The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 215

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 215: Meeting Gavin’s Daughter**

**Judy’s POV**

The moment I laid eyes on Ethan standing there, flanked by Irene, I felt as if the ground had shifted beneath me. My wolf, usually a fierce presence within me, retreated to the furthest corner of my mind, as if sensing the storm brewing between us. She curled up tightly, leaving me with nothing but a hollow ache in my chest.

“Ethan?” Irene’s voice sliced through the tension, her hand gently resting on his arm. But Ethan was too engrossed in his fierce glare directed at me to notice her touch. It was as though he was trapped in a moment of disbelief, blinking rapidly as if trying to shake off the fog that had clouded his mind.

Finally, he turned to her, his expression softening slightly as he registered the worry etched across her features.

“Do you know this woman?” Irene repeated, her voice tinged with concern.

Ethan shook his head, a frown creasing his brow. “Uh, no,” he stammered, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Sorry, I’m not sure what just happened. I’ve never met her before.”

His words struck me like a slap, a harsh reminder of the distance that had grown between us over the past two years. Strangers? How had we devolved to this?

Irene’s uncertainty was palpable, and I could see it flickering in her blue eyes. I felt frozen, too shocked and wounded to speak. My gaze remained locked on Ethan, who was now comforting his fiancé, and my heart ached at the sight of their intimacy.

“Ethan was probably just surprised that I brought a woman back to my home,” Gavin interjected, his voice steady and calm, drawing my attention away from the painful tableau before me. He stood with an air of authority, his gaze fixed on Ethan, almost as if issuing a silent warning.

A flicker of understanding crossed Irene’s face, and she finally shifted her focus to me. Her blue eyes sparkled with a curiosity and warmth I hadn’t anticipated.

“My father never brings his girlfriends home, so I can understand Ethan’s confusion. You must be someone special,” she said, her tone softening. “I apologize for the awkward introduction. I’m Irene Landry, and this is my fiancé, Ethan Cash.”

I forced a smile, determined not to let her see the turmoil roiling within me. It wasn’t her fault that Ethan had betrayed me, and she seemed genuinely kind. If I was going to be around for a while, especially with tutoring Matt, I needed to make an effort.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I replied cautiously. “I’m Judy Montague.”

“Montague?” Irene’s brows knitted together in thought. “That surname rings a bell. Where have I heard it before?”

“My father is Reggie Montague,” I explained, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me. “The Delta of the Redmoon pack.”

“Oh, right!” Her face shifted, paling slightly. “I’ve heard about what happened with his company. I’m so sorry for you and your family.”

I nodded, wishing to steer the conversation away from my family’s troubles linked to the woman who had taken Ethan from me.

Irene seemed to pick up on my discomfort, her gaze darting back to her father as she cleared her throat.

“Dad, where did you find this stunning young woman? I had no idea you were seeing someone new,” she teased, hands on her hips, a playful smile dancing on her lips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m not in a relationship with Miss Montague,” Gavin replied, his tone sharp and clear. “She’s Matt’s new tutor.”

Irene’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Another tutor?” she exclaimed. “What number is that? 40?”

“49,” Gavin murmured, a hint of pride in his voice. “But I believe this one will be different. Your brother seems to have taken a liking to Judy. I hope she’ll stick around for a while.”

“A tutor, huh?” Ethan interjected, his eyes locking onto mine, a strange mix of emotions swirling within them. “Isn’t that something?”

“We still have a lot of planning to make this wedding perfect,” Irene said, resting her head against his arm, her excitement palpable. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with this man.”

“You certainly make a nice couple,” Gavin remarked, his gaze still fixed on Ethan, a silent challenge lingering in the air. “I trust that you will treat my daughter well.”

“Of course,” Ethan replied, feeling Judy’s eyes burning into him. He maintained his plastered smile, even though he knew he was causing her pain.

He was acutely aware of how much the necklace he had given Irene would hurt Judy, knowing it was the very one she had coveted for so long. She had asked for it repeatedly after spotting it in that jewelry store, but he had deliberately refrained from buying it for her, wanting to keep the upper hand.

Now, with Judy working for the Landry family, he felt the grip he once had over her slipping away. The tutoring position was one he couldn’t sabotage; he had managed to blackball her from other job opportunities, but Gavin Landry was a different player altogether. He likely offered her a decent salary for this role.

According to Irene, her brother was a difficult child, and many tutors had struggled with him. Yet, Gavin seemed optimistic about Judy’s ability to handle the challenge, and it appeared Matt had taken a liking to her as well.

Judy shifted uncomfortably beside Gavin, and a small, twisted sense of satisfaction coursed through Ethan. He liked knowing that he was the reason for her discomfort. In some way, she was still connected to him, and he could still exert control over her. Whenever she looked his way, he could see the lingering hurt in her eyes, a reminder of the power he still held.

A smirk tugged at his lips as our gazes met. The pain and turmoil reflected in her eyes brought him a sick thrill.

She might believe that she had landed the perfect job, but he was determined to make it short-lived. Ethan vowed to ensure Judy would leave her position as Matt’s tutor and drop out of that damn school.

In his mind, Judy had two choices: she could either accept her role as his mistress, or she could face losing everything.

There were a few people he could reach out to who could assist him in executing his plans, forcing Judy not only to quit her job but also to abandon her studies at the Royal Academy.

In Ethan’s eyes, Judy was good for one thing, and one thing only: to submit to him.