Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 174 – Tea Time

A few hours later, Evelyn and Ian are seated in front of the fire in the parlor, apparently having a perfectly pleasant, if perfectly quiet, day. She sits on a chaise lounge close to the warmth, quietly peeling an orange and looking at a home and garden magazine.

Ian, on the floor, works to put together a children’s puzzle. Once, just once, he looks up at his mom, his face a little pained.

She gives him a wink and a little smile, letting him know that she knows he’s bored. But still, they have roles to play. He sighs and turns back to his boring puzzle, wishing he was doing anything else.

As she waits for the next shoe to drop, Evelyn patiently mulls over the information that Ian gave her. What the hell was Victor even doing?

It was clear, from what Ian had said, that Victor had somehow decided that now was the time to move on Willard and Walsh, to declare official war against them and take it to the battlefield.

But why now? She grits her teeth silently, frustrated. His little plan for pack dominance actually conflicted with her own. It had been her plan – and Emma’s and Delia’s, of course – to move today to take over the Walsh pack.

But nooooo. Victor had to interfere.

She supposed, ultimately, that she didn’t care who deposed her father and Joyce – as long as they were deposed. Still, things were changing – Victor’s choice had changed things. She had to get in touch with Emma and Delia to let them know that the situation had changed, if not the plan itself.

And, she had to get in touch with Victor too, to let him know that if he’s going to move now, then he needs to move now. The one piece of the puzzle that Victor doesn’t know is his extreme advantage in this moment, when Joyce was out of the picture.

If he waited – even a few days – he could lose that advantage. Evelyn sincerely hoped he didn’t – the fact that Joyce was still missing meant that Delia and Emma had him trapped. But Joyce was wily – there was no guarantee that they could keep him trapped for long.

Still, to get these messages out without risking her father suspecting it was her that did it? Their timing had to be perfect. So, she and Ian would wait.

As she finishes peeling her orange, Evelyn considers her son, playing with the puzzle on the floor. It’s far too easy for him – he’s taken it apart and put it together about three times – but he’s being such a good sport. She can’t help smiling at him then, her little sneaky squirrel.

She pops a slice of orange in her mouth, considering their choices. It was a sticky situation into which they’d gotten themselves – an unexpected battle was coming, and it looks like they were going to be at the middle of it, which is precisely where she did not want her child to be.

pack. Or, at least, it would be, one day. If there was going to be a fight for its future, then perhaps his place was right here at the center of everything. And then her place was right next to

side. Alvin would be terribly jealous if Ian

and a maid wheels in a

Evelyn says, raising her eyebrows. “Did

maid says, shooting her an apologetic look. “Your

shooting Ian a little smile. He flashes her a grin, excited. She had told him, earlier in the day, that

as predicted, they walk right in the

casually, shooting her a glance. “I didn’t know you were in here. You may join us for tea, of course.” The two men settle themselves in a pair of arm chairs across the room, a small table between

they were, had the tea sent in here just so he

donuts?” Ian asks, dashing over to

is a classic English high tea. There aren’t any

Ian says, eyeing the crisp little biscuits

ignores him and pours the tea for three. Ian opens his mouth to protest that he’d like to try a cup but Evelyn shoots him

in its spot. “Why don’t you tell us

cushions of her chair. “I don’t know what

yes, we know your story,” Walsh says, his voice low. “Abuse, seeking safe haven. It’s just all a little convenient that you arrive just

performance perhaps a

in the room, to stick to their original story: that Victor was cruel to them

glare at them

too neat. We know you’re up to something,

over to the tea tray to claim her cup. Pouring in a little milk, she then settles herself on the ottoman at her father’s

her.

he barks. “We know that you’ve had something to do with