Chapter 46: You Took My Breath Away
Axel’s gaze stayed fixed on hers, steady and calm.
"You mean I interrupted your beauty sleep?" Before she could explode, he added quickly, "I’m really sorry. I promise I’ll remember next time."
Evelyn opened her mouth but then closed it again, completely speechless.
He continued to make her less angry, "Don’t worry, I didn’t disturb his sleep... My chef cooked everything downstairs and just delivered it here. And I know he is already awake..."
Evelyn narrowed her gaze on him. But, inwardly, she was torn between strangling him and scolding him.
"Don’t be upset. I just hope you can take it a bit easier today. This is your special day, after all!"
It was amusing to watch him, Axel Knight, try to lessen her anger. She wasn’t completely mad at him, but she didn’t like how he did something before consulting her first.
"Unbelievable. Only you would turn my apartment into a five-star hotel."
A corner of his lips curved again when he saw her finally smile. "You’re welcome, Evelyn."
Evelyn didn’t want to say another word to Axel. If she opened her mouth, she’d either choke on sarcasm or throw her fork across the room. Neither felt like a good option before breakfast.
So instead, she kept her eyes on her plate, poking her food as if it might reveal the meaning of life.
But just as she gathered the nerve to check on Oliver, his little voice rang out from his bedroom.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Both Evelyn and Axel turned at once.
Axel’s face softened instantly, his sharp features melting into something warmer, almost boyish. The way his eyes lit up, it wasn’t fair how easily he could shift from a terrifying billionaire to a doting father in a single heartbeat.
But Evelyn’s reaction was entirely the opposite. Her eyes widened, and her fork clattered against her plate as Oliver toddled into view.
She blinked a few times.
’Oh no. Oh, absolutely not...’
Her three-year-old son wasn’t in his pajamas anymore. He wasn’t even in his little dinosaur T-shirt. No, Oliver stood there in a miniature Axel Knight—tailored suit, tiny bow tie, and a white sneaker. He looked like a little gentleman.
And worse? He looked insanely gorgeous.
For a moment, Evelyn gasped.
Her brain seems to scream between: ’Aww...my little baby will break so many hearts in the future...’ And, ’What in the world did Axel do this time? Why did he buy Oliver this suit without telling me?’
Oliver walked right up to her, his little steps proud yet hesitant. When his small hand slipped into hers, she finally snapped out of her daze.
"Mommy..." His sweet voice wobbled as he looked up at her. "Why... Why are you not saying anything? Do I look ugly in this...?"
Evelyn was shocked. Her baby’s big hazel eyes, shining one second ago, were dimming right in front of her. He fidgeted with his suit as if he wanted to take it off.
Before Evelyn could get a word out, Oliver’s lips trembled with another worried word. "Daddy, I told you... Mommy must not like me wearing this. I don’t have this kind of..."
"No. No, sweetheart...!" Evelyn interrupted him quickly, her voice firm, desperate. She cupped his soft cheeks between her palms and forced his gaze up to hers.
"But... But why aren’t you saying anything, Mom?" His eyes stay fixed on her, making her heart tighten.
"Baby, I’m not quiet because I don’t like it. I’m quiet because... I’m shocked. You’re too handsome, Oliver. You took my breath away. For a moment, I feel like I’m mesmerized..." She genuinely answers.
"Really, mom?"
"Really. I thought I was dreaming. For a second, I didn’t even recognize you. You look so handsome like a prince..."
The light returned to his eyes instantly, brighter than the sun. His grin stretched ear to ear. "Handsome? Like Daddy?"
And of course, Axel seized the opening. He leaned forward, smirking. "See, buddy? I told you. Mommy loves it. You’re handsome. Just like me."
Evelyn’s head snapped toward him, her expression deadly calm, but her glare shouted, "Mister, you and I are going to have a NICE talk later. How could you plan this without telling me?"
Axel, wise enough to read the warning signs, raised his hands in surrender and busied himself pulling out Oliver’s chair.
Without saying another word, he helped their son take off his suit and carried him to his seat. Then he started cutting food for Oliver, looking as if he had been feeding toddlers his whole life.
Evelyn, meanwhile, sat there trying to collect the shreds of her sanity, between Oliver’s cuteness and Axel, who drives her insane enough to make her blood pressure hit dangerous levels.
Still, once her son began happily munching his breakfast, humming between bites, the tension in her chest eased.
The three of them settled into a surprisingly comfortable rhythm.
Axel concentrated on making sure Oliver ate without spilling half his plate or getting his shirt dirty.
Oliver chattered about how the mini suit made him feel like a charming prince.
Evelyn just kept sipping her latte, pretending she wasn’t secretly charmed by the whole scene.
When breakfast finally finished, Oliver hopped off his chair, then he clutched his suit as though afraid it might vanish.
Axel excused himself to tidy the plates, because apparently, he was full of surprises today.
Evelyn slipped away toward her room. Her heart was racing again. This time, not because of Oliver’s cuteness, but because of the day itself.
Today wasn’t just another morning. Today, her life will change forever.
She glanced at herself in the mirror and was surprised to see her face slightly turn pale and nervous.
"Get a grip, Evelyn," she muttered at her reflection. A forced smile shaped her face as she said, "You’re not going to war. You’re just... marrying Axel Knight. No big deal."
The sarcasm in her voice made her chuckle softly.
"Yeah, right. No big deal. Just the man who drives me insane almost daily happens to be absolutely gorgeous and so rich he could probably buy this whole town just for fun. Totally casual..."
She turned her eyes to the bed. Her mind was confused as she looked at the shopping bag Axel gave her last night.
"Should I?"