The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: It’s Not Fine!
“Hubby.”

She smiled, picking up the call.

“Axel… Did I interrupt your meeting?”

A deep, amused chuckle came through the speaker phone.

“No, not really. And yes,” he added, his tone teasing, “I’m the one who got someone to spill the beans about Max. We had to steer the spotlight away, right?!”

Evelyn laughed, unable to stop herself.

“I knew it! You couldn’t stand seeing us trending anymore, could you?”

“You know me too well,” Axel replied smoothly. “If they want gossip, I’ll give them something juicier.”

“But your cousin?” she asked, still half laughing. “You really threw him under the bus?”

“He threw himself,” Axel said lightly. “All I did was nudge the headlines.”

Evelyn shook her head, covering her mouth to hide a giggle.

Then, she cleared her throat to seriously express her worry, “But, what if this ruins his engagement?”

“Then maybe he’ll learn to think with his brain next time,” Axel replied dryly.

“Axel…” she said anxiously, though she couldn’t hide her smile at hearing his sarcasm. “Still, I’m worried. This could reflect badly on your family. The Knights have a reputation, remember?”

“It’s fine,” he said calmly. “My father will probably thank me. Anything is better than seeing my face plastered all over the news next to yours.”

Evelyn’s laughter died abruptly, her heart skipping a beat.

“Yo-Your father? H-He also watching the news?” she repeated softly.

The warmth in her tone changed to uncertainty. She hesitated, unsure whether to push further.

“Yeah,” Axel continued, his voice lower slightly. “He’s been… monitoring things lately. Don’t worry about it. I will handle him…”

But Evelyn wasn’t convinced. She could hear something in his tone, tension he was trying to hide.

“He still hasn’t accepted us, has he?” she asked, even though he already knew the answer.

There was a brief silence, then Axel sighed.

“It doesn’t matter whether he accepts us or not. Don’t worry about it, Eve. Let me handle him.”

Evelyn nodded, even though he couldn’t see her.

“Alright. But promise me you won’t start another war with your father.”

Axel’s voice softened again. “Only if you promise to stop worrying about me.”

“Hmm,” she said playfully, “that’s a deal I’ll never keep.”

He laughed, low and genuine. “I figured as much.”

She can’t help but smile when she hears that.

But her smile faded when he asked, “How about you? Did someone from your home call about it?”

Evelyn let out a long, weary sigh before answering.

“William Walters,” she said softly, her tone heavy with exhaustion. “He called… and vented his anger on me.”

Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to sound casual. The memory of that harsh call was still sharp in her chest.

Silent for a few seconds before Axel’s tone dropped, low and tight with anger. “He what?”

Evelyn can’t answer him right away.

Instead, she imagines his expression: the slight clench of his jaw, the narrowing of his eyes. When Axel was angry, his calmness could be more terrifying than any raised voice.

“He has no right,” Axel muttered, his words sharpened. “You’re not his to scold. He lost that privilege a long time ago.”

Evelyn smiled faintly despite the ache in her heart. His protectiveness always touched her, though she didn’t want him to carry her burdens.

“It’s fine, Axel. Really. I already told him that directly…”

“It’s not fine,” he replied immediately. “He shouldn’t even have your number. I should’ve—”

“Axel,” she interrupted gently. “I said it’s fine.”

Her tone softened him.

He sighed, frustration melting into regret. “I’m sorry, Eve… I should’ve protected you from that. He has no right to disturb your peace.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“It’s not your fault. He’s my father… at least by blood.” She paused, her voice calm but distant. “But I’m no longer Walters. Not in name, not in heart.”

Axel’s anger faded into quiet sympathy. “Still,” he said softly, “no one deserves to be treated like that.”

Evelyn forced a small laugh, hoping to lighten her mood. “It’s all right. I’ve built a pretty thick skin since leaving that family.”

The tension between them eased, though Axel still sounded pensive.

To steer the conversation away from William, he asked, “So, how’s our little man today? Has he conquered the world yet?”

Evelyn smiled, her shoulders relaxing. “Oh, he tried. He’s studying manners and geography now.”

“Geography?” Axel asked, amused. “That’s ambitious for a four-year-old.”

“Well, he’s fascinated with Europe,” she said, smiling at the thought. “He wants to go there this summer to see royal castles… and look for dragons.”

Axel burst out laughing, the deep, rich sound echoing through the speaker.

“Dragons? That’s my son, all right…aiming high.”

Evelyn laughed with him. “He said he’ll bring a sword, just in case.”

“I like his spirit,” Axel teased. “Tell him his father actually has a castle in France. We can visit when I take time off in the summer. He can look for dragons there all he wants.”

Evelyn’s eyes softened, warmth flooding through her chest. “You have a castle?”

“It’s old, dusty, and haunted by terrible French tax laws,” Axel replied playfully, “but yes. A castle.”

She smiled wider. “Then it’s settled. We’ll visit this summer.”

“Perfect,” he said, satisfaction clear in his tone. “I’ll let Oliver pick which tower belongs to him.”

The easy laughter between them lingered, filling the distance that separated them.

For a while, they simply talked about small things…

Oliver’s mischief.

Evelyn’s new obsession with coffee beans.

And Axel’s habit of missing lunch when buried in meetings.

But then, Axel’s tone shifted slightly, quieter and more thoughtful.

“Eve, I might not make it home in time for dinner tonight.”

Evelyn frowned, curious.

“Oh? Another meeting?”

“Not exactly,” he said after a pause. “My mother called. She asked me to stop by my parents’ house.”

That made Evelyn’s heart skip.

“Your parents?” she echoed cautiously.

“Yeah,” he said. “Honestly, I wasn’t planning to see my father, but when my mother calls, I can’t say no to her. So, I’ll head there after work. I just didn’t want you and Oliver waiting for me.”

There was something tender in the way he said it… an unspoken apology tucked between the words.

Evelyn paused for a moment, her pulse racing.

Meeting Axel’s grandparents had been intimidating enough the first time, but now, knowing he was walking back into his parents’ house, where tension often brewed between father and son, made her uneasy.

Still, she forced a gentle smile into her voice.

“You should go,” she said softly. “Meet them, talk to them. It’s time to explain…”

Axel exhaled slowly, relief mingling with gratitude. “You’re right.”

“I usually am,” she teased, trying to lift the mood.

He chuckled, felt his heart not as heavy as before, “You always are. I’ll call when I’m done, all right?”

“Okay,” she said warmly. “Have fun…”

“I will.”

The line went quiet after they exchanged goodbyes, but Evelyn sat there for a moment longer, phone still in hand.

Before long,

She set her phone down and leaned back on the sofa, exhaling softly.

No matter what storms waited at the Knight residence tonight, she trusted Axel.

And as long as he came home to her and Oliver, she knew everything would be all right.