"Deep trouble? What do you an, ma’am?" Liam asked.
Evelyn gave him a sweet, almost pitying look.
"Let’s just say... you’ve beco particularly popular online."
His brows furrowed. "Popular?"
"Yes," she said, smiling faintly at him. "Hurry, you need to check the internet. I’ll be praying for you."
Then she gracefully exited the car, leaving him with that cryptic ssage.
Liam blinked several tis, confused.
Then, slowly, he pulled out his phone.
A minute later, Liam was staring at the headlines that had nearly given him an aneurysm.
He instantly feels like his soul has left his body.
"Oh, crap," Liam breathed. "Oh, crap, crap, crap..." He scrolled faster, each comnt worse than the last.
"Who’s the hottie walking beside Evelyn Walters?"
"OMG! Why does he have a bodyguard vibe? Much forbidden romance?"
"Wow, Evelyn Walters is back, taking over the company, and now with a handso man as her lover. How lucky she is!"
"Guys... Why am I seeing drama in real life?"
Liam’s face drained of color.
"Boss is going to kill . No... he’s going to bury alive!"
He rubbed his face in despair, imagining Axel’s cold stare, that deadly calm before the storm.
"Maybe I should fake my own death. Or move to Antarctica."
The phone buzzed.
A ssage from Axel popped up.
"Co to my office. Now." From: Big Boss
Liam’s grip tightened around his phone.
"Oh, I’m dead."
And with that, he started the car again, driving straight toward his doom.
...
anwhile, inside the house, Evelyn was already laughing softly to herself, shaking her head.
"Poor Liam," she whispered. "May the gods of gossip have rcy on him."
Evelyn’s voice was bright and full of warmth as she stepped into the living room.
"Oliver, Mommy’s ho!"
From the couch, where an animated cartoon was playing at full volu, ca the sweetest voice she could ever hear.
"Mommy? Are you ho?"
Her heart lted instantly. She instantly forgot about the chaos on the internet.
Evelyn barely had ti to put down her purse before her little boy sprinted across the room, arms wide open, and his big, hazel eyes glowing with joy.
She caught him in her arms, hugging him tight. His tiny arms wrapped around her neck, and his soft hair brushed against her cheek.
"Oh, my sweetheart," she whispered, kissing the top of his head. "Did you miss ?"
"Yes! A lot..." Oliver nodded seriously.
Evelyn chuckled, lifting him into her arms as she walked toward the sofa.
She sat down and held him close, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
"So, tell , what did you do today, hm? Was your piano lesson fun?"
Oliver’s small shoulders slumped. "My teacher said I did well, but... I still can’t play a complete song."
Her brows lifted in amusent. "Oh? And that makes my big boy sad?"
He nodded again, pouting adorably. "I want to play for you and Daddy, but my fingers keep ssing up!"
Evelyn laughed softly and kissed his cheek.
"You’re only four, sweetheart. I didn’t even touch a piano until I was seven."
"Really?" His eyes widened.
"Really," she said, smiling. "And I was terrible at first. I couldn’t rember which key was which, and I cried when the teacher made play in front of everyone."
"You cried, Mommy?" he asked, blinking. As if he didn’t believe his mother cried.
"Hmm... I did. I was a big crybaby," she admitted dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "So you see, Mommy was worse than you. But look at now... I still can’t play well, so you already win."
Oliver burst out laughing, his earlier frustration forgotten. "You’re funny, Mommy."
"I’m also right," she said, tickling his side until he squealed with laughter. "No rushing, okay? You’ll get better with ti. Promise you’ll enjoy learning for now."
He nodded firmly. "Okay, I promise."
"Good boy." She kissed him again, her heart swelling with affection.
After a mont of quiet, Oliver suddenly asked, "Mommy, can we go to the cabin today? Please?"
Evelyn blinked in surprise.
"The cabin? You an the one on the hill?"
"Yes! I want to see the stars there. And maybe Daddy can co later...?"
She smiled softly. The thought of a quiet evening at the cabin with her son sounded perfect.
"Alright," she said, brushing her thumb across his cheek. "We’ll drive there this afternoon. I’ll cook dinner for us, and you can help make dessert."
"Really?" Oliver’s eyes sparkled. "Can I make the cookies again?"
"Yes, Chef Oliver," she teased. "But, no eating half the dough this ti."
He laughed so hard that he nearly slipped off her lap.
The two of them chatted for a while longer, their conversation full of giggles and innocent questions about the stars and the trees.
For a brief mont, Evelyn forgot about the outside world, the gossip about her and Liam. It was just her and her little son.
As the sun began to set, she finally sent a ssage to Liam.
"Please prepare the car. I want to go to the cabin with Oliver this afternoon."
A few seconds later, a reply ca.
"Sorry, Ma’am. I’m at the office right now. But I will ask soone to prepare the car for you." From: Liam
Evelyn frowned, her thumbs hovering over the screen.
The office?
That ant Axel had likely summoned him for "a talk." She sighed, imdiately feeling guilty.
Poor Liam. He must be suffering the wrath of her jealous husband.
Without thinking twice, she opened a new chat.
"Axel, please don’t punish Liam. He didn’t do anything wrong."
No reply.
She waited a minute, tapping her fingers on the phone screen.
But still nothing.
Her lips pressed together as she typed again.
"I’m heading to the cabin with Oliver. Co ho faster. I’ll cook tonight. Love you!"
This ti, the reply ca almost instantly.
"I’m on my way!" From: Hubby
Evelyn blinked, then burst out laughing. "So fast?"
Oliver tilted his head, confused.
"What’s funny, Mommy?"
"Daddy," she said with a playful grin. "He’s in a hurry to co ho, that’s all."
"Yay! Daddy will eat cookies too!" Oliver smiled widely.
Evelyn laughed again and hugged him.
"Yes, Daddy will eat cookies too."
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