376 Goodbye, Grandpa!
By the time they arrived home, it was almost midnight,
The house was quiet, the halls dimly lit, servants long gone to their quarters.
Axel guided Evelyn to their bedroom carefully, his hand steady at her back as though she were sleepwalking.
She held his hand tightly, grateful, though strangely, she didn’t feel tired at all.
Physically, yes. Her body ached. Her injuries reminded her with every step.
But her mind? It was so energized, it refused to rest.
After cleaning up and changing into herfortable pajamas, shey beneath the soft nkets, eyes closed, breathing slowly.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
However, nothing happened.
Her body rested, but her thoughts sprinted.
‘God. Why am I feeling this strange sensation? Am I nervous? Scared? Why does it feel like something unseen is waiting for me?‘ She wonders.
Questions crowded her mind, one after another, relentless.
A whisper of unease curled in her chest, as though fate was watching from the corner of the room, smiling mysteriously.
‘Rx, Eve. Rx. Nothing will happen. Everything is fine…‘
She tried. Truly tried. But her thoughts ignored her pleas and danced on.
Eventually, she stopped fighting it and simplyy there, eyes closed, surrendering to
the noise in her head.
Then she heard him.
“Wife,” Axel’s voice came gently, “are you having trouble sleeping?”
Her eyshes fluttered open.
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376 Goodbye, Grandpal
He stood at the end of the bed, fresh from a shower. His hair was damp, towel in hand, pajama pants hanging low on his hips, bare chest glistening faintly under the warmmp light.
Unfortunately for Evelyn, her restless mind found a brand new distraction.
“Hmm… It’s hard for me to sleep. My mind refused to give me peace,” she sighed.
But her eyes absolutely betrayed her as they traced the lines of his abdomen like they were reading a sacred text.
And suddenly, another worry barged in.
‘My Poor hubby. He can’t sleep with me for months… Can he survive that?”
Before her injury, intimacy had never been rare between them. Axel’s self–control had always impressed her–but abstinence for months? That was a different battlefield.
“Alright,” Axel said, rubbing his hair with the towel. “Wait a bit. I’ll join you soon.”
A few minutester, hey beside her. Only the nightstandmp was on, casting warm shadows across the room.
Axel turned toward her, taking her uninjured hand andcing his fingers through hers.
“Eve,” he murmured, “you can share your worry. Maybe I can help.”
She hesitated.
But in the end, she said, “I’m worried about you.”
He lifted a brow. Confused.
“Me?” A yful spark lit his eyes. “Did your secret intelwork find another enemy trying to assassinate me?”
Without her knowing, sheughed softly.
Then, cheeks burning, she confessed in a quiet voice, “I’m worried… that I can’t fulfill
my duties as your wife right now.”
Axel blinked. He didn’t expect her to worry about that.
For one second, he looked genuinely shocked.
The next second, he burst intoughter.
Evelyn stared at him, helpless. “Hubby, why are youughing?”
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376 Goodbye, Grandpal
“Sorry,” he said, still chuckling. “I just… feel oddly touched. My wife lies awake at midnight worrying about my sexual frustration. Should I be proud or concerned?”
She sighs softly, covering her face with her free hand. “I regret opening my mouth.”
Axel caught her wrist and lowered her hand, smiling warmly.
“Eve, my dear,” he said, brushing his thumb over her cheek, “there is absolutely no need to worry about that. Yes, I want you. Very much. But I am not an animal. And I am certainly not one of those ridiculous red–g husbands from your dramas.”
She huffed augh.
“I will never force you,” he continued. “I will wait until you are healed. Properly healed. Trust me, I can endure it.” His voice was calm. Certain. Loving.
Evelyn blinked at him, surprised by the number of words he had just spoken in one breath. Axel Knight did not waste words unless he meant every single one.
“I’m d to hear that,” she said softly. Then, before her brain could stop her mouth, she added, “But if you ever can’t hold it… We can always find another way to help you release your needs.”
Silence.
Axel’s eyes sharpened. “How?”
Evelyn froze.
‘Why. Why did he ask again?’
Her mind supplied an immediate answer. An obvious, very bold answer.
“Well, hubby… My hand is still injured, and my knee is too, but not my mind and
mouth.” But her mind and mouth refused to cooperate. Those lines kept ying over
and over in her mind.
She opened her lips. Closed them. Opened them again.
Nothing.
And now she felt her face burn hotter than the sun.
Finally, she turned away, pretending sudden exhaustion.
“Axel… I’m sleepy now.” She tries to change the conversation, hoping Axel will just ignore her words earlier.
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376 Goodbye, Grandpal
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then, in a slow, amused tone, he said, “Mrs. Knight. You brought up the topic. Now you’re running away.”
She was speechless. Utterly speechless.
“I’m not. I’m sleepy now, and we can talk about it tomorrow…” She yawned again. This time, she no longer held herself back; she was sleepy.
Axelughed softly, leaning closer to kiss her forehead.
“Alright. Sleep, my shy wife,” he murmured. “We’ll continue this very educational discussion when you’re awake and fresh.”
Evelyn decided, right then and there, that sleep was absolutely the safest option
avable.
Finally, their long day was over.
Evelyn slept that night with Axel’s arm wrapped securely around her; his warmth steadied her.
Morning came.
Then another day.
Life moved forward, as it always did, even when hearts begged it to slow down.
On the third morning after their hospital visit, Evelyn sat by the window with a cup tea she had forgotten to drink.
The sky outside was pale and calm. Too calm. The quiet felt ominous.
Her phone rang.
Alicia.
Evelyn already knew. Her hand shook as she answered.
“Eve…” Alicia’s voice was tight, nearly broken. “Grandpa… he passed away this morning.”
of
The cup slipped from Evelyn’s fingers, hitting the marble floor with a noisy clink. Her breath hitched, but no sound came out.
Even though she had prepared herself for this moment, nothing could soften the
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376 Goodbye, Grandpat
impact.
She expected the call.
She expected the oue.
Yet the pain still struck like a de.
It was the same agony she had felt years ago when she lost her mother. And when she lost her unborn child. A familiar grief, resurfacing like a cruel memory.
Axel appeared beside her instantly, having heard the tremor in her voice. He didn’t ask questions. He simply pulled her into his arms.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Tears finally fell.
Her lips were moving silently in prayer.
‘Goodbye, Grandpa,‘ she whispered. ‘I hope you no longer feel pain up there. Rest in peace… and love.‘
66
End <i>of </i><i>Volume </i><i>9</i><i>! </i>
<i>Thank </i><i>you </i>all <i>for </i>your support. Let’s move <i>on </i>to another volume ^
<b>PurpleLight </b>
Creator’s Thoughts
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.