Chapter 316: The House That Felt Like Home

Evelyn watched as Finley slipped out quietly. She waited a second after the door shut behind him, then turned back to the elders.

The atmosphere had softened, wrapped in warmth and memory. The crackling fireplace was the only sound until Emma lifted a hand to dab her eyes.

“My dear,” Emma began gently, “we have waited so long for this moment. Please, tell us. How has your life been? Since Madison… since your mother…”

Evelyn inhaled slowly, her fingers twisting together in her lap.

“It was… alright. They raised me well.”

“Oh,” Emma whispered, her eyes widening with tender curiosity. “Your grandma must be the one who raised you?”

Evelyn looked down at her lap. “No. My grandmother, Giselle, passed away before I was born.” Her voice cracked. “I never had the chance to meet her.”

Emma was stunned. Her hands gripped the armrests of her wheelchair. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry, I thought you still met her…” Her eyes glistened with fresh tears.

Nicholas was also surprised to hear that, he asked, “Then your mother… Madison…”

Evelyn looked up with watery eyes. “I don’t have many memories of her either, because she fell ill. When I was six…” She paused, then managed to say, “She passed away.”

Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.

Even though they had already heard that Giselle and her daughter had died, this news still struck their hearts anew.

Emma lifted her hand to her mouth again. Nicholas closed his eyes, breathing through the ache that cracked across his expression. Even Theodor, seated rigidly nearby, lowered his gaze.

“I am so sorry,” Emma breathed. “Our little Madison. She suffered so much. And you…” She reached out, palm trembling. “You carried the weight of everything she left behind.”

Evelyn moved her hand forward and rested it atop Emma’s gently.

“It’s all right, Great-grandma. I’m okay now. Truly, I’m fine…” She attempted to sound calm, but her trembling voice betrayed her.

Nicholas opened his eyes, sharp and pained. “What happened after? Who looked after you?”

Evelyn exhaled. “After a few months, my father remarried. Luckily, my stepmother is kind to me, and I have a little sister now.”

Emma gasped in shock, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

“Your father remarried? That quickly?” she asked, instinctively glancing at Theodor, who simply nodded, his eyes still fixed on the floor.

“Yes,” Evelyn replied quietly. “I was six when he remarried. My stepmother treated me politely, but I grew up learning to survive because of my father… Ugh, those are all in the past now. I’m alright now…”

Nicholas’ brow knitted in concern. “Eve, I hope you are fine now.”

Emma squeezed Evelyn’s hand. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Evelyn smiled at them, even though she inwardly wished she could avoid discussing her past further, lest her great-grandparents discover how villainous William Walters truly is.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You do not need to worry. The past is done. I came here because I want to move forward.”

Nicholas straightened his back. “Yes… Yes… You’re right. But, Eve, my dear, remember—you are now part of our family. We will never let you face things alone again.”

Theodor finally spoke, his voice steady. “Mother, Father, Evelyn did well. She grew in the world without us, and she did not break.”

Emma turned to Evelyn with a soft, shaky smile. “And now? You came here not only as our Evelyn… but as someone who already has her own family, right? Tell us about your family?”

Evelyn brightened a little, straightening her shoulders.

“Yes. I am married. My husband’s name is Axel. Axel Knight.”

Nicholas’s eyebrows shot up. “Knight? You mean Andrew Knight’s family?”

“It is. I married one of his grandsons…” Evelyn replied, cheeks warming. “And… we have a son. His name is Oliver. He is four years old.”

Emma gasped, the sound sharp and excited. “A great-great-grandson?”

Evelyn nodded, smiling. “Yes…”

Nicholas let out a deep, shaky laugh, his voice gravelly with joy. “We have a Knight in the family. Oh, heavens. The world may tremble.”

Emma’s eyes lit up as she looked at the others. “Theodor, do you hear this? We have lived long enough to see Giselle’s bloodline continue… We have lived to see hope walk through the door, flashing courage in her eyes.”

Evelyn blushed. “I… do not know about courage.”

“You came home,” Emma replied, voice fierce. “That is courage to me.”

Evelyn hesitated, biting her lip. “Actually… there is something else.”

Nicholas asked, “What is it, dear?”

“I…” Evelyn pressed a hand to her abdomen, her voice timid. “I am pregnant.”

The room exploded.

“What?” Emma cried, eyes bulging like an owl.

Nicholas clutched the arm of his chair. “Pregnant?”

Theodor shot upright. “You are?”

Just then, the door swung open.

Finley reentered, cheeks flushed from the cold outside. “Who is pregnant?” He blinked. “Did I miss something? Why is everyone yelling?”

Evelyn turned to see Finley. She lifted her hand shyly. “Me.”

Finley froze, his jaw dropping. “Wait. Pregnant? Like with a baby? A baby baby? A second baby? Why didn’t Axel tell me about it?”

Evelyn nodded.

Finley let out a strangled sound that might have been a celebratory scream. He rushed forward and sat opposite Evelyn. “Eve… Congratulations.” He smiles.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Emma laughed, tears of joy sparkling like diamonds beneath the firelight. But then her laughter subsided when she remembered something. “Eve, you need to bring your husband and son.”

“Sure, Grandma… I will.”

They continue to talk about a few more things.

But after a few moments, suddenly Nicholas asked, “Does Axel treat you well? Does he cherish you?”

Evelyn was startled by the seriousness in his tone. “Yes,” she answered hurriedly, “He does. He is a good husband and father.”

Nicholas nodded. “Good. If he did not, I would have marched to find him. Even if I needed a cane to swing at his head.”

Finley can’t help but laugh, “Grandpa, I volunteer as backup cane.”

Everyone in the room laughed heartily at his words.

Evelyn felt her smile stretch so wide it almost hurt. Her heart swelled, so full she feared it might burst. This was what she had wanted her whole life. A place. A sensation. A feeling that she belonged.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep