Axel can hear footsteps inside.
The door swung open, and Evelyn appeared, her expression filled with surprise. Her eyes widened as though she hadn’t expected him to show up so soon.
"Axel? Why are you here?"
He stared at her for a long moment, taking in the sight of her. Part of him wanted to pull her close immediately, shield her from the world clawing at their door.
But instead, he kept his voice steady. "I need to talk to you."
Her brows furrowed slightly, confusion and concern flashing across her face. "Did something happen?"
Axel’s lips curved faintly, though his eyes stayed dark, unreadable. "Yes. And you need to hear it from me first."
Evelyn’s heart clenched. Even though his voice was calm, she could clearly see the worry in his eyes. She stepped aside and let him in.
They moved to the seating area, settling on the sofa with the coffee table between them.
Axel leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped together, while Evelyn sat upright, her fingers twisted tightly in her lap.
He did not waste time. "Someone took a picture of me while I was driving," he said. "They uploaded it online. The post spread to bloggers, gossip sites, and now it is trending everywhere."
Evelyn’s face was pale. Her lips parted as if she was about to speak, but no words came. She just stared at him, waiting, her wide eyes filled with worry.
The sight of her hands trembling, her knuckles pale from the force of her grip, struck something deep inside him.
"Do not worry, Evelyn..." Axel added quickly, his tone softer. "Your face is blurred. The shot was taken at a red light. They are only assuming I have a secret lover here in Willowcrest."
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he imagined the frenzy if the world discovered the truth. They would not just find out about a lover, but a wife and a son.
Evelyn, however, was far from smiling. Anxiety wrapped tightly around her chest. Her peaceful life, the small world she had built with Oliver in this quiet town, felt like it was slipping away.
If reporters traced the rumor back to her café, it would be over. Paparazzi would swarm. Customers would run. Her home, her safe place, would be exposed.
She drew a shaky breath and exhaled slowly. Anger stirred in her, the urge to remind Axel that this was precisely why she had warned him not to visit her café.
But the words died on her tongue.
Even if she could remind him about it, it was of no use because now it was too late. What she feared had already arrived.
"So what are you going to do?" Evelyn asked quietly. Her voice was steady, but her heart was racing. She knew her life was tied to his decisions.
Axel’s eyes stayed locked on hers.
"I will ignore it, like I always do. If I respond, they will only believe it more strongly. Silence will kill the rumor faster than any denial."
Evelyn gave a slight nod. She knew he was right. Gossip thrived on attention and overreaction, and Axel Knight’s attention was valuable to the media, let alone overreaction. The only way to beat it was to ignore it.
"Still," Axel said, "I’ll be heading back to the capital tomorrow morning. I’ll stay there until things settle down. Then I’ll come back."
Her pale face slowly regained color, though she did not notice. Axel did, and it made him feel strangely relieved.
"I promise," he said, his voice lower, "I will keep it private. No one will see me in town. If I stay here, it will only be inside this building. What do you think?"
"That sounds like a good idea," Evelyn replied, her tone cautious. "So I can still go about my daily routine?"
"Of course," Axel said with certainty. "You can keep running the café, walk with Oliver, do whatever you want."
The relief in her chest spread, loosening the tightness in her shoulders.
"But," Axel added, his tone shifting again, "there is one change. You can no longer drive your car. I believe they captured the license plate. I will arrange another vehicle for you."
Evelyn offered him a faint smile and shook her head. "No need. I do not really need a car. Walking is better for me and Oliver."
Axel stared at her for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. But Liam will follow you everywhere."
Her smile faded.
"No. Don’t. Any journalist or paparazzi that have been following you all these years would surely recognize him. He is always by your side. If people see him with me even one time, it will confirm everything."
Axel froze, then exhaled slowly, realizing she was right. He let out a short laugh that sounded more like disbelief. "You never make things easy."
Evelyn lifted her chin slightly, her eyes holding a quiet strength. "I only make them realistic."
For a long moment, he said nothing. His sharp gaze softened as he stared at her. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. No, Liam."
But deep inside, Axel was already adjusting his plan. He would not let her walk unprotected.
If Liam could not follow her, he would assign someone else, no one could connect to Axel Knight, but he trusts him, her, or them just like he trusts Liam. A reliable shadow in the background, invisible but always present.
Because no matter what Evelyn thought, he would not risk her safety or Oliver’s.
"Thank you, Axel..." Evelyn stood from the sofa. "Alright, I need to finish packing now."
"Do you need my help?" he asked, trailing behind her into the bedroom.
She paused, turning to glance at him.
"I’m done. I just need to check once more."
...
A short while later, with a few large suitcases in hand, they stepped into the elevator heading to the fifth floor.
"Did you leave Oliver alone in the house?" Evelyn asked.
"No need to worry. This entire building is ours. My people live here. No one will harm him," Axel replied.
"Still, you can’t leave him alone. He’s only three. He doesn’t even have a phone to call us if something happens."
Axel nodded and glanced at her briefly before turning his gaze to the elevator door.
"Well, you’re right. That’s why I asked Liam to stay with him."
Evelyn blinked at him. She was speechless.
"Geez, couldn’t you say that from the start? You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Ding!
The elevator opens.
Axel smiled, quickening his pace to pull her suitcase ahead. Just as he reached for the door, a phone started ringing in his trouser pocket.
Evelyn frowned.
"Axel... why do you have my phone?"