The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn and Axel) novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374: Final Farewell

The lawyer’s pen made the final stroke, and the sound felt louder than it should have in the small wardroom.

With that signature, the transfer of Samuel Walters’s shares was complete. Evelyn Knight was now the official CEO of Walters Group.

Joseph Carter stood beside the attorney as a witness, his expression calm and composed. Still, his eyes carried quiet respect for the old man in the bed.

Once the documents were collected and sealed, Joseph bowed slightly to Samuel. "Chairman Walters. Everything is finalized. On behalf of the board, I promise to support Mrs. Knight in every way."

Samuel gave a faint nod. "I know you will. Thank you for your hard work as the acting CEO over the last few months, Joseph."

The attorney offered his farewell, too, his voice gentle, then excused himself. Joseph followed, closing the door behind them.

Silence fell again.

Not the ordinary kind, but the heavy, suffocating kind that pressed against everyone’s chest.

Samuel lay back against the raised pillows, his breathing shallow, his skin pale against the white sheets.

Lucy sat beside him, holding his hand as if worrying that letting go of his hand would cause him to vanish. Their children stood nearby, quiet and helpless.

Axel remained beside Evelyn, his grip steady around her fingers.

Minutes passed.

No one spoke.

Finally, Lucy wiped her damp eyes and forced herself to inhale. "Everyone... please leave. He needs to rest."

No one argued. They knew better.

Norah kissed Samuel’s forehead.

Jason murmured a soft goodbye.

William lingered for half a second longer, guilt flickering across his face, then turned away without saying a word.

Soon, only Evelyn remained.

She stepped closer to the bed, her heart beating unevenly. Saying goodbye felt like surrendering him to something she could not fight. But she also knew that if she didn’t say the words now, she might never get the chance again.

"Grandpa..." Her voice was small.

Samuel opened his eyes slowly, the corners softening when he saw her. "My Eve."

She leaned down and wrapped her arms around him carefully, as if he might break in her embrace. His body was frail, but the warmth of him was still there, still real.

"Grandpa, thank you for everything," she whispered. "For protecting me. For believing in me. I promise you, I will never let you down."

Her chest tightened as she spoke. When she pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, tears were already gathering.

Samuel held both her hands, his touch trembling but sure. "Good girl," he said softly. "Good girl..."

His smile was weak but full of love. "Eve... please bring Oliver to meet me tomorrow."

"Jo? You’re still here?" Evelyn asked, surprised. "I thought you left with the lawyer."

"Yeah, well... I did. Then I realized I actually needed to talk to the newly crowned CEO before she vanished into the night," he said lightly, stopping in front of her. Then his gaze flicked to Axel. "Can I speak with her for a bit?"

Axel hesitated, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Still, he nodded. "Sure."

He stepped aside just far enough to give them privacy, but not far enough to stop watching. His protective aura followed Evelyn like a shadow.

As soon as Axel moved away, Joseph turned fully to her, his teasing expression softening. "Eve... I’m sorry for what happened to you."

Evelyn offered a small knowing smile. "So you know I’m injured?"

Joseph lifted a brow. "It’s obvious," he said bluntly. "You walk like a snail on a coffee break."

A reluctant laugh escaped her. The sound felt strange after everything that had happened tonight, but somehow comforting.

"Alright," Evelyn said, glancing at her digital watch. "It’s almost midnight. What did you want to talk about?"

Joseph’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. "The company. When will you start?"

Evelyn released a quiet sigh. This was the question she had been trying not to think about. Her grandfather had just handed her all his company shares, and yet all she wanted right now was a quiet life. Her son. Her secret data analyst work. Peace at home.

She looked at Joseph. "I hope you’ll continue as acting CEO, Jo. I can’t take over yet. I’m still injured, and it might take months before I fully heal."

Joseph’s eyes widened as he scanned her from head to toe. "That severe?"