"Axel... why do you have my phone?"
Evelyn’s voice sharpened with suspicion as the familiar ringtone chid from Axel’s pocket.
Axel pulled out the slim device and glanced at the glowing screen. When his eyes landed on the na flashing there, he raised a brow and turned toward her, his expression unreadable.
"This person has been calling you nonstop," he explained, his tone calm. "I planned to bring it to you on the fourth floor, but Oliver answered first. Once he picked up, I had no choice but to speak with this man."
Evelyn’s pulse raced.
Her face stiffened as nervousness slowly swallowed her. Very few people knew her number. And her mind now fills with Oscar. Only he, her male friend, is in her phone book.
"You can answer his call. I will finish carrying these inside." Axel’s voice was composed as he lifted the heavy suitcases with effortless strength and entered the apartnt.
Evelyn remained frozen, her gaze glued to the na on the screen: Oscar with a love icon.
Her stomach twisted at the thought of the two n exchanging words.
The door clicked shut.
The call finally ended.
Evelyn exhaled long and hard, trying to steady her heartbeat. She couldn’t leave it hanging.
Walking to the end of the corridor, she stood by the glass wall as she pressed Oscar’s number and held the phone close.
It only rang twice before the line connected.
"Eve? Oliver?" Oscar’s worried voice rang from the other end.
"It’s ," she answered cautiously.
"What the hell?! Where have you been, Eve?" His words spilled like machine-gun fire, barely room for breath. "I’ve been going insane. I called a hundred tis, and when Oliver picked up, suddenly it wasn’t him, it was him, Axel Knight! Oh my God, Eve, do you know what nearly happened? I thought I was about to die of a heart attack. Do you understand what it feels like when ’Axel Knight’ warns you personally? He could send soone to slit my throat any minute! And by the way, why didn’t you tell you married him?"
Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a strained laugh.
"Oscar, please. Calm down. You’ll die from your bad habit of being overtly stressed long before Axel will think of sending anyone to your doorstep to slit your throat."
There was a beat of silence.
Then, a dramatic groan. "Damn it. You’re right." He sucked in a noisy breath before launching again. "But seriously, why didn’t you tell ? You married him! When? How? And oh God, does he know about Oliver? Did he actually look after you?"
Evelyn laughed again, but this ti the sound carried a bitter edge.
"Oscar, I cannot explain if you do not give room to speak."
"Right, right. Sorry! Go ahead. Talk. Talk now..."
His voice softened, though his nervous breathing still carried over the line.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Speak, woman! Ugh, talk now..."
"Fine. It happened more than a week ago. He found , and at that ti, Oliver had injured his leg."
"What? Injured? Eve, are you kidding ? And you didn’t tell about it when it happened? Are you seriously my best friend? You said I’m Oliver’s Godfather. But why—"
"I swear I’ll hang up if you keep interrupting."
"Sorry! Sorry. Alright, go on."
Evelyn blew out another sigh.
"Oliver got hurt. I panicked. Axel was there. I couldn’t hide Oliver’s identity any longer. He saw the truth for himself."
Silence hung for a mont before she continued, softer this ti.
"Axel said Oliver deserved a normal life, with a father and a mother. He proposed to marry . I... I couldn’t refuse. Oliver is everything to . He needs that father figure."
Her throat tightened. She paused, then admitted quietly, "I know this marriage isn’t built on love, not yet. But Axel promised he would learn to love ."
On the other end, there was a loud thud, followed by a grunt.
"Oscar? Are you okay? Did you fall?"
A pause. Then a sheepish groan. "No... nothing happened. Go on. So he really wants this marriage to feel normal?"
"Yes. That’s what he told . And, honestly, I expected him to throw a mountain of prenuptial agreents at ." She forced a laugh. "But he didn’t."
"No prenup?" Oscar practically shrieked. "Oh, for fuck’s sake! That man is insane. Do you realize what that ans? He’s one of the wealthiest n in the country, and he just... what? Hands you a wedding ring with no legal safety net?"
"Yeah. And... I don’t know why he did that," Evelyn smiled faintly, though it was filled with confusion. "Maybe he pities . Especially since William Walters threw out without a di."
The line went silent again.
"Oscar? Are you still there?"
"I’m here," he muttered. "Just... processing. Axel Knight, no prenup, no conditions. And he’s trying to... what... love you? Eve, that man has a reputation. He is a notorious playboy. He never sleeps with the sa woman twice. You know that, right?"
"Don’t remind ," Evelyn muttered, her stomach twisting. "I don’t even know if he will want a second ti."
"Wait." His tone shot up. "Hold on. You’re telling you two are married, but you’re not... Uh... you know... Having sex?"
Her cheeks flushed.
"Not yet." She admitted shyly.
"Not yet? Eve! You’re telling Axel Knight is in your bed and you’re not doing it? What is wrong with you two?!"
"This is our first night sharing a bed," Evelyn said before she realized how much she was giving away. Her eyes widened, and she scrambled to change the conversation, "Ugh, forget it. Why did you call so many tis anyway?"
But Oscar wasn’t ready to let go.
"First night? Eve, you’re killing here. Do you understand what kind of woman would sell her soul for a single night with that man, and you’re telling you’ve got him in your house, in your bed, and nothing? My heart can’t take this."
Evelyn pressed her palm to her forehead, shaking her head as if it could shake away the embarrassnt.
"Oscar, please. Can you focus just for a few minutes?"
"Fine, fine," he muttered, though his exaggerated groan made her sigh deeply. "But you owe details later. Don’t think you’ll escape."
Her laugh slipped out softly.
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