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393 Fate
393 Fate
“When are we telling her?” Evelyn asked.
A faint frown appeared on Axel’s forehead, subtle but unmistakable.
Evelyn caught it immediately. A few months of loving him had trained her to notice the slightest changes in his expression.
Without saying a word, she gently squeezed his hand, her thumb brushing over his knuckles in quiet reassurance.
“Axel,” she asked softly, careful not to sound demanding, “is it impossible for them to
meet soon?”
He sighed, the weight of reality settling between them.
“Actually… Ethan was in an ident,” he admitted. “He’s injured. They can’t meet right now. If Aunty Martha finds out, I’m afraid she’ll only be more worried and even
sadder.”
Evelyn inhaled slowly. “Ah… you’re right.”
Thest thing she wanted was to hurt Aunty Martha again. The woman had already endured too much grief in one lifetime. First, her son was missing and was dered dead. Then her husband passed away, leaving her alone with memories and unanswered prayers. Evelyn’s chest tightened at the thought.
Silence settled between them, thick but not ufortable.
Evelyn’s gaze drifted to the far wall as her thoughts wandered.
Axel noticed immediately. He lifted a hand and gently smoothed her hair, his fingersbing through the soft strands.
“What is my wife thinking this time?” he asked lightly, a teasing warmth in his voice.
She looked up at him, her eyes reflective. “Actually… Aunty Martha ns to visit us at the end of the year,” she said. “Noah’s birthday is December thirty–first. She wants to celebrate it here.”
Axel’s eyes softened. He nodded slowly. “By then, Ethan should be healed,” he said. “That would be the perfect time for them to meet.”
<b>11:31 </b>
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393 Fate
Evelyn’s face brightened instantly, her earlier worry melting away. “That sounds perfect, Axel.”
“You look thrilled,” he observed, amused by how her mood had flipped so quickly.
“Of course I am,” she replied without hesitation. “I already consider Aunty Martha as my biological family, even though she isn’t. And I think Oliver does too. He thought she was his real grandmother for a while.”
Axel chuckled. “Yeah. That I remember. He once asked me why Grandma Martha didn’t
live with us.”
Evelynughed softly. “Exactly. So for me… Noah is my brother, too. And I’m excited to meet him…”
Axel pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a firm, protective embrace.
“He is our family,” he said. “And I’ll take you to meet him in a few days. He’ll be happy to see you.”
Her eyes widened. She pulled back slightly to look at him. “Really? Can I meet him
soon?”
“Yes,” Axel replied immediately. Then his voice softened. “But don’t ask about his condition… I mean about his injury.”
“I promise,” she said quickly. “I won’t ask anything. I’ll just… look at him.”
Axel smiled. “That’s all he needs right now.”
Their conversation drifted naturally from there, bouncing between light jokes and quiet excitement.
Evelyn teased Axel about how strange it was that her aunt’s son turned out to be his brother–in–arms.
Axel countered by saying fate clearly had an obsession with entangling their lives.
“So basically,” Evelyn said thoughtfully, “our family tree is no longer a tree. It’s a maze.”
Axelughed. “A dangerous one.”
“Very dangerous,” she agreed solemnly. “Especially during family dinners.”
They bothughed, the tension easing asfort wrapped around them.
Eventually, however, Evelyn’s eyelids began to feel utterly heavy.
11:31
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393 Fate
Axel noticed that the moment her head leaned against his shoulder, her breathing slowed and became rxed.
“Tired already?” he murmured.
“Mmm… just a little,” she replied drowsily. “Today was… emotionally intense.”
He smiled and shifted slightly so she could rest morefortably. “Go to sleep. I’ll carry you to bed.”
“No,” she protested weakly. “I can walk…”
“Sure,” he said calmly. “When you arrive, it is almost dawn…”
She made a quiet sound of defeat as her eyes closed. “Alright, carry me…”
Axel carefully lifted her into his arms, carrying her toward the bed.
As hey her down, he tucked the nket around her and brushed a kiss against her forehead.
“You’re too soft,” she murmured sleepily.
“And you love it,” he replied.
She smiled faintly before drifting offpletely.
Axel stayed beside her for a moment longer, watching her peaceful face.
His thoughts returned to Ethan and Aunty Martha, and for that, he was unable to sleep now. He needs to talk to Collins and arrange his wife’s visit to the Green Farm.
The next day.
The day passed faster than Evelyn expected, her attention drifting between documents she barely read and the clock on the corner table she checked far too often.
By the timete afternoon arrived, the guest she had been waiting for finally came.
A soft knock echoed from the office door.
“Yes,e on in,” Evelyn called.
The door opened to reveal Jimmy, everposed as usual,
11:31
393 Fate
At the same time, Oscar peeked out from behind him like a mischievous child caught sneaking into trouble.
“Hi, Oscar! You’re finally here,” Evelyn said warmly, her face lighting up.
Oscar stepped inside with exaggerated confidence and gave a slight bow.
“Once my Queen Sis summons me, of course, I run here as fast as humanly possible.”
Evelynughed, and even Jimmy failed to hide his smile.
“Madam, do you need anything?” Jimmy asked politely.
“No, Jimmy. I just missed talking to this guy,” she replied lightly. “Please don’t let anyone disturb us.”
“Understood,” Jimmy said, closing the door quietly behind him.
The moment the door shut, Evelyn turned around, only to see Oscar already standing in front of the coffee machine, sleeves rolled up, operating it like he owned the ce.
“Do you want an ice or a warmtte, Eve?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Not too hot, please, but not lukewarm either,” she replied as she walked to the sofa. “And make it sweet. I need something to ovee today’s bitterness.”
“Say no more,” Oscar said smugly. “Your personal barista is at your service.”
Momentster, he joined her, handing her a cup before taking a long sip of his own coffee. He studied her face over the rim.
“So,” he said slowly, “I can see that you didn’t summon me here just to admire my handsome face or my excellent barista skills. What’s going on?”
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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.