Chapter 421: Small Gift

“Evelyn.” Alexander’s voice broke the silence. “I am sorry.”

The words struck like thunder. Evelyn’s eyes widened slightly.

’Sorry? Alexander Knight? Once among the most powerful people, apologizing to me?’ Her mind refused to process it.

Axel sighed beside her before saying, “Father, stop confusing my wife.” His tone carried familiar impatience. “Can you just say what you want to say?”

Evelyn turned sharply toward Axel. ’Wait, so he knows what his father wanted to talk about?’

Alexander shot Axel a sharp glare. “Brat… you’re really impatient.”

Amanda laughed softly. “Dear, what Axel said is true. You’d better hurry,” She nudged Alexander lightly. “Stop confusing my dear daughter-in-law. Hurry. Give it to her.”

Evelyn’s confusion deepened. ’Even my mother-in-law is acting strange…?’

Alexander exhaled heavily. “Heaven… can you both stop interrupting me?”

Despite his complaint, there was no real irritation in his voice. Only mild exasperation.

Then, Alexander turned back to Evelyn. And something shifted. The stern businessman. The intimidating patriarch. All those expressions faded. What remained was something quieter. More human, as he said, “I apologize because I only have time to speak to you properly now.”

Evelyn’s throat tightened. She struggled to respond calmly. “Sir… It’s fine. You don’t have to say that to me. I can understand.”

But her voice trembled. Betraying her nerves. Because no matter how composed she tried to appear, she was still sitting before a man whose approval once felt impossible to earn.

Alexander’s expression softened slightly. “Alright… if you say that.” His tone was noticeably warmer now. “But you have to stop calling me ’sir.’”

Evelyn swallowed.

Alexander continued. “I’m your husband’s father.” A pause as a faint smile emerges on his lips. “You can call me ’Father,’ too.”

Evelyn feels her heart warm at the sound of Alexander’s words. Of all the things she expected, this was not one of them.

She glanced instinctively at Axel. He was watching his father with an unreadable expression, though something like quiet satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

Amanda smiled gently at her husband as if she were proud of her.

Then, Alexander spoke again. His voice is lower now. “From the beginning… I was unfair to you.”

Evelyn’s heart skipped.

“I judged you based on circumstances.” Another pause. “Based on history.”

Evelyn knew exactly what he meant. This concerns Alexander’s grudge against her father, William Walters.

“I saw conflict where there was none,” Alexander continued. “And yet…”

His gaze softened further.

“You gave this family Oliver. You gave my son happiness.” He reached for the sofa beside him and picked up a document folder.

He paused briefly, staring at Evelyn’s expression before extending the document toward her. “This is yours. Take it.”

Evelyn hesitated.

“Take it, dear…” Amanda urged her with her warm smile.

Before she said anything, Axel also patted her back gently as if trying to tell her to take it.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted the envelope from Alexander.

She opened it carefully and froze. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the paper inside stating that Alexander Knight had transferred five percent of the Knight Group’s ultimate ownership shares to Evelyn Knight.

’Oh my god! Why did he give me this precious share?’ Evelyn screamed in her mind, unable to believe what she saw.

Axel leaned closer. “Well, my wife, congrats…”

Evelyn looked up to meet his eyes. Speechless. Then she turned her gaze back to Alexander.

“It’s a small gift for you because you’re now a family member,” Alexander’s voice remained calm.

’Small! This is so big!’ he muttered to himself. Because at this moment, he was still too shocked to say anything but “Thank you…”

The atmosphere inside Alexander Knight’s study gradually shifted from emotional to professional with remarkable speed.

The warmth that had softened the older man moments earlier was carefully tucked away, replaced by the composed authority that had built megacorp.

Alexander leaned back slightly, his gaze now directed at Axel.

“Five percent is not a small allocation,” he said calmly, though his tone carried unmistakable weight. “Do you understand the implications?”

Axel, who had long mastered the art of reading his father’s moods, nodded without hesitation.

“I do.”

“This is not simply generosity,” Alexander continued. “It is a structure. Responsibility. Influence.”

Axel’s expression remained steady, his posture relaxed but attentive.

“I assumed as much.”

Alexander studied him briefly, as if assessing whether his son truly grasped the deeper meaning behind the gesture.

“Those shares grant Evelyn voting power, and she can’t sell or transfer those shares to anyone except Oliver.”

“I know,” Axel answered confidently.

“They also place her within the internal dynamics of Knight Group.”

Axel’s lips curved slightly. “Don’t worry, my wife already handles tougher situations.”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed faintly. “You need to help her.”

“Absolutely. Besides, my wife is far from fragile,” Axel said proudly, smiling at Evelyn.

For a brief second, something almost like amusement flickered in Alexander’s eyes, though it vanished quickly beneath his usual composure.

“Confidence is acceptable,” he replied evenly. “Overconfidence is not.”

Axel leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm.

“I’m not being overconfident. I’m being realistic.”

Silence lingered between them, thick with unspoken understanding. This was not merely a discussion about shares. It was about trust, power, and the careful balancing of family with business.

Finally, Alexander nodded once.

“Ensure she is properly briefed.”

“I will.”

“And Axel…”

“Yes?”

Alexander’s voice lowered slightly.

“Protect her from unnecessarily annoying people—”

Axel’s gaze sharpened, knowing who his father was referring to. It was Evelyn’s father, William Walters.

“Always.”

While Alexander and Axel talk, Evelyn sits quietly, only half-following the discussion. Terms like voting rights, internal dynamics, and structural influence drifted past her ears in a blur.

She understood enough to realize this was significant, yet not enough to interrupt what was clearly a serious exchange between father and son.

While the men continued their calm, composed discussion, Amanda gracefully shifted in her seat and moved right next to Evelyn.

Her expression radiated satisfaction.

She leaned closer.

“Congratulations, my dear,” she whispered warmly. “You truly deserve this gift.”

Evelyn smiled, still visibly overwhelmed. “Thank you, Amanda. This is honestly shocking to me. Five percent… that’s enormous.” Her voice was soft, sincere.

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