The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 96

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 96: Playing It Cool**

[Evelyn’s POV]

A heavy, toxic wave of venom coursed through my veins, leaving me feeling utterly betrayed.

Of course… why hadn’t I seen it coming?

Deep down, a part of me clung to the belief that people were inherently good, that they couldn’t possibly commit such heinous acts. It might sound naive, but my experiences had taught me that cruelty often manifested in nothing more than petty remarks or minor slights. Until now, that is.

Fiona had been the first to reveal her true nature, poisoning the very tea we drank.

Then there was Michael, who had gone so far as to orchestrate a near-fatal car accident for his own stepbrother.

And now, Isabella was attempting to take Edward’s life by tampering with his medications.

The thought ignited a fiery rage within me, making my vision blur with fury. It was infuriating that I lacked concrete evidence to accuse Isabella directly.

But my instincts screamed otherwise.

The moment I learned of Isabella’s pregnancy—a son, no less—I realized it was all part of her twisted plan to usurp Edward’s place in the family. I had never imagined she would sink so low as to jeopardize my brother’s health.

A low growl escaped my throat, one that could have rivaled Alexander’s own ferocity.

“She’s been trying to kill him,” I spat, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with venom.

Wendy, bless her heart, had remained steadfast at my side while I wrestled with this gut-wrenching revelation. She gripped my arm tightly, as if fearing I might collapse under the weight of my thoughts. Honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed her if I did.

Had I not intervened when I did, who knew what state Edward would have been in? He could have died, and the world would have remained blissfully ignorant of the dark forces at play.

Anxious breaths caught in my throat as my chest tightened with a burning sense of dread. I could see the worry etched across Wendy’s face.

“Evelyn! What’s wrong?” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern.

“It’s her… She’s the one…” I gasped, struggling to articulate the chaos swirling in my mind.

“Who? Who’s the one? What did she do?” Wendy pressed, her brow furrowing with confusion.

I needed to compose myself. Despite my trust in the staff that managed the household, I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing our frantic exchange.

With a sharp shake of my head, I motioned for Wendy to follow me toward a secluded corner of the garden, a place that rarely saw visitors. As we moved, I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm within me.

“I have a very, very strong belief that Isabella is the reason my brother has fallen ill,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Wendy’s face flickered through a spectrum of emotions—concern morphed into shock, and then settled into a puzzled expression. She was likely grappling with the notion that someone like Isabella could orchestrate such a malevolent scheme.

“Believe me, she may not look it, but Isabella can be extraordinarily vindictive and manipulative,” I insisted, my voice steadying. “Especially when it serves her interests.”

Wendy’s brows knitted together in contemplation.

“I’m sure you knew that before Alexander and I were married, it was my stepsister, Samantha, who was initially meant to be matched with him.”

Wendy nodded slightly, recalling snippets of gossip. “I remember Fiona and Caroline mentioning something like that in passing.”

I nodded, my heart racing in agreement. Wendy was right; the priority was to restore Edward’s health before it was too late.

Later that evening, as we all gathered around the dining table for dinner, I was taken aback to see Samantha in attendance. She looked worn and far from her usual vibrant self.

I should have sensed something was amiss the moment our eyes met, and she didn’t hurl an insult my way.

Both she and Isabella maintained an unsettling silence throughout the meal. I did my best to keep my responses about Edward’s condition vague, just as Wendy had advised. I needed to keep my composure, hoping the truth would eventually reveal itself.

Once the evening came to a close and everyone retired to their rooms, I decided to pour myself a cup of tea and headed toward the kitchens. Just as I reached the doorway, I overheard two familiar feminine voices engaged in hushed conversation.

It was Isabella and Samantha.

“I’ve told you countless times, I’m trying to make things work with Liam,” Samantha lamented. “We don’t even share the same room anymore.”

Isabella shook her head in disapproval, her tone dripping with disdain. “Honestly, I thought I raised you better. You need to prove you’re a worthy Luna. And you can do that by showing you can provide him with a child.”

With a flourish, Isabella revealed a small vial filled with dark purple liquid that I couldn’t identify.

“What’s that?” Samantha asked, her curiosity piqued.

“This, my dear, is how you’re going to make Liam fall in love with you all over again. It’s an aphrodisiac that will make even the most strong-willed succumb to desire. Just give it to Liam, and he won’t be able to resist you,” Isabella replied, her grin widening.

“Where did you get that?” Samantha questioned, her brow furrowing.

Isabella’s smile was enigmatic. “I have connections. You’d be amazed at what I can acquire.”