Chapter 51

[Evelyn’s POV]

“It’s good to see that you’ve finally come into yourself...I take it that you and Alexander were able to make the marriage work.”

My hands curled into tight fists as a wave of anger coursed through me. It was almost enough to make me throw away all the etiquette lessons I spent countless hours on.

I couldn’t believe the words that were falling out of my father’s mouth. Were these compliments? Was this him actually showing that he cared for me and was concerned for my general well-being?

No.

It was all because of what I was wearing and how I was presenting myself in front of a room full of people. It was because of the facade that I had delicately crafted through meticulous training and ongoing lessons.

At that moment, I wasn’t the same outspoken, ‘wild child’ of a daughter that he had to endure having for years. Instead, I was a proper noblewoman who knew when to keep quiet and remained reserved when spoken to. And he couldn’t have appeared more proud and interested.

It set off a rageful fire within me.

I held back a spiteful sneer and spoke through my teeth. “What goes on between Alexander and me is no one's business but ours,” I answered coolly.

Nearly half the table turned their heads and gawked at my response. Both Samantha and Isabella looked as though they were going to choke on their drinks. Liam, on the other hand, bore a look of mild amusement that he failed to hide with his hand.

I had highly anticipated Leonard to let out some indignant retort; however, he surprised me yet again by letting out a healthy chuckle. I couldn’t recall the last time I actually saw my own father laugh—if ever.

“I suppose you’re right,” he said smoothly. “Of course, you can’t fault a father for being genuinely concerned for his daughter’s well-being.”

This time, I was the one who let out a laugh. Only it wasn’t filled with amusement but rather a dry scoff.

“Of course not,” I stated definitively. “But, perhaps you ought to place that same genuine concern on someone who could actually use it.”

Once again, the end of the table had fallen silent with burning anticipation for my father’s reaction. He said nothing. Only a questionable look marked his brow.

“And who might that be?” Isabella asked haughtily.

With my shoulders squared back, I turned to stare down the woman who’d spent the last several years of my life making me utterly miserable.

“Edward. The son he already has,” I stated firmly.

My tone was daring as were my eyes. But Isabella was wise enough to not speak out and challenge me when she already knew I was right.

“You’re right,” Leonard acknowledged.

I bit the inside of my cheek and gave a semi-polite nod. “Thank you for going through the trouble of arranging all of this on my behalf,” I said wistfully.

I pushed out my chair and excused myself from the table. All this talk of Edward instantly reminded me of why I was even back home in the first place. I wanted to see my brother.

I strategically maneuvered through the various hallways as a means to dodge any further interruptions. Just as my hand grazed the door handle to my brother’s room, I heard someone call out my name. Glancing over my shoulder, my stomach instantly churned into knots.

Liam.

[Third-Person’s POV]

Needless to say, Liam was not faring well with Samantha as a Luna.

He’d reached a point where he discovered the two of them were fighting more than they were simply talking to each other. There were never any solutions offered up when a new problem would arise. It was driving him insane.

He never faced this kind of turmoil when he was with Evelyn.

She was a problem solver, not maker. She didn’t just want to help the pack, she wanted to see it thrive. It wasn’t until he had his first real fight with Samantha that he realized what a terrible mistake he’d made.

The notion struck him like a nasty punch to the gut. But it happened during dinner when everyone was seated around the table. All eyes had been on Evelyn—including his own. He couldn’t believe the transformation that she had gone through.

It was like looking at a completely different person, yet in some ways, the real Evelyn was still there. He could sense it in her voice when her temper would rise. She was necessarily loud, but her tone was lethal.

Perhaps, living with Alexander has changed her...

All this time, he truly thought that she’d been suffering in her own marriage. Hell, it wasn’t as though it was a voluntary match, after all.

For the longest time, he thought Evelyn had been suffering in her marriage just as badly as he was in his. But after seeing her looking so well and refined, he felt even worse.

Deep down, Liam knew he had no business trailing after Evelyn. He wasn’t even sure why he was in the first place. But one thing led to another and seconds later, he had called out her name. Evelyn merely stared at him with a questionable look.

“What is it, Liam? I’m kind of in the middle of doing something.”

Liam was horribly tempted to question her for advice on how to solve some of the problems within his pack. Good God. How pathetic was that?

It pained him to think that all the work she had done for him and his pack had practically been torn to shreds because of Samantha.

All Evelyn wanted to do was see her brother. It was annoying enough that her Stepmother tried to embarrass her with such a large gathering. There was no denying that the entire event was meant to be some sort of rebound from the previous Luna gathering.

She had felt their judgmental eyes on her all evening which made her work all the more to ensure that not a single mistake was made. However, nothing could have seriously prepared her for that sudden emotional scene that her father put her through.

It was all just too much for her to deal with. And then there was Liam. He was, seriously, the last person that she wanted to have to run into. Evelyn was exhausted.

She figured that as soon as she was done visiting with Edward, she was going to head to her old room and rest for the rest of the night.

Liam looked lost and slightly shameful. “I...I just...Wanted to ask how you were.”

Evelyn drew her brows together, feeling uncomfortable and confused.

“I’m fine. Oddly enough, I’m doing well, considering how things started out,” she said.

Liam let out a derivative snort and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, makes you wonder if the guy is overly compensating for something.”

The same anger Evelyn felt before resurfaced with a vengeance. “What the hell does it matter to you?” she fired back. “What right do you have to pass judgment or make comments on my life, considering how little regard he held me in.”

Evelyn stormed past him before he could get a chance to say anything else.