The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 329

Chapter 329: A Car Accident?

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

The question snapped Axel out of his thoughts.

He looked down and found Oliver staring at him with knitted brows and far too observant eyes for a four-year-old.

Axel inhaled quietly and forced a smile, one he had perfected over the years but hated using on his son.

’I can’t hide anything from you, bud...’

"I’m not crying," Axel said as he rose from his seat. He reached out and took Oliver’s small hand, helping him to his feet.

Oliver’s fingers wrapped tightly around his before he asked again, "But your eyes look red, Daddy." he tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. He tried to peer closer, but Axel turned just in time to avoid his gaze.

"Come on," Axel said lightly. "Let’s go to my bedroom. There’s something I need to tell you."

Without waiting for questions, he scooped Oliver into his arms and carried him.

Oliver rested his head against Axel’s shoulder, unusually quiet, his little hand gripping the collar of Axel’s shirt.

Inside the master bedroom, Axel set him down gently and guided him to the seating area near the window.

Then he sat beside his son, knees touching and hands folded as if to steady himself.

"Dad, are we in trouble?" Oliver’s innocent question was enough to ease Axel’s mind.

"No, buddy. No one’s in trouble..." He hesitated, then spoke carefully. "My son, Mommy, had a car accident."

Oliver froze.

"A... car accident?" he repeated slowly, his eyes widening. "Like when Uncle Danny bumped the trash bin?"

Axel almost laughed. Almost.

"Hmm. Yeah, something like that," he said gently. "But bigger. This is a real car accident..."

Oliver’s lips pressed together. His eyes began to shine, but he stubbornly blinked, refusing to let the tears fall. "Did the car say sorry to Mommy?"

Axel swallowed hard. "I don’t think it did."

"That’s rude," Oliver said seriously. "Cars should say sorry...Right, daddy?"

Axel nodded. "I agree."

"So... so, Mommy, in pain?" His voice trembled.

"Hmm... She’s in the hospital now," Axel said softly. "The doctors are helping her get better. That’s why we’re going to stay there for a while, okay? Until Mommy is healthy again."

Oliver stared at his feet, then looked up.

"Can I see her?"

"Yes," Axel answered immediately. "We’ll see her."

"Can I bring her my dinosaur? My book? I want to read a book for her..." Oliver asked.

"I think Mommy would like that very much," Axel answered, relieved that his son did not seem shocked or frightened. His son handles the terrible news far better than he does.

However, Axel’s relief faded when Oliver asked, "Daddy, how did Mommy get into the accident?"

Axel hesitated for a split second before smoothing his expression. "Mommy was unlucky," he said simply.

Oliver frowned.

"Unlucky, like when I drop my ice cream?"

"...Yes," Axel replied, his voice thick. "Very unlucky."

Oliver nodded solemnly, accepting the explanation without question. "Then, when we meet her in the hospital, I will tell her to be more careful."

Axel smiled, warmth and pain twisting together in his chest. He wrapped an arm around Oliver and pulled him close.

Oliver leaned into him, resting his head against Axel’s side.

"Daddy," he said quietly, "you can cry if you want. I won’t tell, mommy..."

Axel closed his eyes.

He held his son a little tighter and pressed a kiss to his hair, grateful for the small, fragile comfort only a four-year-old could give.

Still, he ate. Not much, but enough. David remained with him the entire time, discussing harmless topics, steering the conversation away from surgery clocks and worst-case scenarios.

It wasn’t distracting, exactly, but it was helping to ease Finley.

Once the plates were cleared, David stood.

"I’ll leave you now, sir. I need to check on the surgery arrangements personally."

"As if anyone would dare mishandle it under your watch," Finley said dryly.

David smiled. He said lightly, "Even so."

"Thank you, David, for your help..."

When the door finally closed behind him, Finley returned to the seating area, leaned back, and exhaled slowly.

The silence returned.

His worry remained heavy and constant, but at least he was alone with it now.

However,

Not long after, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Finley straightened, recognizing the voice immediately. It was Axel.

Anger flared sharply in his chest.

How dare he leave while Evelyn was fighting for her life?

The door opened.

Finley was about to scold Axel when a small figure entered the room and halted him immediately.

Big, familiar eyes met his.

"Oh, Grandpa Finley!" Oliver said happily, his voice innocent and cute. "You’re here too..."

Finley’s anger vanished instantly.