The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 46

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 46: Beneath The Mask**

[Evelyn’s POV]

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sight before me felt unreal, as if the universe had decided to play a cruel trick.

Walking into Alexander’s office was a peculiar sensation, one that I had never quite experienced before. Typically, this space was off-limits to me, a sanctum where only Alexander and, on rare occasions, Oliver were allowed to tread. I had never questioned it before; it was simply understood. But now, with Alexander already inside, I rationalized that my presence could hardly be considered an intrusion if he had welcomed me in.

My intentions were pure—I wanted to help him manage the alarming amount of coffee he seemed to consume. As I stepped into the chaos of his office, I was immediately struck by the disarray of his desk. Papers were scattered like fallen leaves, and two empty coffee mugs languished nearby, remnants of his relentless caffeine habit.

But my focus quickly shifted to something far more astonishing. Alexander’s mask—his ever-present shield—was absent. It must have slipped off as he drifted into slumber, or perhaps he had intended to remove it. Whatever the reason, the mask was gone, and for the first time, I was granted a glimpse of his unguarded face.

And what a face it was.

There were no blemishes, no scars, nothing to mar his striking features. The side of his face that had always been concealed matched the other perfectly—handsome, exquisitely sculpted, and utterly flawless.

Confusion washed over me, knitting my brows together in bewilderment. It was inconceivable.

“What the hell?” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Why would Alexander choose to hide a face that was so perfect? It made no logical sense.

Just then, I noticed Alexander stirring, stretching in his sleep. Thankfully, his eyes remained closed, and he sank deeper into his exhaustion.

I felt a rush of panic. I needed to leave.

The last thing I wanted was to accidentally rouse him and have him discover my presence in his personal domain. I felt like I had stumbled upon one of his most closely guarded secrets, and the weight of that realization pressed heavily on my chest.

I glanced down at the warm mug cradled in my hands and frowned. Leaving it behind would only betray my visit, revealing that I had been there.

With utmost caution, I began to retreat from the room. I peered to my left and right, ensuring that the coast was clear. Once outside, a sigh of relief escaped my lips as I made my way back to my own room.

My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, racing at an incredible pace. Questions swarmed my consciousness, each one more pressing than the last, leaving me utterly bewildered.

I set the mug down on my nightstand, kicked off my flats, and climbed into bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I closed my eyes, attempting to sort through the chaos in my mind.

“Why the mask?” I pondered aloud, the question echoing in the silence of my room.

This wasn’t the first time I had found myself in such a perplexing situation. The only other time Alexander and I had shared a bed, I had awoken to see his mask slightly askew, revealing a hint of the face I had just seen.

I’ll admit, my vision had been hazy, and the dim light of the room had played tricks on my eyes, but even then, I was certain there had been nothing wrong with his face. Yet, doubt had crept in, and I had chosen to dismiss it.

But now, there was no way I could convince myself to ignore the truth a second time. What unnerved me was how I would interact with Alexander moving forward, knowing that the other half of his face was, in fact, perfectly fine.

He had an uncanny ability to read me like an open book. He could sense when something troubled me and ask the right questions to uncover my thoughts. A single glance from him could reveal that something was amiss.

What if I just confronted him about it?

It was a valid option, but I would have an uphill battle explaining how I had come to know about the hidden side of his face. It would mean admitting that I had essentially trespassed into his office.

I didn’t want him to think I was an intruder, nor did I want him to believe I was spying on him.

“Maybe I’ll talk to Wendy about it tomorrow,” I mused, my voice barely above a whisper.

Fatigue began to weigh down my eyelids, and a dull ache settled in my head from the stress of my racing thoughts. Surely, there had to be a reasonable explanation for all of this.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

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