The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 263

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 263: Preparing For The Gala**

**Judy’s POV**

“You know, your father and I share quite the history,” Daisy remarked, her voice tinged with an awkward chuckle that barely masked her discomfort.

Irene, her brow furrowed in contemplation, nodded slowly. “Yes, his fated mate, my mother, was your sister,” she responded, her tone heavy with the weight of familial ties. “But unfortunately, my father isn’t looking for romance at the moment.”

Daisy’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing as they flickered toward Irene. Even she recognized the need for caution when speaking in the presence of Gavin’s daughter.

“We’re just friends, of course,” Daisy asserted, her smile tight and strained. “Don’t read too much into it.”

With a quick glance in my direction, she scrutinized me for a moment before curling her lip in disdain.

“That dress is simply too tacky for my taste. I’ll find something else,” she muttered dismissively, pivoting sharply on her heel and striding away.

I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The forced smile that had adorned Irene’s face vanished in an instant as she turned to me, her expression shifting to one of frustration.

“I really can’t stand that woman,” she muttered under her breath. I was taken aback by her candor, yet a wave of relief washed over me at her words, prompting a soft chuckle to escape my lips. Irene offered me a gentle smile, nudging me towards the changing room. “Go change, and then we can grab some lunch before we head back. I know you have tutoring later this evening.”

“Sounds good,” I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her.

As much as I adored the dress, slipping back into my usual attire felt refreshing. Stacy, the store attendant, was quick to take the dress and wrap it up for me. Meanwhile, Irene selected a stunning dress for herself, which Stacy also packaged with care. We approached the counter, where Stacy rang up our purchases.

“For Judy, the dress comes to a staggering 3 million dollars, and for Irene, it’s 1 million,” Stacy announced, lifting her gaze to meet ours.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. That was an exorbitant amount for a mere dress—I had never anticipated such a hefty price tag.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Irene retrieved a sleek black card from her wallet and handed it to Stacy.

“Charge both dresses to this card, please,” she instructed, her tone casual as she pulled out her phone to check her messages.

I stared at her, utterly flabbergasted by how nonchalantly she was spending such a vast sum. Stacy’s eyes sparkled with delight as she processed the transaction. Once it went through, she printed the receipt and handed it along with the card back to Irene. She then carefully placed a box in each of our hands, which Taylor and Gamma Derek promptly took from us, their presence so unobtrusive that I had almost forgotten they were there.

I smiled in gratitude at Taylor as he accepted my box, and he nodded in acknowledgment. We exited the store, relieved to have avoided any further encounters with Daisy, and headed out for lunch. This time, we invited the Gammas and Beta Taylor to join us, not wanting to be alone for even a moment. After finishing our meal, we made our way to the Villa for my tutoring session with Matt.

“Mind if I borrow you for just a moment?” Walter asked during the shooting portion of the tutoring session, his tone casual but his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Matt was preoccupied with perfecting his aim, barely registering our conversation, so I nodded in agreement. Walter took my arm, intertwining it with his as we strolled together for a short distance before he finally stopped to face me.

“So, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the masquerade Gala is happening this weekend,” he began, his words tumbling out in a rush. My cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and nervousness, and I nodded, biting my lip. “I just managed to snag a couple of tickets for the event,” he continued, his eyes brightening. “And I was hoping you would be my date?”

A strange instinct urged me to decline his offer, but the memory of the 3-million-dollar dress I had just acquired silenced my hesitation.

“I would love to,” I replied, my voice steady. “It sounds like a lot of fun.”

Walter’s shoulders relaxed, and he let out a breath of relief, a smile spreading across his face.

“Perfect! I’ll pick you up at 8 on Saturday night,” he said, leaning down to place a soft kiss on my cheek.

I nodded, feeling a flutter of anticipation. “I’ll see you then.”

As I watched him hurry away, I noticed the extra bounce in his step. I just hoped I wouldn’t be the reason for any change in that joyful demeanor.

**Third Person POV**

Saturday arrived in a flash, with Irene dedicating most of the day to preparing for the Gala. Her excitement was palpable as she envisioned showcasing her stunning dress and her dashing fiancé by her side. Ethan had promised to pick her up around 8 PM, and they would meet up with Walter and Judy to share a limo for the evening—a prospect that thrilled her to no end.

Her father would also be attending the Gala, but he had opted to go solo, refusing her suggestion to find a date. Irene felt a twinge of concern; she didn’t want him to be alone at the event, especially knowing that Daisy would also be there, eager to capture Gavin’s attention. The mere thought of her Aunt Daisy and her father together was enough to irritate her; she had little patience for her aunt and wanted her far removed from her family dynamics.

He nodded. “Yeah, one of the maids brought in a box of masks,” he replied, glancing toward the door.

Irene nodded, stepping around him to leave her room. She descended the grand staircase, reaching the front foyer where the box of masks lay. Her father was examining them, looking as handsome as ever in his tailored suit that bore a striking resemblance to Walter’s. The family resemblance was undeniable.

“Are you picking out a mask?” Irene asked, her voice light.

He looked up, nodding thoughtfully. “I’m just trying to decide which one complements my suit best,” he said, scrutinizing each mask with care.

Irene frowned as she rifled through the box, spotting one that mirrored Walter’s choice. “Walter is wearing something similar, and he chose this silver one,” she said, lifting the mask to her father’s face. “I think it would look fantastic with your suit.”

Gavin studied her for a moment before donning the mask, and for a fleeting second, he looked strikingly like Walter. Irene blinked rapidly, momentarily taken aback by the resemblance.

“Alright,” Gavin finally said, nodding in approval. “This one will do.”

Irene smiled, selecting a mask that matched her own dress. Just then, Adam swung open the front door, and Ethan entered the foyer, a broad smile lighting up his face as he presented Irene with a bouquet of flowers. She gushed over the vibrant blooms, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek while he complimented her beauty.

Gavin removed the mask, sliding it into his front pocket just as Walter descended the stairs.

“I had a driver pick up Judy and bring her here,” he explained, glancing around expectantly. “Has she arrived yet?”

Adam peeked his head outside. “It looks like she just pulled up,” he announced, excitement lacing his voice.

Walter waited with bated breath for Judy to step into the house. Moments later, her stunning figure appeared in the doorway, her hair elegantly styled half up, half down, and cascading in perfect curls. The dress she wore was breathtaking, hugging her form flawlessly; it was as if it had been crafted just for her. She looked nothing short of radiant, and her presence left everyone momentarily speechless.

An awkward smile graced her lips as she surveyed the foyer, where all eyes were fixed on her. Ethan stood with his arm around Irene, but his gaze was solely focused on Judy, his mouth agape in awe. Walter’s face lit up with excitement, his expression clearly revealing how smitten he was, causing her to blush deeply.

Yet it wasn’t the admiration of the others that captured her attention; it was Gavin’s unwavering gaze from a distance. His eyes roamed over her, darkened with an intensity that hinted at something deeper—something that resembled desire.