Axel guided Joseph into the living room. He appeared calm on the outside, but behind that composed appearance, his mind was quietly whirling.
’Why had Evelyn invited this man?’ He wonders.
When he found out Evelyn had invited Joseph, he tried to ask her, but she was too busy with the preparations.
Worried about ruining her good mood, he kept his questions to himself. Instead, he asked Collins to run a background check on Joseph Carter.
And the results had made him uneasy.
According to Collins, Joseph Carter had once been very close to Evelyn during her ti at the Walters Group.
So even whispered they were more than colleagues. Because Joseph had followed Evelyn everywhere... etings, charity events, even late-night company parties.
Knowing that, he didn’t like that.
What made it worse was learning that Joseph had also attended the New Year’s gala at the Imperial Hotel years ago. The very sa night, Evelyn’s life had changed forever.
So yes, he had reasons not to trust Joseph Carter, no matter how much Evelyn did.
"Daddy—"
A cheerful voice pulled Axel out of his thoughts. He turned to see his son.
Axel’s guarded expression instantly softened when he saw Oliver’s bright eyes light up.
He crouched down and scooped him into his arms. "Are you finished playing with Uncle Oscar?" he asked warmly.
"Yes, Dad..." Oliver answered with enthusiasm. Then his gaze landed curiously on the tall man behind his father. "Oh, this uncle..."
Axel chuckled lightly.
"Mommy’s friend. You can call him Uncle Joseph." He turned to Joseph with a relaxed, polite smile. "This is my son, Oliver."
Joseph managed a small smile, still feeling the weight of disbelief pressing on him. "Hi, Oliver. I’ve heard a lot about you."
Oliver tilted his head. "Really? From who?"
"From your mom," Joseph said with a soft laugh.
"Oh..." Oliver smiled proudly. "Mommy talks about a lot."
"Oh, yes, she does." Joseph smiles.
Before the conversation could continue, Evelyn appeared in the doorway, graceful yet slightly breathless, her face lighting up when she saw them.
"Ah, Joseph... You made it."
Joseph turned toward her voice, the familiar warmth in her tone returning, and he almost forgot how surreal everything felt.
"Of course," Joseph replied. "I wouldn’t miss it."
Evelyn ca closer, gently fixing Oliver’s collar before introducing everyone to Joseph.
"Joseph, you’ve t Axel, right?" Evelyn asked.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she saw him nod. She continued, "Axel Knight is my husband. And this is my son, Oliver Taylor Knight."
Then she turned to Oscar, "and that’s Oscar... my brother from different parents."
Oscar waved from the couch, his usual teasing grin in place. "The mysterious Mr. Carter. Finally, we t in person."
Joseph laughed awkwardly. "You must be the famous Oscar I keep hearing about."
"Famous?" Oscar arched an eyebrow. "Hearing that from Evelyn? That can’t be true. Maybe you an infamous, right? Anyway, I prefer to be known as the Legendary... Man!"
Evelyn rolled her eyes and smiled, "Joe, ignore him. He has yet to recover from his caffeine-induced babbling since this morning."
Oscar dramatically gasped. "Eve... Please! Don’t ruin my reputation in front of the new guest."
Even Axel cracked a smile at their banter, then asked them all to settle in the seating area.
The atmosphere grew lighter, and Joseph began to relax, though his mind still whirled.
Joseph studied Evelyn discreetly. There was sothing different about her now. She looked stronger, calr, but also softer when she looked at Axel or their son. She seed... content and secure.
That realization made him oddly proud but also more confused than ever.
How did Evelyn Walters, once the most guarded, sharp-tongued woman in the Walters Group before being outcast from the family, end up married to Axel Knight of all people?
Everyone on the board of mbers in the company is aware that William Walters holds a grudge and envy against every single mber of the Knight family. And Axel Knight in particular.
Because Axel Knight was practically a legend in the business world: ruthless, brilliant, untouchable. A true legendary man.
Yet, here he was, sitting beside her like a doting husband, and far from looking like the man the legend has foretold.
Joseph was curious, but he held his tongue, knowing that asking about it here would be dangerous.
"So," Axel said suddenly, breaking his train of thought, "you work at the Walters Group, right?"
"Yes," Joseph replied, regaining composure. "I’m the current COO, but a few days ago I was appointed to hold the CEO position. The board wanted stability after... well, after everything that happened."
Evelyn smiled faintly, "He’s the only one I still trust from that place."
"Thank you, Eve. Much appreciated."
Before Evelyn could speak, Oscar interrupted, "That’s a strong endorsent, Joe. Congratulations, you’ve now joined the ’Evelyn’s Trust List.’ It’s even shorter than the FBI’s Most Wanted list."
Everyone laughed, including Evelyn. "That’s because most people can’t handle well."
Axel’s eyes flickered toward her, amused. "You an they can’t survive your standards."
"Oh, and you can?" she playfully answered.
"Yeah. And I said it not just from my confidence. I have a corroborative witness," Axel said, wrapping an arm loosely around her waist. "We have a smart and honest four-year-old witness."
Oliver raised his little hand. "That’s ..."
Their laughter filled the room, and even Joseph couldn’t help but smile. Despite the sharp tension that had hovered earlier, the Knight family’s dynamic was surprisingly warm... ssy, teasing, but real.
It made him happy to see Evelyn like this. After all the heartbreak and betrayal she had endured, she finally had sothing genuine.
...
Just as the conversation began to settle into easy laughter, a notification pinged on Axel’s phone.
He glanced at it briefly, his expression unreadable.
"Our next guests have arrived," he announced. "My grandparents."
Evelyn instantly straightened, her face brightening.
"Then we shouldn’t keep them waiting." She said.
"Co on, Oliver," Axel said softly, extending his hand. "Let’s go greet your great-grandparents..."
Oliver’s eyes widened. "They’re here?" he asked and followed his father and mother.
"Yes," Evelyn said warmly. "Your father’s grandparents. You rember what I told you about them, right?"
Oliver nodded eagerly. "They live in a big house with a garden and white horses?"
"That’s right," Axel confird with a chuckle.
Together, the three of them walked toward the front entrance, leaving Joseph and Oscar behind in the living room.
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