The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover - Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Grandmother’s Arrival
The morning passed quickly, a blur of laughter, last-minute decorations, and the smell of food, along with fresh flowers filling every corner of the house.

By noon, everything was finally ready for Oliver’s birthday lunch.

The long wooden tables in the garden were set in the hall, pony-shaped balloons and fresh flowers lined the walkway, and the staff moved like clockwork under Jimmy’s supervision.

…

Upstairs, Evelyn was kneeling beside her son’s wardrobe, watching as Oliver stood in front of the mirror, frowning at his reflection.

“Mommy,” he said thoughtfully, holding two shirts: one white and one blue. Each stretched out, as if presenting evidence. “Which one will make me look older?”

Evelyn blinked, biting back a laugh. “Older? Sweetheart, you’re turning four, not forty.”

Oliver frowned harder, clearly unimpressed. “But Daddy always looks handsome when he wears a shirt. I want to look handsome too.”

“Well, Daddy also looks handsome when he’s grumpy and half asleep, so that’s not a fair comparison,” she teased, standing to help him.

Oliver tilted his head. “Then I’ll pick the blue one. Daddy wears blue when he’s angry.”

Evelyn burst out laughing.

“He’s not angry, he’s focused. That’s different.” She smoothed the tiny blue shirt over his shoulders and buttoned it neatly. “There. My little man looks absolutely perfect.”

Oliver looked in the mirror again, his chest puffed out with pride. “Do you think Daddy will like it?”

“I think Daddy might faint from pride,” Evelyn said with seriousness. She brushed his hair carefully, then kissed the top of his head. “Alright, birthday boy. Time to go downstairs.”

After putting on his white sneakers, they descended the grand staircase hand in hand.

Axel was waiting for them at the bottom, already in a tailored black shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

His phone was in one hand, but the moment he saw them, he froze. And then laughed, genuinely and loudly.

“Well, look at that,” Axel said, crouching slightly to meet his son’s eyes. “Who is this gentleman? He looks way too mature to be my little boy.”

Oliver grinned widely. “I’m four today, Daddy!”

Axel placed his hand over his heart. “Four already? Impossible. You were just a baby yesterday.”

Evelyn smiled, “That’s what happens when you skip too many bedtime stories. He grows up behind your back.”

Axel glanced up at her with a playful look. “I’ll have to take responsibility for that.”

“Please do,” Evelyn replied sweetly.

Oliver giggled between them. “Daddy, Mommy said you’ll faint when you see me.”

Axel raised an eyebrow at Evelyn, amused.

“Well, she’s right. You look amazing. But you know what that means?”

Oliver’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You’ll have to help me greet all the guests. You’re the host today.”

Oliver nodded proudly.

“I will! But only if I get extra cake.”

Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. “Like father, like son.”

They moved into the living room, where the sunlight spilled through the tall windows.

Axel glanced at his phone, his brow lifting slightly.

“Guards told me our first guests just passed the main gate,” he said.

“Already?” Evelyn asked, surprised as she glanced at her watch, it was only eleven. “Who is it?”

“It’s Alicia and Stella,” he replied simply.

Evelyn’s lips parted in delight. “They’re here? Oh, finally…”

Oliver looked between them, confused. “Mom, Dad, who’s Alicia…?”

Evelyn leaned in to him, smoothing his little collar. “Your grandmother, sweetheart. My mother.”

Oliver blinked in surprise, his round eyes growing wider.

“Mommy, you mean the same mother as Aunt Stella?”

“Yes, dear,” Evelyn said with a small smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s right.”

Oliver frowned thoughtfully. “But you never talked about her before.”

Evelyn paused for a heartbeat before replying gently, “You’re right. I didn’t. But today’s special. You’ll meet her, and she’ll meet you. That’s what matters.”

Her tone was calm, but Axel, still watching Evelyn across the seat, noticed a subtle change in her expression; the faint tension she tried to hide behind her warm smile.

Before Evelyn could think further, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Jimmy appeared at the entrance, followed by Stella and Alicia.

“Finally!” Stella called out, her voice cheerful as she hurried over. “My wonderful nephew! Little Oliver… I miss you so terribly…”

“Aunt Stella—”

Oliver’s face lit up full with joy in an instant. He jumped off his seat and approached her. She immediately hugged him, spun him around dramatically, and made him laugh uncontrollably.

Evelyn smiled at the sight. Her little sister always had that effect on people, filling a room with her chaotic, radiant energy.

“Stella,” Evelyn said teasingly, “stop holding Oliver too long; he needs to meet his grandmother first.”

Stella froze mid-spin, laughing. “Oh, right!” She looked over her shoulder at Alicia. “Mom, your turn.”

Alicia stood near the doorway, her expression unreadable. Her eyes were fixed on Oliver, and in that instant, something in her softened.

She stepped forward, slowly, almost reverently. Oliver, sensing the change in the air, looked at Evelyn, uncertain.

Evelyn nodded encouragingly. “Go on, sweetheart. Greet your grandma.”

Oliver approached her shyly, his tiny steps deliberate. Then, in his usual innocent tone, he said, “He-Hello, Grandma. I’m Oliver.”

Alicia let out a quiet, shaky laugh. “Hi, little one. You’re… so handsome,” she whispered before kneeling to pull him into her arms.

Evelyn stood nearby, softly resting her hand on Alicia’s back to comfort her.

For a moment, none of them spoke. It was the kind of silence that carried too many sad memories to put into words.

After a few moments, finally, Alicia pulled away, smiling through misty eyes.

“Oliver, you look so much like your mother did when she was little,” she said softly, her voice trembling with overwhelmed happiness as tears threatened to fall.

Oliver tilted his head. “Really? Did Mommy also like ponies?”

Evelyn laughed from behind him. “No, Mommy liked to boss everyone around.”

Stella gasped dramatically. “Still does, by the way.”

“Careful,” Evelyn warned as she narrowed her eyes, teasing her little sister. “I still have your baby photos.”

“Ups! Sorry, sis…”

The sisters exchanged playful looks, their teasing easing the tension that had briefly filled the room.