The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover-Chapter 424: Hidden Reason

"So...then why do I feel that my wife still looks troubled?" he asked quietly. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Evelyn hesitated.

The silence stretched.

Then, slowly, she lifted her gaze again.

"Axel..." Her voice carried hesitation, uncertainty, and quiet courage. "You’re still hiding something from me, aren’t you?"

Axel froze, but only for a second. Then his familiar calm and composed nature returned, and it returned without a hiccup, as though the question had never unsettled him for a second.

"What do you mean?" he asked calmly.

Evelyn studied him carefully before finally answering, "This isn’t just about friendship fading because your father married Amanda," she said softly. "And my father isn’t angry simply because he lost a friend."

Axel’s fingers tensed.

Evelyn noticed everything. She leaned slightly closer, her voice quieter but firmer. "There is something else."

He said nothing.

The silence between them grew sharp, charged with tension neither could ignore.

Evelyn’s heart began to race. She watched his eyes carefully. And then she saw it. A flicker. Small. Brief. But unmistakable.

The subtle shift in his gaze told her everything she needed to know.

She silently took a deep breath. Because now she was certain. There was another truth. Another secret. And Axel had not told her yet.

"Eve, I really don’t understand what you’re saying," Axel said softly, his voice steady and sincere. His expression looked calm, patient, and almost harmless.

The honesty in his tone eased the tight knot inside Evelyn’s chest.

’So, there’s no hidden reason?’ she wonders.

"My wife, what I told you is everything I know," Axel continued gently, even as a storm raged behind his composed face. Inside, guilt clawed at him.

Axel hated lying to Evelyn more than anything. The lie tasted bitter, yet the truth felt far worse, heavy with pain he could not bear to place on her shoulders.

If he told her the truth, Axel believed she would never view his mother the same way again. Even worse, she might distance herself from his family because of the shame her father had brought upon them in the past.

The memory of his father’s confession burned in his mind. Even years later, the story carried enough venom to stir the same fury.

Axel’s jaw tightened. ’William Fucking Walters...’ he cursed silently, anger rising like fire beneath his skin. ’How dare you even think of harming my mother? How dare you try to force my mother to marry you? You even tried to rape her! Do you know you are worse than the devil?’

The rage pulsed through him.

Although his mother had escaped that nightmare, the mere knowledge of William Walters’ intentions had been enough to plant a deep, lasting hatred inside Axel’s heart.

If William Walters had been any other man, not Evelyn’s father, he would have killed him without hesitation.

But life was cruelly ironic. William Walters was Evelyn’s father.

And Evelyn was the woman he loved more than his own breath.

Axel forced himself back to the present, pushing the darkness down before it could surface in his eyes.

"My wife, please believe me, huh?" he said quietly, his fingers tightening around hers.

Evelyn says nothing. She simply stared at him for quite a moment.

Then, slowly, her lips curved into a faint smile. "I believe you, Axel, without a single doubt," she whispered.

Relief washed through Axel so suddenly that his shoulders visibly relaxed. The tension that had weighed on him seemed to lift at once.

"Thank you, Eve," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Before Evelyn could say anything, Axel leaned in and embraced her tightly.

Evelyn warmly returned his embrace, curling her hand around him.

They sit together peacefully for a moment before she gently nudges him aside to adjust her posture. Her movements were calm, yet graceful.

"All right," she said gently and stood from her seat. "It’s almost ten. Oliver needs to rest."

Axel blinked, momentarily startled by the time.

"Oh, right." He stood quickly and reached for her hand again, his fingers naturally finding hers.

"Let’s find our little boss," Axel said with a soft chuckle. "He clearly forgot his parents after being spoiled by everyone."

Evelyn laughed quietly.

The image of Oliver surrounded by the Knight family instantly warmed her heart. The affection they showered on him still felt surreal.

"He’s enjoying himself too much," she replied with amusement.

Axel smiled.

"That boy has completely replaced me as Grandpa’s favorite."

Evelyn raised a playful brow. "Were you ever his favorite?"

Axel placed a dramatic hand over his chest. "Wife, why must you wound me like this?"

Her laughter filled the hallway.

For a moment, the earlier tension melted away, replaced by a gentle, warm feeling.

But then Evelyn slowed.

Her steps gradually came to a halt.

Axel turned, immediately sensing the shift.

She lifted her gaze toward him, her expression thoughtful, uncertain.

"Hubby..." Her voice carried hesitation. "Should we just let Oliver stay here tonight?"

Axel was rendered speechless. Her question caught him off guard.

Evelyn continued softly, her eyes drifting toward the distant laughter echoing from the other side of the house.

"They adore him," she murmured. "And he’s clearly very happy here."

Axel watched her carefully. There was affection in her voice. But also something else. ’Is she joking?’

"Are you trying to get rid of us already?" Axel asked lightly, attempting humor.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "You wish."

Axel smiled. He glanced toward the corridor leading to his grandparents’ wing, his thoughts briefly drifting. Leaving Oliver here meant peace.

She studied his face. "You don’t like the idea..."

He exhaled slowly. "It’s not that. I just didn’t expect my wife to volunteer for a child-free night."

Evelyn stifled a laugh as she crossed her arms. "Don’t twist my words."

Axel stepped closer, his gaze softening. "I’m joking."

She sighed. "I know."

He gently lifted her chin. "All right, I will follow my smart wife’s idea. Let’s go," he smiled, taking her hand.

"No way. You agree?"

"Wait, are you joking?"

"Of course," she can’t help but laugh. "I just wanted to test you."

"Wife, please don’t test me. You know I will do anything for you, right?"

"Alright, I won’t do that again," she said with a teasing smile. "Let’s go rescue our little boss!"