The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 33

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 33: Denial**

[Evelyn’s POV]

As soon as the car rolled away from the event hall, I could feel the shift in Alexander’s demeanor. It was as if the warmth of his presence had dissipated into the cool air of the evening. He subtly shifted an inch away from me, his gaze drifting out the window, leaving me feeling exposed and painfully self-aware.

In all our interactions, Alexander had never touched me in such an intimate way, and I realized that the gesture had been entirely performative. We were not close in any meaningful sense; our connection had always been more about obligation than affection. When he had wrapped his arm around me earlier, I sensed it was more about sending a message to Rena than anything else.

That display of affection had been a facade, a way to reassure her that we were thriving as a newly married couple.

It was painfully obvious.

Now that Rena was no longer a part of the equation, Alexander had no reason to maintain the pretense. The realization tightened around my heart, igniting a blend of irritation and frustration that simmered just beneath the surface. I contemplated asking the driver to pull over at the next intersection so I could escape this suffocating atmosphere and walk back home alone.

I had no intention of enduring another moment in the presence of the Alpha.

“Still think I’m wrong?” Oliver’s voice broke the silence, startling me from my thoughts.

Wrong? Wrong about what?

My gaze flicked to Oliver, who was fixated on Alexander, who, in turn, seemed to ignore the question entirely. It was evident that a private conversation had been taking place between them before the chaos of the evening had unfolded.

Alexander merely shrugged, and the silence in the car thickened, wrapping around us like a heavy blanket. With no conversation to fill the void, my mind began to wander into darker territories, where doubts and worries lurked like shadows.

Rather than feeling jealousy, I found myself grappling with an odd mixture of anger and, strangely enough, sympathy for Alexander. I could only imagine how difficult it must have been for him to confront someone who had once been his everything, only to feel diminished in comparison.

Alexander was a man of pride, after all. His actions were driven by a need for self-preservation, and while I couldn’t condemn him for that instinct, it stung to think I had been used as a shield in his emotional battle.

“Well, her Majesty seemed to be in good spirits,” Oliver remarked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Indeed, she did,” Alexander replied, his tone flat.

At that moment, I felt both of their gazes shift toward me, as if they were searching for some sign of jealousy or hurt. I offered nothing more than a faint smile, a mask to hide the turmoil inside.

“Princess Rena is quite kind,” I responded, my voice lacking enthusiasm. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to speak with her.”

I could have delved deeper, could have asked about their past, or questioned why he felt the need to act so intimately in public. But the thought of engaging in that conversation drained me of whatever energy I had left.

With that, they turned their attention back to each other, and Wendy shot me an appreciative smile, as if she understood the weight of the moment.

Leaning my head back against the seat, I closed my eyes briefly, trying to expel the bitter emotions that clung to me like an unwelcome fog.

[Third-Person’s POV]

As the car pulled up to the house, Alexander noticed that Evelyn was the first to practically leap from the back seat, her urgency to escape palpable as she headed straight for the door. He could sense the shift in her mood since her mention of Princess Rena.

Once they were all inside, Wendy made a gracious offer for anyone interested in joining her for tea. Normally, Evelyn would have jumped at the chance to socialize, but this time, she shook her head firmly.

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