The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 219

**TITLE: Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 219: Companionship**

**Judy’s POV**

“Miss Judy!” Adam’s voice rumbled like thunder as I stepped into the sanctum of Matt’s bedroom. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of his disapproval pressing down on me. “This is highly inappropriate. You aren’t supposed to be in their private bedrooms, for one. And two, you destroyed Gavin’s property.”

The door, barely hanging on its hinges, creaked ominously as I glanced at it. My eyes then flicked up to meet Adam’s furious gaze. His expression was a mixture of disbelief and anger, as if I had committed an unforgivable sin. I shrugged, unfazed by his ire.

“I will pay to get the door fixed,” I replied coolly, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in the room. “Gavin can take it from my paycheck.”

Adam opened his mouth, likely to unleash another torrent of reprimands, but I chose to ignore him. My focus shifted to Matt, who was perched on his bed, transfixed by the tablet in his hands as if it held the secrets of the universe. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, a testament to the hours spent staring at the screen.

“Matt,” I called softly, hoping to break through his digital trance. When he continued to ignore me, I raised my voice slightly. “Matthew!”

Still, he remained engrossed in whatever battle was unfolding on the screen, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Stupid level…” he muttered, frustration lacing his voice.

The sounds of his character dying repeatedly filled the room, and I couldn’t help but furrow my brows in sympathy. I recognized this game; I had played it countless times, mastering its challenges and nuances.

A smirk crept onto my lips as I snatched the tablet from his grasp, yanking it away.

“Hey!” he protested, his eyes widening in alarm as he reached for it. I held it just out of his reach, my attention now fully on the screen.

With swift fingers, I navigated through the necessary steps, leveling up his character and equipping him with the right gear and armor to conquer the level that had stumped him. I could feel Matt’s gaze shift from desperate attempts to reclaim the tablet to awe as I effortlessly dispatched the enemies in the game, completing the mission with ease.

“Woah!” he gasped, his eyes sparkling with admiration. “That was amazing! How did you do that??”

I shrugged nonchalantly, a playful grin on my face.

“I played this game before,” I replied, a hint of mischief in my tone.

Then, in a fit of whimsy, I dove into the save file and deleted everything I had just accomplished.

“Why would you do that?!” Matt exclaimed, his face a mixture of shock and indignation.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

“I thought you’d be a fair player and want to beat the level on your own,” I teased, my tone dripping with mockery.

He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’ve been trying to beat that level all day!” he huffed, his frustration palpable.

I shrugged again, unfazed.

“I could show you how to do it,” I offered, “but first, you need to get your homework done. According to Adam, you have a lot of it.”

It was then I realized Adam had quietly exited the room. But his absence didn’t matter; I didn’t need him hovering over us for this.

Matt glared at me, but I stood my ground, arms crossed and unwavering.

“That’s my condition,” I declared, a sense of finality in my voice.

He glanced at the tablet still clutched in my hands, his expression softening.

“You promise you’ll help me?” he asked, a hint of hope flickering in his eyes.

I nodded, my expression sincere.

“I never break my promises. Especially when it comes to video games,” I assured him.

With a resigned sigh, he nodded.

“Okay, let’s do my homework.”

I gestured toward his backpack, which lay neglected in the corner of the room.

“Grab that and meet me downstairs in the parlor,” I instructed, turning on my heel and striding out of his room. I didn’t bother waiting for him or searching for Adam. Instead, I descended the staircase, my mind racing with thoughts of the evening ahead.

The parlor welcomed me with its grandeur, reminiscent of a luxurious hotel lobby. The large floor-to-ceiling windows framed a picturesque view of the gardens outside, allowing streams of natural light to fill the space.

I settled onto the plush couch, anticipation bubbling within me as I awaited Matt’s arrival. He didn’t keep me waiting long; soon, he entered, backpack slung over one shoulder, and plopped down beside me, pulling out a mountain of papers and writing utensils.

“Let’s get started,” I said, a smile breaking across my face.

He shrugged, his youthful spirit still bubbling with energy.

“Can we play the game now?” he asked, bouncing in his seat with eagerness.

I smiled at him, my heart swelling with affection.

“Yes, I did promise you that we would,” I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie.

He bolted from his seat and dashed into the parlor where I had left his tablet on the coffee table. I followed closely behind, my excitement matching his.

Settling back onto the couch, I guided him through everything I knew about the game. I demonstrated the strategies I had employed to conquer the level, and he followed my instructions with impressive focus. When he finally succeeded in beating the level, he leaped up, clapping his hands in pure delight. I laughed, my heart light, and was taken by surprise when he wrapped his arms around me in a spontaneous hug.

“Can we keep playing?” he asked, his eyes shining like stars.

I pondered for a moment, weighing my options.

“Well, you did finish your homework. I suppose you’ve earned a bit more gameplay. But tomorrow, we’re going to work extra hard on studying your letters and math before we dive into some defense training. Understood?”

His face broke into a radiant smile as he nodded enthusiastically.

“Can you teach me how to shoot the bow and arrow too?” he asked eagerly. “I have trouble with my aiming.”

“I would be happy to teach you everything I know,” I assured him, feeling a swell of pride at the thought of mentoring him.

He plopped back down, handing me the tablet, eager for me to continue with the next level. For the next thirty minutes, we exchanged the tablet back and forth, sharing the gameplay and erupting into laughter at the various mishaps that unfolded during our gaming session.

Throughout it all, Adam hadn’t made a single appearance to check on us. I almost forgot about him entirely until his voice sliced through the air from outside the parlor.

“She let him play on his tablet, and they’ve been doing nothing but goofing off the entire time,” Adam’s voice echoed, laced with frustration. “I made a mistake by allowing her here in the first place. She’s not fit to be his tutor. They have done nothing productive, Alpha!”

A frown creased my forehead as I looked up at the closed doorway. Just then, the door swung open with a force that startled both Matt and me. Gavin strode into the parlor, his presence commanding and intense. Matt nearly dropped the tablet, but I managed to catch it just in time, my heart racing.

“Dad, you’re home,” Matt said, a nervous smile creeping onto his face, as if he knew he had been caught in the act of something he shouldn’t be doing.

Gavin’s gaze landed on me, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his expression a mixture of concern and irritation.

“What exactly is going on in here, Miss Montague?” he demanded, his voice firm and unyielding.