The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover-Chapter 412: What Happened That Night? (1)

The Valley.

On the final day of December, the valley carried a quiet, almost magical stillness.

Snow blanketed the landscape in an endless expanse of white, softening the world’s sharp edges and wrapping the estate in a peaceful hush.

The lake beyond the towering glass windows shimmered under the pale winter sun, its surface reflecting light like polished silver.

Inside, however, warmth and life filled the Knight residence.

Ethan had finally arrived.

Evelyn stood near the living room window, her eyes following the scene unfolding before her with undisguised joy.

Martha, whose composure had remained impressively steady throughout the morning, now looked entirely transformed. The moment she saw Ethan stepping through the doorway, years of quiet restraint shattered into raw emotion.

Even though Ethan possessed no memories of his mother, something unspoken had passed between them. Recognition without recollection. Connection without history.

Evelyn felt her chest tighten as she watched Martha gently take Ethan’s hand, her fingers trembling despite her radiant smile.

Ethan’s expression, though calm, betrayed a storm of mixed emotions. There was curiosity, confusion, and hesitation, but beneath it all, an unmistakable flicker of something deeper; sadness and happiness mixed together.

"I’m so happy for Aunt Martha," Evelyn whispered softly, leaning closer to Axel as they stood side by side. Her gaze remained fixed on Martha, leading Ethan toward the guest bedroom. "For Ethan, too..."

Axel nodded slowly, his usually sharp features softened. "Hm. I feel that too. That big guy really has a hard life."

He glanced at Evelyn before gently turning her to face him.

"I know, right?" Evelyn agreed, her voice warm yet tinged with sympathy. "They both have a hard life. But now, everything has a happy ending for them."

Axel studied her face for a moment, his thumb brushing lightly against her hand.

"They need a private moment to talk," he murmured. "Let’s have our private moment, too—"

His voice trailed off as his eyes swept across the living room. Then he frowned. "...Where’s our little boss?"

Evelyn blinked faintly before glancing toward the massive glass window facing the snowy backyard.

"He’s with Jimmy and Laura," she replied. "Well, I assume they’re in the stables by now."

Axel followed her gaze, attempting to spot Oliver’s tiny figure racing across the snow. Seeing nothing but an untouched white landscape, he chuckled lightly.

"I can’t believe my son is this active in winter."

Evelyn laughed softly.

"Well, don’t blame him. There isn’t nearly as much snow in Willowcrest. This place is basically his personal wonderland."

Axel shook his head with amusement. "He definitely inherited your energy."

"That is absolutely untrue."

Axel raised a brow.

"Hubby, you dragged me out into the snow a few days ago."

He playfully said, "Well, dear, that was romantic."

"That was freezing." Evelyn protests.

"You survived."

"Barely."

Their playful exchange dissolved into comfortable laughter, the lightness between them as natural as breathing. Yet the warmth shifted abruptly when Axel’s expression subtly changed.

The humor faded. Replaced by something quieter. More serious. He tightened his grip on her hand.

"Eve, let’s chat inside my office."

The sudden shift in tone instantly tightened something inside Evelyn’s chest.

See her say nothing. He continued. "There’s something we need to talk about."

Her heart skipped. Then began pounding loudly.

Despite her outward composure, Evelyn’s mind immediately returned to their conversation from the previous day: Harper Cooper and her absurd claim.

Still, she nodded. Because running from tension had never been her style.

Axel guided her into his office, the door closing softly behind them.

Evelyn settled onto the couch.

However, Axel did not immediately sit beside her. Instead, he turned slightly. "Do you want something to drink?" he offered.

Evelyn blinked, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected offer.

She shook her head with a weak smile. "Hubby, are you worried I might faint from hearing what you want to say?"

Axel smiled faintly before his expression shifted once more. Seriousness returned as he settled beside her.

"Eve," he began slowly, "I wanted to ask you something."

Evelyn’s pulse quickened in anticipation of the matter he wanted to discuss.

"How much do you remember about the gala dinner at Imperial Hotels years ago?"

The question struck her like a sudden gust of cold air.

Instantly, her teasing smile vanished.

That night. That unforgettable, life-altering night.

Fragments of memory stirred in her mind, wrapped in haze, confusion, and emotions she had kept in her heart.

"Why..." Evelyn asked softly, her brows drawing together. "Why are you asking about it again?"

Her eyes searched his gaze and found tension.

Axel leaned in closer, resting his hand gently against her cheek. "Why is my wife looking tense?"

His touch was warm. Yet the question itself unsettled her.

"We already talked about that night," Evelyn replied quietly. "When I ended up in your hotel room, I didn’t remember much about it. Only fragments."

Her voice carried honesty, tinged with lingering vulnerability. "To be honest to you, I only remember waking up the next morning."

Axel listened silently.

Evelyn continued, recounting the memories she had held onto over the years. The confusion of waking in an unfamiliar room. The shock. The panic. Then she returned home and her father’s fury.

"I was supposed to go indoor golfing with my father that day," she said, shaking her head faintly. "He wanted me to meet someone."

Axel’s brow furrowed slightly, "I know that."

Evelyn paused. Confusion flickered across her face. For several seconds, she simply stared at him.

Then asked softly, "But why bring it up now?"

Axel’s fingers moved absently through her smooth hair, his touch calm, yet his gaze thoughtful.

"What I’m trying to ask is," he said carefully, "what happened that night before we ended up in my hotel room."

Evelyn blinked.

Silence filled the room.

Her mind instinctively reached backward, sifting through blurred recollections.

"I..." she murmured slowly.

Axel waited.

Evelyn closed her eyes briefly, concentrating.

"I attended the gala because of the company," she began. "Joseph accompanied me. He was representing the Walters Group."

Axel’s jaw tightened just a bit when Joseph was mentioned.