25 Deal ? " Axel Knight , do you love me ? " The temperature in the room suddenly dropped below zero . Do you love me ? The words echoed in Axel's head like a foreign language . He suddenly had the absurd urge to laugh as he heard the word " love . " Of all the ridiculous things this woman could ask , she chose that ? His brows furrowed , as though the word itself was an insult . " Love ? " " Yes . Love . " Evelyn's voice was softer now , though a tiny , nervous smile tugged at her lips . " You keep insisting that our marriage be made public . And you keep saying it's real ... " She trailed off , suddenly aware of how ridiculous she sounded now . Evelyn's lips slightly curved into a faint smile , the kind of smile that made Axel suspicious . He narrowed his eyes . He knew that she wasn't done yet . She was dangling him over a cliff just to see him sweat . After a few more seconds , Axel leaned back casually , but his gaze was sharp on her . " Yeah . So ? " Her heart raced , but she forced herself to meet his eyes . " So ... I'm asking if you love me ." For a long moment , silence stretched between them . Axel's jaw tightened . He feels Evelyn had just asked him to hand over a vital organ . How ridiculous ! " Evelyn ," he said finally , his tone sharp , " ... love doesn't exist in my dictionary . So , you ask the wrong person ." 1 Evelyn was speechless . She tried not to laugh , but it escaped anyway , a small , almost helpless giggle . " Well , of course it doesn't . You probably burned that page years ago . Right , Mr. Knight ? " Axel shot his glare , and she quickly raised her hands in surrender . She continued her words , " Come on , Axel ... don't look at me like that . I'm not mocking you . I'm just , " she hesitated , biting her lip . ... trying to figure out what this means for me . For Oliver . For us . " Her honesty softened his sharp gaze . " Evelyn , I don't believe in love . And my answer is ... I don't love you . Sorry if I disappointed you ... " Axel let the words hang in the air , his voice calm , almost casual . But his eyes ? His eyes didn't match that tone . They held her , sharp and steady , like he was waiting for her reaction . Evelyn's playful smile faltered . She hadn't expected him to just drop it like that , blunt and brutal . For a second , she felt embarrassed , as if he'd slapped her with words . But then , slowly , a smile tugging at his lips , he added , " It you really want me to love you , I'll try . I'll learn . Just be patient with me ... < 25 Deal ? because I've never truly felt that way before . " She suddenly lost her words , saw how serious his expression was now , and how casually he said those words . " Wait ! What ? He didn't believe in love , but he was willing to " learn " ? And he asked me to wait ? Was he joking ? Trying to act cool ? Unbelievable ! Before Evelyn could even decide how to respond , his voice cut in again , smooth and commanding . " For me , I only believe in keeping what's mine . You . Oliver . That's not negotiable . So , to answer your question again , our marriage wasn't based on love . And I believe you already knew I didn't love you . Unless ... " 1 Axel hesitated , slightly frowning , with his sharp gaze unchanged . Her heartbeat races . " Unless what ? " she asked carefully , trying not to sound too nervous or too curious . Alex didn't respond right away . He just looked at her face , his eyes moving over her blushing cheeks , noticing how her lashes flickered quickly in nervous fluttering . " Unless ... " he finally said , lips curling into a slow , dangerous smirk , " ... you're the one who loves me , Evelyn ? " " Cough ! Cough ! " Evelyn nearly choked on her own spit. She slapped a hand against her chest , glaring at him like he'd just committed a crime . Her mind screamed . ' Excuse me ?! Did he just ... ? How did he ... ? Gosh ! Heaven , please strike him with your heavenly lightning , please ... Axel chuckled , low and amused , clearly enjoying her shocked expression . " You are ? Wow , this is shocking for me to know that Evelyn ... " His smile stretched wider , like he'd just won something . Heat rushed to her cheeks , and she could feel it . Ugh . Just his look alone was enough to tell her what he was thinking : ' See ? I caught you . You love me , Evelyn ! ' She wanted to scream at him , deny it , throw something , anything , to wipe that proud expression off his face . But when she opened her mouth , nothing came out . Her lips refused to move , betraying her completely . " What the hell ? Who loves you ? Not me ! ' she shouted silently , shaking her head in frustration . " Alright . Evelyn , no need to deny it if you're shy . I get it ... " He nodded , like he was granting her mercy . Tm not ! " she snapped , finally finding her voice . " Good " he said smoothly , his tone far too satisfied for her liking . " Here's the deal ... If you want me to love you , then you have to teach me how Deal ? " Her jaw dropped again What the heck ... ? Why am I suddenly the one insisting now ?! 2/4 37 < 25 Deal ? Evelyn groaned internally , feeling like she'd stepped into a trap she'd set for herself . One small tease and now , bam ! She was the one cornered Trying to play it off . Evelyn forced a nervous laugh . " Avel , you know , most people would just say ' yes ' or ' no ' But with you , everything has to sound like a business contract " He tilted his head , amused . " Well , maybe . But at least with me , you'll never doubt where you stand Her chest tightened , not from fear , but from the weight of his certainty . He wasn't romantic , not even close . But , there was something in his voice , something so sure and possessive , that it made her stomach flutter against her will . 1 " Fine , Evelyn turned her gaze away from him . Her lips betrayed her , curling into a reluctant smile . " Not love ... but something close enough " She whispered those last words so softly that only she could hear them . Because if Axel caught even a hint of what she really meant , he'd twist it again . And then she'd be stuck here all night , arguing , digging herself deeper while he smiled like the devil who already owned her soul . Evelyn stole a glance at him . Of course , he was still smiling , proud , infuriatingly gorgeous . Her heart thudded hard against her chest . " Damn it ! This man is going to be the death of me ... And yet ... She couldn't run away ! Not now , not later . 66 Thank you so much for the Golden Ticket & Power Stones . Please continue . We need to raise the rank to give this book more opportunities . Xoxo ^ Comment Post your first comment PurpleLight Creators ' Thoughts