19 His Power Meant Nothingt 19 His Power Meant Nothing ! Reluctantly , Evelyn let go of her son's tiny hand . Her fingers didn't want to move , but her muscles had no choice . T Axel followed , silent as a shadow . They walked side by side without a word , the kind of silence that felt less comforting and more like a contest of silence . By the time they reached the VIP ward , Evelyn was tempted to take a sneeze , anything to break the tension and the awkwardness of sharing the same room with Axel . Axel , of course , didn't notice Evelyn's awkwardness , Or maybe he did and simply didn't care . He settled onto the sofa with his iPad , posture perfect , expression unreadable , like this whole hospital stay was just another business . meeting . Evelyn , on the other hand , was pacing in the small living room area , and her eyes stayed fixed on the door . Impatiently waiting for the nurse to wheel Oliver in . When her son was finally settled on the hospital bed in the corner room , Evelyn stayed by his side , trying to comfort herself as she sat on the stool and watched him sleep soundly . Even when her stomach was growling like a wild animal , she ignored it . Hunger could wait , Oliver couldn't . However , hours pass and the day nearly ends , yet he still sleeps . The sterile fluorescent light makes everything look colder , harsher . It feels like the universe is mocking her . Her back ached . Her eyelids burned . But none of it mattered . She wasn't leaving . What if Oliver woke up and she wasn't there ? What if he opened his eyes , looked for her , and didn't see her ? One second of him thinking she'd abandoned him was enough to keep her glued to that stool . But exhaustion and her hunger show no mercy . When the sky starts to change color , she feels starving . So she slipped out quietly . Just a stretch . Just a breath of air . And froze . Because there he was , Axel Knight ! Oh my goodness .... Axel Knight is still here ... ? ' He sat in the lounge inside the VIP wardroom , a sleek black laptop balanced on his knee , posture sharp enough to cut the monitor . His fingers danced across the keyboard . Honestly , she hadn't expected him to stay longer here . < 19 His Power Meant Nothing ! Because she knew ... Men like Axel didn't wait around in hospitals . Men like him had empires to run , minions to terrorize , and fortunes to increase by the second . And yet , here he was . Still , not leaving Oliver , not leaving her . Against her will , guilt stirred in her chest . She'd convinced herself Axel was incapable of genuine care , but this ... this didn't look like he didn't care . And she hated the way that realization softened something inside her . She wanted to ask why he stayed , or maybe even thank him . But her pride was strong , like a steel cage around her ribs , stopping her from speaking . She just stood there , silently staring at him like he was one of God's finer creations who'd somehow gotten lost and taken up residence in this hospital . Of course , Axel noticed her . He always did . His head lifted , and his sharp gaze fixed on her as if he'd been aware of her the whole time . " What is it , Evelyn ? " His tone was calm , almost dismissive , though his eyes glinted with quiet amusement , as if he'd caught her in the act of something ridiculous . Heat crept up her neck . She straightened , trying to sound casual . " No - Nothing . I wasn't going to bother you . " But , judging by the slight edge in her voice , she failed miserably . Axel's lips curved slightly , hinting at a smirk . " Are you hungry ? " The question blindsided her . Was he psychic ? Or worse , had her stomach betrayed her ? She crossed her arms casually while lifting her chin high . " No. " Axel arched one brow , unconvinced . " Are you sure ? " Right on cue , her stomach growled loudly . Embarrassingly loud . Traitorous . 1 ' Damn it ! You are a traitor ! ' she vents her frustration inwardly . He didn't even bother to hide the smirk this time . Evelyn shot a glare , her dignity hanging by a thread . She clarified , " I'm not ! Just ... Ugh , Axel , go back to running your empire or whatever you're doing on that laptop . I'll sit with Oliver ." He didn't return to his work . His eyes followed her all the way to the door , lingering until she disappeared back into Oliver's room . Axel's lips tilted in a quiet , knowing smile . NO CA 214 < 19 His Power Meant Nothing ! He pulled out his phone . " Dylan . Buy some sushi for Evelyn . Or whatever she'll actually eat . " The call ended as quickly as it began . Then , his fingers returned to the keyboard , expression unreadable , as though nothing had happened at all . Dylan returned not long after , carrying a few boxes filled with sushi , fresh fruit , and chilled drinks . He placed everything neatly on the dining table across from the sofa , where Axel was still immersed in his laptop . " Boss , the food is ready . Do you want me to call Miss Evelyn ? " Axel's brow tightened for half a second , then he flicked his wrist in a dismissive wave . " Leave it ." Dylan nodded and slipped out without another word . When the door clicked shut , Axel closed his laptop and set it aside . Rising , he moved toward the bedroom . He didn't bother knocking on the doors . He simply eased it open , careful not to wake Oliver . What he saw , however , gave him pause . Evelyn . Her back was to him , her head resting in her hands on the edge of the bed . She had fallen asleep sitting up , her cheek pressed against her forearm , hair spilling forward like a curtain . From where he stood , her face was hidden , her soft breath barely audible in the quiet . For a man like Axel , hesitation wasn't usual , but he felt it now . Wake her ? Let her sleep ? He wasn't sure which was the lesser crime . His gaze shifted to the boy on the bed . Oliver's skin was still pale , his lashes unmoving against his cheeks . His small chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm , but his eyes remained tightly shut . A weight settled in Axel's chest , foreign and unwanted . " Why isn't he awake yet ? ' The thought is bothering him . ' It's been nearly ten hours .' For a man who thrived on control , it unsettled him that this , of all things , was beyond his grasp . He could buy empires , crush enemies , rewrite futures . But here , staring at a pale child and an exhausted mother , he felt the hollow truth : his power meant nothing . And he hated it . Yet still , he didn't move . OR KO