Chapter 93

[Evelyn’s POV]

My Evelyn,

I hope that when you are reading this you are safely on your way back to your family’s pack. You needed to know, from me, that I could not be more impressed and proud of the act you were able to display back at my office.

You make me realize just how devoted and committed you are to this pack as well as myself. This plan we concocted together could not have been successful without you. Although I’m confident that we have succeeded in our venture, I’m also deeply bothered. I don’t like the fact that I’m not with you right now, nor do I like the fact that I didn’t even get a chance to properly say goodbye to you.

I had to take a short break to allow my mind to process the words that were in front of me. Honestly, my comprehension became insanely questionable the moment I read the first two words of Alexander’s letter.

‘My Evelyn’.

Just seeing those words together did something to my insides that caused an overpowering surge of heat to course through me. It was like taking a peek into Alexander’s subconscious. Was that how he saw me? In his mind, was I really his?

Given the recent events, it should have probably bothered me rather than appealed to me. Part of me wasn’t too keen on the idea of being owned by someone—even if that someone happened to be my husband. Then again...The other part of me saw it as rather thrilling.

The primitive side of me felt secure in knowing that I was wanted and coveted by someone. It made me feel...special.

The warm, heartfelt buzz that radiated through my body was slowly replaced with a subtle pain. I hadn’t gotten the chance to see Alexander before Wendy and I made our way off. And I wasn’t sure if it bothered me or not.

My heart clenched in my chest as I read on.

...What truly bothers me about this situation is that there was never a specific timeline set in place. While Oliver and I anticipate being away for no more than two or three days, there was never any discussion when it came to your predicted time away.

Of course, with your brother not being well, I cannot hold you to any sort of expectation. Part of my reasoning for having Wendy travel with you is while you’re busy caring for your brother, she will be acting as my eyes and ears.

Please understand, as much as I care for you I do not hold your family in the same high regard. I don’t trust them. You being in that house is enough to make me worry. I know that you are fully capable of taking care of yourself, but please be vigilant.

The moment you feel as though something is wrong, you are to reach out to me directly. If something should happen while your brother is still not well, then I will happily have him moved into the manor where then at least I know the two of you will both be safe...

There was no stopping the tears that prickled in the corners of my eyes. I truly hadn’t expected something like this.

Simply knowing that Alexander was concerned for my well-being was enough to make me smile, but to know that he was willing to accept Edward into his home brought me to a whole other level. I had half a mind to tell the driver to turn the car right back around just so that I could find Alexander and throw my arms around him.

Knowing that he was ready for the possible chance of having to accept my brother into his life gave a resurgence for those feelings I buried prior to all of this. He reminded me why I began to fall for him in the first place.

I had believed that deep down, Alexander was a caring person. Granted, a lot of those thoughts were pure speculation at times. But the more he was willing to let me get closer, the more I was able to see it.

...I hope that whatever is going on with your brother can be mended. It’s not as though I’m looking for you to rush through things, but it’s important that you know I’ll be thinking of you constantly while you’re gone.

...Needless to say, I’m not happy with the way things ended between us when you left my office...

My brows pulled together in confusion. What did he mean? All of it was just a skit, wasn’t it?

...That look you had in your eyes, whether it was real or not, scared me. For a moment, I seriously believed that I had crossed the line with you again and it is absolutely imperative that you understand how none of it was true...

The corners of my mouth curled into a knowing smile.

...What I had said about our marriage, could not have been any further from the truth. That day, when I had first seen you in that beautiful dress, there were feelings flying around. Confusion. Astonishment. Disbelief. I just couldn’t fathom why someone so stunning would want anything to do with me. To put things plainly, I’m not easy on any level. So it begged the question as to why you were so willing to ‘shackle’ yourself to me...

I hated the feeling of guilt that came creeping in from the back of my mind. It was because there was a reason why I had agreed to the marriage—the whole reason why I was even heading back home. I needed the financial security to keep my brother’s treatments going.

I had never meant to keep it a secret, at least not for so long. I knew I should have told Alexander the whole truth when I first got the letter, telling me that Edward’s health had taken this unexpected turn for the worse.

...No matter what, I consider you a blessing to my life and I cannot imagine existing in a world where you are not there. With all my support, I hope you’re able to help your brother and I hope to hear from either Wendy or you very soon.

Yours, Alexander.

I sucked in a much-needed deep breath and hoped it would dull the ache that seared in my chest. Folding up the letter, I held it close to me while letting my head fall back in a mix of shame.

“Evelyn?” Wendy spoke softly. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I need to tell you,” I whimpered quietly. “This letter...Alexander had basically said in so many, many words that he essentially loved me. He cares very deeply for me.”

A large smile spread across Wendy’s face. “Oh, but that’s wonderful news, isn’t it?”

“It is,” I confirmed.

“Then why do you look so sad?”

“It’s because Alexander doesn’t know the whole reason as to why I agreed to the arranged marriage,” I told her. “Please believe me when I say that it’s true I’ve always admired Alexander for his perseverance and his strength for his pack. Given his reputation, I wasn’t sure if he and I were ever going to have this sort of relationship.”

Wendy nodded her head.

“But the main reason I married him was because I needed the finances to help cover my brother’s medical treatments,” I confessed. “A while ago, Edward had been caught up in an accident which ended up placing him in a coma. I’d been doing everything in my power to ensure that he was getting the proper care he needed but money wasn’t flowing so easily at the time.”

Wendy wore a contemplative look. “Evelyn, I believe you did the right thing.”

My mother fell open. “R-Really?”

She nodded her head. “The way I see it, you took a horrific chance on fate all for the sake of your sibling’s health. You potentially traded your freedom so that there was a chance that your brother may one day have one.”

I covered my mouth to keep from crying out. With a sympathetic look, Wendy reached over and took my hand. “Once we return home, tell him everything.”