The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 188

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 188: The Final Trial, Part II**

[Third-Person’s POV]

Evelyn took a moment to gather her thoughts, her voice trembling slightly as she recounted the most harrowing night of her life. “…The last thing I remember from that night is Alexander trying to stop the bleeding with a piece of cloth he had on hand,” she concluded, her heart heavy with the weight of her memories. “I was truly convinced that I was going to die that night.”

As she spoke, a steady breath of relief escaped her lips, a quiet acknowledgment that she had survived the ordeal. It felt like a hard-won victory, akin to a long-overdue session with a therapist where one finally unloads the burden of pain.

The courtroom was enveloped in a profound silence, each person present hanging onto Evelyn’s every word as if they were precious jewels. No one dared to break the spell of her poignant narrative. Tears glistened in the eyes of more than half the audience, while others merely shook their heads, their expressions a mix of sympathy and disbelief.

Even the judge, a figure of authority, appeared momentarily lost for words, struggling to maintain his composure. “I…I am beyond words, Mrs. Kingston,” he finally managed, his voice weary yet filled with empathy. “What I cannot comprehend is why Ms. Rizza chose to scar you rather than use the blade for its intended purpose.”

At this moment, Alexander cleared his throat, stepping forward with a calm demeanor that belied the storm of emotions swirling within him. “Your Honor, I believe I know the answer to that question all too well. You see, at that time, many people were still under the impression that I was paralyzed and horrifically disfigured. Both Fiona and Isabella were determined to ensure that, at the very least, Evelyn would endure suffering akin to mine,” he explained, his voice steady but laced with an underlying fury.

Evelyn nodded vigorously, her heart echoing his words. “It’s true. Neither of them cared whether I survived their torment. They were simply satisfied with knowing that they had inflicted irreversible damage.”

The jury, visibly moved, appeared ready to deliver Fiona’s sentencing on the spot. Isabella’s case, however, required further deliberation, the air thick with tension as they awaited more evidence.

Alexander had come prepared, presenting the court with both the physical blade and lab evidence that confirmed Fiona’s fingerprints were present. He even shared a few haunting images captured by his team from that fateful night, showcasing the horrific aftermath of Fiona and Isabella’s actions.

Evelyn felt a wave of nausea crash over her as those images flickered in her mind. She hadn’t known Alexander had taken photographs of that night. Memories flooded back—frightening glances, the grotesque sensation of her blood leaving her body, and the unrelenting pain that had consumed her.

For the first time since the hearing commenced, Isabella finally broke her silence. “Your Honor, I assure you that I am just as astounded by these events as you are,” she proclaimed, her voice a mix of bravado and desperation.

Evelyn couldn’t suppress a scoff, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the woman who had orchestrated her near demise.

Breathe. Just breathe. We had anticipated this.

What no one could have predicted was the sudden eruption of laughter from Alexander. Evelyn’s brows shot up in surprise as she turned to him. “Mr. Kingston?”

“My sincerest apologies to you and the court, Your Honor,” he said, his tone sharp and unapologetic. “It’s just that I have never encountered such a ludicrous display of utter nonsense in my entire life.”

He turned toward the prosecutor’s table and retrieved a second file that had been meticulously prepared for this very moment. Just as Fiona had done, Isabella was clearly willing to go to great lengths to evade justice. The contents of that folder would undoubtedly dismantle any new lies she was prepared to concoct.

“Not only has Isabella Silverwood been the mastermind behind my wife’s attempted murder, but she is also implicated in the attempted murder of her own stepson, Edward Silverwood.”

Isabella fell silent, her mind racing as she searched for a plausible escape.

“It states here that you have been distilling it and injecting it into your stepson’s treatments.”

Her frantic eyes darted around the courtroom, meeting a sea of hostile glares and expressions of disgust.

“You don’t understand,” she hissed, her voice low and venomous. “All my life, I have struggled to build the future I deserve! When Edward fell into that coma, I saw it as the greatest stroke of luck. I knew the odds of him waking up were slim—too slim to be hopeful.”

Evelyn’s heart raced, anger and disbelief coursing through her veins.

“I figured with Edward gone, I would finally have control over the Silverwood Pack. However, when his treatments started showing results, I had to find a way to ensure he wouldn’t wake up,” she confessed, her voice trembling with a twisted sense of justification. “You see, I had to do it. Leonard allowed the pack to crumble after losing his first wife. Once I gained control, I would restore the pack to its former glory. So, in a way, I was doing everyone a favor.”

“A favor?” Evelyn muttered under her breath, incredulous.

Alexander placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his voice resolute. “Your Honor, as you can see, Mrs. Silverwood is no more sane than Fiona. Can we not interpret her explanation as a confession?”

Many spectators nodded in agreement, echoing Alexander’s sentiments. As the noise grew louder, the judge slammed down his gavel, commanding silence. He instructed the jury to leave the room, emphasizing that they were not to return until a verdict had been reached.