiance.

“Marrying Evelyn was the best thing that could have ever happened to me,” Alexander declared, turning his attention to the King and the loyal counsel gathered around. “And I believe it’s you I should truly be thanking.”

Gregory maintained a stoic facade, though I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Is that so?” he replied, his tone skeptical.

“Yes,” Alexander continued, his voice unwavering. “I had zero expectations when the match was originally made. I always believed that I didn’t need a Luna, that it would only cause me nothing but trouble and inconvenience. But I have been so happy to be proven wrong.”

My heart fluttered in my chest as he spoke, each word wrapping around me like a warm embrace.

“Evelyn is everything a perfect Luna should be. She’s compassionate and always puts others before herself. She thrives on learning new things, especially if it means finding a solution or helping others. She’s dangerously intelligent but never feels the need to boast about it. Her priorities lie not with material wealth but with opportunities. She is every Alpha’s dream partner, and I would not trade her for anyone else in the world. She is, in every sense of the word, perfect.”

His heartfelt declaration took me aback. Perhaps it was the rarity of hearing Alexander articulate his feelings so openly that rendered me speechless. I longed to ask him if his words were truly genuine. Yes, he had confessed his feelings to me before, but this moment felt profoundly deeper, more resonant.

Choosing to remain silent, I allowed him to continue unimpeded, not wanting to disrupt the flow of his thoughts.

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