Chapter 55: Are You Sure?
Evelyn smiled at Oliver, though her mind was anything but calm.
’Goodness, baby, I barely managed to forget your daddy for half a second, and now you remind me again?’
She reached over and stroked his soft hair, hoping he’d catch the silent plea hidden in her touch. "Honey, can we please drop the topic of your dad now? Mommy would really appreciate it."
Of course, subtle hints were wasted on her three-year-old son.
"Oh, yeah!" His eyes sparkled happily. "I also heard our house is done. We’re moving back to the fifth floor tonight, right, Mommy?"
Evelyn nearly fell out of her chair when she heard his words. How in the world did her child remember those things? Did Axel tell him details about it?
She forced a smile and responded carefully, "Hmm, yes, sweetheart. We’ll... move tonight if your daddy returns, of course."
He nodded, satisfied.
Before she could redirect the conversation, Martha, who had been watching the exchange with amused eyes, set her empty glass down.
"I also read the news this morning. Axel finally returned from his business trip. It means, he really will return tonight..."
Her gaze lingered on Evelyn a little too long, as though testing her reaction.
Evelyn swallowed hard, already preparing herself for what Martha was about to say.
"I hope he can stop by my house, Eve," Martha continued, smiling softly. "I’d like to meet him in person, not only talk over the phone."
Evelyn opened her mouth, searching for the safest possible answer, when Oliver jumped in like a tiny, overly eager spokesman.
"Don’t worry, Granny!" he said proudly, "I’ll ask Daddy to come here. And Granny cooked a delicious muffin for Daddy..."
Evelyn gasped, unable to believe her son said that before asking Axel.
"Oliver..."
But he wasn’t done just yet. He turned to Martha with a playful grin, saying, "Daddy will come, Granny... My daddy is the best, he always listens to me," he said happily before continuing to enjoy his muffin.
Martha chuckled behind her hand, clearly charmed.
Evelyn, meanwhile, wanted to sink straight through the floor. Her son had just made a promise on Axel Knight’s behalf, a man who didn’t even bother texting her unless it was to challenge her blood pressure.
She forced herself to smile, nodding politely toward Martha.
"Of course, Aunty. He’ll visit you soon."
The words came out with more confidence than she felt. Inside, her thoughts were a mess.
’Great, Eve. Smart move. Now you’ve got your very unpredictable husband headed to a social call he probably has no interest in making. Fantastic!’
Oliver grinned from ear to ear, thrilled with himself as he grabbed his last muffin on the plate.
Evelyn looked at him with a gentle smile, feeling a tender urge to pinch those adorable, chubby cheeks that reminded her so much of Axel’s when he was mischievously teasing her.
Martha was visibly touched upon seeing Oliver. She placed her hand over her heart.
"You’ve raised such a smart and thoughtful boy, Evelyn. Always caring for me, and he likes to eat too..."
"Mm-hmm, he is..." Evelyn answers with her best motherly smile.
As Martha kept talking about the new recipe she shared with Evelyn, Oliver suddenly distracted them again.
"Mommy, Granny... I’m done. Can I watch cartoons? I haven’t watched cartoons today, Mom..."
"Sure, dear..." Martha nods happily.
"You only have one hour, darling." Evelyn reminded him, she shook her head, looking at her son already running toward the living room.
"Aye, Mommy..."
"Such a cute little man," Martha can’t help but laugh.
"Honestly, he thinks watching cartoons is his full-time job..." Evelyn added while gathering plates from the table.
Martha chuckled, rising to help. "Better cartoons than running around the neighborhood causing trouble. Maybe... you were twice as naughty when you were his age, Eve."
"Of course not..." Evelyn shot back, carrying a stack of dishes into the small kitchen. "I was... a sweet and spirited little girl, Aunty."
"Spirited is just another word for trouble." Martha winked, slipping the leftover salad into a container.
They settled into a relaxed rhythm: Evelyn washed the dishes, Martha tidied the table, and their conversation wandered to lighter topics, celebrity gossip.
Martha wiped the dining table as she asked casually, "Did you hear about Tania Sweet? The singer?"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "The one who is dating the basketball player?"
"Yes, but it turns out she’s not dating him, but his younger brother," Martha spoke in her low tone, as if worried Oliver might overhear what they were talking about.
Evelyn burst out laughing, nearly dropping a slippery glass. "Oh my god, she is dating the guy five years younger than her? Are you sure about it?"
Martha smiled, "Hmm... It’s true. The article said they were spotted in Bali last week, having lunch at a restaurant by the rice fields."
"I still can’t believe she now dates her ex’s little bro?" Evelyn rolled her eyes. "This woman changes men like I change hair ties."
"And still manages to appear in public," Martha smirked, clearly enjoying Evelyn’s reaction. "Perhaps you should take notes."
"Well, Aunty... the only note I’m taking is never trust a man!"
Their laughter filled the kitchen.
For a rare moment, Evelyn forgot the constant pressure that seemed to follow her, Axel Knight.
Until a soft knock interrupted them.
A young barista poked her head through the door with a polite smile and said, "Excuse me, Ms. Evelyn... someone’s looking for you outside."
Evelyn blinked, her hands frozen in the air. "Someone looking for me?"
"Yes," the girl said. "He’s waiting at the cafe."
"Wait, are you sure he is looking at me? Not Aunty Martha?"
"Yes, ma’am...I’m sure. I hear it clearly..." The staff smile.
Martha glanced at Evelyn with a smile.
"You’re quite popular today, Eve."
Evelyn quickly dried her hands. "Probably just a delivery or... something," she casually said.
But later, Evelyn thinks that something is out of place because she didn’t order anything in the last few days.
Still, she quickly excused herself to Martha and headed to the cafe. The moment she entered the cafe, she froze.