The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover-Chapter 270: You Are Nervous To Meet My Father?

Evelyn swallowed hard.

"Why do you seem unhappy about appearing in public as my wife?" He asked.

Evelyn shook her head. "I don’t feel like that, Axel. I’m happy. But..."

"But... what?" he asked, curious why she didn’t finish her sentence.

"You really want to announce it during a funeral? Would that not be awkward? Out of place? People are crying and mourning, and then suddenly we appear together like we are walking down a red carpet."

Axel smirked. "It is not a red carpet. If anything, it is only a funeral carpet."

"Axel, that is even worse."

He laughed. "I am not going to make an announcement out loud with a microphone. People will simply see us together, and we let them draw their own conclusions. And that is it."

"What if they ask questions?" Evelyn asked.

"Then I will answer."

"What will you answer?"

"That you are my wife," he said casually as he reached for his drink.

She stared at him for a slight moment, "You really are planning to shock the entire Knight family."

"They need something to distract them from Maxime’s scandal," Axel replied, all matter-of-fact. "Our marriage will work perfectly."

"You mean I am a distraction."

"You are the most beautiful distraction I have."

"Axel Knight, that is not a compliment."

He raised an eyebrow. "It is from me."

Evelyn can’t help but laugh, even though her nervousness still lingers in her mind.

She played with the pieces of cheesecake on her plate, pretending to eat while her mind drifted far from the dining room.

Axel was relaxed beside her, leaning back in his chair, looking far too at ease for a man who had just returned from a family tragedy.

Meanwhile, her stomach kept twisting.

Axel glanced at her plate. "You’re not finishing that?"

"I’m... thinking," she murmured.

"Oh?" He turned to her fully. "About what?"

She hesitated, biting her lower lip. "About your family."

Axel’s brow arched, amused. "Which one of them?"

"All of them," she huffed quietly. "I already met your grandparents and your mom. They were lovely. But the rest..." She swallowed hard. "Especially your father."

That got his attention.

Axel leaned his elbow on the table, facing her more seriously now. "Eve..."

"What?" she muttered, eyes on her dessert like it held the answers to life.

"You’re nervous to meet him?"

"I’m not—" She stopped, sighing. "Okay, maybe I am. A little."

"A little?" Axel repeated, amused. "You look like you’re preparing for a corporate merger."

She glared at him, cheeks warming. "Your father is intimidating, Axel. And don’t try to forget... That he didn’t like my last name. I mean, Walters!"

"He is... Intimidating," Axel admitted with a small laugh. "Trust me, even I avoid him when he’s in a bad mood."

"That does not help," she whispered sharply.

Axel smiled. He took her hand and brushed his thumb over her fingers.

"Eve... You don’t have to be afraid of him. No need to worry about how my father hated your last name. What’s important now is that you are part of the Knight..."

"I’m not afraid," she corrected him. "I’m... uneasy." She exhaled slowly. "I mean, your father and my dad. What if I say something wrong or do something wrong? Or—"

"Eve," Axel squeezed her hand gently. "You don’t have to talk to him. Well, he might not ask you anything, either."

She lifted her eyes to him, and the warmth she found in his gaze steadied her nervousness a little.

"What’s important is, my mother and grandparents already like you," he said. "And the rest will too. As for my father..." Axel paused, choosing his words carefully. "He will like you too once he meets you and sees that you’re different from your father."

Her chest tightened, not from fear, but with something warm and fragile. His last words give her hope. Perhaps in the future, Alexander Knight will accept her.

"And I’ll be with you the entire time," he added. "I’m not tossing you to the wolves and running away. If I’m busy there, your mother-in-law and grandma will be there, right?"

She nods softly. "But I prefer you. As long as you are on my side, I will be able to meet them..."

Axel smiled to reassure her before saying, "I’ll hold your hand the whole time, so you don’t need to worry about anything."

She turned her attention back to her dessert and took her time savoring each bite.

When she finally finished, she looked at him with a soft, eager smile and said, "Alright, I’m ready to meet them all..."

Axel’s smile turned warmer, softer, filled with something proud. "Thank you, Eve. They’re going to like you."

"That’s... optimistic."

"Realistic," he corrected. "You’re easy to love."

Her face heated instantly. "Axel—"

He leaned closer, brushing a kiss against her temple. "Too shy now? But brave enough to face my father?"

She punched his arm lightly, unable to stop herself from smiling. "Don’t tease me."

"I’m not teasing," he murmured. "I’m reminding you you’re stronger than you think."

Slowly, the knot in her chest loosened. She was still nervous. Of course, she was. Meeting Alexander Knight was no small thing.

But she wasn’t alone. Axel would be right beside her.

They continued discussing the necessary preparations for Maxime’s funeral, about the guest list, the security arrangements, and even the clothes Evelyn should wear.

Axel insisted she wear something comfortable. Evelyn insisted she could handle heels. Axel gave her a look that silently said, "Absolutely not!"

And of course, Evelyn pretended not to see it.

By the time they returned to their bedroom, both of them were mentally drained.

Evelyn slipped under the blanket first, snuggling into the warmth.

Axel joined her a moment later and immediately wrapped himself around her like a very possessive, very muscular octopus. She let him, resting her cheek against his chest.

Just as she felt sleep tug at her, something jolted her memory. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Her eyes opened.

’Grayenfall...’

She shifted slightly, trying to turn and face him. Instead, Axel tightened his hold.

"What? Why don’t you sleep?" he asked, instantly alert. "Are you still hungry? Want me to bring you some snacks?"

She stared at him, offended. "No. Why do you always assume that?"