The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 22

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22 Don’t You Dare!

22 Don’t You Dare!

“Mommy…”

“Finally, you woke up, sweetheart…” Evelyn said, her voice trembling with relief as she hurried to the bedside.

She deliberately ignored the intense stare from Mr. Iceberg himself, who had stood up from the stool as if trying to give her some space.

With practiced case, Axel released Oliver’s hand, smooth and casual, as though it meant nothing.

However, Oliver had other plans. Her son wouldn’t let Axel disappear into the background like some bodyguard on standby.

“Mommy, look, look who’s here… It’s Mr. Axel Knight!” Oliver’s eyes beamed as if he’d just discovered a superhero coming to visit him.

Evelyn suddenly finds her throat going dry, catching her off guard.

“I know… of course I know… because he’s your father, Oliver.” Evelyn wanted to say that, but the words only lingered at her throat, never

past her lips.

She forced a soft smile for her son and darted a glance at Axel.

Predictably, the warmth she had seen on his face earlier, the rare smile, had disappeared. Instead, it was the usual Axel: cold, unreadable,

with a look sharp enough to see the truth behind anyone’s confidence, let alone shyness.

‘My goodness… does he practice that death stare in the mirror every morning?‘ Evelyn thinks amusedly. 1

Still, she hurriedly pushed aside her own thoughts. There’s something more important than imagining how Axel practices his expression.

She needs to talk to her son. She politely smiled at Axel, ready to ask him to step outside so she could speak to Oliver alone.

However, before she could, her son spoke again, “Mommy, you were wrong…”

Looking into his gaze, she knew his words were a trap. And whatever he wanted to say made her nervous.

“Wrong?” she casually repeated.

A faint smile gradually appeared on her lips, despite her inner panic. ‘When did I say something wrong? What did I forget? Oh no. Oh no.

Please don’t tell me…

“This morning.” Oliver continued, his small voice sweet and innocent. “When I asked you who Axel Knight was, you said…”

Evelyn’s heart sinks as she quickly thinks, ‘Oh god. Abort mission. Stop right there, young man. Don’t you dare to say anything

She shook her head quickly, eyes wide, shooting him every desperate signal she had, pleading glances, tiny shakes of her hand, even a

sharp glare that said, ‘Oliver Taylor…one more word and you’re grounded until college: 1

But Oliver, sweet innocent Oliver, was blissfully immune to his mother’s panic.

“…you said he’s a boring man who wears boring suits and does boring things…” 1

Evelyn wished the ground would swallow her whole.

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22 Don’t You Dare!

‘Fantastic. Out of all the conversations to remember, he picks this one? How smart my son is…!

Oliver, beaming with pride as he cheerfully corrected her, “…but Mommy, Mr. Axel Knight is not boring. He’s kind. And funny, too.”

The little guy paused for a giggle before turning his gaze to Axel. “He tells me so many jokes, and I like him a lot, Mom. Uncle Axel… do

you like me too?”

Axel’s lips curved, not into his usual dominating smirk but into something subtler. “Of course…I like you, buddy,” He answered.

Oliver giggled again and innocently said, “See, Mom, Uncle Axel, like him…”

Evelyn was left speechless. These two are beginning to make her nervous.

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, she silently expressed her frustration. ‘Perfect. Just perfect. My child has now found his partner in crime to drive

me insane…

Axel didn’t laugh outright, of course, he wouldn’t, but the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth gave him away. His eyes gleamed with

amusement, as if he were savoring her frustration.

But later,

Axel moved closer to her and whispered, “I didn’t like to hear him call me, sir… Or uncle…”

Evelyn’s eyes twitch in surprise upon hearing his words. She narrows her eyes at him.

Before she could say something, he added, “Do you want me to tell him?”

Instantly, Evelyn shot him a glare sharp enough to peel paint off the walls. “Don’t you dare!” she whispered furiously.

“Relax… I haven’t said a word,” Axel replied smoothly, straightening to his full height. His tone was casual, but his eyes sparkled with the

victory of a man who didn’t need to speak to win.

Oliver, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air, tugged at Evelyn’s sleeve.

“Mommy, can Mr. Axel stay with us? Please? Please Mommy… I like him.” He said, worried that his mother would ask Axel to leave.

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. She opened her mouth, about to politely turn him down, but no words came out. She looked at Oliver’s

hopeful eyes, then at Axel’s cool, unreadable stare.

Her son had already chosen sides, and apparently, she was the one outnumbered.

“Of course,” Axel replied smoothly before Evelyn could. “I’ll stay as long as you want, buddy…” He raised his hand and gave a fist bump with his cubby hand.

Evelyn gaped, and she glared at him again.

‘Oh, look at him. Mr. Knight in shining armor, hijacking my parental authority like it’s a boardroom takeover…

But when Oliver beamed and squeezed her hand, whispering, “Thanks, Mommy…”

Evelyn’s heart softened. She let out a sigh, feeling defeated.

08 51

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22 Don’t You Dare!

“Of course, dear… but remember, you can’t make him stay if he has an urgent work matter. Can you promise me you’ll understand?”

Evelyn smiles at Oliver, but deep inside, she’s satisfied because she sent Axel a message reminding him that he’s not someone who is unemployed and can stay longer. He has a company to run. Perhaps he forgot about that.

Axel’s lips curled just a little, his silence confident, as if to say: ‘I’m winning, Evelyn!‘

And Evelyn knew, with bone–deep certainty, that this man was going to be the death of her sanity. 1

And just like that, Axel Knight stayed with them in the hospital.

By the next hour, his people arrived, bringing a few of his personal belongings and placing them in the room directly opposite Oliver’s

ward.

That short night somehow stretched endlessly for Evelyn.

The three of them spent it together, talking with Oliver about cartoons and the most ordinary things.

What struck Evelyn most was the silence surrounding the truth. No one mentioned Axel’s real identity.

Not once.

Either Oliver deliberately avoided the question, or her little boy was far too clever and gentle for his own good, sensing what shouldn’t

be said.

The atmosphere flowed so naturally that she almost forgot the weight pressing down on her chest.

Eventually, Oliver drifted off, his breathing soft and steady, leaving Evelyn alone with her restless thoughts.

When Axel finally rose from his chair, Evelyn exhaled, convinced he would retreat to his new wardroom across the hall. She needed the

break.

But she was wrong.

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