The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Natalie Martinez

The blonde woman immediately countered. "Twenty-five thousand."

"Thirty," Axel said without hesitation.

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around his hand under the table. "Stop it. That’s too much for a painting."

He didn’t look at her. "It’s okay. The money is for charity."

"Charity doesn’t mean you have to throw so much money."

"I don’t mind throwing money, or even burning it, if it means I can make you happily smile."

She blinked, utterly speechless. "Axel, that’s not..."

The blonde’s voice rang out again. "Forty thousand!"

The crowd gasped, excitement buzzing through the air.

Axel calmly lifted his paddle. "One hundred thousand!"

Jackson blinked.

Joseph gasped.

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise, "You’re not serious?"

He finally looked at her, eyes glinting with amusement. "I’m very serious."

The blonde woman hesitated this time, her lips tightening.

Joseph leaned slightly toward Evelyn and whispered, "That’s Natalie Martinez, CEO of M Clubs."

’Natalie Martinez?’ Evelyn silently sighs. That explains the tension in the air. The tabloids loved speculating about her... and even more about the men she pursued. ’This woman must be one of Axel’s die-hard fans...!’

The auctioneer called out, "One hundred thousand going once... going twice..."

Evelyn held her breath, silently praying Natalie would give up.

And then... silence.

"Sold! To Mr. Axel Knight!"

Applause erupted around them.

Evelyn exhaled slowly, forcing a polite smile, though inside, she wanted to scold him. Wasting so much money on a painting she only admired briefly.

Axel leaned close, "My love, anything else you want?"

She turned to him, whispering sharply, "You just spent one hundred thousand dollars on a painting I didn’t even ask for."

"I didn’t buy it for the painting," he said. "I bought it because you liked it."

Jackson, who sat beside Axel, couldn’t help but join them, "I’m starting to feel single just watching you two."

Joseph tried not to laugh but failed miserably. "I’ll make sure to hang that painting in the Walters Group lobby, sir. It’ll remind everyone of your... generosity."

Evelyn shot him a fierce look. "Don’t you dare, Jo! That painting will stay in my home office!"

Axel chuckled, utterly unfazed by the chaos he’d caused.

But, under the table, he squeezed her hand again, his thumb brushing her skin lightly. He feels proud to buy something for her.

...

The charity auction continued.

Filled with laughter, polite applause, and the occasional gasp when the bidding prices soared higher than anyone expected.

Evelyn had learned her lesson after the whole painting incident.

Guests turned, whispering as he strode through the crowd with that calm authority that made him impossible to ignore.

Flashbulbs flickered discreetly near the door, and even the MC stuttered mid-sentence.

Evelyn exhaled once he was gone. "Finally."

Jackson smirked. "You know, every time that man walks into a room, the air changes."

Joseph nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and when he leaves, people start breathing again."

She chuckled. "Let’s hope they forget I was sitting beside him."

The three of them stayed until the event officially came to a close.

They chatted politely with acquaintances, exchanged business cards, and thanked the organizers.

Evelyn managed to smile and keep her composure, even when she overheard a few curious whispers about her and Axel Knight.

But just as they were about to leave, someone stepped into her path.

"Miss Evelyn Walters, right?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Evelyn turned and found herself face-to-face with Natalie Martinez. Up close, the woman looked stunning; long blonde hair cascading over one shoulder, her smile perfectly measured, her voice sweet.

However, there was no mistaking the irritation simmering beneath that elegant exterior.

"Yes?" Evelyn replied, confused by the sudden confrontation. She was sure this was the first time they had ever met. The Walters Group had never done business with M Clubs.

Natalie’s polite expression didn’t reach her eyes. "Can we talk? Just for a minute?"

Her tone was pleasant, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. Evelyn could tell exactly where this was going.

Joseph immediately stepped forward, his voice protective. "Eve, let me—"