"Why are you so shy?" Axel teased softly. "He knows you’re my wife. No need to be awkward or embarrassed about it."
Evelyn parted her lips to argue, but before she could form a word, his mouth was on hers again.
This ti, the kiss was playful, possessive even, and it left her light-headed.
When he finally pulled back, she gasped quietly for air, her cheeks flushed.
"You look so hot in that gown, Eve."
Then, he leaned back in his seat, straightening his suit as if he hadn’t just stolen her breath away.
Evelyn ignores him. She is trying to calm the heat rising in her face.
For a mont, silence filled the space again, heavy but comfortable.
Then, her expression changed as a sudden thought crossed her mind, a hint of unease flickering in her gaze.
She turns to look at him. "Axel..." she says softly. "Natalie Martinez... is she your ex?"
Suddenly, his playful expression disappeared. His hand paused in mid-motion, and his eyes shifted toward her.
The gentle warmth that had filled the car just monts ago vanished, replaced by sothing heavier.
Evelyn held his stare, refusing to look away.
She wanted to believe it didn’t matter.
She wanted to act as if she were just curious.
But her heartbeat betrayed her, fast and nervous in the quiet hum of the car.
Axel didn’t answer right away.
The city lights cast shadows over his face, hiding his thoughts behind calm eyes that now looked almost distant.
She silently took a deep breath, a barely noticeable smile flickering on her lips as she began, "I’m sorry if my—"
But she can’t finish her words as Axel interrupts.
"No. She is not." His eyes are gentle, but his voice sounds firm. "I didn’t know her in person."
Evelyn didn’t press the question further. She just nodded and turned to look out the window, letting the cool night lights of the city blur past.
She had no intention of talking about that woman again. If Axel didn’t seem to know her, then it was probably nothing.
Maybe Natalie Martinez was just one of those won who admired him from afar... he had plenty of those, whether he wanted them or not.
Axel stayed quiet for a while, his gaze fixed on her profile.
The subtle pout on her lips, the way her eyes avoided his, made him smile faintly.
Then, without warning, he asked, "Why do you ask that? Are you jealous of her?"
Evelyn turned to him quickly, eyes wide.
"No. Should I be jealous of her? So far, I don’t see why I should."
Her tone was calm, but he could hear the hint of defensiveness.
He didn’t comnt on it, only tilted his head slightly, amusent glimring in his gaze. She hated that look... the one that told her he didn’t believe her.
Evelyn sighed, giving in.
"Fine," she muttered, shaking her head slightly, "It’s just... she stopped before I left the building. That Natalie woman. She called my na out of nowhere."
Axel’s relaxed expression shifted instantly. "What did she say?"
"Nothing that concerns ," Evelyn replied, although her tone betrayed her ease. "She looked calm at first, polite even. But her tone...I know that kind of tone."
She frowned, recalling the encounter.
"It was off. I could tell she was annoyed with . I don’t even know why. I don’t know her at all. Anyway, she just asked for a few minutes to talk, and I said I didn’t have ti."
"Did she threaten you?" Axel asked, his voice dropping a note lower.
"No, not directly. But it felt... strange. Like she was trying to provoke or sothing." Evelyn glanced out the window again, her voice lower now, nearly quiet. "I don’t like her. Her eyes didn’t look friendly."
Axel leaned toward her, gently took her hand, and squeezed it to draw her gaze back to him.
A smile appeared on his lips when he saw her staring with her calm expression, though her gaze seed to say otherwise.
"You’re overthinking it, Eve. She’s probably just jealous of you."
She chuckled softly, "Well, that’s what Jack and Jo say to ."
He gave a small, knowing smile.
"Indeed. Jackson and Joseph would say the sa thing. You were sitting next to all night. For soone like her, that’s enough to spark drama. She is not worth overthinking, though."
Evelyn looked unconvinced but didn’t argue. Maybe he was right. Won like Natalie were everywhere, graceful on the surface but shallow and rude underneath.
"You are right," she murmured, "Let’s forget it."
"Good idea," Axel said softly.
She gave him a small smile, though part of her still felt uneasy.
Thankfully, he didn’t say another word about Natalie for the rest of the drive.
By the ti they reached ho, it was already late.
The house stood quiet, glowing softly under the garden lights.
Evelyn went straight to the bedroom, grateful to finally take off her gown and wipe away her makeup.
Axel, however, didn’t follow her. He watched her disappear into the bathroom, then loosened his tie and headed to his ho office.
His steps were silent and calm, but his mind wasn’t.
Once the door closed behind him, he picked up his phone and called Collins.
The man answered after a few rings.
"Boss? It’s late. Don’t tell you’re still working?"
Axel approached the leather sofa and sat down.
"Keep a close eye on Natalie Martinez," Axel said flatly, ignoring the question.
There was a pause.
"Wait, what? That woman?" Collins’ tone turned sharp. "Boss, she’s a troublemaker. Why do you suddenly want to track her?"
Axel leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly.
"She approached Evelyn tonight. I don’t know what her intentions are, but I can sense her malicious intentions. I want to know everything about her. Who she talks to recently, where she goes, and what she’s planning for the coming days. Don’t miss anything."
"Understood." Collins sighed heavily, then muttered, "That woman is insane, though. I’ve had people asking about her before. Her reputation looks clean on paper, but one careful closer look underneath that clean paper proves sothing else..."
Axel’s brows furrowed. "Go on."
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