Before Evelyn could tell her the truth, the doorbell rang. Loud.
She froze, her pulse stuttering when Axel’s face flashed in her mind.
’No. Absolutely not. It can’t be him. Not now. Please, God, let it be Liam... or a lost delivery guy with free pizza. Anyone but him.’
Evelyn quickly wiped her hands on a towel and switched off the stove. She forced a calm tone she didn’t feel.
"Stella, please serve the food. I’ll check the door."
Her legs carried her forward, but her stomach was twisted. She opened the door and nearly fainted on the spot.
It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her. Her body froze.
Axel Knight stood there.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Still in his sharp suit, looking handsome as always. His beaming eyes locked on hers, and she swore her heart tried to leap straight out of her chest.
Evelyn blinked once. Then again. Maybe she was hallucinating?
Nope.
He was still there.
Very real. Very handsome.
"Why do you look so shocked?" Axel’s lips curved, the faintest tease in his voice. "Surprised to see your husband come home? Shouldn’t you be throwing your arms around me? A kiss, maybe?"
His words jolted her brain back online. Well, halfway online. Her cheeks flamed, and she stuttered, "N-No... I mean, it’s not that I don’t like seeing you. I just... I wasn’t expecting..."
He chuckled, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.
Evelyn took in a deep breath, "Axel... I mean, of course, I’m glad you’re here. I just thought you’d be gone longer. You said you’d wait until things died down before coming back."
She hadn’t expected him tonight. That was why she’d let Stella stay over. However, the universe had clearly thwarted her plan.
"Ah, so you really haven’t been paying attention." His brow arched. "The news already shifted."
"Shifted? What happened?"
"The spotlight’s gone. Everyone’s focused on Lewis Harrison now." His smile widened, faint but telling.
Evelyn cursed silently. ’Of course. That bastard will steal attention. Once Oscar dropped the scandal, every reporter in the country pounced on him. I should have seen it coming.’
"So... the stories about you are gone?" she asked.
"Most of them. Likely permanent." His gaze glinted with something unreadable. It seems the old man has offended someone. His career will be over, and he will lose everything..."
A flicker of triumph passed through his eyes, but Evelyn was too busy keeping her own expression neutral.
Her fists curled at her sides. She couldn’t let him realize how deeply Lewis Harrison’s name cut into her life. That bastard almost rape her sister.
Before she could reply, Axel tilted his head. "Oh, right. Liam mentioned your sister. Is she alright?"
Evelyn nodded quickly. "She’s fine. She’s inside." She hesitated, then added carefully, "I planned to tell her about... us. I hope you don’t mind."
Axel’s smile softened, "Of course not. Let’s go in."
But before they could step through the door, a small voice rang out.
"Daddy...?"
Oliver came racing down the hall and beaming. He launched himself straight into Axel’s arms, who caught him with ease.
At that exact moment, Stella wandered out of the hall.
And froze.
Her jaw dropped wide.
’Oh. My. God,’ Stella screamed in her head. ’That’s Axel Knight. The Axel Knight. Evelyn’s husband is Axel freakin’ Knight?! Somebody pinch me. No...better yet, knock me unconscious. This cannot be real life.’
Stella slapped a hand over her mouth, terrified of squealing out loud. She wanted to back away quietly, but her legs refused to budge even when she forced her mind into it, as if her legs had rooted to the floor.
Axel noticed her instantly. His gaze sharpened, then softened into something polite.
"Ah, you must be Stella?" he asked, still balancing Oliver effortlessly in one arm.
Evelyn and Oliver both turned toward her. Stella’s brain freezes under the attention.
"Y-Yes, Yes..." Stella managed weakly. "I’m Evelyn’s sister."
"It’s nice to meet you, Stella..." Axel extended his free hand and casually said, "Axel Knight. I’m Evelyn’s husband."
’Holy crap. Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap. Not a dream. Definitely not a dream. My brother-in-law is Axel Knight. I’m shaking hands with him. Should I bow? Curtsy? Faint dramatically?’
Stella’s fingers trembled as she clasped his hand. He was warm, solid, and genuine.
Evelyn stepped in quickly, rescuing her before she fainted.
"Alright, let’s go inside. Dinner’s ready," she said, walking towards Stella, holding her hand, and guiding her back to the dining table.
Oliver clung happily to his father’s neck, babbling about his toys.
Stella walked beside Evelyn, still dazed, still muttering a silent question to every deity she knew that this was not a dream.
...
The table looked packed—steak, mashed potatoes, salad—all laid out neatly.
Stella stared at it blankly. ’Oh heaven! My sister made steak for Axel Knight. Casual. Totally normal. Someone kill me now.’
"Can you act normally? Stop staring at him. You look awful now, little sis," Evelyn said, amusement lingering in her voice as she watched her sister, still in shock.
After helping Stella sit correctly, she quickly went to the kitchen to prepare another plate for Axel.
They sat down, and for a while the only sound was the clinking of cutlery.
Evelyn tried to concentrate on her food, but her mind was a tangled mess as Axel sat so close beside her. She could even feel Axel’s thigh touching hers.
Stella was stealing glances at Axel every two seconds, her expression switching between awe and disbelief.
Oliver, sitting beside Stella, was animatedly recounting his entire day to his father across from him, using dramatic hand gestures.
Axel listened patiently, nodding along to every exaggerated story.
The contrast made Evelyn want to laugh.
’Of course. My son worships him. My sister practically fainted at the sight of him. And here I am, trying not to choke on mashed potatoes, feeling his heat starting to seep into me... Dang it!’
After dinner, Axel helped Oliver get ready for bed.
Meanwhile, Evelyn spent some quality time with Stella while doing the dishes.
However, at that time, Stella initiated a more thorough Q&A session.