The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover - Chapter 186
Chapter 186: The Painting War
Jackson was already pulling out a chair, looking way too pleased with the seating arrangement. “Well, look at that. Fate is a comedian.”
Evelyn is leaning closer to Axel. “Did you plan this?”
A faint smile appeared on his lips. “I didn’t have time to plan anything. But at the last minute, I asked Dylan to contact them and say I would attend the event.”
‘Ah, so Dylan is the culprit,’ she thought, hiding a small laugh. He was indeed a thoughtful assistant… sometimes too thoughtful.
“Eve, sit down. You’re drawing attention,” Axel said softly, pulling out a chair beside him with effortless grace.
Evelyn didn’t even get the chance to choose another seat; the name cards were already perfectly placed. There was no escape.
“Thank you, Mr. Knight,” she said with a polite smile, lowering herself into the chair and smoothing her gown.
She couldn’t believe this charity dinner would become her first public appearance with her husband.
Out of hundreds of people in the grand ballroom, only two knew their real relationship.
The rest simply assumed she was a charming businesswoman lucky enough to be sitting beside the elusive Axel Knight.
Happiness and anxiety warred inside her chest.
Two glamorous actresses seated at the same table as them exchanged whispers and sharp glances. Their expressions screamed, ‘enemy sighted’.
Not only them, but half of the women seated near their table instantly seemed to despise her.
Evelyn felt their stares prick her skin. She kept her posture calm, pretending not to notice.
However, it was notably challenging when the man beside her, her husband, who was usually cold and unreadable in public, appeared gentle, patient, and entirely focused on and fond of her.
Every so often, Axel leaned in, his deep voice whispering a word or two meant to comfort her.
His calm tone eased her nerves but simultaneously fueled the storm of curiosity around them.
‘Come on, Eve. Calm down. Act normal,’ she told herself, forcing a composed smile. ‘If you keep avoiding him, people will notice something’s off. Just breathe.’
As servers began pouring wine, the four of them—Evelyn, Axel, Jackson, and Joseph—fell into polite conversation for appearance’s sake.
To everyone else, they appeared to be successful professionals discussing business.
To Evelyn, it felt like sitting through a live comedy skit.
Jackson leaned slightly with a mischievous glint in his eye. He said casually, “So, Mr. Knight, I hear Evelyn has been collaborating with Hope Medical Center?”
Evelyn’s head turned sharply toward him. “Jackson, can you pick a different topic?”
Axel’s smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the moment. “It’s going quite well,” he said smoothly. “She’s very dedicated. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
Joseph, caught mid-sip, nearly choked on his drink. He coughed and turned his head to hide his grin. “Ah, yes, Evelyn always gives her best. I’m so grateful to work with her…” he added, trying to sound professional.
“Evelyn, I’d love to invite you to collaborate with my hospital! We’re also very open to working with you.” Jackson said warmly, his eyes patiently waiting for her response.
Evelyn was left speechless. She wasn’t sure if Jackson was being genuine or just acting. She exhaled slowly, reluctant to act with him.
She shot sharp stares at the three men, enough to make them stop talking about her.
“Gentlemen,” Evelyn finally spoke, gesturing toward the stage. “Maybe we should pay attention to what the MC is saying?”
Jackson chuckled. “You’re right, Evelyn.”
Joseph quickly nodded. “Yes, absolutely.” He was smart enough to know when not to push her further. The last thing he wanted was to lose his job because he couldn’t stop teasing his big boss.
Evelyn finally felt a little relief until, beneath the table, Axel’s hand brushed against hers and then held it firmly.
She froze, her pulse jumping. His touch was warm, confident, and utterly distracting.
He tilted his head toward her, pretending to glance at her phone. “Relax,” he murmured slowly. “You’re doing great.”
“I’m trying,” she whispered back. “But thanks to you, my blood pressure might hit dangerous levels.”
His lips curved in amusement. “Don’t worry. We have a capable doctor right here.” He nodded subtly toward Jackson.
Evelyn stared at him, speechless.
Jackson smirked like the devil, clearly eavesdropping on every word.
Thankfully, the event began, saving her from further embarrassment.
The hall dimmed, and the MC introduced the evening’s program.
Gentle music filled the air as servers moved gracefully between tables, serving elegant dishes and refilling glasses.
The gentle clink of silverware and polite applause after each speech added to the elegant ambiance.
After dinner came the charity auction.
Luxurious items appeared one by one: antique jewelry, classic watches, limited-edition art pieces, and rare sculptures.
The proceeds would go toward healthcare programs and children’s education.
Axel turned to her with quiet curiosity. “Do you want something?”
She blinked. “Hmm?”
“If there’s something you like, tell me. I’ll buy it for you.” His tone was casual, but his gaze was serious.
“I didn’t come here to shop,” she whispered. “I’m just here to support Joseph and the Walters Group.”
He leaned slightly closer. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
Evelyn sighed, scanning the list of auction items on the screen. She hadn’t planned on buying anything, but one painting caught her eye.
It was an abstract piece… swirls of gold, white, and deep blue, the colors blending like emotion itself. There was something raw and captivating about it.
She didn’t even notice Axel watching her reaction. “You like that one,” he said quietly.
“It’s beautiful,” she admitted. “But I don’t even know the artist.”
“That doesn’t matter.” He raised a paddle just as the auctioneer began. “Ten thousand.”
Her eyes widened. “Axel!”
The room fell silent for a second before whispers began to spread. People started murmuring.
Another paddle lifted. “Fifteen thousand.”
Evelyn turned to see who dared to compete with her husband.
The bidder was a strikingly stunning blonde woman sitting two tables away from them. Her gold dress shimmered under the light, and the confident smirk on her face said she was enjoying this.
Evelyn frowned slightly.
Axel raised his paddle again. “Twenty thousand.”