The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 246

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 246: Date Night**

**Judy’s POV**

“I can hardly believe you’re actually going on a date with Gavin Landry’s nephew!” Nan exclaimed, her voice a high-pitched squeal that echoed off the walls as we both dove into my wardrobe like treasure hunters searching for gold. Walter was set to pick me up in just a couple of hours, and the panic was setting in—I had absolutely nothing to wear for this evening. My stomach churned with nerves, twisting and turning as if it were a pretzel.

“Maybe this was a terrible idea,” I said, spinning around to face her, my heart racing.

Her expression shifted to one of disbelief, eyebrows shooting up.

“Are you serious right now?” she gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. “Walter Landry is like eye candy; he’s absolutely gorgeous! Sure, he might not have that Gavin Landry level of hotness, but wow, that gene pool is undeniably impressive.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile at my best friend’s enthusiasm.

“I’m being serious, Nan. What on earth was I thinking?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief at my own impulsiveness.

“Does it even matter?” she countered, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Why are you stressing about this? You said it yourself—you find him attractive.”

“I’d have to be blind not to find him attractive,” I murmured, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks.

“I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that you met him by chance at the library,” she said, shaking her head as if trying to dispel the absurdity of it. “I never thought of him as much of a reader.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, a smirk forming on my lips.

“He owns his own publication, Nan. Reading and writing are literally his job,” I reminded her, my voice laced with amusement.

“Yeah, but I always thought that was just a front. He’s way too hot to be cooped up behind a boring book. He should be strutting down runways or something,” she replied, her tone playful.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

As much as I hated to admit it, I felt guilty for not being entirely honest with her about how I met Walter. I couldn’t tell her the truth—that I had encountered him at Gavin’s villa. Instead, I fabricated a story about studying at the library that morning, where fate had brought us together. Now, here we were, rummaging through my closet for the perfect outfit, and after an hour of searching, we were still coming up short.

“He might be a total heartthrob, but he’s also incredibly intelligent and talented. I’ve admired his work for ages, especially his writing about the French Gamma Warriors and the photographs he captures from the battlegrounds. I’ve based several reports on his work,” I confessed, biting my lower lip, anxiety creeping back in.

“What do you think of this?” Nan asked, pulling out a small, black dress that shimmered in the light.

I frowned at it, then narrowed my eyes at her.

“Isn’t it a bit too small?” I questioned, glancing back and forth between the dress and her. “I doubt it’s appropriate for a date with a Landry.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Just throw a sweater over it, Judy,” she insisted, tossing the dress into my arms. “It’ll show off your legs, and trust me, you’ve got killer legs.”

I looked down at my legs, feeling a mix of uncertainty and flattery.

“Trust me,” she added with a wink. “He’s going to be blown away by how you look in that outfit.”

I felt my cheeks heat up at her words.

“I’m not sure I want him to be blown away,” I replied, a hint of apprehension in my voice.

She rolled her eyes again, and I couldn’t help but think that if she kept doing that, her eyes might just get stuck in the back of her head.

“Just put it on,” she urged, her voice filled with determination.

With a heavy sigh, I relented. It wasn’t like I had any other options, and this dress was nice. I had purchased it ages ago during a shopping spree with Nan, back when my family was still financially stable enough for me to indulge. I wasn’t entirely sure what occasion I had envisioned wearing it for, but Nan had always insisted I looked fantastic in it.

I hoped tonight would be the moment to finally put it to the test; I just prayed I wouldn’t look like I was trying too hard.

After a quick shower—making sure to shave every inch of my body, just in case—I stepped out, enveloped in warm steam. I wrapped a towel around myself and made my way to the mirror, feeling both nervous and excited.

I brushed my teeth and worked through the damp tangles in my hair until it lay smooth and straight down my back. The dress and sweater awaited me on the counter, and once I slipped them on, I raised my brows at my reflection.

I had to admit, I looked good. The dress hugged my curves nicely, and Nan was right—I did have great legs. The sweater added a touch of class, alleviating my worries about looking too risqué.

Feeling satisfied, I stepped out of the bathroom, only to be met with Nan’s delighted shriek.

“You look amazing!” she practically shouted, her enthusiasm infectious.

I quickly shushed her, glancing toward my mother’s room.

“Wow…” he breathed, taking in my appearance from head to toe, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I managed to reply, assuming he was about to compliment me. He looked undeniably handsome in his tailored suit and red tie; his curly blonde hair was neatly styled, and he was impeccably groomed.

I couldn’t help but smile at the effort he had put into his appearance.

“We should probably head out before we’re late for our reservation,” he suggested, pulling his gaze from my cleavage and meeting my eyes once more. I nodded, glancing over my shoulder at Nan, who peeked from around the corner, her face beaming with excitement and giving me a thumbs-up.

With a smile, I closed the door behind me and followed him to the sleek red car parked out front. He opened the back door for me, and I slid inside, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. He climbed in behind me, and I noticed a young man seated behind the wheel. He looked only slightly older than Walter and flashed me a friendly grin through the rearview mirror. Although he wore a suit, it didn’t quite match the pristine elegance of Walter’s.

“Judy, this is my subordinate, friend, and future Beta, Maxwell,” Walter introduced, his tone casual.

“You can call me Max,” the driver said, his voice warm. “It’s nice to meet you. Ever since he met you this morning, he hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks at his words, and I glanced at Walter, who shot a glare at Max. The young man quickly shifted his gaze back to the road, looking slightly sheepish.

“We should get going,” Max said, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Probably a wise idea,” Walter replied, his tone brisk.

The remainder of the drive was filled with a comfortable silence, a mix of anticipation and excitement hanging in the air. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Walter rushed around the car to open the door for me before I even had a chance to react. He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles before helping me out of the car. I smiled back at him, feeling a flutter of warmth in my chest as we entered the luxurious restaurant together.

“A table for two under Walter Landry,” he said confidently to the hostess, his demeanor exuding charm.

Her eyes widened at the mention of his name, a look of awe crossing her face.

“Mr. Landry… it’s such an honor to have you dining with us this evening,” she said, bowing her head slightly in respect.

Walter smiled graciously, draping an arm around my shoulders, and as her gaze fell on me, I noticed a flicker of something—disapproval? Jealousy?—before she forced a smile.

“Right this way,” she said, grabbing a couple of menus and leading us through the dining area.

As we walked, an unsettling feeling crept over me, as if someone was watching us. My gaze scanned the room until it landed on him—Gavin—seated across the dining area. The moment our eyes locked, my heart plummeted into my stomach.

What on earth was he doing here?