The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 88

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed

**Chapter 88: Terms And Conditions**

[Evelyn’s POV]

I can hardly express how unprepared I was for the sheer joy radiating from Alexander’s face when I finally mustered the courage to turn my head and meet his gaze. The transformation was striking; he looked like a child on Christmas morning, eyes wide with wonder, every feature alight with an uncontainable excitement. It was as if the very air around him crackled with anticipation.

“Are you saying that you’re willing to give our relationship another chance?” he asked, his voice tinged with a cautious hope that made my heart flutter.

I drew in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily upon my shoulders. Leaning my head back, I attempted to release some of the tension that had built up there, as if that simple gesture could ease the complexity of our situation.

“Here’s the thing, Alexander…I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Honestly, it feels like that’s all I’ve been doing for days on end—no breaks, just a whirlwind of thoughts!” I huffed, frustration bubbling up within me.

I pressed my palms against my temples, desperately trying to alleviate the throbbing ache that refused to dissipate. My eyes squeezed shut for a fleeting moment, and I heard Alexander ask one of the staff to fetch me two pain reliever tablets and a cup of tea, a thoughtful gesture that only added to my internal turmoil.

As I leaned forward, slowly prying my eyes open, I kept my gaze fixed downward, unwilling to confront the intensity of his expression just yet.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” I began, my voice steady but laced with uncertainty. “Our relationship wasn’t exactly a masterpiece from the start. We barely scratched the surface of each other’s lives. Sure, we’d occasionally share meals, but that was the extent of it.”

It pained me to see the light in Alexander’s eyes dim slightly after my words. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I felt an overwhelming need for him to understand that our so-called ‘relationship’ was not something to celebrate.

In truth, it had become exhausting. The struggles we faced felt like a relentless tide, while our victories were mere pebbles scattered on the shore, few and far between.

“At the beginning, it made sense that we felt awkward around each other. We were strangers in every sense of the word. But now, after several months, I’d like to think we’ve gotten to know each other at least a little better. Maybe?”

Alexander nodded, albeit reluctantly, and a heavy weight settled in my chest.

“Actually, now that I’m saying all of this out loud, I realize I don’t know much about you at all.”

He shot me a skeptical look, one that seemed to challenge my assertion.

“That’s not true,” he countered, his voice firm.

“It is,” I insisted, frustration creeping into my tone. “How can you know my favorite foods and my thoughts on social gatherings when I know virtually nothing about your interests? You’re aware of the baggage I carry with my family, but I know so little about yours. Why is that?”

He slumped back in his chair, his shoulders drooping. “I’ve always been a private person. Even as a child, I struggled to open up to people I didn’t know well.”

“That’s just it,” I shot back. “I’m not a stranger. I’m your wife!”

“Yes, you are,” he replied, almost as if confessing a truth he had long been afraid to acknowledge.

“Then why have I never felt treated like one?”

A thick silence enveloped us, heavy and suffocating. I hadn’t anticipated that he would respond to such a rhetorical question.

I raised my hand, rubbing the bridge of my nose in frustration. “I’ve always been able to find solutions to problems, but…this—this is different. I don’t want to express my needs if it means you’ll feel pressured to change in ways that aren’t genuine.”

The last thing I desired was a façade. If that was what he intended, I had no interest in continuing this conversation.

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