CHAPTER 27: HE IS NOT YOUR UNCLE

Two days slipped by so fast, and mostly in a blur.

Oliver’s condition finally improved, and the doctor gave the green light for them to go home.

Evelyn is thrilled to return to her apartment and enjoy her own bed, the fresh air, and her latte.

Of course, she wanted to leave home quickly before Axel returned, like the terrifying CEO-turned-overprotective-husband-in-training.

He had flown back to the capital yesterday for some "urgent business." At least that he told her.

But obviously, her mind starts to guess; he’s probably moving mountains, crushing rivals, or buying a city for fun. Who knew?

But even when he’s away, the man is something. Axel being "gone" doesn’t mean peace. No, he left her with a small army of his staff; efficient, polite, and terrifyingly good at their jobs.

She hadn’t touched a single hospital form. She hadn’t even seen a bill. Everything had been "taken care of." By him. Naturally.

It was enough to make her both grateful and a little weird.

After four years of living and raising Oliver alone, she feels confident and independent.

She was perfectly capable of standing in line and signing a paper. Well... okay, maybe not perfectly capable, but still. Those were all things she usually did on her own.

"Ms. Taylor, this way..." Liam, Axel’s right-hand man for the moment, gestured politely.

Evelyn pushed Oliver’s wheelchair behind him, saying nothing but simply following, until she saw what was waiting outside.

A gleaming luxury car park at the main entrance, as if it had been sent directly from a showroom.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

’Oh, for heaven’s sake, Axel...’

Her son looked up at her, confused, "Mommy?"

Evelyn forced a smile, though her mind raced; she worried someone would notice her, a ’single mother,’ stepping into a car that’s more expensive than a small house.

She exhaled slowly, shook her head, and reminded herself she’d have words for him later.

...

After arriving at the apartment, Evelyn thanked Liam, although he insisted on doing more. He even offered to run errands and buy anything she needed.

"No, no, that’s fine," she said quickly, her smile polite but firm.

The last thing she needed was Liam walking through the building with shopping bags in hand.

She could already picture the neighbors’ sharp eyes peeking through the hallway gaps.

Even though there are only two houses on her floor, the neighbors next door are never there. Still, she feels worried.

"Ms. Taylor, if you need something, please feel free to contact me," Liam reminded gently after placing all her belongings neatly on the kitchen island.

Evelyn gave him a quick nod.

"Yes, sure..." she replied, ushering him toward the door like a polite hostess who was absolutely done hosting.

The second the door clicked shut, she leaned against it, exhaling dramatically. Freedom. Peace.

However, Oliver’s cute voice surprised her.

"Mommy!"

When she met her son’s innocent-looking gaze, she knew that look. It usually meant her day was about to get complicated.

"Where is Uncle Axel? Why didn’t he come?" Oliver asked, his eyes wide with genuine curiosity.

Evelyn froze. Of course, her peace couldn’t last five minutes.

’Why, son, why must you summon his name now?’ she thought while forcing a smile and joined him on the sofa. She crouched beside him.

"Uncle Axel is... busy. Very, very busy. Important meetings, you know. Rich people things." She wanted to say that, but those words all got stuck in her throat.

There was something important weighing on her now. The truth. She needed to tell her son that Uncle Axel wasn’t his uncle at all; he was his father.

But those words... they stayed locked in her throat, refusing to leave her lips no matter how many times she rehearsed them in her mind.

"He’s busy with his business..." was all she managed to say, her voice softer than she intended.

Oliver’s eyebrows drew together in suspicion. "But he promised me he’d play cards with me today."

Her chest tightened. Axel really had promised. And knowing him, he probably meant it, too.

Evelyn let out a small sigh, brushing her son’s cheek with her thumb.

"He’ll come, sweetheart. Just... maybe not today."

Oliver tilted his head, studying her like he could read her secrets.

That sharp little gaze made her nervous, so she quickly ruffled his hair.

"Do you want a cookie or go to your room for a rest?" Evelyn asked, hoping food would work its magic. "Remember what the doctor said? Your wound’s still healing, and you need more rest... But mommy will allow you to eat a cookie." She smiles.

Miraculously, it worked. His pout melted instantly.

"Cookie..." he repeated, his voice soft and sweet, like the word itself was a treasure. His eyes lit up as he looked at her, already imagining the sugary prize.

Evelyn laughed under her breath, relief loosening her shoulders.

’Thanks God... Crisis averted. For now...’

But deep down, Evelyn knew she couldn’t keep dodging the truth forever.

She needs to tell Oliver before Axel returns because that’s what she promised him: to deliver the shocking news to her beloved son.

...

After Oliver finished four cookies and a glass of warm milk, his eyelids began to droop.

Evelyn carried him to his room and gently placed him on his soft bed.

She sat by his side, opening the same storybook she always read when he needed comfort.

But she didn’t even get through half the page before his soft snores filled the room.

She smiled, brushing his hair back.

’If only life were as easy as a bedtime story... one prince, one princess, happily ever after. Instead, I’m stuck with Axel Knight, who’s more like a dragon than a prince.’

She sighs silently, but an amused smile emerges on her lips as she thinks about her inner thought, Axel as a charming dragon.

Then,

Eveyn closed the door quietly, exhaling in relief as she made her way to her own bedroom.

For the first time in two days, she will be able to rest.

Her own bed looked like heaven itself. Two sleepless nights at the hospital had left her exhausted, and the soft mattress was practically begging her to dive into it and never leave.

But, of course, the universe had other plans.