Chapter 142

[Evelyn’s POV]

“Alright, tell me exactly what is going on between you and Alexander this instant,” Wendy demanded.

A day had passed since Alexander and I had our confrontation in his office. Things had taken a major downhill effect between the two of us since then.

Alexander had blatantly requested time to think things over and I was obliged to give it to him. Last night, I made the choice to sleep in one of the other guest rooms to avoid any awkwardness. And this morning at breakfast, I greeted him and was merely met with a quiet word of acknowledgment.

My heart twisted painfully in my chest as I watched him snatch up the morning newspaper and request his coffee be brought to his office. He hardly spared me a passing glance as he turned on his heels and left the dining room.

God, I think I liked it better when it was still willing to argue with me.

Worst of all, both Wendy and Nina had been there to witness the whole encounter. As soon as Alexander was out of sight, they turned their heads to glance at me with questionable looks. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

I’d spent the majority of the morning outside, tucked away in the greenhouse. I was desperate for a distraction. By the time the afternoon came rolling around, Nina came out to find me. She insisted that I join her and Wendy for tea.

My initial thought was to politely decline mainly because I really didn’t want to be interrogated by either Wendy or her. But based on the look Nina gave me, I didn’t exactly have much of a choice.

I sucked in a deep breath and gently shook my head, feeling defeated. “Alexander and I accepted that stupid invitation from Isabella,” I started. “I knew it was a mistake to even consider going, but Alexander was adamant. He claimed that it would make us look as though we were trying to avoid our families, and the last thing we needed was for rumors to spread.”

I went on to explain everything from the moment Alexander and I had gotten out of the car to the minute I nearly tossed my wine in Isabella’s face for her horrible conduct.

Nina and Wendy gave me their full attention up until the very end where they began asking their questions. Needless to say, they were saddened about how things had turned out and felt sympathetic for both Alexander and me.

“It sounds like the whole thing was nothing more than a setup,” Nina commented. “I just don’t understand why Isabella would care to work with Caroline in the first place.”

“Knowing Isabella, she mainly gravitates toward people of either high status or those that will somehow benefit her,” I said.

Wendy hummed in agreement while taking a sip of her tea. “My guess is that she saw the whole business with Michael and took it as her chance to reach out to Caroline. It would explain why Caroline was even present for the whole event.”

“Alexander took everything in stride,” I commended. “But then all hell broke loose when Caroline mentioned that stupid money package that was attached to the damn marriage agreement. I wanted to tell Alexander everything. But things kept getting in the way. It never seemed like a good time to mention it.”

“It’s understandable why you would be hesitant to bring it up.”

Knowing that Alexander was refusing to talk to me or even acknowledge me, made me want to crawl back to my original routine when I first came to Kingston Manor. The days when he and I only met under necessary circumstances and avoided each other for the rest of the time.

“You can’t let this destroy what’s been developing between you and him, Evelyn,” Wendy stated. “The two of you have gone through too much to let it all fall to nothing now.”

“She’s right,” Nina added. “For Christ’s sake, we were literally planning your second wedding ceremony the day before yesterday.”

All I could do was shrug. “I can’t make Alexander understand my situation. I’ve told him everything regarding my side of things and he claims that he needs time to think things over.”

Wendy rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Oh, what a load of bullshit!”

My eyes widened. I was not prepared for the woman to completely throw her natural composure away.

“He doesn’t need time to think,” she said bitterly. “Think about what? Doesn’t he realize that the two of you went into this arranged marriage on damn near equal terms? Neither one of you knew anything about the other.”

My throat tightened with a mixture of blooming emotions. I was both grateful and mournful of the situation. I was thankful that Wendy was able to understand my situation but I was saddened by the possibility that my relationship with Alexander was likely on the verge of falling to pieces once more.

All because of those manipulative bitches...

I’d been grasping my cup in my hands so tightly that I was on the verge of shattering it. I had to do something. My anger toward Isabella was utterly raging. If Alexander wasn’t willing to hear me out, fine. I was going to head directly to the source of all my misfortune and pain.

I got up from my chair and thanked Nina for the tea.

“Wait, where are you going?” they asked.

“I’m going to confront Isabella,” I said. “I’m not going to let her destroy the one good thing I have in my life because her own life turned to shit.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Wendy questioned.

I shook my head. It was probably a horrible idea. But I was at my wits end with her and her horrible ways. I grabbed my phone and left the manor.

...

When I arrived back at the Silverwood Estate, I was instantly struck with all the awful feelings that I had before. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what my plan was. My mind was racing and my body was running on autopilot.

But I marched up the front steps and stormed through the main doors. Many of the staff members who were scurrying about were shocked to see me in such a state–not to mention in that house.

“Where is she?” I asked darkly.

“M-Mrs. Silverwood is in the living room.”

I took off again without so much as another word. It didn’t take me long to find Isabella lounging in the living room with her face buried in the latest issue of some magazine. She glanced up to find me looming in the doorway.

The sight of seeing the corner of her mouth pulling into a smirk nearly set me off.

“Well, well, look who’s here,” she says mockingly. “Let me guess, you and Alexander are having a hard time seeing eye-to-eye on things.”

“Why?” I asked bluntly. “Why did you do it? Why did you set me up?”

Isabella shrugged and set the magazine aside. “I figured it was time to bring you down from that pedestal you’ve placed yourself on.”

I sneered. “What the hell are you talking about? If there’s anyone here who has even placed themselves above anyone else it’s you! You and Samantha.”

Suddenly, a thought came to mind and many things began clicking into place. I continued to glare at Isabella with an unblinking, feral look.