"You’re blaming yourself, aren’t you?" Axel asked softly.
Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t form words. The truth was written all over her face.
He sighed. His expression softened, "You’ve done everything for Oliver. You’ve sacrificed, hidden, fought alone for years. But you can’t control everything. You’re not at fault for those people sniffing around where they don’t belong."
Tears blurred Evelyn’s vision as she whispered, "Axel... if Oliver’s identity gets exposed. If his face ends up all over the internet, I’ll blame myself. What if they start trolling him the way they did to me in the past?"
Evelyn’s voice sounded trembling.
Axel felt a surge of frustration. Not at her, but at the world that had taught her to think everything was her fault.
"That’s why we need to move out of this place." He wanted to say, but he bit it back.
He knew Evelyn. If he pushed too hard, she would retreat into her shell. He’d learned to be patient, to give her space until she was ready.
For now, all he could do was keep them safe. He had already made sure no photograph of Oliver would be shown publicly. Liam and the others already took care of it.
However, living here was no longer the best choice. People had started to notice her again, and it was only a matter of time before someone came back and began waiting for her and Oliver.
Axel tried to look her in the eyes, but she avoided his eyes, staring instead at their intertwined hands.
He gently tightened his grip, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.
"I promise you, Eve. They won’t get the chance to do that. And please..." His voice softened, but his eyes held steady. "Don’t carry all of Oliver’s burdens on your shoulders alone. You have me now. I’m your husband, not just a decorative presence in this house."
Something flickered in her gaze, and she finally lifted her head. For the first time, he saw her eyes truly red, glistening, fragile.
It was the kind of vulnerability that made him want to pull her to his arms, shield her from every dart the world could throw.
But he didn’t. Not yet. Instead, he spoke calmly, his voice low and gentle, "You are not alone in raising or worrying about Oliver. He is my son, too, Eve. And I will protect both of you. Always. So—"
"Axel, let’s move."
The words burst out of her, interrupting him.
He stared at her in surprise. For a second, he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.
"You... you’re willing to move now? Move with me to the capital?"
His tone carried a hint of disbelief, as if her words might disappear into smoke if he didn’t confirm it.
Evelyn blinked back at him, nodding once, then again, slower, firmer.
"Yes. This place is no longer safe for me. If those reporters recognized me, it means this isn’t my sanctuary anymore. I can’t risk Oliver losing his peace or his innocence. We should move soon."
Her words hit him like sunlight breaking through a storm.
Since they met again, he’d wanted to move her somewhere safer, but he hadn’t pressed. He’d waited for her to be ready. And now, here she is, all set and will leap whenever he asks her to.
A rare, unguarded smile broke across his face.
He didn’t think; he just pulled her into his arms. His embrace was strong but careful, as though he knew she might bolt if he held too tight.
Evelyn stiffened for a heartbeat, startled by his sudden closeness. But then she felt his warmth, his steady heartbeat against her cheek, and her own pulse began to slow.
’God,’ she thought, pressing her forehead lightly against his chest, ’why does he have to be so gentle? Why does my heartbeat always race wildly like this whenever he is near?’
Axel’s hand slid up to the back of her head, his fingers gently brushing through her hair.
She silently swallowed.
"We’ll leave as soon as possible," he whispers, his breath warm against her temple. "I’ll handle everything. You just focus on Oliver."
Evelyn said nothing, too busy trying to steady her chaotic heartbeat. The sound was so loud in her ears. She worried Axel might hear it if he leaned close again.
But a moment later, he loosened his embrace and tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady on hers.
"Eve, it’s past twelve. I know you’re probably exhausted, but I need to shower. Wait here... we can cuddle again later," he murmured before rising from the sofa.
Her heart instantly betrayed her. It raced harder, faster, her chest warming until she was certain her cheeks were the shade of ripe strawberries.
Flustered, she scrambled to her feet, too.
"Axel, I’ll be in my study. I... need to finish some work."
He looked back at her, "Alright. But don’t stay up too long, Eve."
She slipped out the door, answering with a soft, "Mm-hmm," before nearly sprinting down the hall to her home office.
The moment she shut the door behind her, she slowly pressed her hand to her chest.
Her heart was pounding hard, like she was sprinting in the Olympics. Her face was so hot she half-wondered if she should dunk it in a bowl of ice water.
"Oh heavens," she whispered, dropping into her chair. "He must have noticed I’m falling for him. That’s why he hugged me like that, right? And that’s why he said I need more cuddles, he knows I want more..."
Her imagination betrayed her with vivid flashes of his arms tightening, his breath close to her ear, the warmth of his voice. She buried her face in her hands.
"No, no, no! Stop it, Eve... You are supposed to be a composed, rational woman, not some teenager daydreaming about her crush."
Shaking her head, she forced herself back into focus.
There was something urgent, far more pressing than Axel’s gentle smile or his embrace. She needed information. She needed answers.
Pulling her laptop closer, she dialed Oscar’s number.
As the screen glowed and the call began to ring, Evelyn straightened her back and drew a steadying breath. This wasn’t the time to get lost in Axel’s seductive touch.