The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 319

Chapter 319: Accident

Saying goodbye turned out to be far more challenging than Evelyn expected.

Her great-grandmother would not let go of her hand. Emma held on as if every muscle, nerve, and bone in her hand recalled every person she had lost.

While her Great-grandfather Nicholas stood behind Emma, silent but stiff, his eyes glistening with an emotion Evelyn pretended not to see.

"You can stay a little longer," Emma pleaded. "Just a few more minutes."

"I’d love to, but it’s already late..." Evelyn smiled apologetically, squeezing her hand. "I promise, I will come back soon. Very soon."

Nicholas cleared his throat. "Call Axel, you can sleep here tonight. Bring Oliver. The boy should get used to our house."

Evelyn blinked. "You want Axel to come here? Tonight?"

Nicholas nodded firmly, as if summoning the man with sheer military will. "Yes. We have many rooms. The three of you can stay."

Evelyn had expected resistance from them, coldness or anger, maybe demands for explanations. Not invitations to family sleepovers. If this were not so heartbreaking, she might laugh.

She could see it in their eyes. The fear. The worry. The silent begging: "Oh, dear, do not disappear like Giselle did."

Luckily, Finley stepped in with his usual bright smile, placing an arm around his grandfather.

"She will come back, Grandpa. If she does not, I will drag her here myself." Finley winked at Evelyn, earning the older man’s reluctant chuckle.

Only then did they finally, finally, let her go.

Evelyn sank into her seat in the car and exhaled as the Morgan residence gate closed behind them.

The moment they turned onto the main road, she leaned back against the seat, her eyes staring at the scenery outside.

She had spent so many years imagining what it would be like. Meeting her mother’s family. Facing them. Knowing the truth. She never imagined being welcomed. She never imagined love waiting on the other side of grief.

’They did not hate my grandma,’ she thought, her chest warm. ’They missed her and love me too.’

For a few more minutes, Evelyn did not speak to Ryan. There was nothing to say.

And Ryan seemed to understand that she needed silence, needed to process everything. He simply focused on the road, his posture straight, alert as always.

Evelyn stared at the passing scenery, her mind still tangled in memories of her great-grandmother’s tears and her trembling voice.

She still felt surreal.

Like her heart was floating outside her body, trying to catch up to reality.

Delighted by the reunion, she completely forgot something.

Or rather, someone.

Her phone buzzed, and she blinked down at the screen.

"My wife, I miss you. Can you return home now?" From: Hubby

Her smile bloomed instantly. Her heart fluttered, making her reflexively want to hug her phone.

She pressed the call.

"Axel," she greeted, her voice bright again, "we already left the Morgan residence."

She could hear his exhale of relief, almost like a soft groan. "How was the meeting? Did anyone bully you?"

Evelyn laughed, leaning her head back. "Please. No one dares. They like me so much."

"Wow. Now I am worried. They might steal my wife."

"Do not worry," she teased. "I am too expensive to maintain. They will give up quickly."

He chuckled. She could imagine his smile, the curve of his lips, the warmth in his eyes.

"So, when will you arrive? I want to see you. I want to hold—"

A tree. A single tree, rooted into the ravine wall, had caught them. Hold them. The vehicle hung suspended, nose angled downward, creaking dangerously. A twenty-meter drop waited beneath them, jagged rocks like teeth.

Silence settled. Thick and terrifying.

Ryan groaned first.

Then he gasped, his voice shaking. "Madam, Madam, are you alright?" he asked as he tried to escape the airbag.

Evelyn tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. Everything hurts. Her head throbbed. Her face was sticky with blood. The seatbelt pinned her in place.

She heard Ryan struggling with his seatbelt. The car swayed. The tree groaned.

"Do not move so much," she whimpered, tears pricking her eyes. "Ryan, stop. If the tree breaks..."

"We will be alright," he said, forcing calm into his voice. "Just stay with me. I need to check on you."

He promptly unclicked his seatbelt, but with his injury, it was agonizing and slow. The car groaned again. Evelyn flinched.

"Ryan," she cried, her voice small and cracking. "Please..."

He braced himself, keeping his weight balanced, and turned to her.

Her hair fell forward like a dark curtain, only a glimpse of her trembling jaw visible. Ryan reached over and gently brushed her hair aside.

Blood streaked down her temple. A cut above her eyebrow dripped steadily. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Ma’am," he whispered, panic flashing across his face before he swallowed it down. "Look at me. Please."

She lifted her head. Tears streaked her cheeks. "It hurts," she said, her voice breaking. "I cannot move my arm."

"Do not try to move, Ma’am. Just breathe. We can do this." He inhaled sharply through his nose, forcing strength into his tone. "Ma’am, listen to me. We will get out of this. I swear it. But you must trust me."

She nodded. She could not speak. Only tears answered.