Chapter 126

[Third-Person’s POV]

The very second the verdict had been announced, Alexander felt the pressure that was pressing on his shoulders finally release.

They’d done it.

Michael had been given his sentence and was currently in the process of being taken back through the side doors. Unlike before, the man was now thrashing and trying to get the attention of anyone who would grant it.

“You can’t do this to me!”

“Do you know who I am?!”

“This a fucking mistake! I’m not crazy!!”

“You’re all going to regret this!!”

Both guards had to take a firm hold on Michael to ensure that he was taken out of the main room without causing any further problems. As soon as the door slammed shut behind him, Alexander watched Evelyn flinch from the uproarious sound.

He lingered his gaze on her, hoping to find her less tense as well. However, Evelyn’s features continued to remain strained and pinched from the events that had just taken place.

Alexander felt his heart clench in his chest for her. None of this had been easy for her to go through with. She was not a naturally vindictive person. Evelyn didn’t go out of her way to hurt people or ruin their public image—unlike some people.

When she had first approached him and Oliver with the idea of having Michael labeled as ‘crazy’, Alexander knew then that Evelyn wasn’t comfortable. Being mean just simply wasn’t in her nature and he was completely fine with that.

It was one of the reasons why he adored her so much.

Now that the case was over, Alexander wanted nothing more than to take her home and help her unwind. Unfortunately, their job was not done yet.

Alexander and Evelyn made it a point to say their thanks and goodbyes to both the Alpha King and the judge. As they were walking out, Oliver came to their side and took the file folder out of Evelyn’s hands.

“Remember, you’re about to face the press. Just a few reporters who are looking to cover the ground-breaking story. Alexander will be expected to do most of the talking, Evelyn, so don’t feel too nervous or obligated to say anything,” he explained.

One of the main reasons why this part was so vital was because they needed to keep selling the story to the public that Alexander was still paralyzed. It was imperative that the photographers snapped multiple clear photos of him as he was.

Evelyn nodded her head. Alexander took the opportunity to capture her hand and lead the two of them out the main doors. Sure enough, there was a sea of people waiting for them all along the main path that, of course, led to their car.

“This is far more than just a few,” Evelyn muttered under her breath.

Alexander gave her hand a little squeeze to reassure her that everything was going to be fine. Within seconds, they were surrounded by the crowd and people began snapping photos of them. Reporters were shoving each other out of the way to get a single question in.

“Alpha Alexander, is it true that you just came from a private court case to have your own Stepbrother imprisoned?”

Alexander answered their questions with his usual stoic grace and unyielding emotion. “Michael Kingston is and has been a threat to the general public ever since he tried to have me assassinated several months ago.”

Everyone was stunned.

“Are you saying that the car crash that paralyzed you was orchestrated by Michael Kingston?”

“That is correct,” he confirmed. “As you can see, he failed in his mission; however there were others who lost their lives and those who are still fighting for their lives, even as we speak.”

Somehow the crowd geared their attention to Evelyn who felt her heart slip into her stomach.

“Mrs. Kingston! What do you make of this situation?”

“Personally, I think it’s horribly barbaric for anyone to go after their own sibling the way that Michael had done. He’s proven himself to be a risk and liability to the general public,” she said. “All I, and anyone, can hope for is that he will now receive the psychological care that he needs.”

Alexander cleared his throat. “That is enough questioning for today,” he announced. “I will be releasing a full statement of today’s event which will be released sometime in the upcoming days.”

From there, all three of them got into the car and made their way off to the house.

Alexander slid into the seat next to Evelyn and came to rest his large hand over hers.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “You did amazingly today.”

Evelyn let out a long withheld breath and allowed the corners of her mouth to slightly curve.

“I’m not sure at the moment,” she confessed. “I kept trying to tell myself that this was something that needed to be done. But I still can’t help feeling horrible.”

“Trust me,” Oliver started. “Michael was a loose cannon. What you said before about him finally getting the help he needed was not an understatement.”

Alexander hummed in agreement. “His entire life had been run by Caroline. Every thought and opinion he had was merely a mimic of her own. She never gave him the proper space he needed to grow into his own person.”

Evelyn’s expression was saddened while she remained quiet for the remainder of the ride back. Oliver and Alexander shared a look that begged the question; what was really going on with Evelyn?

...

That evening, Alexander finished up his formal statement about today’s court hearing before handing it off to Oliver for editing. Now that his business was truly done for the day, he was determined to find Evelyn and seek out answers.

He headed to the bedroom and was a bit surprised to find it empty. However, he caught the strange sound of water sloshing around and turned to find the bathroom door slightly cracked.

The Alpha stepped into the bathroom and found Evelyn soaking in the bathtub, surrounded by a white cloud of bubbles. The air smelled of sweet flowers and her.

Alexander, not wanting to frighten his wife, lightly cleared his throat to announce his presence. Evelyn’s eyes snapped open as she turned her head to glance at him.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your bath,” he told her softly. “It’s just that I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh?”

He wandered closer to the edge of the tub. “I know you’re still bothered by what went down today regarding the case and Michael but I feel like there’s more you’re not telling.”

Evelyn tore her eyes away and sighed, sinking further into the tub.

“Michael proved himself to be a truly despicable person,” she started. Alexander picked up the loofa nearby and submerged it in the water before brushing it over her shoulder.

“But there’s a small part of me that mourns the idea of what could have been. What I mean is, that I would have really liked the chance to have a friend who shared the same interests as me. When I first met him at the market, he was so nice and so open to talking about plants and their properties, it made me realize just how few people there are in my life.”

Alexander continued to run the loofa over her skin, wanting her to go on.

“Keep in mind, this was all before you and I were close like this,” she said. “And I’m grateful for Nina and Wendy’s company...I just wished I had an actual friend beyond this place sometimes.”

“I understand,” he said gently.

That excessive ache in his chest he’d felt earlier came back with a biting vengeance. Knowing of her upbringing, wished he could have known Evelyn a lot sooner.

For someone so remarkable, I would have been her friend in a heartbeat.