The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 224

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 224: Getting Drunk**

**Judy’s POV**

The moment Gavin’s words cut through the air, I watched as Carol’s complexion drained of color, her face transforming into a mask of panic. I could practically see the gears turning in her mind as she scrambled to concoct a plausible excuse for her actions. Carol was many things—driven, ambitious, and fiercely intelligent—but a cheater? That was a label I never thought would apply to her.

She had clawed her way to success, sacrificing so much along the way, and despite our long-standing rivalry that dated back to middle school, I had always harbored a grudging respect for her tenacity. Yet, here I stood, witnessing her unraveling in real-time. The revelation that she had cheated on her exams, compelling another student to take the tests in her place, left me bewildered.

Why would she do such a thing?

Carol was undeniably bright; she could have easily aced those exams on her own. I recalled her past achievements, her consistent stellar grades, and the countless late nights she had spent poring over textbooks. So, what was it that drove her to resort to such desperate measures?

“I… I don’t understand,” the dean said, his gaze narrowing suspiciously at Carol. “Is this true?”

“N—no,” she stuttered, her voice trembling as she attempted to gather her thoughts. “It’s not true. I swear!” She pleaded, her desperation palpable.

Just then, Beta Taylor entered the room, a figure I recognized from previous encounters. He had always seemed amiable enough, but now he appeared serious as he approached Gavin, handing him a document.

“I have the reports you requested,” he announced, his tone businesslike.

Gavin scrutinized the paper, his expression inscrutable, but I could sense the tension radiating from him. He cleared his throat before stepping forward, bypassing me entirely as he presented the evidence to the dean.

“This is proof that Carol has been cheating,” he stated with chilling calmness. “How did she manage to ace this test when she wasn’t even present in class? It’s quite peculiar, wouldn’t you agree? There’s also documented proof of transactions along with the names of the students involved.”

The dean’s brows knitted together in disbelief.

“I… it’s not what it looks like…” Carol stammered, her voice quaking with anxiety.

“You’re welcome to conduct a further investigation,” Gavin added coolly, “but this is what my Beta was able to uncover on such short notice.”

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for cheating,” the dean declared sternly, his glare fixed firmly on Carol.

“Interestingly, one of her classes happens to be yours, Professor,” Gavin remarked, shifting his gaze to Professor Rodgers. “Are you saying you never noticed she wasn’t attending class? Yet you still passed her?”

The professor’s face paled as he turned to look at Carol, realization dawning upon him.

In that moment, it hit me—this was a web of deceit, and I was caught in the middle. My lips pressed together in a thin line as I stared at the floor, feeling the weight of the awkwardness in the air. I wished desperately for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

“Miss Judy, why don’t you head over to the feast? I’ve instructed my assistant to send everyone there to kick off the celebration,” the dean suggested, his eyes darting between Carol and the professor.

I hesitated, unsure if my legs would even cooperate. But when I glanced at Gavin, he offered me a curt nod that seemed to release me from my paralysis. I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

With a shaky resolve, I rose to my feet.

“Thank you,” I managed to murmur, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze as I slipped out of the office.

As I entered the dining hall, the atmosphere shifted; curious eyes turned toward me, and hushed whispers filled the air. I could feel the weight of their scrutiny, each one wondering whether I had been reprimanded or if my accolades had been stripped away.

“Hope you all enjoyed the show,” Nan called out, her voice cutting through the murmurs as she stood confidently in the center of the room. “How about we change the subject now?”

The crowd shifted uneasily, their chatter resuming, but I could see the lingering glances directed my way.

Nan rolled her eyes and made her way over to me, enveloping me in a warm embrace.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper meant only for my ears.

I nodded, the familiar sting of unshed tears threatening to spill over. I refused to let them fall here, not in front of my peers.

“Yeah, it was just a misunderstanding,” I assured her, though my voice wavered slightly.

“Did Gavin do anything to help?” she inquired, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her question.

“Why would he do anything to help?” I replied, attempting to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

She smirked, nudging my shoulder playfully as we navigated through the bustling dining hall toward an empty table.

“Because he dashed after you two like a knight in shining armor, barking orders at his Beta to dig up dirt on Carol,” she explained, a teasing lilt in her voice. “He looked furious, and I have a hunch it’s because he wanted to protect his darling Judy.”

Her words ignited a warmth in my cheeks, a blush creeping up as I tried to suppress a smile.

“You’re being ridiculous,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I’m not his darling Judy. We almost slept together once, and we haven’t spoken about it since.”

“Whatever you say,” she chuckled, her laughter lightening the mood.

A waitress approached our table, delivering a glass of champagne. Just what I needed—a little liquid courage.

I took a long, steady sip, grimacing at the bitter flavor. Champagne had never been my drink of choice, but I craved something to dull the edge of the evening’s chaos.

“Let’s just enjoy the rest of the party,” Nan suggested, offering me a faint smile. “He didn’t revoke your reward, did he?”

I shook my head, relief flooding through me.

“No, he didn’t,” I confirmed. “But I never got to make my speech. I’m kind of bummed about that.”

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