Evelyn had no choice but to accept the car.
After all, she didn’t even own one.
For the past four years in this small town, her life had been simple. She walked everywhere, through markets, to the cafe or beach.
Whenever she needed to go as far as Grayenfall City, she’d either call a taxi when one miraculously appeared or borrow Martha’s old sedan.
But Axel’s words kept replaying in her mind, striking harder than she wanted to admit: "What if there’s another urgent situation, like Oliver’s injury a few days ago? What if I didn’t arrive on time? How are you supposed to get a taxi that quickly in this town?"
That alone had melted her. She couldn’t argue with him, not when he was right.
The thought of another emergency left her stomach in knots. Refusing him would mean gambling with her son’s safety and well-being, and that, she could never do.
So she accepted the SUV, not for herself, but for Oliver. At least, that’s what she told herself as her pride nagged in protest.
After a short discussion about the car, Evelyn didn’t wait around to entertain Axel any longer.
He had his own business to return to in the capital, and she had enough of a headache already.
Talking to him was like banging her head against a stone wall; pointless and exhausting.
But just as she turned toward the elevator, ready to escape, his voice stopped her.
"Evelyn."
She froze, her hand still in the air after pressing the elevator button.
"We’ll sign the papers tomorrow. Ten in the morning. At my place. Prepare yourself."
"Papers? What pap..."
By the time she turned around to confront him, he was already slipping into his sleek black car.
A moment later, the engine roared to life, and with a smooth motion, the car pulled out of the basement.
She stood there, stunned, watching the car leave the basement.
"Seriously?!" Evelyn muttered, her voice echoing off the concrete walls. "What papers?"
Silence answered.
Her lips twisted into a disbelieving laugh.
"Did he... did he mean our wedding papers?"
Hearing her own words instantly took her breath away.
For a moment, she just stared at the empty exit, as if it might somehow spit Axel out with an explanation. Of course, it didn’t.
Her chest tightened, a sudden, unwelcome squeeze that made her heart pound against her ribs.
The truth sank in quickly: if he genuinely meant what she believed, tomorrow she wouldn’t just be Evelyn Taylor, a single mother and former heiress. She would become Evelyn Knight.
Axel Knight’s wife.
Her laugh sounded hollow, filled with disbelief and nerves.
’Congratulations, Eve. Congratulations on your brand-new adventure... as Axel Knight’s wifey.’
The sarcasm burned hot in her mind, but beneath it, she couldn’t quite suppress the ripple of fear, or was it anticipation? Twisting through her veins.
She pressed her palm against her chest as if that would calm her racing heart.
Of course it didn’t.
Shaking her head, Evelyn stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut with a soft hiss.
But her mind was anything but calm.
It was haunted by Axel’s words, his dominance, his certainty. She hated how easily he could reshape her world, how effortlessly he linked her life to his.
...
By the time Evelyn stepped into the apartment, a smile tugged at her lips.
There was her little boy, animatedly explaining his favorite cartoon to Dylan, who sat not far from him, looking utterly lost.
Oliver’s brows furrowed in frustration. His small hands gestured wildly as if that might help Dylan’s brain catch up.
"Dylan, stop asking me! I told you already, the white wolf is good. He helps his pack fight the bad wolf. The one you thought was good is actually the bad one."
Dylan’s eyebrow wrinkled, looking unconvinced.
"Really? But the white wolf... he sounds bad."
Oliver let out an exasperated sigh, his little head shaking in disbelief.
"No. No, no, no, the white wolf is not bad. Dylan, you need to start from the first season. This is already season two."
Dylan chuckled and held up his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. I’ll download it on YouTube and catch up. Sorry, little man..."
Evelyn pressed a hand to her mouth to hide her laugh. ’Such a cute baby...’
She saw Oliver’s expression, dead serious and completely fed up, which was priceless.
But then, as Evelyn looked closer, she noticed something that wiped the amusement right off her face. The tilt of his brow, the stubborn set of his lips, it was Axel’s expression.
Her smile faltered.
She sighed, a heavy breath that carried the weight of tomorrow. The day everything would change. Their marriage would be finalized.
No matter how much she tried to keep calm, her nerves buzzed relentlessly under her skin.
Pulling herself together, Evelyn walked toward the living room.
The moment Oliver spotted her, his eyes lit up.
"Mommy! You’re back!" he said, his little voice bursting with joy.
Her heart melted. "Were you having fun with Dylan?" she asked, smiling at him.
Oliver didn’t answer, but his look said everything; his enjoyment level dropped somewhere around zero.
Evelyn almost laughed again.
"Lady Boss." Dylan greeted her with an awkward grin. "Boss Axel already left?"
Evelyn nodded. "Yes. You didn’t go back to the capital with him?"
"No, I’ve got a task to handle here in town." He replied quickly, then rose to his feet. "I’ll head out now."
"Thank you, Dylan, for keeping Oliver company," Evelyn said warmly as she walked him to the door. "I hope he didn’t traumatize you."
Dylan chuckled under his breath. "Of course not. He’s fun."
Evelyn is trying to believe him. She knew her son too well. Oliver had probably made Dylan’s day just as exhausting. Still, she let the man go with a smile.
When she turned back, Oliver was still glued to the TV.
Evelyn sighed and crossed her arms. "Sweetheart.... that’s enough cartoons for today. You’ve had your time. No more until tomorrow."
Her son gave her the look, a silent protest full of betrayal, but he obediently turned off the TV.
Guilt slowly appears in her heart at his gloomy little face. She softened and called after him before he could disappear into his bedroom.
"Oliver, we’re going to visit Grandma Martha this afternoon."
Instantly, his eyes lit up again. "Yay! I miss Granny!"
Evelyn smiled, watching his excitement overflow. For a moment, the worries of tomorrow faded, replaced by the pure joy of her son’s laughter.