258 You Deserve the Best!
258 You Deserve the Best!
The moment they stepped into the car, Evelyn slumped back into her seat and let out a long exhale. “That was fast.” @
Liam nced at her through the rearview mirror, politely trying to hide his smile.
Axel, seated beside her, loosened the cuff of his sleeve and shot her an amused look.
“You expected it to take longer?” He asked.
She nodded, lips forming a faint, almost nostalgic smile.
“Hmm… when I was pregnant with Oliver… I always had to wait every time I went for a checkup. Sometimes for hours. And it was troublesome because I had to drive all the way to Grayenfall just to meet the doctor.”
The amusement in Axel’s face vanished. “And you were driving alone?”
“Yeah. Sometimes I took a taxi. But mostly I drove myself.” She answered casually, still looking out the window.
She did not see how Axel’s entire expression changed.
Her words struck him deep, quiet, and sharp. A soft disappointment twisted inside him. He was not there. He was never there.
His wife had been pregnant, alone,muting to another city for medical checkups, waiting in long lines, carrying their son in her belly without anyone by her side.
He swallowed hard.
The ache in his chest was ugly, and it grew heavier the more he thought about it.
Without a word, he reached for her hand and held it. Firm. Needing to feel her warmth.
Evelyn smiled faintly, oblivious to the storm brewing inside him. She squeezed his hand once, then leaned her temple against the window.
“And today everything was just… so smooth. No waiting, no crowds. Everything was done within minutes. It felt surreal. And happy.”
Axel squeezed her hand gently. He wanted to apologize for the past. He tried to tell her he would not miss a single moment now. But he words tangled with the emotions he refused to show.
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258 You Deserve the Best!
All he managed was a quiet, “You deserve the best.”
Evelyn turned her head and smiled at him, soft and warm. “We both do.”
She did not notice the way he looked away for a moment, swallowing down an ocean of
regret.
For a moment, the car drifted into a calm silence. The autumn scenery outside glowed soft orange. The city was still waking, breath turning white in the early morning chill.
Inside the car, peace stretched gently between them.
Axel’s hand stayed tightly around hers. Evelyn let him hold her, enjoying the warmth. Until her stomach growled, slicing through the quiet.
She instantly froze.
Oh no.
Not now. Not in this silent, romantic moment
She had eaten breakfast. Enough breakfast. But here she was again. Hungry like she carried a baby dragon who demanded snacks every five minutes.
Evelyn silently prayed Axel had not heard it, but Liam slightly lifted his shoulder as if trying not to chuckle.
Wonderful. Of course, he heard it.
She pressed her lips together, pretending nothing happened.
They would reach home soon anyway. She could survive the short ride.
She distracted herself by staring at her hands, convinced her stomach was lying to her.
“You can eat this.”
Axel’s voice broke her thoughts.
When she turned, she nearly gasped. He held a small, clear food box filled with banana muffins. Her favorite.
She stared at the muffins. Then stared at him
“You brought this?” she asked, stunned.
“Hm.” A small smile formed on his lips. “Just in case you were hungry.” He opened the carpartment and took out a tumbler. “Laura also prepared warm tea for you.” The moment she saw the tumbler, she nearly burst outughing.
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258 You Deserve the Best!
Now it made sense.
Laura and the others had acted strangely yesterday.
They had followed her around during the hike, whispering among themselves every time she stepped on a rock or breathed slightly heavier than usual.
Even Jimmy looked ready to catch her if she tripped over a leaf.
So that was why. They all thought she might be pregnant.
Unbelievable.
She imagined the scene again. Laura’s stiff smile. Ryan’s exaggerated attempts to carry every bag. Lisa is pretending to watch her every step. Jimmy is trailing them with a car that looks so much like an ambnce, on standby.
The only one who did not seem suspicious was Oliver, who simply dered, “Mommy is fine. Daddy is weird.”
‘My goodness… They were incredible yesterday… absolutely hrious. Are they trying to hide their suspicions about my pregnancy? Did Axel tell them everything?‘
Her innerughter grew until she almost choked on the muffin.
After finishing two muffins and half the tea, she set the tumbler aside and slowly
turned to Axel.
He had been staring at her, eyes dark and affectionate, like he was memorizing every expression she made.
“You done?” he asked as he handed her his handkerchief.
“Hm. Do you want one? There is still one left, she teased, lifting the box slightly.
“No. You keep it. Maybe you will get hungry again.”
She took the handkerchief with a shy chuckle. “Thank you, Axel. To be honest, I wasn’t even hungry. I just… well…” She shrugged.
“Then our cute little boss will be happy to get thest muffin,” Axel replied with a tiny
smirk.
“Oh, you are right.” She grinned, imagining Over’s bright smile at receiving the snack.
“Though,” Axel added, pretending to be thoughtful, “if he knows you ate everything except one, he mightin that his mother does not share food.”
Her eyes widened. “Heins only when it is food he likes!”
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258 You Deserve the Best!
“So in other words, always.”
She nudged his shoulder. “You are so right…”
Axel chuckled.
Then Evelyn turned her gaze to look out the window.
For the next few minutes, the car filled with theforting sound of jazz from the hidden speaker.
Axel kept his hand holding hers. Not moving. Not teasing. Just touching, as if needing reassurance, she was still there.
Evelyn felt warm. Safe. Loved.
Maybe too loved.
Because she could almost swear he kept ncing at her stomach every few seconds, as if expecting it to grow suddenly.
She sighed inwardly.
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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.