The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 227

**Title: Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 227: Visiting The Prison**

**Judy’s POV**

“Irene,” I greeted her, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within me. It was a relief to sound more composed than I actually felt. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Oh, I was just picking up a few things for my upcoming wedding,” she replied, lifting a shopping bag as if it were a trophy. Her eyes darted to Nan, curiosity flickering across her features. “And who’s this?”

A lump formed in my throat, heavy and unwelcome. The last thing I wanted was for Irene to become intrigued by Nan and try to take her away from me, just like she had taken Ethan. I knew it wasn’t entirely fair to pin my anger on her; after all, Ethan had left me, and Irene was just as much a victim in this twisted tale. Yet, I couldn’t help it. Every time I looked at Irene, I was reminded of the betrayal—the way my mate had chosen her over me. The mere thought of him touching her sent a wave of nausea through me. Once, we had been inseparable, destined to be together forever, as if the stars themselves had conspired to bind our fates. The Goddess had paired us, or so I believed.

But perhaps she had made a grave error. Or maybe it was Ethan who had veered off the path meant for us. Even now, despite my resolve to move on, the ache in my chest persisted.

Does one ever truly recover from the loss of their mate?

“This is my best friend, Nan,” I introduced, gesturing towards her. Nan shot me a quizzical glance, well aware of the tangled history between Irene and me. I didn’t need to explain; she already knew.

Irene extended her hand toward Nan, who hesitated, her perfectly glossed lips forming a frown. I nudged Nan gently on the arm, urging her to respond. We couldn’t let Irene sense any tension.

With a reluctant sigh, Nan finally lifted her hand, placing it in Irene’s.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Nan said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hello, Nan,” Irene replied, her voice bright and cheerful, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around us. “I’m Irene Landry, Gavin Landry’s daughter and Ethan Cash’s fiancé. It’s so very nice to meet you.”

I watched as Nan struggled to maintain her composure, managing to dip her head in a semblance of respect.

“And it’s an honor, Miss Landry,” she replied, a slight edge to her tone.

“What are you girls up to?” Irene inquired, glancing back and forth between us, her interest piqued.

I exchanged a look with Nan, who shrugged slightly, her expression mirroring my uncertainty.

“We were just shopping,” I answered, trying to keep my tone light.

“It’s kind of a girl’s day,” Nan chimed in, her voice steady despite the tension.

A flicker of something crossed Irene’s face—was it envy? Longing? I couldn’t quite decipher it.

“Oh, I see,” she mused, her tone thoughtful. “I’ve never really had a girl’s day before. I guess I never had friends to do that type of thing with.”

My brows shot up in surprise; it was hard to believe that someone like Irene, with her charm and status, had never formed genuine friendships.

“You’ve never had friends?” Nan echoed, voicing my disbelief.

Irene shrugged nonchalantly, yet a shadow of sadness crossed her features.

“Not real ones,” she confessed, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her words. “I guess people find me intimidating or something. It’s no big deal…”

She bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the ground. I glanced at Nan again, sensing Irene’s desire to be included in our day. I could tell Nan was on the same wavelength, as she subtly shook her head at me when our eyes met.

I took a firm grip on Nan’s arm and turned back to Irene.

“Well, it was lovely seeing you again, Irene. We should be going now,” I said, pulling Nan along with me.

“Oh,” Irene replied, her voice laced with disappointment. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you later then.”

I nodded, waving over my shoulder as we continued down the street, deliberately ignoring the intensity of Irene’s gaze boring into my back.

“She’s certainly an interesting character,” Nan remarked quietly as we stepped into the boutique.

“Certainly,” I agreed, my mind still swirling with thoughts of our encounter.

The evening unfolded with laughter and camaraderie as we shopped for Nan and selected a birthday gift for Talia. Nan finally settled on a stunning ruby bracelet adorned with a heart charm, having Talia’s name engraved on it.

“I didn’t realize you two were friends,” he said, his voice shaky. “Of course, she can see her father. I was mistaken.”

With that, he stepped aside, granting me access to the prison.

I turned to Irene, who was still glaring at the guard as if daring him to challenge her. I wanted to express my gratitude, but the words eluded me. Instead, I simply nodded at her before walking past the guard and into the prison. Another guard escorted me to the visitor center, where I sat at a table, nervously fidgeting with my fingers until the doors swung open and my father entered the room.

“No touching,” one of the guards stationed nearby instructed me, his voice firm.

I nodded, biting my lip as my heart raced with anticipation and dread. As my father approached, my heart plummeted into my stomach. I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of his battered and bruised face. He looked so different, so broken, that it took every ounce of strength not to cry out in anguish.

My heart ached painfully as I gazed into his bloodshot eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and recognition.

“Judy…” he croaked, his voice raspy, as if speaking caused him physical pain. “You came…”

“Oh, Dad…” I whispered, tears brimming in my eyes. “I’m so sorry this happened to you…”

He offered me a sad, pained smile as he lowered himself into the seat across from me. I took my place as well, unable to tear my gaze away from him. The man who had once been my strong, confident father now appeared fragile and defeated. It shattered me to see him like this, a mere shadow of the man he used to be.

“I never thought I would see you again,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry it took me so long…”

He shook his head, sadness clouding his eyes.

“This isn’t the kind of place you should be in, Judy. I don’t blame you for staying away…”

Tears escaped my eyes, cascading down my cheeks and dripping off my chin. I hated seeing him like this, so diminished and vulnerable. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold it together.

“How’s your mother?” My father asked, pulling my attention back to him.

“Not good, Dad…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “That’s mainly why I’m here. She’s not happy. I think she’s fallen into a depression, and I don’t know what to do… I was hoping that maybe you could help me?”