The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 236

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 236: Leaked Information**

**Judy’s POV**

The realization hit me like a cold wave: all the professors were aware of my dyslexia? How on earth had the dean discovered this? My doctors and therapists had promised me that my condition would remain confidential, confined to my small circle of trusted individuals. The last thing I wanted was to be treated differently, to be seen as incapable. It felt as if my worst fears were materializing right before my eyes. They must think I’m incompetent, that I can’t grasp the material like my peers.

The thought of them believing I orchestrated Carol’s expulsion, that I was the one cheating all along, made my heart constrict painfully in my chest. How could they think that of me?

I could no longer endure the hushed whispers of Nicole and Professor Morgan. This was my favorite class, and I refused to allow this situation to taint it. I wouldn’t let them perceive me as incapable of engaging with the material.

With my arms folded defiantly across my chest, I rounded the corner to confront the two of them. The moment Nicole laid eyes on me, her complexion drained of color, and her mouth fell open in shock. It was evident that she realized I had overheard everything.

“Judy!” Nicole exclaimed, her voice trembling with anxiety. “H…how long have you been here?”

Her stammering made it clear how nervous she was.

“Long enough,” I replied, my brows knitting together in frustration. “What’s going on? How did everyone find out about my dyslexia?”

Professor Morgan’s face paled as if he had seen a ghost.

“The dean called us in early this morning for a team meeting to discuss it,” he said, his gaze dropping to the floor as though he couldn’t bear to meet my eyes.

“But how did the dean even find out?” I pressed, my voice rising with indignation. “Nobody was supposed to know about this.”

“I’m not entirely sure; he didn’t elaborate,” he replied, his tone apologetic. “He must have received some information from an outside source.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line and stepped closer to my professor, fixing him with a stern glare.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Professor. I earned my place in this program through my own hard work. I didn’t buy my way in; I dedicated myself to becoming the top student. My dyslexia does not define who I am or what I can achieve. If anything, it drives me to work even harder to reach my goals. I’ve come this far without any additional help, and I refuse to have my professors treat me as if I’m incapable of completing even the simplest tasks. I can read and write just fine; it may be more challenging for me than for others, but I manage perfectly well, and I succeed in everything I set my mind to. If you cannot teach me as you do the other students, perhaps it’s time I seek guidance from different professors.”

Nicole shot a smirk at her brother, crossing her arms defiantly.

“I told you so, didn’t I?” she said, raising her eyebrows in triumph.

Professor Morgan shifted uncomfortably, his eyes glued to the ground, clearly embarrassed.

“I sincerely apologize, Miss Montague, for my previous assumptions. You are absolutely right; I should not have presumed you were incapable merely because of this new information. I hope you can forgive me.”

“I will, but only if you communicate my sentiments not just to my professors, but to the dean as well. I am more than capable of handling my responsibilities without their additional assistance or condescension,” I asserted firmly.

Professor Morgan nodded, bowing his head in acceptance.

“I will,” he promised earnestly.

I stepped back, releasing a long breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Now it made sense why my professors had been acting so strangely today.

“Now, what were you discussing before I arrived? Besides me,” I inquired, glancing between the two of them, eager to shift the focus away from my distress.

“I’m introducing a new move today,” he said, rifling through his folder until he produced a sheet of paper. “These are the coordinates for the move I want everyone to practice today.”

He handed me the paper, and I scanned it quickly before nodding and returning it to him.

“Looks straightforward enough,” I said confidently, a glimmer of determination igniting within me.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Care to demonstrate?”

I grinned, turning to Nicole.

“Want to spar with me?”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Yes, please!” she replied, eagerly taking her position.

In an instant, one moment she was poised, ready for my attack, and the next, she lay flat on her back, eyes wide and dazed. I stood over her, elbow pressed against her throat and my leg draped over my shoulder after flipping her to the ground with all my might.

He nodded earnestly, grabbing another arrow and following my advice. As he aimed and released, the arrow flew swiftly through the air, landing squarely on the bull’s eye.

Matt cheered, his face lighting up with pure joy.

“Did you see that?!” he shouted, practically bouncing on his feet. “I can’t believe I hit the mark!”

“I can,” I chuckled, feeling a swell of pride. “I always knew you could do it.”

“Thanks, Judy,” he said, enveloping me in a tight hug.

I chuckled, patting him affectionately on the back.

“We should head inside now and tackle some of your homework,” I suggested gently.

He nodded enthusiastically, putting the bow and arrow away before following me into the house. We settled into the parlor, a familiar setting for our homework sessions. He retrieved his worksheets from the day and displayed them proudly for me to see.

As we began to work through the assignments, I heard the front doors swing open and shut. Soon, Ethan and Irene appeared outside the parlor doors. Irene held a lavish bouquet of flowers, her face aglow with happiness as she glanced up at her fiancé.

“Ethan, you didn’t have to get me flowers,” she gushed, her voice filled with delight. “They’re absolutely lovely.”

“Not as lovely as you,” he replied, leaning down to brush his lips against hers tenderly. “I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Cash.”

A knot tightened in my stomach at his words; Irene wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, drawing herself closer to him.

“I love you,” she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t respond verbally; instead, he kissed her deeply, pouring his affection into the moment.

His gaze flickered over to me, and I noticed the darkness that clouded his eyes. I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat grow as I realized he was putting on a performance for my sake. He pulled away from Irene, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek longer than necessary.

“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to the bridge of her nose. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink, and a radiant smile spread across her perfect lips. “I can’t wait to marry you, my love.”

Throughout his declarations, his eyes remained fixated on me, leaving me to grapple with the bittersweet emotions swirling within my chest.