secret lover 163 Summary


    Axel brought Joseph into the living room, masking his inner unease with a calm exterior. He was troubled by Evelyn’s invitation to Joseph, especially after discovering through Collins’s background check that Joseph had once been very close to Evelyn during her time at the Walters Group. Axel’s difort grew when he learned Joseph had been at the New Year’s g years ago, the night Evelyn’s life changed dramatically. Despite his doubts, Axel maintained a polite demeanor.


    The atmosphere lightened when Axel’s son, Oliver, joined them, happily interacting with Joseph, whom Axel introduced as “Uncle Joseph.” Evelyn soon appeared, warmly greeting Joseph and introducing him to her family, including Axel and Oliver, as well as her brother Oscar, whose yful banter brought humor to the gathering. The tension eased as Joseph observed Evelyn’s changed demeanor—stronger and moreposed, yet tender with her family.


    Joseph revealed he had recently be CEO of the Walters Group, a position given to bring stability after recent turmoil. Evelyn expressed her trust in Joseph, which was met with good-natured teasing from Oscar and Axel. The family’s easyughter and genuine warmth contrasted with the earlier tension, highlighting the close and affectionate dynamic among them. Joseph felt a mix of pride and confusion seeing Evelyn happy and settled after her past hardships.


    Just as the evening grewfortable, Axel’s phone notified him that his grandparents had arrived. Evelyn brightened at the news, and Axel invited Oliver to greet his great-grandparents. The family moved toward the door, leaving Joseph and Oscar behind, the room still filled with a sense of warmth and connection.Continue Regr Chapter Reading Below


    Axel led Joseph into the cozy living room, maintaining an outward calm that belied the storm of thoughts swirling quietly in his mind. Hisposed demeanor was a mask, concealing the unease he felt beneath.


    Why had Evelyn invited Joseph here tonight? Axel pondered silently. When he first learned of Joseph’s invitation, he had wanted to ask Evelyn directly, but she was preupied with the evening’s preparations. Not wanting to dampen her cheerful spirit, he held back his questions and instead instructed Collins to discreetly run a background check on Joseph Carter.


    The information Collins uncovered unsettled Axel deeply. Joseph had once been very close to Evelyn during her tenure at the Walters Group. Rumors had even circted that their rtionship went beyond mere colleagues, since Joseph had apanied Evelyn everywhere—attending meetings, charity gs, and evente-nightpany events. This closeness made Axel uneasy.


    What troubled him even more was the discovery that Joseph had been present at the New Year’s g at the Imperial Hotel years ago—the very night Evelyn’s life took a dramatic turn. With these facts in mind, Axel found it difficult to trust Joseph, no matter how much Evelyn seemed to.


    “Daddy—” a cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.


    Axel turned to see his son, Oliver, beaming up at him. His stern expression softened immediately at the sight of those bright, innocent eyes. He bent down and scooped Oliver into his arms, his voice warm. “Finished ying with Uncle Oscar?”


    “Yes, Dad!” Oliver replied eagerly, then his gaze shifted curiously to the tall man standing quietly behind Axel. “Oh, this uncle…”


    Axel chuckled softly. “That’s Mommy’s friend. You can call him Uncle Joseph.” He turned to Joseph with a rxed, polite smile. “This is my son, Oliver.”


    Joseph returned a small smile, though a cloud of disbelief still lingered in his mind. “Hi, Oliver. I’ve heard so much about you.”


    Oliver cocked his head in curiosity. “Really? From who?”


    Joseph’sugh was gentle. “From your mom.”


    “Oh,” Oliver said proudly, “Mommy talks about me a lot.”


    Joseph smiled warmly. “She certainly does.”


    Before the exchange could continue, Evelyn appeared in the doorway, graceful despite a slight breathlessness. Her face lit up the moment she saw them all together.


    “Ah, Joseph… you made it,” she said softly.


    Joseph turned toward her voice, feeling the familiar warmth in her tone wash over him, momentarily making the surreal nature of the evening fade.


    “Of course,” Joseph replied. “I wouldn’t miss it.”


    Evelyn stepped closer, gently adjusting Oliver’s cor before introducing Joseph to the rest of the family. “Joseph, you’ve met Axel, right?” she asked with a faint smile.


    Seeing Axel nod, she continued, “Axel Knight is my husband, and this is my son, Oliver Taylor Knight.”


    Then she gestured toward Oscar, who lounged casually on the couch with his trademark mischievous grin. “And that’s Oscar—my brother from another mother.”


    Oscar waved yfully. “The mysterious Mr. Carter. Finally, we meet in person.”


    Josephughed awkwardly. “You must be the famous Oscar I’ve heard so much about.”


    “Famous?” Oscar raised an eyebrow. “From Evelyn? That can’t be right. Maybe you mean infamous. But I prefer to be known as the Legendary Man!”


    Evelyn rolled her eyes with a smile. “Joe, just ignore him. He’s still recovering from his caffeine-fueled rambling this morning.”


    Oscar gasped dramatically. “Eve! Don’t ruin my reputation in front of the new guest.”


    Even Axel couldn’t help but smile at their banter. He then invited everyone to settle into the seating area.


