The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 282

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 282: Lame Apology**

In the dimly lit confines of Gavin’s mind, a sense of urgency pulsed through the link as he questioned, “What do you mean you found the perpetrator?” His gaze flickered to Matt, who sat in a contemplative silence, seemingly adrift in his own thoughts. A nagging doubt crept into Gavin’s mind—had Matt deceived him?

Matt had never been one to lie… had he?

“It was a maid,” Taylor’s voice broke through the haze of uncertainty. “They found her hoarding the peanut butter in her quarters. The same maid who came to fetch you after Matt’s allergic reaction. She confessed that she sought compensation for her role in his rescue.”

“Compensation?” Gavin’s tone was laced with anger, his voice low and threatening as it resonated through the mindlink. “I want her banished from the pack immediately, and turned rogue.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Taylor replied, his tone respectful and obedient. “Would you like to confront her before the banishment?”

Gavin paused, contemplating the question. A heavy sigh escaped him, the weight of his decision pressing down on his chest.

“No,” he finally murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just get rid of her.”

“Understood, Alpha.”

As the link severed, Gavin turned back to Matt, his eyes sharp and piercing.

“Why did you lie to me?”

Matt lifted his gaze to meet Gavin’s, a frown creasing his brow.

“I didn’t lie to you…” he replied, though the conviction in his voice wavered.

“Yes, you did, Matthew,” Gavin countered, crossing his arms defiantly. “You weren’t the one who slipped the peanut butter into that sandwich; it was a maid.”

Matt’s eyes widened in disbelief, the shock evident on his face.

“What?” he gasped, his voice trembling with confusion. “Why would a maid want to hurt me?”

“That’s not your concern. Just know that it won’t happen again. She’s being banished, and I’ll have the other maids investigated as well.”

Matt’s gaze dropped to his hands, fingers nervously fidgeting as he processed his father’s words.

“You shouldn’t have lied to me, Matt…” Gavin’s voice carried a note of disappointment that cut through the air.

“I’m sorry, Dad… I just couldn’t let Judy take the fall,” Matt said, his voice heavy with regret, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

Gavin fell silent, mulling over his son’s admission.

“So, if it was genuinely Judy’s mistake, you would still have covered for her?” he finally inquired, curiosity mingling with a hint of reproach.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Matt nodded firmly.

“Yes,” he affirmed. “She’s like family now, right? Family is supposed to stand by one another.”

For a heartbeat, Gavin remained quiet, the truth of Matt’s words sinking in. He realized that Judy had indeed woven herself into the fabric of their family. She was a constant presence, always around, and it gnawed at him that he had disregarded her voice, jumping to accusations without a second thought. Now, remorse washed over him like a tide, and he fervently wished he could turn back the clock to make amends.

He just hoped it wasn’t too late to fix this mess.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both Gavin and Irene, Ethan was concocting his own schemes. He believed that having Judy in his family home would be beneficial for him, yet he found it increasingly difficult to bridge the gap between them, especially with his family keeping a watchful eye on her every move.

Ethan knew that Judy could never harm Matt; her affection for him was too profound. The real question haunted him—who could be so twisted as to target a child? It couldn’t be her. In a moment of desperation, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He bribed one of the maids, promising her a life of luxury in exchange for her taking the blame. As he handed her the peanut butter, he could see the greed sparkle in her eyes at the mention of wealth.

An hour later, she was being banished, and Ethan was wiring a substantial amount into her account. He was a man of his word, after all. Yet, he knew it wouldn’t be long before her life ended, and he would reclaim the money.

Now, his focus shifted to ensuring Judy regained her position, so he could see her every day and continue his pursuit to make her his own.

—

**Judy’s POV**

“You look utterly drained,” Nan remarked as she approached me in the bustling student quad. I cast my eyes downward at the test I had flunked, releasing a long, weary sigh. I had barely managed to study for this exam, consumed by the overwhelming demands of my work with the Cash family. “Is living with the Cash’s really that unbearable?”

I shot her a pointed look, my frustration palpable.

“It’s worse than unbearable,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve only been there for a couple of days, and I haven’t managed to sleep even once.”

“I’m so sorry, Judy,” Nan said, resting her head on my shoulder, her warmth a comforting reminder of home. “I wish there was something I could do. I’ve been searching for a place for you, but it seems no one has any spare rooms available.”

“It’s okay,” I murmured, forcing a smile. “It’s not your fault. I genuinely appreciate your efforts.”

“It’s just not right that they’re working you to the bone,” Nan said, her arms crossing defiantly over her chest. “You have your own life to live, and school to focus on. What does your mother think about all this?”

I shrugged, my heart heavy as I chewed on the inside of my cheek.

“I don’t think she really sees how dire things are for me,” I confessed, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “When I tried to talk to her about it, she told me I should be grateful to the Cash family and that I shouldn’t complain too much.”

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