The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn and Axel) novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230: The Call He Didn’t Expect

While Evelyn welcomed their family in the living room, Axel stood alone in his study, the calm glow of late afternoon spilling across the floorboards.

He should have been in the living room greeting Evelyn’s family, but instead, he stood by the tall glass window, his reflection looking back at him, face composed but eyes sharp.

He had intended to ignore Ethan’s earlier message.

It was his birthday. He wanted one quiet evening centered only on his wife and son.

But Ethan never reached out unless something had truly gone wrong, and Axel knew better than to dismiss him.

After taking another deep sigh, he pulled the special phone from his desk drawer, the one with a single contact, and dialed without hesitation.

Ethan answered immediately. "Axel, I’m sorry to text you..."

"Why did you text me?"

There was a brief rustle on the other end of the line, as if Ethan was carefully choosing his following words.

"Something has been circulating in the underworld," Ethan began. "People are saying you married Evelyn Walters."

The pressure in Axel’s chest tightened instantly.

His entire body froze. He shut his eyes for a moment, jaw clenched.

He had taken every precaution to keep his marriage hidden for a while.

He wanted Evelyn untouched by the dark world, at least before the year changes.

Yet somehow, the truth had leaked.

"Explain," Axel said, forcing his voice low and steady.

"They have a picture of you and her," Ethan continued. "And it is not from the charity gala. It looks private, taken somewhere no cameras should have been."

Axel’s grip tightened so suddenly the phone creaked under pressure. His mind scanned every place he had brought Evelyn.

Every moment alone with her. Every corner where someone could have taken a photo.

Only one stood out.

The time when she visits his office.

He inhaled slowly, the calm on his face disguising the storm building beneath it.

"When did the rumor begin spreading?" Axel asked.

"This afternoon," Ethan replied. "And it is already considered reliable information. They are spreading it in underground groups."

Axel stared outside at the fading sky, the slow shift of colors reflecting the rising anger inside him.

"Ethan," Axel said, "send me the leaked picture."

"Sending now. Additionally, there are rumors that the Martinez family intends to use this picture to pressure Apex Holding. They are saying you are slipping. That you have become weak because of Evelyn."

Axel exhaled through his nose. Not in fear. In quiet fury.

"Axel, do you hear me?" Ethan asked again.

But Axel had already checked his phone screen.

The photo filled the display.

A snapshot taken from a dashboard. Evelyn was smiling softly at him, her head leaning slightly closer to him. He recognized the angle instantly.

Maxime’s car, from his dashboard.

He did not blink. He did not move. His anger was so cold it felt like ice spreading through his veins.

Ethan’s voice returned. "Axel, what is your instruction? Do you want me to track who leaked the picture?"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify