The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover - Chapter 226

Chapter 226: Classic Gold-Digger Tactics
Evelyn exhaled. “I feel like I just passed the most important exam of my life!”

Axel chuckled as he led her to his car, “You did great. She already adores you. I’ve never seen her adore someone other than her own child before.”

She shook her head, laughing. “I’m grateful for that. Please don’t be jealous.”

“I won’t.” He smiled and opened the car door for her.

Evelyn climbed and settled on the passenger seat.

After Axel helped her with the seatbelt, she said, “I don’t know how your mother manages to be that graceful. Even when she teases you, it feels… royal but sincere.”

“She’s had years of practice,” Axel said dryly, holding the door, “You’ll get there soon enough.”

“Oh, so I’ll be the queen next?” she teased.

He leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming with affection. “Next? No, you already are my queen, Eve. You are my Queen!”

Her heart fluttered. She quickly looked away before he could see the way his words made her blush.

…

As their car pulled away from the restaurant, Evelyn gazed out the window, her mind swirling with everything that had just happened inside.

Meeting Amanda had gone far better than she’d dared hope. Her kindness, her warmth, her quiet acceptance… it was more than she ever expected.

She smiled happily and felt peace.

But just as that peace began to settle in her chest, her phone buzzed.

She unlocked it, expecting a message from home. Instead, a text from an unknown number appeared. Again.

“What have you done? Why is William now refusing to meet with me?”

Evelyn’s smile faded.

Her fingers froze midair.

Of course.

Only one woman could ruin her mood this quickly.

Lana.

Her lips tightened into a thin, irritated line. ‘Unbelievable…’ she muttered under her breath.

She had promised herself she wouldn’t let that woman live rent-free in her head anymore. Still, apparently, Lana wasn’t done trying to stir chaos.

‘Why would father refuse to meet Lana? Did they fight? Did Axel… have something to do with this?’

Her thoughts froze.

She turned toward Axel, who looked calm, his sharp gaze fixed on the road as he drove.

“Axel,” she began carefully, her tone suspicious. “Did you… Do something to my dad?”

His hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “What do you mean?” he asked casually, eyes still on the road.

“You know exactly what I mean,” she pressed. “How did you get him to keep quiet about… You’re shooting him? I know my father. He would’ve dragged you to court just to prove his ego.”

Axel exhaled softly, the corner of his mouth twitching.

“Ah. That…” His voice held that dangerous mix of amusement and mystery that made her even more curious.

Evelyn’s brow arched. “That? You say it like you only spilled coffee on him.”

“I was just having a chat with him,” Axel replied lightly, finally glancing her way. “Apparently, my words shook him a little.”

“Shook him?” Evelyn blinked, unconvinced.

He nodded once, lips curling into that maddeningly proud smile.

“Axel.”

“Yes, my love?”

“Did you threaten him?”

“Threaten?” He chuckled, keeping his eyes ahead. “Of course not. How could I? He’s my father-in-law.”

She gave him a long, unimpressed look.

“Can you be serious for once? This is a serious matter. I need to know what you did to him?”

Axel sighed, then stopped at a red light. Turning toward her, his tone dropped. “I did not harm him. I just told him the truth.”

“The truth?” she repeated, wary.

“About his mistress.”

Evelyn blinked. “Lana?”

He nodded.

“That woman has more secrets than some lowlife crime syndicates in this town.”

“What kind of secrets?” She asked curiously.

“Let’s just say,” Axel paused slightly for effect, “she’s a professional con artist. Your father was one of her ‘projects’.”

Evelyn was utterly shocked.

“Projects? You mean… That bitch, Lana, used him?”

“Used him, manipulated him, drained his money, and then used the company’s funds to support her real boyfriend.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Her what?”

Axel glanced at her with a smile.

“Her real boyfriend,” he confirmed. “A lowlife but charming young guy about fifteen years younger than your father. Handsome, slick, and just as greedy.”

Evelyn covered her mouth, too shocked to speak.

“Yo-You gotta be kidding, right!?”

“I wish I were.”

“Oh. My. God…” Evelyn muttered, shaking her head in shock. “So, she was playing my father all this time? What the hell, Axel! That woman ruined many lives for money!? Wah… I can’t believe it!”

“Mm-hmm.” He sounded far too calm about it. “Classic gold-digger tactics. She had him wrapped around her index finger.”

Evelyn chuckled and leaned back in her seat.

“Unbelievable. No wonder that snake, Lana, texted me. She must be scared to death.”

“She should be. I gave your father undeniable proof.”

“What proof?” she demanded.

“Pictures. Video. Voice recordings, messages. Bank transfers. Everything.” He sounded almost proud. “When he saw them, he turned pale. Then he fainted.”

“He… fainted?”

“Twice,” Axel said matter-of-factly. “The first time was from shock, the second time because I woke him up too fast and immediately shoved him more evidence.”

Evelyn gasped. “You woke him up? How?”

“Of course, I poured water on him.” He chuckled.

She stared at him in disbelief before bursting out laughing. “You didn’t!”

“I did,” Axel said, trying to look serious, but his smirk betrayed him. “I needed him conscious. It was a productive conversation.”

Evelyn can’t help but laugh when she imagines that scene, “You are scary, Mr. Knight…”

“Only to those who deserve it, but thank you,” he replied dryly.

“So… you’re telling me my father fainted, woke up, cried, then fainted again after realizing he’d been duped all along by his mistress and that she had a secret boyfriend?”

“Pretty much,” Axel said, deadpan. “It was quite an unforgettable performance.”

“Oh my God. I think you traumatized him.”

“He deserves it,” Axel replied smoothly.

For a while, silence settled between them.

Evelyn turned to look out the window again, still processing everything.

“I can’t believe Lana would do that. I knew she was manipulative, but to have a secret boyfriend? That’s insane.”

“She’s a professional,” Axel said with a shrug. “She could’ve fooled your father forever if I hadn’t dug deeper and followed through.”

Evelyn’s gaze softened as she looked at him. “Axel, you really went that far for me?”

His lips curved into a small smile. “For you, I’d go further.”