The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 86

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 86: One The Mend**

The atmosphere in the room had turned almost suffocatingly still, as if time itself had paused to witness the weight of the moment. Alexander could feel the frantic thuds of his heart echoing in his chest, each beat a reminder of how precariously his future hung in the balance. The uncertainty was a heavy shroud, wrapping around him, suffocating the hope that flickered within.

He stood there, a silent plea in his heart, desperately awaiting Evelyn’s response. The word ‘yes’ was what he craved, but deep down, he understood the reasons that might lead her to decline. Their first attempt at a relationship had been anything but memorable; it had been marred with misunderstandings and missteps that left scars on both of their hearts. If, by some miracle, she was willing to consider them again, he knew he had to rise to the occasion. He had to be better, not just for himself, but for her.

With a deep breath, Alexander fought against his pride. He reached out tentatively, allowing the tips of his fingers to brush against her arm, a gentle reminder of their connection. His gaze softened as he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t feel pressured to answer me right now,” he urged, his tone laced with sincerity. “It’s late, and you deserve some rest. Take your time to think it over.”

Evelyn nodded silently, her eyes reflecting a mixture of uncertainty and contemplation as she reached for the cup of tea she had almost forgotten on the counter.

“Just one more thing,” he added, his heart racing as he continued. “If you choose to distance yourself from me, I understand. But please, reconsider your position with Nina and Wendy. They miss you terribly.”

There was a silence that hung heavily in the air, and he could see the storm of emotions swirling within her. He knew that her retreat from the world was rooted in the shame and embarrassment she felt after her outburst. It pained him to think of her suffering in isolation, and he longed to take away that burden.

“We’ll see,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible, yet it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken words.

As she turned to leave the kitchen, a heavy feeling settled in Alexander’s stomach, like lead weighing him down. Please, he thought desperately, reconsider.

The next morning, Alexander awoke to a dull ache in his head and an emptiness in his gut that felt insurmountable. For a fleeting moment, he entertained the notion that the previous night’s conversation with Evelyn had been nothing more than a figment of his imagination, a dream woven from his hopes and fears.

Dragging himself out of bed, he prepared for the day ahead, his heart heavy with dread at the thought of returning to his office. Once a sanctuary of productivity and creativity, it had transformed into a prison of paperwork and responsibilities that suffocated him. All he truly yearned for was to see Evelyn again, to feel the warmth of her presence, to mend the fragile threads of their connection.

—

**[Evelyn’s POV]**

As I lay in bed that morning, a war raged within me about whether to step outside my room. Some might deem it trivial, but the thought of facing the world beyond my bedroom door filled me with trepidation. Yet, the longer I delayed confronting this issue, the more I risked becoming a mere shadow of myself, trapped in a cycle of fear.

This wasn’t the life I envisioned for myself. Alexander’s last words about Nina and Wendy struck a chord deep within me. They missed me as much as I missed them; the thought of their longing tugged at my heart. Even more so, I felt a pang of guilt for my poor plants, which had suffered in my absence, left to wilt and fade without my care.

I needed to break free from this self-imposed confinement.

Resolutely, I dressed and ventured out into the hallway. A wave of fear and uncertainty coursed through me, but I let my feet guide me toward the kitchen. As I entered, I was greeted by a small group of staff, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern as they took in my presence. One of them, a young woman with bright eyes, broke the silence with a warm smile.

“Good morning, Evelyn,” she said, her voice brightening the atmosphere. “It’s wonderful to see you out and about.”

Another staff member chimed in, “Why don’t you sit in the dining room? Breakfast will be served shortly.”

My voice felt rough, as if it hadn’t been used in days, so I shook my head gently. “No, thank you. I’m just going to make some tea and head out to the greenhouse,” I replied softly, my heart racing at the thought of my neglected plants.

I felt their eyes follow me as I moved through the kitchen, their gazes heavy with unspoken concern. Once I had my tea prepared, I stepped outside, hoping against hope that my plants hadn’t suffered too much.

As I entered the greenhouse, a sight struck me like a bolt of lightning—Wendy was there, carefully tending to my plants, watering them with the kind of love and attention I had neglected to give. I stood frozen in place, uncertainty washing over me.

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