After Oliver left the room for his piano class, her office finally fell quiet.
The call with Oscar was still connected, his familiar voice filling the room.
"Eve, are you still there?"
"Yeah... Are you seriously going to fly here?" she asked, still half doubtful.
"I always fulfill my promises, Eve," Oscar replied, followed by his light, confident laugh. "Of course I will. But probably in December. I still have a pending job here that I can’t escape yet."
"December is still fine," Evelyn said. "Do you want to arrange a hotel? You can stay at Axel’s hotel if you want."
Oscar chuckled. "No need, my friend. I already bought a house not far from your area."
Evelyn straightened in her seat. "You did? When?"
"A while ago," Oscar replied casually. "When I visit the city, I look around. I figured I should have a place near you and Oliver."
She blinked, surprised and slightly touched. "That sounds... very prepared of you."
"Well, I am a very thoughtful uncle."
Evelyn smiled, then narrowed her eyes playfully. "Wait a minute. Did you buy a house because you finally found a woman to settle down with?"
"What?" Oscar nearly shouted.
Evelyn could hear him coughing on the other end. Or even the sounds he fell from his chair, she stifled a smile.
"Are you trying to kill ?" he said.
She laughed. "So that’s a no?"
"Of course it’s a no," he protested. "Where would I even find a woman? I barely go out. My circle is ninety percent n, and the rest are computers."
"That’s tragic," Evelyn teased. "Maybe I should help you find a nice woman here..."
"No," Oscar replied imdiately. "Absolutely not."
"Oh, co on," she continued mischievously. "I know many good won. Smart, kind, beautiful..."
"I’m not interested," Oscar cut in firmly. "I’m enjoying my life now. I have my work, my hobbies, and my best friends. We already agreed that when I get old, they will take care of . And, you’re one of them!"
Evelyn burst into laughter.
"I rember that conversation. You said you would live in our house when you are old."
"Exactly," Oscar replied proudly. "That’s my retirent plan."
She shook her head, still smiling. "You are funny, my friend."
"And happy," he added calmly.
Before she could reply, Oscar suddenly paused. "Eve, wait a second. Soone is trying to call you... It’s Axel."
Evelyn was surprised; she didn’t even realize it was almost five, and she had spoken to him for too long.
"Ugh, Oscar, we’ll talk later," she said hurriedly.
"Alright, I also need to sleep now."
They ended the call, and almost imdiately, Evelyn’s phone rang again.
Axel’s na appeared on the screen.
Her playful smile faded a little as she answered, sensing sothing in the timing.
"Axel?" she said gently.
His voice ca through steady and calm, but she knew him well enough to hear the tension beneath it.
"Eve, are you busy?" he asked. "I’ve called you many tis, but your phone was busy."
"I’m not busy," she replied quickly. "Oliver and I were just talking to Oscar." There was a faint trace of apology in her tone. "Are you heading ho now?"
There was a short pause before Axel answered.
"No. I won’t be able to co ho for dinner. I have a sudden eting, and it might continue over dinner. I’m sorry, Eve."
"I see." Disappointnt flickered in her eyes, but she kept her voice light. "It’s fine. No need to feel sorry."
"Thank you," Axel said, sounding relieved. "I’ll co back before you sleep."
"No need to rush," she replied playfully. "I’ll wait for you while watching drama. I still have so many episodes to finish."
He chuckled softly. "Alright. Have fun, but don’t tire yourself."
"I know," she said with a smile.
"I love you, Eve."
"Love you too."
After ending the call, Evelyn set her phone down and decided not to return to her book.
She left her ho office and walked down to the first floor to search for her son.
Soft piano notes drifted through the air from the piano room.
Hurriedly, she walked there and carefully opened the door.
Evelyn found Oliver still in the piano room, his small fingers pressing the keys with serious concentration and effort.
She smiled but quietly closed the door again, not wanting to distract him.
As she turned, she spotted Laura approaching from the corridor.
"Laura," Evelyn softly called, gesturing for her to follow into the living room.
"Please tell Jimmy that my husband won’t be joining us for dinner. And while you’re at it, please ask Danny to cook sothing special tonight. I want you all to have dinner with Oliver and ," Evelyn added casually.
Laura’s eyes widened, clearly caught off guard. She was not surprised that Axel would miss dinner, but being invited again was another matter.
"Huh?" Evelyn laughed. "Why do you look so shocked?"
"Ma’am... are you sure?" Laura hesitated. "I an, we are the staff..."
"Did you forget?" Evelyn said lightly. "This isn’t the first ti we’ve eaten together. Or did you secretly hate to have as your dinner company?"
Laura panicked imdiately.
"No, ma’am. Absolutely not. I love to have you and Oliver for company!"
"Great," Evelyn said with a grin. "Then off you go. I’m already hungry."
"Yes, ma’am," Laura replied quickly, bowing slightly before hurrying off toward the staff room.
Evelyn shook her head, amused, and headed back to her bedroom. The house felt warm and alive despite Axel’s absence, filled with music, laughter, and the comforting rhythm of an ordinary evening.
...
The night slipped by quietly. The lively and warm dinner with the senior staff finally ca to an end, leaving the house wrapped in a comfortable calm. Laughter still seed to linger in the air, mixed with the faint scent of ho-cooked food.
Oliver had already settled into his bedroom, tucked beneath his blanket, and drifted into sleep after a long day.
Evelyn returned to the watchroom next to her bedroom, telling herself she would only watch one episode of her drama before heading to bed.
Sohow, two episodes passed without her noticing.
She was completely imrsed in the plot, her attention fixed on the screen, her mind far away from reality. She did not realize Axel had co ho until a shadow fell across the room.
Evelyn startled slightly when he stopped beside the sofa.
A faint sll of smoke and cigarettes reached her senses, unfamiliar and unexpected.
Axel rarely carried that scent when he returned from etings.
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