The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 73

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 73: An Unforeseen Dinner Guest**

[Evelyn’s POV]

I found myself standing in front of my closet, contemplating my outfit for the evening. After much deliberation, I settled on a light blue dress that gracefully fell just past my knees. It was simple yet elegant, perfect for the occasion. I decided to forgo heels, opting instead for comfort, knowing that the evening might be more emotionally taxing than physically demanding. Adorning my ears were a pair of silver hoop earrings, and I finished the look with a delicate silver chain necklace that added just the right touch of sparkle without overwhelming the ensemble.

While the rest of the household was in a flurry of excitement over Alexander’s brother’s unexpected arrival, I felt inclined to take a more relaxed approach. My thoughts were clouded with one nagging concern: what if this guy turned out to be nothing more than a male version of Caroline?

The mere idea sent a shiver down my spine. To think that he had managed to get under Alexander’s skin was quite a feat in itself. Alexander had always been tight-lipped about his brother, leaving me with scant information to form a proper judgment.

After a few moments spent applying a touch of makeup, I inhaled deeply, steeling myself for what lay ahead. It was time to venture into the dining room. The chaotic preparations that had dominated the day were finally winding down, and the atmosphere shifted as everyone took a moment to catch their breath and return to their usual routines.

As I approached the main hall, I felt a wave of relief wash over me; the oppressive tension that had filled the air seemed to dissipate. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the evening was still young, and I had no idea if our ‘guest of honor’ had actually arrived.

The main hall was eerily quiet. Too quiet, if I were to be honest.

I squinted, my instincts kicking in as I moved past the kitchens, the soft murmurs of conversation growing louder as I neared the dining room. My heart raced, a coil of nerves tightening within me.

I slowed my pace, straining to catch snippets of the conversation. I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping—after all, I was an adult, and my best course of action would be to simply walk into the room. But…

The truth was that I felt utterly unprepared for this moment.

With all the lessons and preparations Alexander had put me through, why hadn’t he ever thought to enlighten me about the dynamics of his own family?

Did he genuinely believe we could avoid facing them indefinitely?

Frustration bubbled up inside me. I felt like a pawn in a game I didn’t even know I was playing, and part of me was genuinely annoyed with Alexander for putting me in this awkward position. Meanwhile, he was holed up in his office, brooding like a thundercloud ready to unleash a storm.

Just walk in, I told myself. Introduce yourself. Sit down. It’s as simple as that!

Gathering my resolve, I took one last deep breath and pushed open the door to the dining room. As I stepped inside, my gaze slowly lifted from the floor, and I found Alexander seated at the head of the table, his expression inscrutable.

The furrow in his brow deepened as his eyes locked onto the man sitting diagonally across from him. My heart stumbled in my chest as I tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before me.

For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, because there was no conceivable way that the man sitting there could be Alexander’s stepbrother.

“…Michael?”

It was him.

The very same guy I had bumped into at the market not long ago. Those striking emerald green eyes met mine, and for a fleeting second, Michael appeared just as bewildered as I felt. But then, his expression melted into that familiar, charming smile that could light up the darkest room.

I was taken aback. All this time, I had thought I was encountering a complete stranger, unaware that this so-called stranger was actually Michael.

His voice echoed my surprise. “Evelyn?”

A laugh escaped my lips, a blend of disbelief and amusement at the sheer coincidence of it all. But that light-heartedness quickly faded when I caught a glimpse of Alexander, whose expression had darkened to the point where I feared he might flip the table in frustration.

“Care to explain how the hell the two of you know each other?” he demanded, his tone sharp and accusatory.

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