Oliver’s eyes lit up.
"Daddy... Good morning," He smiled, beaming as Axel walked into the dining room.
"Good morning, Buddy... How’s your sleep?" Axel smiled and sat down across from him, his presence instantly filling the room.
"Not good," Oliver admits, his expression turning grim as the cheerfulness in his eyes disappears.
Then, he begins stabbing the waffle with his fork. He eats the waffle, and his eyes widen when the sweetness enters his mouth.
The light in his eyes returns as he glances to see Evelyn and gives her a thumbs-up.
"This is delicious, Mommy. Wow, this is the best waffle I’ve ever eaten..."
He stabbed another slice of waffle and ate again.
Evelyn stifled a laugh, hearing his overly praising. She makes the waffle with the same recipe he eats almost every day.
"Thank you, sweetheart. But you said your sleep is not good, why is that?"
It wasn’t just Evelyn worried about Oliver not getting enough sleep... but Axel was too.
"Yeah, why is your sleep not good, buddy?" He asked.
His mouth bubbled before he let out a heavy sigh, "I’m having a nightmare...Mom, Dad..." Then he began to talk about his nightmare while Evelyn and Axel silently and thoughtfully listened to him.
Axel leaned in to listen as Oliver chattered about his dream, nodding with amused seriousness.
"So, in your nightmare, you saved the old pirate and the brontosaurus from the T. rex that were going to eat them? Wow, impressive."
"Yes, Dad...A bad and scary T.rex... I almost died fighting it," he answered with a nod before eating again.
"I’ll make sure to hire you as my bodyguard when you grow up," Axel said before he sipped his espresso.
Oliver puffed out his chest proudly.
"You don’t need to hire me as your bodyguard, Dad... I’ll guard you from bad things when you’re old," making Evelyn smile as she enjoyed her breakfast too.
For a moment, everything felt just right.
Evelyn found herself gazing at Axel once more, captivated by how effortlessly he balanced his roles as a ruthless CEO and a gentle father.
But the reality of their lives pulled them back too swiftly.
Axel placed his coffee cup down, adjusting his cufflinks as he spoke. "I need to leave right after breakfast. The jet is waiting."
The smile faded from Oliver’s face.
"Daddy, are you leaving now? When will you come back?" His little voice was soft but curious, as he hunched over his fork, holding it tightly in his hands.
Axel reached across the table, brushing his son’s messy hair back.
"Yes, buddy. Work is waiting for me in the capital. But..." He lowered his voice gently, his eyes glinting. "I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can. And maybe next time, I’ll bring you something special."
Oliver’s eyes grew watery, but he nodded bravely.
"Okay, Daddy. But you have to make a Pinky Promise."
Without hesitation, Axel held out his pinky. "Pinky Promise."
Oliver wrapped his little finger around his father’s, feeling satisfied with the promise.
...
After breakfast, Axel approached the door, slipping into his tailored suit coat in a single smooth motion.
The transformation was complete; the warm father at the table was now the commanding CEO once again.
He bent down, pressing a quick kiss to Oliver’s forehead.
"Be good for Mommy, alright?"
Oliver nodded, though his lips trembled. "Come back fast, Daddy."
"I will." Axel’s voice softened.
Evelyn stayed back, her hands curling together as she watched. Axel’s gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat longer than necessary, his expression unreadable.
And then, he was gone. The door closed with a soft click, leaving behind the faint scent of his cologne.
Evelyn leaned against the wall, letting out a shaky breath. Her heart was caught between relief and disappointment.
Relief, because life would settle again now that he had returned to the capital.
Disappointment, because... he had left just like that. No hug. No kisses. Not even a lingering touch.
Not at all like the scene she had secretly imagined.
She closed her eyes, whispering under her breath, ’Why do you affect me like this, Axel Knight?’
...
When Evelyn and Oliver left the house to visit the Beach Side café, she chose to walk.
However, she ran into Liam at the main entrance on the first floor.
He stepped forward immediately, his brows furrowing as if she were about to commit the greatest crime of all: walking under the sun.
"Lady Boss, I’ll drive you there. No need to walk. The sun is brutal today... Your skin might get burned," Liam said, trailing behind her toward the main doors like a concerned guardian.
Evelyn paused, gradually turning to him with that composed look she had perfected.
"Liam, it’s only a five-minute walk. If we ride a car, it will take longer because we have to go around much further."
Her refusal was sharp but polite, the kind that left no room for argument. Still, Liam didn’t give up.
"But, Ma’am—"
She raised her hand, silencing him instantly.
"Have you forgotten? I’ve lived here for four years. And I always walk."
Liam pressed his lips together, his face tightening with guilt. He was fearful that Axel would scold him.
But he also knew better than to argue with Evelyn when she used that tone. He scratched the back of his neck and gave a stiff smile.
"Alright... but please be careful. If the boss finds out you’re walking under the sun, I’m dead."
"You’ll live," Evelyn smirked faintly and tightened her hold on Oliver’s hand. "Come on, sweetheart. We’re late already...because of Liam."
"Bye bye, Uncle Liam..." Oliver giggled as if he had just witnessed the funniest cartoons.
He happily skipped along beside her as they passed through the small gate that led to the beachfront path.
The breeze shifted as soon as they reached the coast, carrying with it the salty tang of the ocean.
Evelyn’s heart eased a little.
Walking was her freedom, something she really enjoyed since she lived in this small town. She only has a little time to enjoy it before she moves to the capital.
After a few minutes, Oliver looked up at her with wide, eager eyes. "Mom, you promised I could play on the beach, right?"