The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 89

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed

**Chapter 89: Old Routines And Unfortunate News**

[Evelyn’s POV]

“It’s truly wonderful to have you back, Evelyn,” Nina exclaimed, her smile radiating warmth.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions swirling within me. I had accepted Wendy’s invitation for tea the next day, but deep down, I was grappling with uncertainty about rejoining my old routine. It felt as if I was being nudged back into a role that no longer fit me quite right.

I wasn’t trying to retreat into the solitude of my room; however, the peculiar glances from the staff made me acutely aware of my presence.

And who could really blame them?

If I were in their shoes, I might have raised an eyebrow too.

In truth, I could have easily opted out of the afternoon tea and continued to immerse myself in the comforting chaos of the greenhouse. Admitting that returning to my previous life was anything but simple would have been a blatant lie.

Navigating my surroundings still felt awkward, as if I were a stranger in a familiar land.

But Wendy was unyielding in her insistence. I slowly began to understand her perspective; if I continued to isolate myself, I would only prolong the discomfort that lingered like a shadow over my heart.

Given that Alexander and I were genuinely attempting to rebuild our connection, it felt only right to extend that same commitment to other aspects of my life.

“Thank you. It truly is nice to be back here,” I responded softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

While Nina busied herself pouring tea for us, Wendy’s gaze turned to me, sparkling with curiosity. She was clearly eager to hear all about the dinner Alexander and I had shared the previous night. And honestly, I couldn’t fault her for that.

Even I was still reeling from the depth of our conversation. I couldn’t believe how candid he had been, tackling some of the more sensitive subjects that had once loomed over us like dark clouds.

“So, tell me, how are things between you and Alexander?” she inquired, leaning forward with genuine interest.

I gratefully accepted the steaming cup of tea from Nina, taking a moment to savor the warmth before choosing my words carefully. I didn’t want to misrepresent the delicate state of our relationship.

“We’re… taking it very slow with each other,” I finally said, my tone cautious.

At that, Nina and Wendy exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Define ‘slow,’” Nina teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, a hint of confusion creeping into my voice.

“Well, you see, we noticed a delivery truck stopping by earlier today. It wasn’t scheduled, so we were all a bit curious about what was being dropped off. From our vantage point, it appeared to be a new mattress,” she explained, her grin widening.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Oh. My. God.

It seemed that Alexander was indeed keeping his promise.

One of the most surprising revelations from our earlier conversation was his desire for me to move back into his bedroom. After he had made it clear that he didn’t find me unattractive, I began to grasp the reasoning behind many of his actions. He was purposefully maintaining a distance—both physically and emotionally—out of fear of becoming too attached.

It made sense, yet I desperately hoped he was sincere in his intentions. I longed to work closely with him, to be part of his world. If he claimed that Michael was responsible for the car accident, then I was inclined to trust him.

With a sigh that felt like a weight lifting, I admitted, “One of the things Alexander wanted to negotiate was having me move back into the master bedroom.”

When this topic was first broached, I hadn’t imagined he meant for me to share his bed.

Oh, who was I kidding? Some of the best sleep I’d experienced since arriving here had been when Alexander and I were together in the same bed.

Tonight was bound to feel a bit surreal. Knowing that the new bed had already arrived, would he expect me to move back in right away? It was a conversation we hadn’t delved into deeply.

Wendy’s eyes sparkled with excitement, while Nina appeared ready to leap from her seat.

“Really?! Oh, that’s fantastic! I’ll let the staff know to start moving your things!”

When he received word that the new addition to the master bedroom had arrived, excitement buzzed within him. Yes, once the room was set up, he would reach out to Evelyn and seek her opinion.

If she liked it, then he would ask her to move back in with him. And if she didn’t? Well, he’d tear the room apart and completely reconstruct a new wing of the manor until she was satisfied.

A sudden knock on the door pulled Alexander from his thoughts.

“What is it, Oliver?” he called out, slightly annoyed at the interruption.

“Alexander, it’s me,” came a soft, feminine voice from the other side.

His heart raced. “Evelyn? Come in!”

The moment she entered, he could see the distress etched across her face, the telltale puffiness around her eyes suggesting she had been crying.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he demanded, concern flooding his voice.

She sniffled, handing him the letter she had been clutching tightly. Alexander quickly scanned its contents, his heart sinking as he absorbed the gravity of the situation.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your brother,” he said softly, his voice filled with empathy.

“Alexander, I need to go back home to find out what happened,” she urged, urgency lacing her words.

In truth, he didn’t want her to leave his side. Yet, denying her the chance to be with her family would only unravel the progress he had fought so hard to achieve.

“Alexander! Sir!”

Another voice broke through the tension—this time, it was Oliver, bursting into the office with an electrifying energy that was impossible to ignore.

“Oliver!”

“We found it!” he exclaimed, his eyes shining with exhilaration. “We found the car.”