Chapter 91

[Evelyn’s POV]

“Now, I want you to remember this, alright? Anything that I say and do—none of it is true,” Alexander said to me.

He’d taken my hands into his and held me close. I felt the inexplicable heat course through my body as he brushed the pads of his thumbs over my blush-stained cheeks.

“All of it is to ensure that Michael believes you and I are still at odds with each other.”

“I know that, Alexander. Please, stop worrying,” I had told him.

The man was way beyond worried. I truly believed that Alexander was mortally petrified of potentially hurting me again. And to think, I was the one trying to ease his frantic mind.

I had absolutely no idea what he was planning on saying to me once Michael was due to make his appearance. After Oliver, Alexander and I had hatched together a viable plan to distract Michael from each of our ventures, the request for his presence was sent out.

Of course, it didn’t take long for a response to come back. Caroline sounded almost stunned to know what Alexander was seeking for Michael’s council and was swift to ensure that Michael would be at the manor the following morning.

My nerves kept fumbling in my stomach. In truth, I was becoming a bit of a nervous wreck myself for various reasons. I wasn’t sure if we were actually able to trick Michael or not. If the man was seriously as perceptive as everyone made him out to be, then there was no guarantee that our plan was going to work.

Apart from that, I was terribly worried for my brother, Edward. He wasn’t doing well, and it took everything in me to not pack a bag and head back to the house so that I could be with him.

But Alexander had been adamant. He made it perfectly clear that, although it was important that I go to my brother, my placement in this plan was utterly vital. I had to stay back so that I could fill my role.

And yes...Part of me was mildly concerned over how Alexander was going to literally ‘act’ around me once Michael arrived. It had been Oiver who made the suggestion that Alexander and I don’t share what we were planning on saying to each other prior to the meeting.

“It’s going to make the whole scene a lot more believable,” he claimed.

Maybe so...But if Alexander was getting overly concerned about the whole ordeal, then perhaps I had a right to feel anxious myself.

When the message from the staff came in that Michael arrived, I experienced a whole new crashing wave of anxiety.

Oh, God. Here we go.

I waited until Oliver had escorted Michael to Alexander's office. I made sure to have the letter clutched in my hand and diligently watched the clock for five minutes to pass.

“Remember, it doesn’t matter how you interrupt the conversation,” Alexander had said. “Anything that’s really important is going to be said at the end.”

I took in numerous deep breaths. As soon as the five minutes had passed, I shoved my worry aside and made off toward Alexander’s office. I had to dig deep and find that same resentful feeling that I had when I’d returned home from the market all those days ago.

I had to put myself on the verge of total rage. But when I simply thought about my poor brother and his sudden decline, I was able to throw in a few real tears for good measure.

Without wasting another moment, I barreled into the office. Michael was shocked to see the emotional state of me. I hardly paid him any attention.

I held out the letter for Alexander to take.

“What’s this?” Alexander asked dully.

“It’s a notice from my pack back home,” I said tightly. “My brother is not doing well. I need to leave. Now.”

He curled a brow and kept his stoic resolve in place. “I’m not lifting the travel ban on you,” he said pointedly.

I narrowed my eyes and spoke with clear indignation. “I would be literally going from one house to another. Think of it as trading one prison for another,” I hissed.

Alexander’s lip curled with a sneer. “Of course, if I were to travel with you, then the travel ban would be null and void for the time being...”

Oliver stepped up from the side and threw in his two cents to the conversation.

“Sir, I’m afraid, given your current obligations, taking a sudden trip out of town wouldn’t be ideal with your schedule,” he informed him.

I gave them a bitter, amused look. “Don’t worry, Oliver, I wouldn’t dream about pulling him away from his work. As we’re all aware it’s the only real thing in his life that he cares about.”

And just like we all anticipated, Michael swiftly stepped into the conversation.

“I’ll accompany you to see your brother,” he offered.

I dared to give him a smile, knowing that Alexander would be heaving.

“There’s no way I’m allowing the two of you to travel alone together,” he said with a vicious snarl.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“You claim that your brother is ill and I’m just supposed to believe that the both of you are going to do nothing more than see to his health? How stupid do you think I am?”

“You really want me to answer that question?” I pressed on.

I was fairly certain that I saw all the color drain out of Michael and Oliver’s faces at that moment. Alexander, on the other hand, looked as though he was actually fighting back a smile.

Taking another deep breath, I pressed both hands on top of his desk and leaned in.

“Let me make something clear. I’m not asking for anyone to accompany me, alright? I’m merely asking you to lift the stupid house arrest you placed me under.”

“I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”

My anger rose. “This isn’t about you. My brother is not well and I need to see him.”

“My answer stands.”

I really, really, needed to dig deep in order to make this convincing. My features pinched with anger and I said a silent prayer that Alexander wouldn’t break for what I was about to throw at him.

“You are being the most difficult and unreasonable person—Why did I even think I could talk to you?” I questioned. “You know what this all feels like? This just tells me that you’re nothing but jealous.”

Alexander narrowed his eyes and squared his shoulders back. His expression turned ruthlessly smug.

“Jealous? I have no reason to be jealous. It’s not like our marriage was ever based on any genuine feelings for each other. I didn’t even want this marriage in the first place.”

My eyes widened in genuine shock. My lips trembled as a not-so-subtle ache spread throughout my chest.

Ouch.

It’s not real. Remember, it’s not real...Yeah...But it certainly hit close to home.

I tore myself away and headed toward the door. “That makes two of us,” I muttered back.

Once the door slammed shut behind me, I was finally able to breathe out a sigh of relief. Now, with that part of the plan over and done with, Oliver would be making the suggestion to Alexander that I could have Wendy accompany me back to my family’s pack.

Alexander would bitterly agree and then he was meant to go on and offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to Michael.

While he and Oliver were going to be out examining the found crashed vehicle, Michael was going to take charge of Alexander's pack—mainly overseeing the soldiers and the guards.

Knowing Michael, he would never pass up the opportunity to play the role of Alpha.