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.

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 him, helping him to

the same choice with Alvin, keeping him by his side. Alvin would be terribly jealous if Ian got to go to war and he

opens, then, and a maid wheels

her eyebrows. “Did we

look. “Your

shooting Ian a little smile. He flashes her a grin, excited. She had told him, earlier in the day, that if they just waited patiently, Walsh and Willard would come to

predicted, they walk right

us for tea,

knew exactly where they were, had the tea sent in here just so he could come in and pick their brains. “We’d love to

asks, dashing over to the cart to

Walsh says, frowning at the boy. “This is a classic English high

says, eyeing the crisp little biscuits with

opens his mouth to protest that he’d like to try a cup but Evelyn

back in its spot. “Why don’t you tell us why you’re really

leaning back against the cushions of her chair. “I don’t know

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

enjoying the performance perhaps a little too much. “He’s

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

glare

“It’s all too neat. We

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

says nothing, studying her. Willard, however, is

“We know that you’ve had something to