The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 90

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 90: Hatching A Plan**

Oliver felt as though he might just crumble under the weight of the moment. The instant he had confessed to the revelations that had come to light, it struck him like a bolt of lightning that he wasn’t alone in this precarious situation. There, slightly apart from the group, stood Evelyn, her expression a tumultuous mix of worry and disbelief.

Oh God, he thought, panic rising in his chest. Had he just inadvertently exposed the covert operation they had all been working so hard to keep under wraps—an operation aimed at uncovering the sinister figure behind Alexander’s recent attack?

His heart seemed to stop for a few agonizing seconds as he braced himself for the inevitable eruption of Alexander’s thunderous reprimand. But to his astonishment, the anticipated storm of scolding words never materialized. Instead, the atmosphere in the room shifted, charged not with tension, but with an intriguing sense of curiosity that hung palpably in the air.

Evelyn, of all people, was the first to break the silence. “The car?” Her brows knitted together in confusion, but then, as if a light bulb had flickered to life in her mind, her eyes widened. “Wait, you mean the car that was involved in the accident that nearly took Alexander’s life?”

Oliver found himself at a loss for words, feeling as if he were teetering on the edge of a trap. He cast a quick glance at Alexander, silently pleading for guidance on how to navigate this unexpected turn of events.

He chastised himself for not being more vigilant, for not anticipating this moment. Yet, to his surprise, Alexander simply directed his attention toward Evelyn, offering her a subtle nod of encouragement.

“Yes,” Alexander confirmed, his tone steady.

Evelyn’s gaze snapped back to Oliver, her determination palpable. “Where was it located?”

Once again, uncertainty gripped him. Was he truly permitted to share such sensitive information? When had Evelyn been brought into the fold of their clandestine operations?

However, a swift nod from Alexander gave Oliver the unspoken permission he needed to proceed. “The vehicle was found in a junkyard, no more than twenty miles from here.”

“Are you absolutely certain that you found the right one?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing with skepticism.

“Every car owned by the Kingston family features a distinct and unique interior,” Oliver explained, his voice gaining confidence. “Trust me, incidents like car crashes are exceedingly rare for this family. The likelihood of us mistakenly identifying the wrong vehicle is virtually nonexistent.”

Evelyn nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing. “Alright, so you found the car. But was there ever any clarity on why the crash happened in the first place? I mean, aside from the potential murder plot, how did the vehicle end up in such a state? Were the brake lines tampered with? Was the steering mechanism faulty?”

Oliver was genuinely impressed by Evelyn’s astute observations. He exchanged a glance with Alexander, who appeared equally taken aback by her insightful questions, mentally noting to revisit this discussion later.

“We’re not entirely certain,” Oliver admitted, his brow furrowing with concern.

“You see, during the whole ordeal, I wasn’t the one driving,” Alexander interjected, his voice tinged with regret. “I couldn’t ascertain if the brakes had been cut or if the steering had malfunctioned. The most devastating part is that I lost one of my drivers in that accident.”

Evelyn’s expression softened, her features tightening with empathy. “That’s heartbreaking.”

“Just to clarify, Oliver,” Alexander said, his tone firm yet understanding, “I’m officially including Evelyn in our updates regarding this case. It’s crucial that she stays informed moving forward.”

“Yes, sir,” Oliver replied, a sense of relief washing over him.

“Oliver,” Evelyn began, her voice trembling slightly. “I… I want to apologize for what I did.”

For a fleeting moment, Oliver was utterly taken aback. It wasn’t until Alexander casually brushed his finger against his nose that the realization dawned on him—Evelyn was referring to their earlier confrontation.

“Oh, Evelyn. You really don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do,” she insisted, her eyes earnest. “I never intended to hurt you like that.”

“It’s alright. I shouldn’t have handled you so roughly,” he replied, his voice softening.

“I don’t want Michael to find out that you’re traveling back home,” Alexander explained, his brow furrowing with concern. “Knowing him, he’ll likely try to follow you.”

“You think he would harm me?” I asked, unease creeping into my voice.

“Whatever Michael does, he does with the intent to hurt Alexander,” Alexander stated, his expression darkening.

His words from the previous evening echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of the dangers that surrounded us.

“…I have countless enemies, Evelyn. The kind that have no conscience when it comes to hurting others if it means getting to me…”

I nodded slowly, understanding the depth of his concern. “Okay… What if there was a way to ensure we knew Michael’s movements?” I proposed, sensing their interest piquing. “Think of it as setting a trap. We’d need something to draw him in and keep him occupied long enough that he wouldn’t suspect anything was amiss.”

Oliver’s eyes lit up with a spark of inspiration. “We could do it here.”

A sly grin spread across Alexander’s face. “I could offer him the one thing he’s always craved.”

“But it has to be convincing,” Oliver cautioned. “We can’t let Michael suspect that we have the upper hand in this situation.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be too difficult,” I chimed in. “The last time the four of us were together, Alexander and I were in the midst of a fierce argument. As far as Michael knows, we’re still at odds. Let’s make him believe that whatever he’s planning is still on track. Even if we part ways, he’ll have no reason to target me, thinking it wouldn’t serve any purpose in hurting Alexander emotionally.”

In his mind, the damage had already been done. What we needed to do next was demonstrate that Michael’s emotional manipulation was still in play.

“I think I have an idea,” Alexander said, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.