410 Interrogate
Axel’s phone buzzed inside the pocket.
Evelyn paused briefly, her fingers stilling as she considered the device. She had never been one to check Axel’s phone, as trust between them had always been built on something stronger than suspicion.
Still, the persistent vibrationpelled her to retrieve it.
She slid the phone out.
The screen illuminated.
‘Dn…‘
Evelyn smiled faintly, surprised but not rmed. Without hesitation, she ced the phone gently on the bedside table and let the call go unanswered.
Yet something caught her attention.
As she moved to hang the coat, her fingers brushed against something inside the pocket.
It’s a paper.
A small, slightly crumpled piece of paper. Something rarely found in Axel’s coat pocket.
Her brows furrowed with mild curiosity as she pulled it out. The paper appeared worn and unremarkable, resembling an ordinary receipt or parking ticket.
However, the moment her eyes scanned its surface, her breath subtly faltered.
Neat handwriting. A name.
“Harper.” She read the name, her eyes fixed on the phone number below it.
Evelyn stared at the paper, her thoughts instantly spinning into restless motion. Questions rose uninvited, colliding with the calm certainty she usually carried.
‘Who is this woman?‘
‘Why is this in Axel’s pocket?‘
‘Is she a business partner?‘
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‘No. No… that does not make sense.‘
She shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss those thoughts. However, she failed. Those thoughts started to fill her mind once again.
‘If that woman were rted to business, she would have given him a business card!
‘So, why handwritten?‘
‘Why hidden?‘
‘Why-‘
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fragile paper.
Slowly, her gaze lifted.
Toward the bathroom door.
The sound of running water continued, indifferent to the storm now brewing inside
her mind.
Evelyn remained standing in ce, uncertainty creeping quietly into her chest. It was not anger, nor jealousy, but a strange mixture of confusion and unease that refused to settle.
Momentster, the bathroom door opened.
Axel stepped out in his casual home clothes, his movements slowing when his gazended on her.
He stared at her for a few more seconds as he sensed the shift in the room’s
atmosphere.
“That expression worries me,” he said cautiously as he approached her.
Evelyn did not respond immediately. Instead, she raised the piece of paper.
Axel’s eyes slightly narrowed. Confusion flickered across his features.
“…Care to exin?” she asked softly. “I found it in your coat pocket.”
“A piece of paper? Why’s there a paper there?” Axel said casually, leaning in for a closer look. But when he saw the name, he exhaled slowly, already expecting some trouble ahead.
“That’s why I asked. Did someone give you their cell phone number instead of a
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business card?” Evelyn continued, trying to keep herposure, but inside, a rare
warmth suddenly settled in her heart.
“Her name is Harper Cooper,” he replied.
Evelyn’s heart tightened slightly, though her voice remained calm. “And?”
“She approached me today.”
Evelyn’s brows drew together. “Approached you?”
Axel nodded. “And imed somethingpletely absurd.”
Evelyn crossed her arms, waiting.
Axel hesitated briefly before continuing.
“She said she has a son with me.”
For a moment, Evelyn simply stared at him.
Then-
Unexpectedly-
Sheughed.
The sound was genuine, disbelieving, and tinged with amusement.
Axel blinked.
“You’reughing?”
Evelyn shook her head, stillughing. Then she said casually, “Axel Knight secretly fathering children across the world sounds like a terrible drama series.”
“Don’t tease me…”
She continued, “Well, I remember reading this kind of news many times before…far in the past. That you have a secret child in every city.”
Axel sighed heavily.
“My dear wife, please stop it. This is not amusing. Can you stopughing at me like that…<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“I’m sorry, Axel, but this is objectively slightly amusing<b>.</b>”
Despite the tension, warmth returned to the space between them.
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He shrugs, unable to speak.
More softly, Evelyn asked, “Are you worried?”
Axel’s expression shifted.
“To be honest with you, I don’t remember her even a bit, and I know I have a very good memory, an eidetic,” he admitted, and bragged at the same time, as he stood just a step away from her, his hand on her waist. “And that’s why I know for sure that that woman talks nonsense.”
Her smile faded gently. Not into suspicion. But understanding.
“Then we will deal with it,” she said quietly.
Axel frowned at her. “We?”
Evelyn squeezed his hand gently. “Yes. You and I. We.”
For a brief moment, Axel stood silently, his sharp gaze fixed on Evelyn’s face. He studied every subtle shift in her expression, searching for cracks, tension, or even the slightest trace of suspicion. Instead, he found something far more unsettling.
Calmness.
Understanding.
And that, strangely, disturbed him more than anger ever could.
Without a word, Axel reached for her hand, his touch instinctively gentle. He guided her toward the bed with quiet care, his movements carrying an almost exaggerated tenderness.
“Alright, let’s sit down,” he said softly, his voice warm with affection. “I worry my pretty wife might get tired of standing for so long.”
Evelyn stifled a smile at his shameless honey–trap words, though she did not resist. She allowed him to lead her, settling gracefully on the edge of the bed.
Axel immediately sat beside her, his shoulder brushing lightly against hers.
For a moment, silence lingered between them.
Axel nced sideways. She is still calm. Stillposed. Still terrifyingly unreadable,
Carefully, he spoke.
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“What do you want to do with that phone number?” he asked<b>, </b><b>his </b>tone deceptively casual. “You can tell me, so I know what to do next
Evelyn slowly turned her head toward <b>him</b><b>. </b>
Her eyes narrowed.
Not angrily.
But thoughtfully.
She studied his face with unnerving focus, as if attempting to peel awayyers of carefully constructedposure. Unfortunately for <b>her</b>, Axel <b>Knight’s </b>expression had long mastered the art of deception.
Which only made things worse.
“So,” Evelyn began slowly, her voice smooth yet dangerously curious. “are you worried I <b>will </b>call and interrogate her?”
Axel reacted instantly.
He shook his head quickly, almost a little too much<b>. </b>
No.
The response came so fast that even he seemed startled by it.
Evelyn blinked….That was a very aggressive ‘no.“”
Axel cleared his throat, attempting to recover what little <b>dignity </b>remained.
“I told you,” he said smoothly, leaning back <b>slightly</b>, “I don’t care if you call and interrogate her because I don’t know her.”
Evelyn’s brow arched.
Axel continued, <b>his </b>confidence rebuilding with dangerous momentum.
“But, he added with a faint smirk, “I do know that this woman must be one of my many secret admirers.
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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.
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