    The tension in the room eased, and Joseph found himself rxing a little, though his mind continued to churn beneath the surface.


    He observed Evelyn discreetly. Something about her had changed. She appeared stronger, moreposed, yet softer when she looked at Axel and Oliver. There was a sense of peace and security about her now.


    That realization stirred a mixture of pride and confusion in Joseph. How had Evelyn Walters—the fiercely guarded, sharp-tongued woman who’d been cast out from the Walters family—ended up married to Axel Knight of all people?


    Everyone on thepany’s board knew William Walters harbored resentment and envy toward the Knight family, Axel in particr.


    Axel Knight was practically a legend in the business world: ruthless, brilliant, and untouchable—a true icon.


    Yet here he sat beside Evelyn, looking nothing like the cold titan of industry he was reputed to be. Instead, he seemed like a devoted husband.


    Joseph’s curiosity burned, but he held back, knowing this wasn’t the time or ce to ask about it.


    “So,” Axel broke the silence, “you work at the Walters Group, right?”


    “Yes,” Joseph replied, regaining hisposure. “I’m currently the COO, but just a few days ago, I was appointed CEO. The board wanted stability after… well, after everything that happened.”


    Evelyn smiled faintly. “He’s the only person I still trust from that ce.”


    “Thanks, Eve. That means a lot,” Joseph said sincerely.


    Before Evelyn could respond, Oscar interjected with a grin. “That’s a strong endorsement, Joe. Congrattions—you’ve officially made it onto the ‘Evelyn’s Trust List.’ It’s even shorter than the FBI’s Most Wanted list.”


    Everyone chuckled, including Evelyn. “That’s because most people can’t handle me.”


    Axel’s eyes twinkled as he nced at her. “You mean they can’t survive your standards.”


    “Oh really?” she teased. “And you can?”


    “Yeah,” Axel said, wrapping an arm gently around her waist. “And I’m not just saying that because I’m confident. I have a very smart and honest four-year-old witness.”


    Oliver raised his tiny hand. “That’s me.”


    Theirughter filled the room, warm and genuine. Even Joseph found himself smiling. Despite the earlier tension, the Knight family’s dynamic was surprisingly heartfelt—messy, teasing, but real.


    Seeing Evelyn like this made Joseph happy. After all she had endured—heartbreak, betrayal—she finally had something authentic.


    Just as the conversation settled into easyughter, Axel’s phone pinged softly.


    He nced at the screen, his expression unreadable for a moment.


    “Our next guests have arrived,” he announced. “My grandparents.”


    Evelyn immediately straightened, her face brightening with anticipation.


    “We shouldn’t keep them waiting,” she said.


    “Come on, Oliver,” Axel said gently, holding out his hand. “Let’s go greet your great-grandparents.”


    Oliver’s eyes widened in excitement. “They’re here?” he asked, eagerly following his parents.


    “Yes,” Evelyn replied warmly. “Your father’s grandparents. Remember what I told you about them?”


    Oliver nodded enthusiastically. “They live in a big house with a garden and white horses?”


    “That’s right,” Axel chuckled.


    Together, the three of them moved toward the front door, leaving Joseph and Oscar behind in the living room, the evening’s warmth lingering in the air.Conclusion


    The evening’s gathering, though shadowed by Axel’s quiet apprehensions and Joseph’s lingering doubts, blossomed into a tender portrait of family and trust. The fragile threads of past connections and unspoken histories wove gently into the present moment, revealing Evelyn’s transformation from guarded survivor to a woman surrounded by genuine love and eptance. The warmth shared among them, filled withughter and yful banter, underscored the resilience of their bonds and the promise of healing after hardship.


    As the night unfolded, the simple joys of family life—Oliver’s innocent enthusiasm, Axel’s steady presence, and Evelyn’s serene confidence—offered a glimpse of peace amid uncertainty. Though questions remained unspoken, the chapter closed on a hopeful note, reminding us that even in the midst ofplicated pasts, the strength found in trust and togetherness can light the way forward.What to Expect in Next Chapter?


    The next chapter promises to deepen the intricate web of rtionships and unspoken tensions that simmer beneath the surface of this seemingly warm family gathering. As Axel’s grandparents arrive, their presence is bound to stir memories and perhaps reveal hidden facets of the Knight family history, bringing bothfort and conflict. Evelyn’s anticipation hints at a significant connection that may challenge or reinforce the delicate bnce she and Axel have built.


    Meanwhile, Joseph’s position as the newly appointed CEO and hisplicated past with Evelyn suggest that old wounds and unresolved emotions could resurface. The subtle unease Axel feels around Joseph could escte into a more tangible conflict, testing loyalties and trust within this close-knit circle. As the evening unfolds, expect moments charged with emotional undercurrents, where smiles may mask deeper struggles and every interaction carries weight.


    With Oliver caught in the midst of these adultplexities, his innocent enthusiasm contrasts sharply with the adults’ guarded hearts, adding a poignantyer to the story. The next chapter will likely explore how family legacies, past secrets, and present alliances collide, setting the stage for revtions that could change everything for Evelyn, Axel, Joseph, and those around them.


    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.