The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Happy Birthday, Oliver!

Martha turned to Evelyn, grinning like a child caught red-handed.

They both burst into laughter as Evelyn walked over to hug her warmly.

"It’s so good to see you again, Aunty Martha..." she said softly. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Oh, sweetheart," Martha replied, brushing Evelyn’s hair affectionately. "You look beautiful, and this little one is growing faster than weeds after the rain. I swear, I just saw him not long ago, and now he’s practically a young man. A handsome one."

Evelyn smiled fondly. "You mean a young chaos maker machine."

Oliver puffed out his chest proudly. "I’m four now, Granny, Mommy. I’m not chaos. I’ve grown up. I know how to behave, even though sometimes it’s boring."

After a few more laughs, Evelyn introduced Martha to the rest of the family and guests, making sure everyone felt comfortable.

Martha, as always, charmed the room effortlessly. Within minutes, she was chatting with Eleanor and teasing Axel’s grandfather as if they’d known each other for years.

...

Soon enough, they all move to the birthday venue since the living room doesn’t have enough space to gather everyone.

The long dining table gleamed beneath the golden afternoon light spilling through the high glass windows.

Everyone had found their seats, though not necessarily where the host expected them to be. Axel’s grandparents sat close to Aunt Martha and Alicia.

Evelyn noticed how naturally the generations mixed... elders on one side, younger guests and business friends on the other.

Axel had placed himself beside her. At the same time, their son, the birthday boy Oliver, sat excitedly and proudly at the head of the table, his small legs dangling off the chair.

He looked entirely too VIP for a four-year-old, as if he were aware of the authority nuances of sitting at the head of the table.

Across from him sat Oscar, Joseph, and Jackson Axel’s close friends and trusted allies, each bringing their own flavor to the table.

Conversations overlapped, laughter rolled, and occasionally, a curious silence fell when Oliver spoke.

"So I got a horse, and its name is Cloud..." Oliver announced with a proud smile.

He continued with his innocent-serious tone, "And the pony is Browny. Browny’s faster, but Cloud is taller. You can see the picture over there..." He pointed out the decor in the corner.

The other smiled, hearing his serious tone.

Even Axel’s grandparents smiled warmly.

Aunt Martha teased, "So which one do you love more, sweetheart?"

Oliver frowned in concentration.

"Both. But Browny listens better. Cloud’s a bit...serious. Like Daddy."

That made the whole table laugh.

Axel shook his head with a small smile, pretending to be deeply offended while Evelyn bit her lip to hold back her laughter.

Jackson leaned toward Oscar, whispering just loud enough for Axel to hear, "Looks like the kid already understands his father’s personality."

Oscar chuckled. "Sharp boy. Got it from his mother, I bet."

Axel’s only response was a wry smirk before he took a sip of his wine.

The chatter softened as the servers began to move around the room, bringing in the dishes... steaming plates of roasted beef, buttered vegetables, and warm rolls.

Once everything was placed neatly, Axel stood, lightly tapping his glass with a spoon.

The sound drew the room to silence.

Evelyn helped Oliver cut his steak into smaller bites while Axel poured juice into his glass.

Across the table, Axel’s grandmother smiled fondly. "He’s such a bright child, Evelyn. You must be proud."

"I am," Evelyn said softly. "He started reading when he was three. He loves horses, and now he’s obsessed with music. He insists on playing the piano every day."

For a moment, everything felt perfectly balanced, light, warm, and full of unspoken affection.

Oliver’s laughter carried through the room, and even the older guests couldn’t stop smiling.

When the meal drew to a close, servants began clearing the plates while coffee and dessert were served.

The elders—Axel’s grandparents, Aunt Martha, Alicia, and Stella—slowly made their way back to the living room. Oliver followed, proudly carrying a slice of cake for his great-grandmother.

Evelyn lingered behind for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the table.

She saw that Axel had now joined his friends; he was still deep in conversation with Dylan and a man she had never seen before.

The three of them were discussing something that seemed very serious. There was that quiet intensity and sternness in Axel’s eyes again.

Evelyn sighed softly. She didn’t want to interrupt, so she decided to join the others in the living room.

But before Evelyn could take a step, Joseph called her. "Evelyn, wait a second."

She turned.

Joseph was approaching, his expression serious but polite. "Can we talk for a moment? Just the two of us."

"Now?" She asked. Hesitated.

"Yes. It won’t take long," he assured her.