Chapter 7 CHAPTER 7
Evelyn’s POV
I felt like I had won the lottery. It seemed almost too good to be true. Just the previous night, I had been thinking about quitting college so I could help with the family business. I was also bothered that Roman was the worst person to be tied to, and just like that Alpha Michael had saved me. My knight in shining armour. I smiled. I could forgive him for all his past misdeeds because of this singular act.
I had an afternoon lecture, and as I retrieved my notes from Xavier's car, I couldn’t help smiling. Very soon, I would be driving the coolest car on campus.
“Let’s enjoy our last days together," I said, patting it.
I met Jolene in our usual spot and I leaned towards her. “Is it just me or people have been staring at me?”
She frowned. “They’d stare. Wouldn’t you too?”
I was taken aback by her response. “Hey, what’s going on?”
She faced me. “You told me you hated him just yesterday, Evelyn. So why are you engaged to him now?”
My mouth hung open and dry. “Where did you get that info? Was it Alpha Roman?”
He had been the only one to witness the exchange between Alpha Michael and I. How petty he was.
“It’s all over the blogs,” she hissed. "I hardly know you, Evelyn.” She stood up, packed her notes and joined some other girls who were whispering and looking in my direction.
"She's such a bitch,” one said. “He was just here yesterday.”
Oh well. I dropped my notes and placed my headphones over my ears. I didn't see why she was overreacting. I was going to tell her before it got to the blogs. But Roman was just an asshole. Now everyone would think I had only met Alpha Michael yesterday and managed to seduce him.
She joined me at the end of the class, just as I was about to go home.
“I’m sorry I came out harsh at you,” she said, smiling and nudging my shoulder playfully.
I wasn’t impressed.
“It was just a whole lot to take in. You told me you hated him just yesterday,” she continued.
I straightened to my full height. “Things changed fast, Jolene,” I replied. “And I was going to tell you if you had given me the chance.”
She pouted her lips. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“Hug?” she asked, wearing her cute face.
I hugged her. She turned around and opened the car door on the other side, plopping into the seat. “You have to spill the tea, babes. Tell me how you ended up seducing Alpha Michael.”
I creased my brows as I settled behind the steering wheel. “Seduce?”
She slumped her shoulders. “You know what I mean? Everyone knows Alpha Michael is as picky as hell with ladies. And getting engaged after one night? Girl, you have to let me in on your secret.”
I started the car, slightly irritated by her comment. “I didn’t sleep with him,” I said, and moved the car in reverse.
Her eyes widened. “You didn’t? Then how? People have been whispering that you are probably hooked with a baby.”
“People?” I asked.
I knew it was Alpha Roman’s doing, trying to soil my image because I dumped his silly ass.
“Well, I didn't believe it.” She faced me. “So tell me how it all happened.”
The whole affair with the contract marriage with Alpha Michael was so scary that I wanted to share it with someone. But I knew better than to tell Jolene. It was obvious she had aligned with the gossip girls.
“I’m his mate,” I said instead. “We smelt each other.”
“No way!” she exclaimed. “Alpha Michael is your mate? Gosh, you are so lucky, Evelyn. You have everything."
I disagreed with her but I said nothing.
My stepmum pulled me to her side, happiness on her face and she hugged me. “You did it,” she exclaimed. ”I knew that your beauty was not going to be put to waste.”
I struggled to not get choked by her harsh perfume. I pulled away from her tight hug. She was all dressed up and made up. "Where are you going?” I asked.
“The billionaire's wives club,” she said, looking at a mirror and adjusting her makeup.
“But -”
“I am the mother in law of Michael Greywood. The Greywood,” she said, emphatically. “I didn't think you had it in you to make him marry you. Good job, Evelyn.”
I watched her as she walked out of the house. She never called me by my name unless she was very pleased with me, which was very rare. She made it obvious in the way she was partial in dealing with me and her daughter, Anne, that she wasn’t my real mother. Getting married to Alpha Michael would mean freedom from her too.
I took a quick shower and rushed to the hospital to see my father. I had wonderful news for him. We could pay for his medications now. We could afford that specialist that they said took only ten bookings in a year. He would get back on his feet and everything would be alright. In a year, our company will bounce back and I will also find my mate.
There was a bounce to my feet as I walked into the hospital that evening. True to his words, Alpha Michael had paid all our bills and the surgery was scheduled for that evening.
“It’s an emergency,” the doctor explained to me as they wheeled my father away. He squeezed my hands tight and I whispered a prayer in my heart.
“You’ll be fine, dad,” I said to him. “And I'll be right here waiting for you when you come out.”
I sent a text message to my step mum that dad was going into surgery. I doubted if she was going to see it. Unable to do much, I sat by myself waiting and hoping.
An hour later, my phone beeped, waking me up from my slumber. It was a text from Alpha Michael. I looked at it. There were strings of instructions. Tonight was our engagement night