The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 370

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 370: Ethan’s Betrayal**

Irene found herself ensconced in the parlor of the villa, the air heavy with unspoken words and the weight of her despair. Her fingers quivered as she scrolled through the myriad of photographs she and Ethan had taken over the past year, each image a bittersweet reminder of the joy they once shared. But now, those memories felt tainted, marred by the realization that Ethan had not been honest with her. The dreams she had woven for their future lay in tatters, scattered like broken glass at her feet. What had all the deceit been for? To worm his way closer to her father?

Beside her on the couch lay a collection of photos that Alex had unearthed—images of Ethan entwined with various women, each one bearing a striking resemblance to Judy. The revelation had struck Irene like a thunderclap, leaving her reeling. Alex had hired someone to follow Ethan over the past few days, and the evidence was damning. Irene felt as though the ground beneath her was shifting, the very foundation of her trust crumbling.

The most painful part of this betrayal was the isolation it brought. She had pushed away the only true friend she had in Judy, and now, she was left to grapple with the fallout alone. Regret gnawed at her insides, a relentless ache that refused to be silenced. She wrapped her arms around herself, a feeble attempt to hold together the pieces of her shattered heart, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.

The sound of footsteps approaching jolted her from her spiraling thoughts. Just then, Ethan appeared in the archway of the parlor, and Irene hastily set her phone aside, clutching the photos Alex had provided her like a lifeline.

Ethan’s demeanor struck her immediately; he looked worn and weary, the shadows under his eyes betraying a sleepless night. A scoff escaped her lips, laced with bitterness. She knew the reason for his exhaustion all too well. The evidence she held in her hands was damning, a testament to his betrayal.

His gaze locked onto hers, and he faltered, sensing the storm brewing within her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping closer, his voice tinged with feigned concern. “Did something happen?”

Irene felt her bottom lip quiver, a wave of vulnerability crashing over her. She despised the idea of breaking down in front of him, yet the weight of the moment was unbearable.

With determination, she rose to her feet, the photographs gripped tightly in her hands as she turned to face him fully. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, a tempest of emotions swirling within her. Despite her fragile appearance, her voice carried the fierce strength of her lineage, sharp and unyielding.

“How long?” she demanded, her tone cutting through the air like a knife.

Ethan’s brow furrowed in confusion, his expression a mask of feigned innocence.

“Babe, what are you talking about?” he replied, his voice laced with irritation, though the fatigue in his eyes told a different story.

In a flash of anger, Irene hurled the photos at him, watching as they fluttered to the ground like fallen leaves. She noted the way his complexion paled, the dawning realization washing over him like a cold wave.

“You know,” she stated flatly, her heart racing.

“I can explain those,” he stammered, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of panic.

“How long have you been cheating on me, Ethan?” she shot back, her words laced with venom.

He stood there, momentarily rendered speechless, his silence only serving to fuel her fury. A laugh, tinged with hysteria, escaped her lips.

“Irene—” he began, but she cut him off, refusing to let him spin more webs of deceit.

“Did you ever love me?” she pressed, desperation clawing at her throat. “Or was it all just a ruse to get close to my father?”

Ethan’s gaze faltered, and it was evident he was struggling to maintain his composure. Behind the facade of indifference, she could see the turmoil roiling within him.

He remained silent, locked away behind walls of his own making.

Frustration bubbled within her; she craved some reaction, anything to break through the icy barrier he had erected.

Fists clenched at her sides, her nails biting into her palms, she felt the warmth of blood trickling down her forearm. The urge to lash out at him surged within her, but she fought to keep it at bay.

“All those things you said about Judy…” she hissed through gritted teeth, “Were they true? Or were they just more lies, Ethan? Was anything you said ever true?”

Yet again, he remained mute, and that silence spoke volumes. He had painted Judy as the villain, the one who had betrayed him, claiming she was unstable and desperately trying to win him back.

But now, the truth was unraveling before her eyes, and she felt sick to her stomach.

“Holy shit…” she murmured, the realization crashing over her like a tidal wave. “I was the other woman, wasn’t I?”

At last, he lifted his gaze from the scattered photos, meeting her eyes with a cold intensity.

Ethan stepped closer, his voice low and menacing as he leaned down to her level.

“Don’t test me. Try that again, and I won’t stop. I’ll make sure my face is the last one you see,” he warned, straightening to his full height before striding toward the parlor entrance.

“You’re a monster,” Irene whispered, her voice barely a croak.

Tears blurred her vision as she watched him walk away, the weight of his betrayal pressing down on her heart.

For a moment, she questioned whether he had heard her, her voice so soft and broken. But just before he reached the archway, he paused, glancing back at her with a cold, calculating gaze.

“I never claimed to be anything else, sweetheart. You saw what you wanted to see. You were easy to manipulate. You should have listened to Judy,” he said, his voice smooth and taunting. “I’ve been trying to convince her to be my mistress this entire time. She keeps refusing, insisting you deserve better. You threw away the only true friend you had. If anyone’s at fault, it’s you for your own foolishness.”

With those final, cutting words hanging in the air, Ethan turned and strode out of the villa, leaving Irene in a shattered heap on the floor.

A sob tore from her throat as she crumpled, the reality of her situation crashing down around her. Ethan was right; she had discarded the only true friend she ever had. Tremors coursed through her body as she pressed her knees to her chest, burying her face in her lap, unable to stop the flood of tears that poured forth.

Her world had crumbled in mere moments.

Time lost all meaning as she sat in the parlor, seconds stretching into minutes, and minutes into hours. When she finally began to gather herself, she reached for her phone, the only lifeline she could grasp at that moment.

“Daddy…” she whispered once the call connected, her voice fragile and broken. Gavin’s instincts kicked in, his concern palpable.

“Irene, what’s going on?” he asked, urgency lacing his tone.

“I need you,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “Something really bad happened… I don’t want to be alone.” A sob escaped her lips, and Gavin’s heart sank as he sensed her distress.

“I’ll book a flight for you and your brother tonight,” he declared without hesitation; his children would always come first. “I’ll pick you up from the airport.”