20 You Know Me ? Axel stood there , motionless , as if rooted to the spot . 1 He didn't usually linger where emotions tangled themselves into a mess , but tonight was different . His gaze rested on Evelyn again . He can see her head still tilted in restless sleep . A strand of hair had fallen across her cheek . For one reckless second , his hand twitched . He wanted to brush the strand aside , smooth her hair back , if only to convince himself she was really here , safe . But the thought dissolved as quickly as it came . Axel Knight didn't indulge in such impulses . He buried them deep , where no one could ever see . At the same time , Evelyn stirred . Her lashes fluttered slowly and hesitantly , as if her body had finally sensed the air shift . A soft groan escaped her lips as she shifted , reluctantly lifting her head from her armrest . The first thing her blurry vision caught sight of was Oliver . Still asleep . Still pale . The sight tugged something sharp in her chest . The second thing she saw was him . Axel Knight . She saw him standing there , as if he had stepped out of a Gothic oil painting : broad shoulders forming sharp lines in the lamplight , his hands casually resting in his pockets , his expression unreadable . That face of his looked as if it were carved from stone , yet it somehow held the quiet authority of command . Her heart gave an ungraceful leap . Waking up drooling and with messy hair , with him standing close to her ? The universe really hated her . She sat up straighter , pulling her hair forward like a curtain and subtly angling her face away from his sharp gaze . ' Please , dear heavens , no pillow creases across my cheek ... She prayed . " Were you ... watching me sleep ? " She asked . Axel's brows lifted . " You looked ... peaceful , Evelyn . " ' Peaceful ? That word didn't belong anywhere near her at the moment . " Peaceful , " she said sarcastically , running her fingers through her messy hair . Again . To make sure she looks decent. " Yeah , I looked like 1 fought a pillow and lost ." He didn't respond . That's typical of Axel . He often remained quiet , as if he were speaking his own silent language ; calm , steady , < 20 You Know Me ? sometimes more meaningful than words . His head tilted slightly , as if he was recalling how she looked , all messy . Evelyn shifted under that gaze . It wasn't fair how a man could say nothing and still make her feel like she was on trial . She tries to dismiss the embarrassing voices in her mind , shaking her head as she shifts her focus to her son . However , her stomach betrays her with a loud growl . ' Oh , perfect . Now he thinks I'm starving to death on top of being a mess .' Axel's lips curled slightly . It wasn't a full smile , just a subtle flicker of satisfaction across his face . " Food's on the table ." Evelyn blinked , surprised by his words , then turned her head to look at him again . Her head snapped toward him . " Wait ... you ordered food ? " " Sushi , " he casually answered , " ... and some fruit and drinks . Should be enough to stop that growling noise coming from your stomach . " Evelyn is torn between gratitude and embarrassment . On one side , he had truly thought about her , and it's been a while since any man has done that . On the other side , he made it sound like he was teasing her . She smiles . " Thank you , Axel . I don't .... " But Axel didn't let her finish her words . Instead , he gently put his finger on her lips , signaling a shush sign . Then , his eyes shifted briefly toward Oliver before returning to her . " Stop talking and go eat your food ," he softly ordered . " Don't worry about Oliver . I'll stay here . " Evelyn paused , lips pressing together , then nodded . Without another word , she moved toward the door . Her feet felt heavier than they should , and for some unknown reason , she didn't dare admit it ; leaving that room was not as easy as she expected . She was anxious about leaving her son with Axel . What if Oliver woke up and she wasn't there ? The door clicked softly . Axel turned his head , gaze drifting back toward the bed . Oliver lay there still , the steady rhythm of his breaths the only sign of life . He stepped closer , hands sliding from his pockets , the weight of responsibility pressing into his shoulders . The boy's small frame looked fragile beneath the sterile white sheets . He stood there for a long moment , watching the rise and fall of Oliver's chest until the faintest movement grabbed his attention . 08.50 214 < 20 You Know Me ? A soft stir . A twitch of fingers . ' He awake ? ' He watched Oliver's lashes flutter open . His eyes initially blinked unfocused , then gradually focused . His small body was shifting restlessly against the pillow . His eyes wandered the room , still blurred from sleep , until they locked on him , and his eyes widened . He looked frozen . And , Axel froze too . For a moment , they simply stared at each other , two strangers , bound by something neither had been aware of or prepared for . Axel felt his chest tighten . The boy's hazel - green gaze was too familiar , like a mirror reflecting back at him . Same sharp shape . Same piercing look . Except softer . Innocent . His eyes didn't carry the weight of building an empire or fighting enemies , just curiosity . Then , with a weak but certain little voice , he spoke , " Oh ... I know you ." Axel's brows lifted slightly at his words . ' Know me ? ' His name wasn't exactly bedtime story material for kids . Unless ... Evelyn had been slipping in tales about the big evil Axel Knight ? 1 " You know me ? " Axel asked , his tone cautious , almost awkward . It was the first time he'd ever tried speaking softly to a child . It felt strange on his tongue , like he wasn't himself . " Y - Yes ." Oliver tried to sit up , but Axel was faster , immediately pressing a gentle hand to his shoulder . " No , " Axel said firmly , though his voice even more softened . " Don't get up . Your leg still needs more time to recover . No hero moves tonight ." Oliver's lips twitched as though he found that oddly funny , then whispered , " You are Axel Knight ... right ? " Axel blinked . The sound of his full name coming out of such a tiny mouth nearly stunned him . " Yes ... " Axel answered slowly , still processing . ' How does this little man know me ? Evelyn ? Did she tell him about me ? " 08.50 3/4 < 20 You Know Me ? 66 Thank you so much for the Golden Ticket & Power Stones . Please continue . We need to raise the Golden Ticket & Power Stones rank to give this book more opportunities . Xoxo ^ Comment 1 Leave the first comment for this chapter .