Chapter 65: Not Yet!
"Axel... why do you have my phone?"
Evelyn’s voice sharpened with suspicion as the familiar ringtone chimed from Axel’s pocket.
Axel pulled out the slim device and glanced at the glowing screen. When his eyes landed on the name 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 apartment.
Evelyn remained frozen, her gaze glued to the name on the screen: Oscar with a love icon.
Her stomach twisted at the thought of the two men 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 me," 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 times, 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 someone to slit my throat any minute! And by the way, why didn’t you tell me 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 me? You married him! When? How? And oh God, does he know about Oliver? Did he actually look after you?"
Evelyn laughed again, but this time the sound carried a bitter edge.
"Oscar, I cannot explain if you do not give me 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 me, and at that time, Oliver had injured his leg."
"What? Injured? Eve, are you kidding me? And you didn’t tell me 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 moment before she continued, softer this time.
"Axel said Oliver deserved a normal life, with a father and a mother. He proposed to marry me. I... I couldn’t refuse. Oliver is everything to me. 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 me."
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 me. And, honestly, I expected him to throw a mountain of prenuptial agreements at me." 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 means? He’s one of the wealthiest men 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 me. Especially since William Walters threw me out without a dime."
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 same woman twice. You know that, right?"
"Don’t remind me," Evelyn muttered, her stomach twisting. "I don’t even know if he will want me a second time."
"Wait." His tone shot up. "Hold on. You’re telling me 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 me 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 me so many times anyway?"
But Oscar wasn’t ready to let go.
"First night? Eve, you’re killing me here. Do you understand what kind of woman would sell her soul for a single night with that man, and you’re telling me 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 embarrassment.
"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 me details later. Don’t think you’ll escape."
Her laugh slipped out softly.