"A ring..." Evelyn whispered, her voice barely audible.
Axel’s expression remained calm, but there was a softness in his eyes, sothing warm and unguarded, as he sank back into his seat across from her.
Her lips trembled before she found the courage to ask, "Axel, why are you giving this ring?"
Her voice ca out smaller than intended, the question almost childish. Still, she needed to hear the answer, needed to know what this ant.
"That is your wedding and engagent ring," he explained, his tone quiet but steady. "They’re designed to be worn together, but you can wear both or just one, however you like. Whatever feels right for you."
Her chest tightened. He wasn’t just handing her jewelry. He was giving her a wedding ring and an engagent ring!
Why? She recalled Axel saying such things weren’t important. But in truth, he didn’t just give her a beautiful wedding dress; he also gave her a ring.
As Evelyn was drawn in her mind, Axel studied her face carefully, almost nervously, though he’d never admit it.
Relief flickered in his eyes when he caught the way her eyes sparkled as she stared at the diamond.
"Do you like it?" He calmly asked.
She looked up to et his gaze, blinking fast. "Y-Yes. This is... It’s beautiful."
His jaw tightened, a hint of irritation seeping into his voice, though it wasn’t directed at her.
"I should have given it to you on our wedding day. But they were too slow in delivering it, so I flew there to get it myself." He exhaled sharply, as if still angry at the jewelers for daring to make him wait. Then his tone softened. "I’m glad you like it."
His words stunned her.
Evelyn had always told herself this marriage was nothing more than a duty, an arrangent for Oliver’s sake. She had repeated it so often that it had beco a shield, keeping her heart safe.
But here was Axel, handing her sothing she had secretly dread of but never expected to even hold in her hand.
Her hands trembled as she brushed her fingers over the cool pink diamond. The tal was smooth, the weight real. A shiver raced up her spine.
She wanted to laugh, to cry, to shake him, to ask if this ant more than duty. Was this a gift of love... or just another gesture of responsibility, like the house, like the way he shielded her from the world without question?
For once in her life, Evelyn Walters, who always had a sharp coback, who never failed to lace her words with wit or sarcasm, was speechless. Now, she is utterly speechless.
Before she could untangle the ss in her chest, Axel spoke again, his voice sounded gentle.
"I apologize for only giving it now. And I hope it fits your finger. If it doesn’t, I’ll have them fix it."
Almost on instinct, she slid the ring onto her finger. Her breath feels halted when it slides perfectly into place. How did he know?
"Axel, no need. It fits perfectly." She stared at her hand, her heartbeat so loud.
"Perfect! And it looks pretty." His tone was casual, but the brief flash of a smile tugged at his lips. If she hadn’t been so absorbed in staring at the ring, she might have caught it.
Evelyn sat frozen, her thoughts whirling as she tried to make sense of it all. But then his voice broke through again, and this ti, the words nearly sent her coughing.
"About our sleeping arrangents," Axel said, his gaze locked on her.
Her cheeks went up in flas instantly. She blinked rapidly, praying she had misheard. But the way his lips curved ever so slightly told her she hadn’t.
"As I promised," he continued, "I’ll respect your opinion."
She swallowed hard. "Thank you," she managed, though her face was heating faster than she could hide.
"But..."
Her heart sank. "There’s a but? What but?"
"I can’t wait too long for you to love . And besides..." His lips tilted into sothing dangerously close to a smile. "You need to teach how to love you."
Heaven above. How was she supposed to respond to that? Her brain scrambled for words, anything; sarcasm, a joke, even a scream, but nothing ca. Her lips parted, but no sound escaped.
And then, rcifully, her instincts kicked in.
"Axel, I need to go to the fourth floor..." she blurted out, abruptly standing up from the sofa.
His brows furrowed.
"Why?"
"To pack my clothes. And Oliver’s," she said quickly, refusing to et his eyes.
"No need. I’ll have soone do it for you."
Her head turned to see him. "Please, no!"
"Why not?" His brows rose, curious.
Her cheeks flad so hot she thought she might blush now. "How could soone else touch my... underwear?"
Silence. Thick and heavy.
Then she caught the look in his eyes, the slow, aningful smile spreading across his face. A smile that made her knees weak and her blood rush.
’Oh no...’
Before he could say a single word, before he could tease her, or worse, agree to help, Evelyn grabbed the doorknob, yanked it open, and darted out, her face as red as Oliver’s toy firetruck.
She didn’t slow down, didn’t dare look back, for fear he was following her.
...
While the sweetness between Axel and Evelyn blossod within the walls of their apartnt, the outside world was not so kind.
Just minutes ago, a popular gossip blog updated its feed.
Blurry photographs filled the screen: Axel Knight, the elusive Playboy CEO, driving through the streets of Willowcrest. Another shot showed him behind the wheel with a woman beside him.
The clickbait caption scread in bold, scandalous letters:
[ Is the nation’s most eligible bachelor hiding a secret lover in Willowcrest? ]
Speculation exploded instantly.
The blog’s comnt section overflowed. So fans were outraged, others heartbroken:
"Who is the woman?"
"Please find her identity. Tag if you guys find out."
"Damn! Why is the picture of the woman so blurry?"
"Can soone hack the street CCTV? Please track where they’re heading."
"Whoa! I need to fly to Willowcrest right now. I have to see it with my own eyes. I can’t believe my future husband found another woman."
...
The story spread like wildfire across social dia. Whispers turned into screaming headlines on news and gossip portals.
Within minutes, it was trending everywhere.
And Axel’s business rivals and nesis leaned closer to their screens, already sensing an opportunity to find his weakness.
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