The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 393

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 393: Manipulation**

**Judy’s POV**

A wave of embarrassment washed over me, leaving me feeling utterly foolish. It was painfully obvious that Ethan was entangled in this mess. How could I have thought otherwise? He was always concocting schemes, weaving intricate webs of manipulation. I should have anticipated that he would exploit Daisy to achieve his goals.

As I stood there, my gaze fell on Gavin’s tense figure. His back was stiff, a clear indication of the storm brewing within him as he absorbed the shocking revelation. I could see the fury radiating from him, his fists clenching and unclenching like a coiled spring ready to snap.

All this time, I had been consumed by jealousy and hurt, convinced that he had betrayed me with both Daisy and me. The truth was far more complicated and sinister; it was all part of Ethan’s twisted plan. Gavin hadn’t even been in the hotel suite when Daisy was there—he had no clue she was present at all. I cursed myself for not confronting him first instead of jumping to conclusions. But the evidence had seemed so damning.

“I may have played my part, Gavin, and I had my own reasons,” Daisy interjected, crossing her arms defiantly across her chest, “but I’m not the one orchestrating this chaos. I’m not your target.”

Gavin’s jaw tightened, and I could almost hear the internal conflict raging within him. He was caught in a battle between unleashing his wrath on Daisy or letting her go in pursuit of Ethan. In the end, the latter triumphed, and he took a step back from her, his voice low and dangerous.

“Get out of my face before I change my mind,” he growled, the raw anger in his tone palpable, resonating with the primal instinct of a wolf.

Daisy merely smirked, unfazed by his threat. She didn’t rush away; instead, her gaze lingered on his for a moment before shifting to me, her expression darkening. Without uttering a single word, she turned and sauntered away, leaving me feeling numb and profoundly foolish.

“Ethan’s here?” Irene’s voice trembled, her eyes brimming with tears. I glanced at her, recalling how quiet she had been throughout this ordeal, and my heart shattered for her. Her ex-fiancé had arrived, making it abundantly clear that he wasn’t there for her; he was there to wreak havoc in my life.

Shortly after, Nan and Chester appeared, their faces etched with concern as they took in the volatile scene.

I stood frozen, my mind racing, unable to articulate the chaos that had just unfolded. My body trembled with anxiety; Ethan was relentless, and I feared I would be trapped in this tormenting cycle forever. I could only imagine the pain this would cause Irene as well.

She looked utterly shattered and bewildered, and my heart ached even more for her.

“Chester, Nan, can you take Irene back to the suite?” Gavin asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around him. “And find Matthew, wherever he’s wandered off to.”

“Last I saw, he was devouring dessert,” Chester replied, gesturing toward the ceremony hall. “We’ll go fetch him and bring both of them upstairs.”

Gavin nodded his gratitude, though his focus remained on the situation at hand. At first, Irene hesitated, her feet seemingly glued to the ground as tears spilled down her cheeks, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions. I couldn’t blame her for feeling lost in this moment.

But after some gentle coaxing from Nan, she finally broke free from her paralysis, following them out of the room, leaving me alone with Gavin.

I stared at the wall where Daisy had just stood, her presence still lingering like a ghost.

Before I could process my thoughts, Gavin closed the distance between us, enveloping me in his arms, pressing me tightly against his chest. It was an unexpected gesture; he wasn’t known for his comforting nature, yet I found myself melting into him, my body betraying me as it craved his warmth.

I should despise him… I should still be angry, but I couldn’t muster the strength. A wave of relief washed over me knowing that he hadn’t crossed any lines with Daisy. He hadn’t lied to me, and that was a small comfort amidst the chaos.

My mind was a whirlwind of emotions and revelations, and I struggled to make sense of it all. He ran his fingers soothingly along my spine, a gesture so foreign from him that it sent shivers down my spine.

He placed gentle kisses along my hairline, each touch igniting a chill across my skin and drawing me deeper into his embrace. His warmth enveloped me, and I could almost hear my wolf purring in contentment, reveling in the comfort of his presence.

As he combed his fingers through my hair, I shivered at the sensation, peeking up at him with tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I should have talked to you.”

“Did you really think I was sleeping with her?” he asked, his brows furrowing as he searched my face for answers.

I bit my lip, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks, knowing he could see the flush spreading across my face.

“I thought… I mean… yeah,” I admitted softly, unable to meet his gaze. “We aren’t…” The sentence trailed off, and I loathed how vulnerable I sounded.

He cupped my face gently, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.

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