“Friend?” @
Just one word. But that single word froze her.
She remembered how Axel hated Oscar after that day.
“Yes. A friend,” she said firmly.
“You mean… Ste?”
Sheughed softly. “Are you teasing me? Ste’s my sister, not a friend.”
“Ah, sorry… I know she is.” His chuckle came through the line, low and amused. “But I also remember you said you don’t have any close friends.”
“You know Oscar, right?” she asked.
There was a brief silence before Axel finally replied, his tone slow and deep. “Oscar…”
Evelyn’s lips twitched nervously.
She heard Oscar had tried to provoke him during their first phone call, and how Axel had gotten jealous after
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143 Can I Join You?
seeing her save Oscar’s name in her phone with a heart emoji.
Yes, that Oscar,” she exined. “He’s visiting our country, so I want to treat him to a nice lunch and help him feel really wee here.”
Across the table, Oscar smirked and gave her a dramatic thumbs–up, clearly enjoying her difort. Watching Evelyn squirm a little was his new favorite pastime.
“I see,” Axel said atst, sounding calm.
Evelyn’s tension eased slightly until he added, “Eve, can I join you for lunch?” (2
She silently swallows.
“Of course!” she said quickly. “But we are pretty far. About thirty minutes from your office. At Tomahawk
Steak,”
“The Hill…” he murmured, followed by a low chuckle. “What a coincidence. I’m actually in the area. I can be there in five… no, three minutes.”
Evelyn blinked, startled. ‘What? He’s that near?‘
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‘Did Liam tell him?‘ she wondered, her mind spinning.
“Wow, you’re so close from here. Fantastic, Axel. Couldn’t wait to see you,” she said with a smile. “What would you like to eat? I’ll order it for you now.”
She pressed the bell to call the server, trying to sound casual while panic grew inside her.
After briefly discussing his lunch, Axel ended the call.
Evelyn ced the new order for him and handed the menu back to the waitress.
The moment the door closed, Oscar chuckled
nervously.
“Eve,” he said, lowering his voice. “I am a guest in this country. You need to protect me from your dangerous
husband.“@
She frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Before she could say more, Oscar answered, “What if he’s still holding a grudge from that day? I swear, Eve, I can already see it….he’s going to toss me into the
Pacific to feed the sharks.”
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<b>+25 </b>
Evelyn sighed, shaking her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She could tell he was only half joking.
“Seriously, Oscar,” she said, looking at him curiously, “what exactly did you tell him that day? I remember Axel being really angry with you after that.”
“Oh? Little Oliver didn’t tell you?” Oscar asked,
surprised.
She shook her head.
“No. Oliver didn’t mention anything. He just said, ‘Daddy is angry and speaks to Uncle Oscar alone.‘ Ugh, well, I’m vague about remembering anything that day; you know my attention was only drawn to him…”
Oscar inhaled deeply, like a man preparing to confess
his sins.
“Well…” he began slowly, “I told him… that I’m Oliver’s father.”
Evelyn’s mouth fell open.
Oscar continued helplessly, “And that I also told Oliver to call someone to kick Axel out of your house.”
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Evelyn’s eyes widened even more. Then, suddenly, she
burst intoughter. Sheughed so hard she nearly dropped her fork.
“My goodness, Oscar…” she said between giggles. “You’re really in big trouble, my friend.”
She brushed away a tear from her eye and kept
teasing.
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll try to protect you. But I can’t guarantee he won’t toss you into the Pacific. Maybe just… gently.”
(1
She raised her ss in sympathy.
“Oh, and you’d better start writing your will… with my name and Oliver’s at the top, just in case.”
Oscar rolled his eyes.
“Tsk, tsk… you’re so heartless, Eve.” He shook his head dramatically and pressed the bell again.
“Huh? You’re still hungry?” she asked, arching a brow.
“No!” he said, dead serious. “I need wine before I die.”
“Hahaha!” Evelyn burst outughing. “My friend, I was
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143 Can I Join You?
joking! He won’t kill you. You’re Oliver’s favorite uncle
and my only friend. You’re safe.”
A flicker of relief crossed his face, but he still grumbled, “Still… I need wine.”
“Go ahead,” she said, grinning. “Order the most
expensive one. Your brother–inw is filthy rich. He can afford it.”
Oscar snapped his fingers.
“Ah, now you’re talking, Eve! Smart and savage….. I love
it.”
The waitress returned, took their wine order, and left.
The air settled, but Evelyn could still feel her pulse race again.
Excited to finally let Axel meet her friend, whom she already thought of as her brother.
Then came a knock on the door.
The door opened, and there he was…
Axel’s tall frame filled the doorway effortlessly. His dark
eyes, sharp and unreadable, locked immediately on Evelyn.
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He didn’t even nce at Oscar.
For a moment, the whole room seemed to be quiet.
Evelyn froze, her breath caught somewhere in her
chest.
She can see, he wasn’t angry, but the calm intensity in his gaze made her heart thud faster.
Oscar, on the other hand, turned pale.
‘Oh, no…’ Oscar muttered under his breath. ‘Why does he look more handsome in real life? And more
intimidating?‘ he silently swallowed.
“Axel…” Evelyn greeted him gently, forcing a smile. “You arrived.” She stood up from her seat.
“I told you I’d be here in three minutes,” he said smoothly, stepping closer. His gaze softened when it met hers. “You didn’t think I was bluffing, did you?”
She shook her head and pulled a chair over for him right beside her.
“No. Of course I believe you…”
Oscar coughed nervously, trying to look anywhere but
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at the intimidating Axel Knight in front of him.
“Hey there, uh… brother–inw! It’s an honor to meet you finally.”
Axel’s eyes finallynded on him. “Oscar?”
Oscar straightened up immediately.
“Y–yes, that’s me. The same one. Alive and well… for
now.”
Evelyn shot him a look that said, ‘My goodness, Oscar, stop talking before you die‘
Axel approached him confidently and extended his
hand to Oscar.
“I’m d to meet you too…” Axel said, squeezing his hand harder as if to send him a warning.
Oscar smiled, though his hand felt like it was going to crush. He started to scold him in his mind.
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144 You Worry Too Much, Mrs. Knight!
Sara Lili
<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.