260 Tell Oliver A New Little Secret
Axel inhaled slowly, controlling his urge to kiss Evelyn again. He opened the door, stepping out withposed dignity.
Oliver immediately ran toward him. “Daddy, what are you doing in there?”
“Talking,” Axel calmly replied.
“For so long?” Oliver asked, his little brow knitted.
Axel was speechless as he watched his son interrogate him. Suppressing augh, he calmly responded, “Yes.”
Silent.
But the suspicion still shes in his gaze before he continues to ask, “Daddy, are you sure you are not hiding my snacks?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m not, buddy.”
“Is Mommy inside, too?”
“Yes”
“Then why talk in the car? The house has couches that are veryfortable for talking.”
Axel sighed and picked him up, ignoring Oliver’s little gasp. Their eyes met as he said, “Buddy, because sometimes your mom and I need a private moment.”
Oliver blinked innocently. “In a car? Why?”
“Because we do.”
“That does not make sense.”
“No, it does not,” Axel agreed.
Evelyn, who was watching her son, Oliver, interrogated his father like a detective… couldn’t help butugh.
Not wanting to see Axel be more intimidated by their four–year–old son, she hurriedly stepped out of the car to rescue her poor husband.
For a brief second, she feared Oliver would notice her swollen lips, but luckily, he was too busy staring at Axel’s face.
260 Tell Oliver A New Little Secret
Oliver swung his legs lightly before announcing loudly, “Mommy, Daddy is acting werd again.” His round eyes blinked, staring back at her.
Evelynughed briefly as she said, “When is your daddy not acting weird?
Her words were enough to make Oliver giggle, “True…
Axel is utterly speechless.
As Axel was about to speak, Evelyn gently interrupted with a warm smile, saying<b>, </b>“Sweetheart, I have a snack for you.”
Evelyn handed him a snack box that contained a single banana muffin, ready to brighten his day.
“Muffin…” Instantly, the suspicious glint in Oliver’s eyes disappeared. He grabbed the snack box and opened it.
Axel rolled his eyes at both of them but held Oliver securely with one arm.
With his other hand, he reached back and intertwined his fingers with Evelyn’s.
“Let’s get inside…” Axel said and started to walk.
Evelyn smiled as she walked beside him. She was excited because they were going to share the good news with their son.
As they entered the house, Oliver suddenly twisted in Axel’s arms, struggling to break free. But, of course, he didn’t seed.
“Dad, can you put me down? I can walk on my own now,” he protested, crumbs stuck to the corner of his mouth as he finished thest bite of his muffin.
Axel did not even blink. He kept walking deeper into the house as if he carried a feather instead of a four–year–old boy.
Only once they reached the living room did he finally set Oliver onto the floor.
The moment his small foot touched the rug, Oliver bolted toward Evelyn with all the enthusiasm of someone who had just been set free.
“Mommy, thank you. The muffin is delicious,” he announced proudly, blinking his bright, round eyes in a way that made Evelyn’s heart melt instantly.
Evelyn gently took his hands as they sat on the sofa and pulled him onto herp. Oliver shifted slightly until he found the perfect spot against her, then tilted his head up to look at her again.
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260 Tell Oliver A New Little Secret
“Mom…” he started, but the sentence trailed off. His eyes blinked rapidly, almost he was buffering.
Evelyn smiled, brushing his hair back. “Do you want more muffins?”
He shook his head. “No, Mommy. But I’m curious why you suddenly went to the hospital.”
Before Evelyn could open her mouth, Axel, who had sat down beside them, straightened slightly.
“Who told you we were going to the hospital?” Axel asked.
Oliver looked over at him. “Uncle Liam.” Then he immediately turned back to Evelyn with pure concern. “Mom, are you feeling unwell?” he asked, his hand touching her cheek, worry shing in his eyes.
“No, sweetheart. I’m alright,” Evelyn said softly, feeling touched to see how concerned her little one is now.
Evelyn then nced at Axel. It was a small look, but both of them knew what it meant- the time hade.
They had agreed not to hide it from Oliver. He was still young, but he deserved to know that soon, he would have someone new to share the world with.
Axel shifted closer, resting his arm along the back of the couch. “Buddy, Mom and I want to tell you something important.”
Oliver’s eyes
widened as he looked at Axel and asked, “What is it? Is it about
martial arts teacher? Or Grandpa? Or the horses?”
Evelyn tried not tough. “Sweetheart, no…”
Axel leaned in and gently ruffled Oliver’s smooth hair, saying, “You’re going to be a big brother next year.”
Oliver froze. Completely frozen.
If someone had dropped a pin, it would have sounded like an explosion.
His eyes went even wider, his mouth parted slightly, and he stared at them as if trying to load new information into his tiny brain.
“Big… brother?” he repeated. His eyes remained fixed on his parents.
“Yes,” Evelyn said, stroking his cheek. “There will be a new baby in our family.”
260 Tell Oliver A New Little Secret
Oliver stayed silent for another second, and for a moment, Evelyn worried he might burst into tears or panic, and hated the idea of having another sibling.
Instead, he suddenly pped his palms onto his cheeks.
“Really? A baby? Like… a real one? A living, breathing one? Not the talking doll Aunt Ste bought me?”
Axel chuckled. “Yes. A real one.”
Oliver blinked rapidly again, then a slow smile spread across his face. “Yay! I’m happy…” Evelyn’s heart swelled. “You are?”
He nodded hard. “Yes. I’m happy.” Then his expression suddenly turned serious. “But… if I’m the big brother, does that mean I need to share my muffins?”
Evelynughed into his hair. “Eventually, yes.”
Oliver sighed heavily, as if epting a lifelong sacrifice. “Alright. But only if the baby is nice and kind.”
Evelyn kissed his forehead. “We’ll make sure the baby is nice and kind.”
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.