The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover - Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Meeting the Knight Family (3)
“She’s not her father,” Axel said quietly but firmly.

“I didn’t say she was.”

Andrew studied him carefully.

“But you realize what this means? The business world will talk. People will make assumptions. So, have you told your father?”

“No,” Axel said simply.

Andrew frowned.

“You should have.”

Axel’s voice was calm, steady. “Grandpa, I don’t need his approval to love and marry my wife.”

That silenced Andrew for a moment.

Andrew Knight finally sighed and leaned back against his chair.

“You always did things your own way.”

“And it worked out well, didn’t it?”

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of Andrew’s mouth.

“It seems so. She’s a lovely woman, Axel. Intelligent. Warm. And I can see she adores you in her own way. Smart and elegant way.”

“I adore her too,” Axel said softly. “More than I ever thought I could. Probably more than her.”

Andrew studied his grandson for a long moment, then nodded. “Then… that’s all that matters.”

They keep chatting about a few more family matters and some business topics.

And,

By the time they returned to the living room, Eleanor was laughing with Evelyn over one of Axel’s childhood stories involving a bucket, a frog, and a traumatized nanny.

The way they talked and looked at each other while talking would make anyone guess they’ve been best friends for a long time.

The warm sight made both men pause at the doorway.

Andrew’s stern expression melted entirely.

“Now I understand why you married her,” he murmured.

Axel smiled. “I told you she’s impossible not to love,” he said proudly.

Evelyn looked up at that moment, her eyes beaming as she met Axel’s gaze.

“Are you two gossiping about me?” Axel asked, sitting right beside her.

Without hesitation, he reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.

Evelyn smiled to hear that. She felt a bit guilty because Grandma Eleanor had just revealed a rather embarrassing childhood story about him, and she hadn’t expected Axel to walk in right at that moment.

Before Evelyn could say something, Eleanor laughed faintly. She answered, “Yes, dear, we were talking about that time you traumatized your nanny.”

Axel’s expression froze.

His calm composure flickered for the first time since they arrived in this house.

He blinked, turning to his grandmother with disbelief.

“Grandma,” he said slowly, his tone halfway between a warning and a plea, “you promised never to bring that up again.”

Eleanor smiled warmly, clearly having a good time.

“Oh, nonsense. Every woman deserves to know what kind of boy she married. And the story is not that embarrassing, dear. Even Evelyn praises you… You are adorable…”

Evelyn pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

“Traumatized your nanny, huh?” she teased, raising a brow at him.

“That story,” Axel shot a sharp look at Eleanor, “is completely exaggerated. Don’t listen to a word of it, Eve. She’s only saying that to make you laugh. None of it’s true.”

“Really?” Evelyn joins Eleonar to tease him. “Because your grandmother seems very sure.”

Eleanor laughed. “Oh, he’s embarrassed, that’s all. He was five… Or six…years old, and…”

“Grandma,” Axel interrupted quickly, “let’s not—”

But it was too late.

Eleanor looked directly at Evelyn, “He brought a frog into the kitchen and put it in the nanny’s teapot. The poor woman nearly fainted when she poured herself tea.”

Evelyn covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh. But her grip on him tightened, just to help him relax.

Axel’s calmness returns.

He smiled softly, gaze drifting to his intertwined hand with Evelyn.

Shaking his head lightly, he lifted his face to look at his grandma.

“It was a science experiment. I was testing reflex reactions.”

That only made Eleanor laugh harder. Even Andrew, who had been silently observing the chaos from his armchair, suddenly broke into deep, booming laughter that echoed through the room.

But when he noticed the dark look his grandson shot him, Andrew coughed and quickly straightened up, pretending to check his gold Rolex.

Evelyn could only smile as she pictured the chaos he caused his nanny. It must have been hilarious to see Eleanor and Andrew recalling those stories.

Somehow, she also thought of her little son, Oliver. One day, he might do that too.

Before Axel could defend himself, the butler appeared at the doorway and announced that dinner was ready. The timing couldn’t have been better for him.

“Saved by the butler,” Evelyn whispered teasingly as they stood.

Axel glanced at her sideways before gently squeezing her hand.

“See, you don’t feel nervous anymore, right?”

Evelyn blinked and smiled.

She now feels much more at ease and even can’t remember that this was her first time meeting his grandparents.

…

Dinner turned out to be surprisingly warm and lively.

The dining room glowed softly under the chandelier, and the long oak table was filled with the most comforting aromas: roasted herbs, garlic butter, and something that smelled suspiciously like homemade pumpkin pie.

Evelyn was clearly impressed when Eleanor confidently said, “I cooked all of this myself. These are from my mother’s mother’s recipes.”

“You did?” Evelyn asked, her eyes widening with surprise. “Everything?”

She could easily picture how challenging it must be to prepare so many dishes, especially in her old age.

Even she, just preparing three dishes, already feels exhausted.

Eleanor smiles and says, “Of course I’m not alone. I have a few staff helping me, but I am the one who leads and guides them every step of the way.”

“Grandma… You are amazing,” Evelyn genuinely praised her.

“Axel grew up on my cooking. He’d starve if I let anyone else make his meals without my supervision.” Eleanor said proudly.

Evelyn smiled warmly.

They began eating, and Evelyn happened to sit directly beside Eleanor.

And Axel and his grandpa sit opposite them. They both started eating and talking about something related to business.

When Evelyn finally tasted the mashed potatoes, she nearly melted on the spot.

She leaned closer to Eleanor and whispered, “This is incredible,” she said, genuine admiration lighting her eyes. “I need you to teach me this recipe, Grandma.”

Elanor’s smile softened.

“I’d love to. Come visit again, and we’ll spend a whole day in the kitchen.”

“I’d love that,” Evelyn replied sincerely.

Axel, who overheard their conversation, smiled. He feels happy that his Grandma can help Evelyn relax.

He playfully said, “Careful, Grandma. You’re going to spoil her more than you spoil me.”