34 Double Agent
Evelyn placed the mug down, her hand steady despite the tightness in her chest. 1
She didn’t look at him right away, unwilling to let him see the disappointment and sadness behind her eyes.
Then she turned to look him in the eyes.
“He needs to learn discipline,” she finally answered him.
Before Axel could say something, a smile formed on her lips as she asked, “Latte? Espresso?”
She was trying to divert their conversation. She didn’t want to talk about it now. Not when Oliver is around.
He was surprised to see her so calm. He expected her to argue back with her usual sarcasm. But he was wrong.
“Expresso.”
Seeing the sadness flicker across Evelyn’s face, Axel’s chest tightened with guilt.
He hadn’t meant to sound like he was criticizing her. He just wasn’t used to this.
“I’m sorry, Evelyn…” he said gently when she served him the espresso.
When her eyes meet his, he continues, “You’re right, he needs to learn discipline from a young age. I’ll follow what you’ve taught him. I
don’t want to confuse him… or make things harder for you.”
Evelyn’s lips formed the faintest smile, her shoulders relaxing with relief. For a moment, she’d feared Axel would come crashing into her
carefully built world and rearrange everything.
She had spent years raising Oliver with love, discipline, and consistency, her way. The thought of someone, even his father, undoing all
that scared her more than she wanted to admit.
But Axel’s willingness to step back and listen eased her. She gave a slight nod.
“Thank you, Axel… Your words mean a lot to me.”
She didn’t question him further. Sometimes, it was better to let things be.
Just then, light footsteps pattered back into the kitchen.
Oliver came out, dressed in his clean clothes instead of pajamas, his little handsome face glowing with excitement.
I’m ready, mommy, daddy…”
Axel’s expression softened instantly. “Perfect timing, buddy. Sit down. Let’s eat,” he said while helping Oliver sit between him and Evelyn.
And so, their first breakfast together as a family began.
The breakfast feels warm, messy, imperfect, but real.
Oliver chattered happily, swinging his legs under the table as he told Axel about his favorite cartoons, his activity in Martha’s house, and
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34 Double Agent
the cafe.
Axel listened intently, his deep laughter filling the small apartment whenever Oliver’s imagination ran wild, talking about his favorite
cartoon.
Evelyn was sitting in line with them both. But she found herself quieter than usual. She only heard the father and son talking.
Without her knowing, she was lost in her own thoughts. A mix of tenderness and unease twisted in her chest. This was what Oliver
needed, what he had longed for without even knowing it.
She set aside her thoughts and concerns about her future with Alex.
Then, the image of the Beach Side Café filled her mind.
She hadn’t set foot there since the day Oliver got hurt, and guilt instantly weighed heavily on her chest. Aunt Martha must have been
worried sick.
Every time Martha had asked to visit them in the hospital, she had refused. She couldn’t let her come.
However, now she can’t refuse her any longer. She knew it was only a matter of time before she had to reveal the truth.
Aunt Martha wasn’t just her business partner; she was like family. And once she discovered that Oliver’s father was none other than Axel
Knight, the infamous man everyone knew… she would be shocked. She fears Aunty Martha will have a heart attack.
Besides. Aunty Martha deserved to hear it from her, face–to–face.
“Yes! I will go to the cafe later this afternoon… Evelyn decides.
“Mommy… Mom?”
Evelyn shook off her troubled thoughts and tilted her head toward Oliver. His eyes were wide and twinkling with mischief.
Yes, sweetheart?”
His lips curved into the brightest smile. “Daddy needs to go to work. Go walk him outside, Mom.”
She froze, blinking, her surprised gaze darting straight to Axel.
“Wait. What? Since when did my son become his father’s messenger?‘
Confusion flashed openly across her face, but Axel only smiled at her in that infuriatingly calm way.
Axel’s deep eyes softened as he leaned a little closer. “Come outside for a while…” His voice was warm, almost coaxing, and it seeped
under her skin before she could stop it.
And just like that, her heart swelled.
Before she could argue, Oliver spoke again, excitement bursting through his eyes. “Yes, Mommy, go walk with Daddy! Don’t worry about
me, I’ll wait here!”
He left his chair and hurriedly walked toward the sola, plopping down with a grin, as if giving them permission.
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Evelyn was speechless ‘Oh My Goodness‘ Not only had her son decided to play spokesperson for Axel, but now he was acting like an
adorable cupid.
An amused laugh threatened to burst from her lips.
Unbelievable. My son has become a double agent.
For one ridiculous second, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This was her life now, caught between the man who once turned her world upside down and the little boy who had just conspired
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