< 22 Don't You Dare ! 22 Don't You Dare ! " Mommy ... " " Finally , you woke up , sweetheart ..." Evelyn said , her voice trembling with relief as she hurried to the bedside . She deliberately ignored the intense stare from Mr. Iceberg himself , who had stood up from the stool as if trying to give her some space . With practiced case , Axel released Oliver's hand , smooth and casual , as though it meant nothing . However , Oliver had other plans . Her son wouldn't let Axel disappear into the background like some bodyguard on standby . " Mommy , look , look who's here ... It's Mr. Axel Knight ! " Oliver's eyes beamed as if he'd just discovered a superhero coming to visit him . Evelyn suddenly finds her throat going dry , catching her off guard . " I know ... of course I know ... because he's your father , Oliver . " Evelyn wanted to say that , but the words only lingered at her throat , never past her lips . She forced a soft smile for her son and darted a glance at Axel . Predictably , the warmth she had seen on his face earlier , the rare smile , had disappeared . Instead , it was the usual Axel : cold , unreadable , with a look sharp enough to see the truth behind anyone's confidence , let alone shyness . ' My goodness ... does he practice that death stare in the mirror every morning ? ' Evelyn thinks amusedly . 1 Still , she hurriedly pushed aside her own thoughts . There's something more important than imagining how Axel practices his expression . She needs to talk to her son . She politely smiled at Axel , ready to ask him to step outside so she could speak to Oliver alone . However , before she could , her son spoke again , " Mommy , you were wrong ... " Looking into his gaze , she knew his words were a trap . And whatever he wanted to say made her nervous . " Wrong ? " she casually repeated . A faint smile gradually appeared on her lips , despite her inner panic . ' When did I say something wrong ? What did I forget ? Oh no . Oh no . Please don't tell me ... " This morning ." Oliver continued , his small voice sweet and innocent . " When I asked you who Axel Knight was , you said ..." Evelyn's heart sinks as she quickly thinks , ' Oh god . Abort mission . Stop right there , young man . Don't you dare to say anything She shook her head quickly , eyes wide , shooting him every desperate signal she had , pleading glances , tiny shakes of her hand , even a sharp glare that said , ' Oliver Taylor ... one more word and you're grounded until college : 1 But Oliver , sweet innocent Oliver , was blissfully immune to his mother's panic . " ... you said he's a boring man who wears boring suits and does boring things ... " 1 Evelyn wished the ground would swallow her whole . < 22 Don't You Dare ! ' Fantastic . Out of all the conversations to remember , he picks this one ? How smart my son is ... ! Oliver , beaming with pride as he cheerfully corrected her , " ... but Mommy , Mr. Axel Knight is not boring . He's kind . And funny , too . " The little guy paused for a giggle before turning his gaze to Axel . " He tells me so many jokes , and I like him a lot , Mom . Uncle Axel ... do you like me too ? " Axel's lips curved , not into his usual dominating smirk but into something subtler . " Of course ... I like you , buddy , " He answered . Oliver giggled again and innocently said , " See , Mom , Uncle Axel , like him ... " Evelyn was left speechless . These two are beginning to make her nervous . ' Oh , for heaven's sake , she silently expressed her frustration . ' Perfect . Just perfect . My child has now found his partner in crime to drive me insane ... Axel didn't laugh outright , of course , he wouldn't , but the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth gave him away . His eyes gleamed with amusement , as if he were savoring her frustration . But later , Axel moved closer to her and whispered , " I didn't like to hear him call me, sir ... Or uncle ... " Evelyn's eyes twitch in surprise upon hearing his words . She narrows her eyes at him . Before she could say something , he added , " Do you want me to tell him ? " Instantly , Evelyn shot him a glare sharp enough to peel paint off the walls . " Don't you dare ! " she whispered furiously . " Relax ... I haven't said a word ," Axel replied smoothly , straightening to his full height . His tone was casual , but his eyes sparkled with the victory of a man who didn't need to speak to win . Oliver , oblivious to the tension crackling in the air , tugged at Evelyn's sleeve . " Mommy , can Mr. Axel stay with us ? Please ? Please Mommy ... I like him . " He said , worried that his mother would ask Axel to leave . Evelyn blinked , caught off guard . She opened her mouth , about to politely turn him down , but no words came out . She looked at Oliver's hopeful eyes , then at Axel's cool , unreadable stare . Her son had already chosen sides , and apparently , she was the one outnumbered . " Of course ," Axel replied smoothly before Evelyn could . " I'll stay as long as you want , buddy ... " He raised his hand and gave a fist bump with his cubby hand . Evelyn gaped , and she glared at him again . ' Oh , look at him . Mr. Knight in shining armor , hijacking my parental authority like it's a boardroom takeover ... But when Oliver beamed and squeezed her hand , whispering , " Thanks , Mommy ... " Evelyn's heart softened . She let out a sigh , feeling defeated . 08 51 < 22 Don't You Dare ! " Of course , dear ... but remember , you can't make him stay if he has an urgent work matter . Can you promise me you'll understand ? " Evelyn smiles at Oliver , but deep inside , she's satisfied because she sent Axel a message reminding him that he's not someone who is unemployed and can stay longer . He has a company to run . Perhaps he forgot about that . Axel's lips curled just a little , his silence confident , as if to say : ' I'm winning , Evelyn ! ' And Evelyn knew , with bone - deep certainty , that this man was going to be the death of her sanity . 1 And just like that , Axel Knight stayed with them in the hospital . By the next hour , his people arrived , bringing a few of his personal belongings and placing them in the room directly opposite Oliver's ward . That short night somehow stretched endlessly for Evelyn . The three of them spent it together , talking with Oliver about cartoons and the most ordinary things . What struck Evelyn most was the silence surrounding the truth . No one mentioned Axel's real identity . Not once . Either Oliver deliberately avoided the question , or her little boy was far too clever and gentle for his own good , sensing what shouldn't be said . The atmosphere flowed so naturally that she almost forgot the weight pressing down on her chest . Eventually , Oliver drifted off , his breathing soft and steady , leaving Evelyn alone with her restless thoughts . When Axel finally rose from his chair , Evelyn exhaled , convinced he would retreat to his new wardroom across the hall . She needed the break . But she was wrong . Instead of leaving , Axel's voice broke the awkward silence . " Come with me . " Her head snapped up . " What ? " " The living room . Now . " His tone left no room for refusal . Her heart tightened . A thousand unspoken words flashed through her mind , but she couldn't ignore the look in his eyes . This wasn't casual . Evelyn's pulse quickened . She already knew where this conversation was headed , and it terrified her . 09:51 3/4 < 22 Don't You Dare ! 66 Please vote with Power Stones and Golden Tickets to help this book rise in the rankings ! Thank you ! Comment 4 Leave the first comment for this chapter . Vote 14 PurpleLight Creators ' Thoughts 1 Fandom Show support to the author by leaving comments when sending gift . Swipe Left To Continue > 图 Send Gifts View All > 08.51