276 Matchmaking Mission
276 Matchmaking Mission
“Sis, I’m sorry…” Ste’s hurried voice rushed through the line. “I’ve been so busy that I still haven’t replied to your text.”
Evelyn smiled softly, as if Ste were standing right in front of her with that guilty expression she always made when she thought she had disappointed someone.
“It’s okay. I know you’re busy at the hospital, helping other people. I’m proud of you, little sis.”
Ste giggled. “You tter me, sis.”
“Where are you now?”
“Driving. Heading home.”
“You’re already back at this hour?” Evelyn nced at the digital clock on her table. It was only four. “Yeah, Mom asked me toe home early. We…”
1/11
Ste suddenly paused,
Evelyn instinctively checked her screen, thinking the connection had dropped, but the call was still active.
She pressed the phone closer to her ear. Before she could ask, Ste continued, voice softer with worry, “Sis, you said in your text that you’re going to Maxime Knight’s funeral?”
Hearing the name again made Evelyn’s stomach twist. “Yeah. That’s the n.”
“Wah, I need to prepare myself,” Ste sighed heavily, earning a frown from Evelyn.
“Prepare for what?”
“Did you forget, Sis? I work at your husband’s hospital.”
“Oh.” Evelyn blinked, suddenly imagining Ste surrounded by gossip–hungry coworkers.
276 Matchmaking Mission
“I’m notining,” Ste continued. “But I need to mentally prepare in case people start connecting the dots and realize why the hospital CEO is suspiciously kind to me.”
Evelyn froze. She truly hadn’t considered that. But she also couldn’t hide her rtionship with Axel forever.
“Ste, I hope you survive,” she teased gently. “That’s the onlyfort I can offer you.”
Ste burst intoughter.
“Sis, I’ll be fine. Actually, this might be good for me. Once people know my brother–inw Axel Knight, they’ll forget about Dad’s epic scandal.”
Evelyn sighed at that, a helpless smile tugging at her lips. “Well… I agree with you.”
“But speaking of surviving…” Ste hesitated for a moment before her voice grew smaller. “Mom invited Dn to our house for dinner tonight.”
3/11
276 Matchmaking Mission
“What?” Evelyn sat up straight, eyes widening.
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Tonight. As in right now. As in, I am currently driving to my doom.”
Evelyn burst intoughter.
“Oh my. Look at you panicking. Are you nervous because you like him?”
“I do not like him,” Ste dered instantly. “This is Mom’s idea, not mine.”
“Of course… Of Course…” Evelyn said, voice dripping with amused disbelief. “It must be a life–threatening situation for you, sitting across from that handsome, tall, polite man. Tragic.”
“Sis!” Ste groaned. “I’m innocent. Completely innocent. I didn’t ask him toe. I didn’t even remind Mom that he exists!”
“Uh–huh.”
4/11
270 Matchmalding Mission
“Don’t uh–huh me!”
Evelynughed even harder. “Fine, fine. I’ll stop teasing. For now.”
“Thank you,” Ste muttered, relieved, as if Evelyn had saved her from great suffering. “But seriously, I don’t know what Mom is thinking. She’s been smiling suspiciously since morning. It’s scary.”
“Well,” Evelyn said, still amused, “maybe she senses something you don’t.”
“There is nothing to sense!” Ste insisted. “He helped me once. That’s it. End of story.”
“Your heartbeat says otherwise.”
“My heartbeat is perfectly normal!”
“Sure.”
“It is!”
Evelyn softened her voice. “Rx. Just eat dinner, be polite, and breathe. Mom likes him, and you…
270 Matchmaking Mission
Well, you don’t dislike him.”
“That is not a confession,” Ste warned.
“I didn’t say it was.”
Ste sighed. “I just want peace, sis. A quiet evening. But knowing Mom, she’s going to treat him like her future son–inw.”
Evelynughed again. “Good luck then.”
“I’ll need it.”
They talked a little longer, switching to lighter topics until Ste finally said, “Okay, I’m reaching the gate. I’ll call youter, sis.”
“Alright. Enjoy dinner,” Evelyn said.
Ste groaned onest time. “Goodbye, traitor.”
Evelynughed as the call ended. Her afternoon might have been interrupted, but her heart felt warmer than ever knowing her little sister had finally found her other half.
276 Matchmaking Mission
However, the smile lingering on Evelyn’s lips slowly faded. A sudden thought hit her. Axel had told her earlier that he would be homete and probably wouldn’t be having dinner with them tonight.
If Axel stayedte at the office, Dn would naturally remain as well.
“No. No. I need to help them. This is a crucial moment for Ste and Dn!” she dered dramatically to the empty room, as if she had been assigned a sacred matchmaking mission. Without wasting a second, she grabbed her phone.
<i>“</i><i>Hubby</i>, <i>I </i>miss <i>you</i><i>….</i>”
She typed the words, stared at them, then winced so hard her shoulders tensed.
Delete!
“No. Too cringe. Axel might think I’ve been
276 Matchmaking Mission
possessed.” She shook her head and typed again.
“<i>Could </i><i>you </i>please <i>get </i><i>me </i>some pho? <i>I’m </i>suddenly <i>craving </i><i>it </i>and really want <i>to </i>eat some.”
She reread the message three times. A gentle, mischievous smile curled on her lips as she imagined Axel reading it… Then, confused, scrambling, maybe even dropping everything for her food craving.
Perfect.
She hit send.
Sure enough, not even a full minute passed before her phone rang. Axel’s name shed across the screen.
Evelyn couldn’t stop the wide smile forming. She answered cheerfully, “Axel… I’m sorry to bother you. Are you busy?”
“No. Not at all.”
8/11
“Are
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you sure?” she asked, suspicious of how fast he had replied.
“Yes. Eve, what kind of food is that? <i>Pho</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
“Ah… that’s a delicious Vietnamese rice noodle with sliced beef and a light, delicious soup. I happened to eat it in Grayenfall, and suddenly I’m craving it. Again.”
Silence followed. The kind of silence meant Axel’s
brain was working too hard. Thinking!
Then he spoke. “So you want me to send someone to buy that in Grayenfall?”
Evelyn froze. She did not expect that response. She also did not expect Axel to treat distance, even if it were optional.
Before she could speak, Axel continued, “No need to worry. I will send someone… Or Dn to Grayenfall now. Give me the restaurant address so I can prepare the jet.”
9/11
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Evelyn’s soul left her body.
‘Oh, no! This isn’t my n. She stared at the ceiling as if begging the universe for strength and
perseverance.
66
Thank <i>you </i><i>so </i>much for the <i>Golden </i><i>Ticket </i>& Power <i>Stones</i><i>. </i><i>Please </i>continue. <i>We </i>need to <i>raise </i><i>the </i><i>rank </i>to <i>give </i><i>this </i><i>book </i>more
opportunities<i>. </i>Xoxo^
<b>PurpleLight </b>
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.