23 His Words Hit Evelyn Unexpectedly 23 His Words Hit Evelyn Unexpectedly " Axel , can we just talk here ? " Evelyn's voice broke the silence as Axel's long strides carried him toward the door . His intent was clear ; he wanted her to follow him into his VIP ward room , away from Oliver . Yes , there were nurses and Axel's people stationed outside the VIP ward room . Still , the idea of leaving Oliver alone , even for a short while , made her uneasy . Axel stopped . Slowly , he turned . His cold gaze locked onto hers . " Do you want Oliver to overhear our conversation ? " His tone was casual , but the words landed like a blow . Evelyn froze . It was such an obvious truth , yet hearing it out loud felt like a warning . She pressed her lips together , saying nothing more , and followed him . He briefly glanced back , a soft chuckle escaping him as if amused by her hesitation . He held the door open for her . Moments later , they were seated across from each other . The setup felt familiar , just as it had this morning , but now it was different . Even though Evelyn's nerves were still there , this time she wasn't so easily intimidated . Taking a breath , Evelyn begins to express her worry , " I know what you want to talk about , Axel . " His brows furrowed , and his intense stare seemed to silently urge her to keep going . Evelyn's heart tightened . Her fingers curled tightly in her lap , nails digging into her palms . Nervous . Still , she forced herself to speak . " You know , I'm still reluctant to move to the capital with you , right , Axel ... ? " She asked , her voice steady at first , then trembling as she pushed through . " And you can't ... must not ... take Oliver away from me . If you ever try , I'll do whatever it takes to stop you . Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself . " She paused to take a deep , silent breath . " Don't think for a second that you can separate me from my son . He's all I have left . The only family I have now ... " Her words cracked near the end , her breath shallow . She bit her lip , fighting the burn in her eyes , but the glimmer of tears betrayed her . She expected anger from him . Or perhaps cold indifference . Maybe even a threat . Evelyn didn't expect the low sound that followed . Axel chuckled . The sound was soft , deep , and utterly out of place . Evelyn blinked at him in disbelief . Her mind raced . 08 52 1/3 < 23 His Words Hit Evelyn Unexpectedly ' Did he even hear me ? Did he understand how serious I am ? Or is he so heartless that he can laugh at this ? ' Her chest tightened , her hands curling into fists . She wanted to lash out , to demand an answer . But something about the way he leaned back on his couch , watching her with that infuriating calm , kept her rooted in place . His eyes sparkled ; not teasing , not scornful . Something else flickered there , but it was gone before she could name it . " You think I want to take Oliver from you ? " he finally spoke . His voice sounds calm , which surprised her . " Don't you ? " she asked , puzzled by his reaction . For a beat , Axel said nothing . The silence lingered, heavy enough that Evelyn's pulse thundered in her ears . Then , at last , he started to speak again . " If I wanted to ," he said slowly , " ... you wouldn't be sitting here arguing with me . Oliver would already be with me . You know that , Evelyn . " She could feel her stomach flip . The calmness and certainty in his voice were terrifying because it was true . He had the power , the resources , and the influence . If Axel Knight decided to take her son , she had no doubt he could . " Then why are you here , Axel ? Why stay ? Why ... " She paused , swallowing hard . She saw his gaze soften , just a little . Or , she only imagined it . " Because Oliver isn't just your family , Evelyn ... He's mine too . " She looked away , unable to hold his eyes . That one sentence carried more weight than anything else he could have said . But she refused to show weakness . " That doesn't change anything . He stays with me . " Axel's lips flickered a bit . Not a smirk or anything teasing , but more like he's just resigned . " You really think I'd separate a child from his mother ? " Evelyn blinked at him . ' Did he tell the truth ? ' The Axel Knight she knew was the ruthless , cold man her father despised . Yet the man sitting in front of her now , the one who had sat by Oliver's bedside and held his hand until he woke , didn't seem like that monster . She was confused . She wanted to believe him , but every instinct warned her not to trust . For a moment , she had no words to answer him . She simply stared at him in silence . " And , Evelyn , you don't have to sell your soul to keep him . You just have to trust me ," Axel continued . His voice sounded calm . Her lips parted , but no words came . Her heartbeat rushed in her chest . " Trust him ? ' Before she could even find her voice , he continued , " You and Oliver will come with me to the capital . And we will register our marriage , and he'll take my name ... " 1 Evelyn blinked , stunned . 273 < 23 His Words Hit Evelyn Unexpectedly She had imagined this moment countless times , but hearing the words spill from Axel's mouth sounded firm , enough to make her chest . tighten . The idea of becoming his wife felt impossible . Unthinkable . And yet ... When she remembered the way Oliver's small hand fit so easily into Axel's , and the way her son's laughter lit up when he was around , she couldn't deny the creeping thought that maybe the impossible was already starting. Axel stared at her in silence . Even waiting a single heartbeat for her answer seemed too long for him . He continued , " You're overthinking , Evelyn ... " his tone was sharp with impatience . " Stop wasting time on things that don't matter ." Evelyn's eyes flashed . She shot him a glare , but her throat betrayed her , tightening around the words she wanted to throw back at him . " If you're thinking about yourself , stop it ," Axel pressed , " Think about Oliver . Think about his future . " 1 His words hit Evelyn unexpectedly . She froze , caught off guard . He was right . Painfully , brutally right .