Axel Knight stood at the doorway in a perfectly tailored black suit, one hand resting casually on the doorknob as if he’d just stepped out of a magazine shoot.
Behind him, two bodyguards in matching black stood like statues.
He smiled slightly, his sharp gaze moving from Stella’s frozen expression to Evelyn’s startled one, and finally to Alicia, who looked like she was trying to decide whether to faint or curtsy.
"Axel? What are you doing here?" Evelyn finally found her voice, too shocked to see him in this place.
She hurried to the doorway, pulled him inside quickly, and glanced down the hallway before shutting the door.
"Someone might recognize you. Why didn’t you call me first?" she whispered, holding his hand.
Axel leaned closer, his tone calm but teasing. "Because I wanted to surprise you..."
Stella, standing right next to them, clearly heard everything. "Wait, sis, you didn’t know?" she asked.
Evelyn turned to her, frowning. "Know what?"
"They closed this whole restaurant. Like, literally shut it down. I thought you were the one who arranged that," Stella said, smirking when she saw Evelyn’s jaw drop. "Guess not?"
Evelyn blinked, then saw her husband.
"Axel...you don’t happen to own this place, do you?"
Axel didn’t answer. He just smiled and slipped his fingers around hers, his thumb brushing her skin with casual affection.
"Eve," he said smoothly, "I think you should introduce me properly..."
Evelyn froze mid-thought.
’Oh Crap... How could I forget.’
In the chaos of his unannounced arrival, she had forgotten entirely that Alicia was still standing there.
She turned quickly, finding Alicia still rooted to the spot like a statue, her expression blank with shock, staring at Axel.
"Alice," Evelyn said softly, walking over and linking arms with her. "This is my husband, Axel."
Then she turned back with a bright smile.
"And Axel, this is Alicia... my wonderful mother."
Axel stepped forward and offered his hand with a kind of grace.
"It’s an honor to finally meet you, Alicia," Axel said warmly. "Eve told me a lot about you. How strong and kind you are." He smiles. "Thank you for raising her."
Alicia’s lips parted slightly. She hadn’t expected Evelyn to introduce her as mother, not Alice. Just mother.
It made her chest tighten with gratitude. But as she looked up at the man before her, recognition suddenly hit her like a truck.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted his handshake.
"Oh my..." she whispered under her breath. "You’re... you’re that Axel Knight?"
Axel’s expression didn’t change, though his eyes softened. "I suppose I am," he replied simply.
Alicia blinked a few times, just to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.
But no... that face was unmistakable.
She’d seen it before. On magazine covers. In company headlines. The youngest and most feared CEO in the country. The man every businessman, politician, and bureaucrat wanted as an ally, and every socialite lady wished to have as a husband.
And now, apparently, her daughter’s husband.
"Hello," she managed weakly. "I’m... delighted to meet you too, Axel."
She forced a smile, but her mind was spinning.
’My daughter married Axel Knight. Evelyn. My Evelyn married ’him?’ Oh dear God.’
Her hand was still trembling when Stella’s voice snapped her back to reality.
"Uh, sis? Brother-in-law?" Stella pointed at Alicia, then at the chair. "Maybe we should all sit before Mom actually passes out."
Evelyn nodded quickly.
Alicia was still trying to gather her thoughts when Evelyn gently guided her back to her seat.
"Come, Alice," Evelyn said softly, giving her mother’s hand a reassuring squeeze before turning toward Axel. "We’ll stay for a bit?"
"Of course," Axel replied, already pulling out her chair. "I’m not in a rush... unless my wife is."
Evelyn smiles. "Flattery won’t save you from this conversation, Mr. Knight." She whispered and sat opposite Stella and Alicia.
He smiled, the corner of his mouth curving upward. "I wouldn’t dream of escaping it."
Once everyone had settled in, the atmosphere started to relax.
The waiters, who had come in, were clearly nervous in front of Axel Knight. She moved smoothly, making not a sound, as they poured tea and refilled plates that had long gone cold.
Axel picked up his cup, his movements calm.
"I hope you don’t mind the sudden change of plans," he said casually, his voice smooth as silk. "I asked the manager to close the restaurant for a few hours. It’s better this way... less noise, less attention."
Evelyn gave him a look that was equal parts disbelief and amusement.
"You seriously closed an entire restaurant. For lunch...?"
He met her gaze steadily. "For your lunch."
Stella choked on her drink, laughing. "Oh, wow. You’re really romantic, Brother-in-law."
"You... closed the whole place?" Alicia can’t help but ask.
Axel nodded calmly.
"Yes. It’s because my wife attracts too much attention. People stare, whisper, and take photos. I prefer peace."
"Peace? You made every staff member flee in panic. And, did you worry that the sales will be... Going down?" Evelyn playfully asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "No worry, my wife, they’re still being paid."
"You really are terrifyingly considerate, brother-in-law."
Alicia, though still dazed, found herself smiling. "Well, I can’t say I dislike a man who values privacy. Especially when the world seems too curious about my daughter... I mean your wife, Axel."
"That’s exactly why I do it," Axel said, his tone softening when he looked at Evelyn. "She deserves normal days. Quiet ones."
Evelyn’s heart swells with emotion. She’s still not used to Axel speaking that way about her in front of others, and somehow, she feels like the luckiest woman alive.
Stella noticed it too. "Ugh, you two are staring at each other again," she said dramatically. "Do you have to make single people feel like decorative plants?"
Evelyn turned red.
"Come on, little sister, you’re no longer a teenager... You’re twenty-two now. Go find your other half as well..." Evelyn teases.
Alicia chuckled, shaking her head. "Let them be. It’s nice to see Eve smiling again."
Evelyn smiled softly, gazing at Alicia. "It’s! I’m smiling... because of him."
Axel said nothing, but his gaze could show his happiness.
Alicia said warmly. "You’ve been through... more than most. But with Axel, you look so happy, Eve. I feel relieved now."
"Thank you, Alice..." Evelyn couldn’t deny it. Despite what happened with her own family—the Walters family—she is genuinely happy now.