The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 283

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 283: Cash Family Dinner**

**Gavin’s POV**

“Sir, every single maid has been thoroughly interrogated,” one of my gammas reported, his tone serious yet respectful. “They were completely unaware of the crime and expressed their shock at her actions. However, none of them are willing to vouch for her, fearing the consequences of banishment.”

I nodded slowly, my fingers drumming an impatient rhythm against the polished surface of my desk.

“And that maid has been removed from the premises?” I inquired, my voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of tension.

“Yes, Alpha. As per your directive, we escorted her off pack property a few hours ago,” he confirmed, maintaining eye contact.

“I’ve also sent out a memo to the other Alphas, detailing her crimes and instructing them to deny her entry into their packs,” I added, leaning back in my chair, trying to project an air of calm.

“Understood, Alpha,” the gamma replied. “Is there anything else you require of me?”

Just as I was about to respond, the door to my office swung open, and Taylor stepped inside, pausing momentarily at the sight of the gamma.

“That’ll be all,” I instructed the gamma, my tone dismissive. “You may leave.”

He nodded, a cautious smile flickering across his face as he exited, casting a wary glance at Taylor. Once the door clicked shut behind him, Taylor turned his full attention to me.

“Any updates?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

“None of the maids possess any useful information,” I murmured, frustration creeping into my voice. “And the one responsible for the crime is long gone. She’s not to set foot in another pack.”

“Perfect,” Taylor replied, a sly grin creeping onto his lips. “She’ll probably be dead by sundown.”

“If fate is on our side,” I muttered darkly. “Were you able to have a word with Judy?”

Taylor’s expression shifted, a frown replacing his earlier confidence. He seemed to hesitate, his gaze dropping to the floor as if the weight of his thoughts was too much to bear. I straightened in my chair, narrowing my eyes at my Beta.

“Taylor,” I said slowly, deliberately, trying to draw his attention back to me. “What happened? Did you manage to speak with Judy or not?”

Finally, he lifted his gaze, meeting mine with a reluctant nod.

“Yes,” he admitted quietly. “I did speak with her.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, leaning back in my chair, my mind racing with possibilities.

“And? Will she come back to the villa to continue her role as Matt’s tutor?” I pressed, the anxiety gnawing at my insides.

Taylor shifted uncomfortably, his unease palpable.

“I didn’t get the chance to ask her directly, but from what I gathered… no,” he said, his eyes dropping back to the floor, avoiding my gaze.

“What do you mean by that?” I snapped, irritation flaring within me. “Why wouldn’t she return to her job now that her name has been cleared?”

Taylor sighed heavily, stepping closer to my desk, the weight of his words evident.

“Look, she feels wronged, and honestly, she has every right to feel that way,” he explained, his voice softer now. “She wants you to apologize to her in person. I don’t think it was right for me to be the one to speak with her in the first place.”

I sank back into my chair, the truth of his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. He was right… I shouldn’t have sent him to face her. I was the one who had cast her out that night; I had deepened her hurt instead of alleviating it. I had invited her to move in with me and then treated her as if she were a criminal. I had ghosted her all week long, sending her calls to voicemail and her texts to spam. I had been the one in the wrong, and I had sent Taylor to do my dirty work.

“You’re absolutely right,” I finally conceded, standing abruptly, determination flooding my veins. “I’ll go to her house and talk to her now.”

Taylor’s expression shifted again, unease creeping back into his features.

“What else aren’t you telling me?” I asked, my annoyance growing.

“She’s not at her house anymore,” he said, pulling out his phone. He swiped the screen, searching for information. “I did some digging on my way back here, and it turns out her mother actually sold the house. It was sold last week, and they moved a few days ago.”

“What?!” I growled, the realization crashing over me like a wave. So, the phone conversation I overheard was true. Judy’s mother had indeed sold their family home, forcing her and her daughter to relocate. What could possibly drive her to do something so drastic? Was their family in financial trouble?

A knot twisted in my stomach as I stared at my Beta. “Then, where is she??”

“She moved into the Cash family manor,” Taylor blurted, his voice laced with urgency.

Rage surged through me like wildfire. Over my dead body would I allow Judy to remain in that mansion, not after the way they had treated her the last time we were there.

“Get Raymond Cash on the phone; I’m inviting myself over for dinner,” I said through clenched teeth, my resolve hardening.

“Yes, Alpha,” Taylor replied, a smirk playing on his lips. “Is there a specific reason you want me to give him?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, my patience wearing thin.

“I’m a Lycan Chairman; I don’t need a reason,” I snapped.

Taylor nodded, understanding the gravity of my tone, and hurried off to fulfill my command. An hour later, I received an email inviting me to the Cash manor for dinner with Raymond Cash and his family.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you?” Taylor asked as we arrived at the imposing front doors of the Cash family manor. “If you lose your temper, it could create unnecessary issues.”

“I can handle myself,” I muttered, stepping out of the car, determination coursing through me. “But stay here, just in case.”

“Will do,” Taylor said, his eyes watching me closely as I approached the grand entrance. The butler opened the door before I even reached the top step, bowing slightly.

“Alpha Gavin Landry, it’s an honor to have you in my home for dinner,” Raymond greeted me, his smile wide yet slightly strained. “I must admit, I’m quite curious about the purpose of this meeting.”

“There’s no specific purpose, Raymond. I thought it prudent to get to know you better since my daughter is marrying into your family. After all, we are all family now, aren’t we?” I replied, raising an eyebrow, gauging his reaction.

I shot a glance at Michele Montague, who appeared somewhat sheepish. She bit her bottom lip, her gaze fixed on her plate, avoiding eye contact with me.

“I guess not,” I replied, keeping my voice low, still puzzled by the situation.

Soon, the maids returned, serving us a sumptuous meal accompanied by fine wine.

“Daddy, the maids have been working so hard. I think we should give them the rest of the evening off,” Kelsey suggested, nibbling on her steak with a casual air.

“And who will clean up after dinner?” Raymond asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll handle it,” she shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s honestly no trouble. It’s the least I can do.”

Raymond considered her proposal carefully before relenting with a nod.

“Okay,” he said, taking a hearty bite of his food. “If you don’t mind.”

Kelsey beamed, continuing to enjoy her meal.

We engaged in light conversation throughout dinner, but my thoughts were consumed with worry about Judy. She was somewhere in this manor… I could sense her presence, as if she were right beside me. Her mother kept avoiding my gaze, focusing intently on her food without contributing to the conversation. Meanwhile, Kelsey persisted in brushing against me, her foot occasionally finding its way onto my leg. I had to keep shifting away from her, discomfort coursing through me.

Raymond dominated the conversation, excitedly discussing the advantages of his pack and expressing his enthusiasm about his son becoming the Alpha. It was long overdue, and no one deserved it more than Ethan. He mentioned how Irene fit seamlessly into the family, and Meredith chimed in, suggesting they invite them to the country club for brunch next week.

Once the meal concluded, Raymond stood up, a bright smile on his face.

“Shall we move this conversation to the parlor for coffee and dessert?” he proposed.

We filed out of the dining hall and into the parlor, while Kelsey remained behind to clean up. As we settled into the plush seating, the conversation continued, but my stomach twisted with unease. For some reason, my wolf was agitated, urging me to return to the kitchen.

I glanced toward the door, brows furrowing in concern.

“Is everything alright, Alpha?” Meredith asked, noticing my distraction.

“Kelsey has been gone for a while,” I pointed out, my instincts prickling.

“Oh, I’m sure she’s fine. There were a lot of dishes to clean,” Meredith reassured, sipping her coffee as if nothing were amiss.

“Still, I’m going to check on her,” I declared, rising to my feet, my resolve firm.

“Such a noble Lycan he is,” Raymond chuckled, and Meredith laughed too, though her laughter felt forced and awkward.

I ignored their banter and made my way back toward the dining hall. However, as I reached the door, I froze at the sound of Kelsey’s voice, dripping with malice.

“You are nothing but a useless bitch! Only good for being a slave and cleaning up after my family’s meal. How does it feel to be a nobody?”