’God, why is being this tiny Axel Knight’s bodyguard more exhausting than guarding Axel himself?’
Liam flashed a nervous smile.
"Haha, Oliver, you misunderstood. Did you forget? I was smiling when I spoke, right? If I smile, that ans I’m not scolding. I always talk nicely to you. Don’t I?"
Oliver didn’t answer. He just blinked, expression unreadable.
Liam’s heart races in his chest.
Then, salvation arrived. "Eh, look, look! Your mommy is coming out now!"
Relief poured out of him in a long sigh.
Oliver turned his head toward the door, instantly distracted.
At that mont, Liam realized sothing with bone-deep certainty. He wasn’t protecting Oliver. The little man was already a force of nature, a tiny version of Axel himself.
And if Evelyn ever discovered what her son had just suggested earlier, he would not only be in trouble, he would probably end up kneeling at her feet, begging for rcy.
Oliver’s voice rang out, cheerful again.
"Uncle Liam, yes... Yes...that’s my mommy!"
"Yes, I see her," Liam said with a smile of relief. But then his eyes narrowed, surprise flashing across his face. "Wait... who’s the woman beside her?"
He leaned forward, squinting. The woman was unfamiliar. He had never seen her before.
Oliver tilted his head, confusion written across his small face. "You’re right, Uncle. And why is she wearing mommy’s coat?"
"Now that’s what I don’t have an answer for," Liam replied, still gazing at the girl next to Evelyn.
"Oliver, wait here. I’ll see if I can help your mother," he added, pushing the door open and stepping out of the car.
Liam hurried to approach Evelyn, but she shook her head firmly, silently telling him not to interfere.
He hesitated, then took the safer option: he rushed ahead and opened both car doors, one for the front seat and one for the back.
Stella, walking beside Evelyn, gripped her hand so tightly her knuckles were pale. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Sis... who is this?"
"I’ll explain later. Get in the front," Evelyn instructed her gently, guiding her toward the passenger seat beside the driver’s seat.
She waited until Stella slid inside before closing the door.
Turning back, Evelyn t Liam’s gaze.
"Liam, does Axel own any hospital or health facility in this city?"
The question surprised him. But he recovered quickly, nodding. "Yes. Hope dical Center. It’s about twenty minutes from here. Do you want to go there?"
"Yes." Evelyn’s voice dropped lower. "The woman inside is my sister. Soone just assaulted her. I need her to undergo a forensic dical exam to preserve the evidence. However, it must be handled discreetly and privately. No records. No na. No identity attached."
Liam is even more shocked at the weight of her words, but he doesn’t waste a second. He pulled out his phone imdiately.
Evelyn studied him sharply. "Can you do it?"
"Yes, I can." He gave her a quick, reassuring nod. "Ma’am, please wait in the car while I make the call."
He stepped aside, already scrolling through his contacts. But before Evelyn turned away, his voice stopped her again.
"Ah... ma’am. Excuse . Can I tell Boss Axel about this?"
Evelyn froze. Her heartbeat stumbled.
She wanted to say no, to keep this away from Axel at all costs, but she also knew how ignorant and ridiculous that would be. If Liam knew, Axel would know sooner or later.
After a few seconds, finally, she nodded once, but her expression was grim.
"Yes, you can do it. With or without your report, he’ll find out anyway."
Relief flickered in Liam’s eyes. He gave a slight nod and lifted the phone closer to his ear.
Evelyn exhaled slowly and returned to the car.
...
Oliver was still in the back seat, swinging his short legs and waiting patiently, though his little brows furrowed when he saw the tension in his mother’s face.
He didn’t ask questions. For once, the chatterbox stayed quiet. He didn’t even dare make a sound when a woman was sitting in the front row.
Sliding into the seat beside him, Evelyn reached out to take his tiny hand in hers.
Stella sat in the front, stiff and silent, staring straight ahead as though the world outside no longer existed; she didn’t even realize a little boy was sitting behind.
Evelyn gave her sister a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before speaking softly. "Don’t worry. I’ve got you now..."
"Thank you, sis, for..." Stella’s voice trailed off when her eyes landed on Oliver. Her eyes widened, and she froze, as if struck by lightning.
mories she had buried deep ca rushing back. Four years ago, their father had kicked Evelyn out of the house just because she was pregnant without his blessing or permission.
And Evelyn, stubborn as ever, had refused to reveal the father’s identity.
Her heart raced. ’This little handso boy... he must be her son? My nephew?’
Evelyn, noticing her sister’s stunned expression, decided to end the suspense.
"Stella, this is my son. His na is Oliver." Evelyn softened her voice and turned toward Oliver, "Sweetheart, this is your Aunty... my little sister. Her na is Stella."
For a mont, both Stella and Oliver simply stared at each other, equally shocked.
Oliver’s round eyes went wide, sparkling with curiosity, as if he had just stumbled upon a brand-new toy in a store he wasn’t supposed to enter.
This was the very first ti his mother had introduced him to a family mber.
"A-Aunty Stella?" His tiny voice wavered, half nervous, half excited.
Stella let out a choked laugh, tears brimming instantly.
"Oh my god, Oliver... Why are you so handso and cute? Yes, yes... I’m your Aunty Stella," Her voice trembled as if she had waited her whole life to say those words.
Overco with emotion, Stella leaned forward slightly, unable to resist taking a closer look at his little face.
His resemblance to Evelyn was obvious—the sa stubborn tilt of the chin, the sa spark in his eyes, though his eye color was green—but there was also sothing else, sothing she couldn’t quite place.
Her heart swelled painfully. This wasn’t just Evelyn’s son. This was her nephew. They have blood ties. Family ties. But then, sothing crossed her mind, ’Who is his father?’
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