The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 333

Chapter 333: How Are You Holding Up?

A knock on the door made Axel lift his head instantly.

For a fleeting second, hope flared. He expected to hear the calm voice of medical staff, perhaps announcing that Evelyn had been moved to the room, that he could finally see her properly, touch her hand, and reassure himself she was truly here.

Instead, a familiar voice came from the other side.

"Boss, it’s me, Dylan. May I come in?"

His hope vanished as quickly as it came.

"Come in," Axel said, already lowering his gaze back to the iPad resting on his knee.

The door opened softly.

Dylan stepped inside and closed it behind him, his expression solemn. Axel didn’t look up. His fingers moved steadily across the screen as he read through messages from Collins.

Lines of encrypted text detailed timelines, suspicious vehicles, and partial leads. The mastermind behind Evelyn’s accident was still out there, hiding in the shadows, waiting.

That alone was enough to keep Axel’s nerves stretched tight.

"Axel," Dylan said, not as a secretary, but as his closest friend. "I’m really sorry for your loss."

Axel’s hand paused for half a second before continuing to scroll.

"Thank you, Dylan," he replied faintly. He gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Sit."

Dylan did, though he didn’t relax.

"There’s something you need to know," Dylan said carefully.

That made Axel look up.

He didn’t speak. He simply raised his eyes, granting permission.

"Stella is here," Dylan said. "She knows about Evelyn’s injury."

Axel’s expression shifted. His brows drew together slightly, surprise flickering across his face before disappearing just as quickly.

Dylan swallowed. He knew that look. Calm from Axel wasn’t reassurance. It was dangerous.

"I’m sorry, boss," Dylan continued quickly. "I couldn’t avoid it. She saw me when I entered the VIP wing. She figured it out immediately."

Silence followed.

Axel didn’t react right away. He lowered his gaze again, staring at the iPad without actually reading.

The seconds stretched, each one tightening the knot in Dylan’s chest.

’He’s thinking,’ Dylan realized grimly. And when Axel thinks like this, someone usually regrets it. He could only express his emotion in his mind, ’Dang it! Today is really my unlucky day.’

After a short moment, finally, Axel moved. He set the iPad aside on the table and leaned back slightly, folding his hands together.

"It’s fine," Axel said calmly. "You don’t need to burden yourself with it."

Dylan blinked, surprised by his boss’s calm reaction.

"It... is?"

"Yes." Axel exhaled slowly. "Sooner or later, my sister-in-law and the rest of the family would find out. She works at this hospital. Keeping it from her forever was unrealistic." He paused. "Where is she now?"

Dylan released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"She’s in Oliver’s room. She decided to wait there until the lady boss wakes up."

Axel nodded softly. "That’s good. At least Oliver won’t be alone when he wakes up tomorrow."

There was a brief pause before Axel added, "Did you bring the documents I asked for?"

"Yes, boss." Dylan reached into his bag, pulled out a neatly organized folder, and handed it over.

"I’ll pass along the message. He won’t be happy."

"He doesn’t need to be happy," Axel replied coolly. "He needs to be alive."

The room fell quiet again.

Dylan studied Axel for a moment, then spoke more softly. He stood from his seat and, standing beside him, asked, "How are you holding up?"

Axel didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted to the door, as if he could see Evelyn through it. Tubes. Machines. A stillness that terrified him more than any enemy ever had.

"I’m functioning," Axel said at last.

Dylan faintly smiled, "That wasn’t the question."

Axel glanced back at him. "Then don’t ask questions you don’t want honest answers to."

Dylan laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "Still terrifying, even when you’re miserable."

"Especially when I’m miserable," Axel corrected.

They shared a brief, familiar silence, one built on years of friendship and unspoken understanding.

"I’ll leave you to it," Dylan said, standing. "Call me if you need anything. Anything at all."

Axel nodded. "Get some rest. You look worse than I feel."

Dylan scoffed. "Thank you, Boss." He smiled and left the room.

The door slowly closed and then clicked shut, before silence reclaimed the space.

Axel stood in his place, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His mind immediately returned to Evelyn. To Oliver, sleeping in the next room. To the enemy still lurking somewhere unseen.

He opened his eyes again, sharper now. There was no room for weakness. Not now.