The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

[Evelyn’s Perspective]

Once again, the room was swallowed by a heavy silence.

I wasn’t sure if Alexander even knew what to say in that moment. I could tell he was just as stunned as I was. Between the two of us, it was clear we both expected that convincing Wendy to collaborate would require far more than a single conversation.

Caroline’s expression was frozen, as if someone had just slapped her across the face. For a brief moment, I hesitated to glance her way, unsure how she’d react. But she quickly regained her composure, a sly smile creeping onto her perfectly painted lips. Then, a mocking laugh escaped her, sharp and biting.

“Grandma Wendy, you really can’t expect someone like Evelyn to take on such an important role,” she said briskly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How could she possibly grasp the complexities of a pack’s finances?”

I caught the cold edge in her tone when she mentioned my name. It was painfully obvious that whatever fragile thread of friendship might have existed between us was now completely severed, thanks to Wendy’s decision.

Alexander cleared his throat, breaking the thick tension in the room. His gaze shifted slightly toward me, searching for my reaction.

“Evelyn,” he began carefully, “do you feel comfortable accepting this responsibility alongside Grandma Wendy? Do you think you can manage it?”

Despite my reputation as the pack’s “wild child,” they still doubted my ability and knowledge in matters like this. It wasn’t really surprising. Even though I had helped Liam rebuild his pack’s trading networks, which naturally involved managing finances, they seemed unwilling to acknowledge it. Liam had kept all that hidden, no doubt embarrassed to admit he couldn’t run his own pack’s business properly.

I was confident that if I examined the files Alexander had just received, I would understand the information well enough.

Meeting Alexander’s expectant eyes, I asked, “May I take a look at the ledger first?”

“Of course,” Wendy replied, nodding.

Caroline exhaled sharply, her eyes rolling in obvious irritation. “Yes, general maintenance. Surely even a small pack like ours understands that.”

Fiona snickered quietly, barely stifling her amusement.

“You see,” she added, “I asked about this myself. I was told only the finest brick and stone were used, along with the best craftsmen. The repairs took three months.”

I hummed softly in response, not bothering to hide my skepticism.

“That doesn’t justify the inflated prices listed here,” I said firmly. “Even the finest materials wouldn’t cost nearly half of what’s been charged. And a wall only a hundred meters long wouldn’t take three months to fix.”

Their faces tightened, but I could tell my observations had hit a nerve. The truth was out in the open now, and no amount of denial could hide it.