The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn and Axel) novel Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Remove Your Hands!

Axel gave Jackson a cool look. "Careful. You sound bitter."

Jackson coughed. "I am bitter." His gaze slowly shifted to Dylan, eyes narrowing. "What about you?"

Dylan blinked. "What about me?"

"Don’t tell me you can’t join either," Jackson said. "I already booked my family villa. Ocean view. Drinks. Lots of Premium beef. Barbecue. Fireworks. All the works."

Dylan froze. Plans with Stella immediately surfaced, overwhelming his mind. Quiet dinner on the balcony, while romantically looking at each other. Fireworks in the background. Their first New Year together. The thought alone made his chest tighten with rarely known joy.

"No. I absolutely can’t! I can’t and won’t join you guys! Sorry!" But the words refused to come out of his mind to his mouth.

He simply stared at them, mouth opening slightly before closing again. His silence spoke louder than any confession.

Jackson stared back. Then his shoulders slumped. "Unbelievable."

Collins laughed dryly. "So that’s how it is now."

Jackson pointed between Axel and Dylan. "You both follow the same path. Marriage. Dating. Responsibility." He shook his head dramatically. "You’re no fun anymore."

Dylan finally found his voice. "I resent that."

"You resent nothing," Jackson said. "You just don’t want to admit you’ve changed."

Collins patted Jackson’s shoulder. "Relax, man. We’ll celebrate with the others."

"Yes," Jackson muttered. "The single, the heartbroken, and the emotionally unavailable."

Axel stood, straightening his suit jacket. "Alright. Enough complaining."

All eyes turned to him.

"Let’s go to lunch," he said simply. "I’m hungry."

Collins was instantly on his feet. "Finally. I thought you’d never say that."

Jackson grinned. "Food fixes everything."

Dylan followed silently, still dreading the conversation he knew awaited him later. His relationship with Stella was exposed.

As they exited the office, Axel’s lips curved slightly. He already knew one thing for certain. Keeping secrets from his wife was going to be impossible.

...

Double Seven Club.

The lunch at Double Seven Club stretched longer than expected, mostly because no one seemed willing to let Axel leave without making a scene about it.

Inside the private VIP room, the atmosphere was loud, relaxed, and filled with the comfortable chaos of men who had known each other for far too long.

Plates were mostly cleared, wine glasses half-full, and laughter echoed against the dark wooden walls.

"So this is it," Jackson said dramatically, leaning back in his chair and raising his glass. "Our last lunch of the year. December thirtieth. A historic moment."

"Historic for you, maybe," Collins scoffed. "You’ll forget about it tomorrow after your third drink."

Jackson ignored him and turned to Axel instead. "You know, Knight, this is officially the first New Year you’re ditching us for family."

Axel calmly wiped his hands with a napkin and stood. "I’m not ditching anyone."

Dylan smirked. "You are. You just upgraded."

"From us to a wife and kid," Collins added, grinning. "That’s a serious upgrade."

Jackson sighed exaggeratedly. "Marriage really does steal good men from society."

Axel shot him a flat look. "You say that like society benefited from you."

Once more, laughter erupted around the table.

"Alright, alright," Jackson raised both hands. "No offense. But seriously—" He lifted his glass again. "Happy New Year, Axel. May your son sleep through the fireworks, and may your wife forgive you for whatever you inevitably mess up."

Collins clinked his glass against Jackson’s. "And may you finally stop glaring at people in public places."

He walked with steady, unhurried steps, his mind already shifting away from business and friends toward home. Toward Evelyn. Toward Oliver. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

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