The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 319

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 319: Nan’s Absence**

**Judy’s POV**

Perched on the edge of my bed, I felt an unsettling heaviness settle in the pit of my stomach, and tears began to well up in my eyes. I didn’t need Gavin to say a word; the expression on his face told me everything I dreaded to hear. I already knew—tonight was not going to be our night out.

“Is everything okay?” I managed to ask, my voice sounding hollow, almost foreign to my own ears.

“I’m sorry, Judy. I just… I don’t know what to do,” he replied, his tone tinged with defeat. “Irene is really upset. She hasn’t heard from Ethan since she’s been in the hospital. She claims she’s still in a lot of pain and doesn’t want to be alone.”

I bit down on my lower lip, trying to suppress the tremor that threatened to reveal my emotional turmoil.

“Did she know you were going out tonight?” The question slipped out before I could rein it in. I already knew the answer; of course, Irene was aware of our plans. That was precisely why she had insisted he stay home, to ensure he wouldn’t spend any time with me. It was a manipulative move, and he was falling right into her trap because she was his daughter, and in his eyes, she could do no wrong.

Competing with his daughter felt like a losing battle—one I never wanted to engage in. Yet, it stung that he wouldn’t even attempt to confront her about her manipulations.

“Yes,” he confirmed, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. “What does that have to do with anything?”

I could sense the shift in his tone, the protective instinct rising within him. I shook my head, momentarily forgetting he couldn’t see the gesture.

“Nothing,” I replied, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel. “So, are you going to stay home with her instead?”

“Don’t you think I should?” His defensiveness lingered, as if he were bracing for a confrontation.

“Yeah, of course,” I replied, a touch of bitterness creeping into my voice. “It’s not like this was an actual date or anything.”

“We knew what this was,” Gavin said after a brief silence, his words hanging heavy in the air. “It’s a show.”

“I know,” I said, swallowing the hurt that threatened to spill over. I didn’t want him to see how deeply his words affected me. “I get it… you should stay home with her.”

“Okay,” he conceded, his tone softening. “Yeah, you’re right.”

It felt as though he was framing this decision as if it were mine, but I knew he had already made up his mind before he even called me. A lump formed in my throat, and I suddenly felt nauseous.

“I’ll make it up to you, though,” he promised, his voice brightening slightly. “We can go out another time.”

I bit my lip again, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. My wolf was eerily silent, as if sensing the weight of the moment.

“Yeah, sure…” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Daddy, where did you go?” Irene’s voice broke through the tension, her innocent curiosity cutting deep. “Who are you on the phone with?”

“It’s nobody,” he replied, and my heart stuttered at the lie. “Just business. Get back into bed, and I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Okay,” Irene said softly, her voice fading as she retreated. “I’m going to try and call Ethan again.”

I didn’t linger to hear any further explanations about why he couldn’t tell Irene who he was speaking to. My heart ached enough as it was, and I felt the tears threatening to spill over. Without thinking twice, I ended the call, frustration erupting within me as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I hadn’t realized I was crying until I saw the streaks of makeup running down my cheeks. All of Harper’s meticulous work had been for nothing; I was a bigger mess now than when she had started.

With a heavy heart, I peeled off my dress and slipped into my pajamas, throwing my hair into a haphazard bun. I made my way to the bathroom, desperately trying to wash away the remnants of my makeup. The tears continued to flow, and I berated myself for feeling this way over Gavin canceling.

It’s not like he’s my actual boyfriend or anything. We were merely using each other to fulfill our needs, to keep the world at bay. I wanted Ethan off my back, and he wanted his family to leave him alone. That was the extent of our relationship; it was an arrangement, plain and simple. I had come to terms with that long ago, so why was I feeling this sting of disappointment?

Yet, my wolf seemed oblivious to the logic of the situation, mourning like she had when Ethan had left us for someone else. I had vowed never to feel this way again, yet here I was, allowing myself to be vulnerable.

Deciding it was best to retreat to my room for the night, I resolved to avoid Harper and Chester. I couldn’t bear the thought of confronting their emotions while grappling with my own. It was easier to isolate myself and attempt to find some peace in sleep.

The next morning, I left for school early, successfully dodging both Harper and Chester. I didn’t want to field their questions about my night; I wasn’t ready to talk about it. Leroy was waiting for me outside, as he was every morning when school was in session.

As he dropped me off, I thanked him sincerely before stepping out of the car. Relief washed over me as I entered the school; it meant I could finally see Nan and check in on her. My heart sank as I glanced at my phone, noting that she hadn’t called or texted over the weekend. Worry gnawed at me, but I hoped to get answers when I saw her today.

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