Chapter 49: Surprised Wedding Ceremony

“Mrs. Knight,” Axel finally said something.

Evelyn’s stomach flutters each time he calls her that.

“Let’s go,” he added, as if he’d just asked her for a casual walk instead of leading her into what looked dangerously close to an actual wedding ceremony.

Before she could ask what on earth he was doing now, Oliver, already way ahead of them, scampered toward the seats with cake in his little hands. He plopped himself down like this was all perfectly rehearsed, while Liam sat beside him to help.

Evelyn froze, watching the scene unfold.

’Wait. Has… has my son been briefed on this? Did he rehearse? Why does he look like he’s known all along?’

She laughed inwardly, looking at her son, who didn’t look surprised. Not one bit. In fact, he looked like he’d been waiting for this moment all day.

’My goodness… Axel, when did you start planning all of this?’ she wonders while looking up at him.

“W-where…?” she started to ask, her voice shaky.

Axel didn’t bother answering. He just tightened his grip and led her toward the flower arch.

Her chest tightened. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Nervous.

’Oh, God. Don’t say it. Don’t tell me we’re about to have an actual ceremony… Walking down the aisle with music. Then later, we will exchange vows. And… Will he give me a ring? No. Please, God…No!’

And then music floated into the air. Soft. Romantic. Perfectly timed.

Evelyn nearly stumbled over her own feet. Her eyes widened. Her soul practically evacuated her body.

’Seriously, God? Why do you hate me?’

Her feet felt like they weren’t hers anymore. Her pulse was wild. Every step closer to that arch felt like stepping into some alternate reality, one where Evelyn Taylor had ceased to exist and Evelyn Knight was about to be kissed in front of a flower arch with a toddler as witness.

She swallowed hard, her eyes darting everywhere for escape, but she found none.

Instead, Axel’s grip was firm, unrelenting. His face was calm, unreadable. Her son grinning at them like the proudest matchmaker alive.

And her heart? A chaos.

Oliver clapped again, cake forgotten.

“Yayyy! Mommy’s walking with Daddy! Like a princess!”

Evelyn’s face is hot. ’Oh, wonderful. My three-year-old has officially joined Team Axel…’ She feels her brain has officially left the building. Her body was walking, her hand still in his gentle but firm grip.

Axel glanced down at her as if he could read every frantic thought running through her mind.

Gently, his thumb brushed over her knuckles, and he whispered, “Relax and breathe normally, Evelyn. It’s just a wedding photo…. Not the surprise wedding. Relax.”

She shot him a look that could take someone else’s life.

’Just a photo? Excuse me, Sir, this looks like the opening scene of a royal wedding documentary.’

Despite her sulk, her feet kept moving. Because somehow, when he held her hand like this, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to run away… or never let go.

’Okay, take a long and deep breath, Eve. You’re not about to faint in front of Dylan and Liam. You won’t be remembered as the bride who collapsed during the fake wedding ceremony. Be strong….’

Dylan’s camera clicked nonstop. He didn’t even ask. He just documented them like a professional photographer.

“Smile, Mrs. Knight,” Dylan said with a grin.

Her head snapped toward Axel. “You bribed them, didn’t you?!”

Axel smiled, “Do I look like the type who bribes?”

“Obviously!”

“If you think their insane amount of monthly checks is a bribe, then, yes, I’m bribing them…” he says with a playful tone, locking his gentle gaze with hers.

Evelyn couldn’t say anything as they both now stood beneath the flower arch.

’Now what? Should I face him? Or my cute baby?’ she wondered, then decided to turn and look at their only guest.

Oliver suddenly jumped off his chair, nearly tripping over his little suit pants, and came running toward them. He tugged on Evelyn’s skirt, his round eyes sparkling.

“Mommy… Stand pretty! Daddy’s standing pretty!” He said before returning to his seat.

Evelyn slightly frowned. She didn’t even know how to “stand pretty.” Was that a thing? She glanced down at her stiletto, then up at Axel, who stood like he was about to pose for the magazine cover of Billionaire Edition.

“Relax, smile toward the camera…” Axel murmured, low enough that only she could hear. His thumb brushed over her knuckles again. “It’s just for Oliver. He wanted this.”

Her eyes darted to her son, who was now clapping again and chanting, “Kiss, kiss, kiss! Daddy… Must kiss the bride…”

“Excuse me?!” She can’t believe her son also knows about it. She remembers never watching a romance movie with him.

’Where did he see a wedding ceremony, and where did the groom kiss the bride?’

Evelyn ignores Oliver and urges Dylan to take as many pictures as possible for Axel’s document; he still seems eager to pursue the idea of sending their wedding picture to William Walters.

Dylan’s camera shutter sped up like it was salivating at the drama.

Axel, of course, didn’t flinch. Instead, he poses and smiles, as if they were in their real wedding ceremony.

“Okay, done! Can we go home now?” she asked Axel, while still staring at Dylan’s camera.

Before Axel could answer her, suddenly Oliver shouted again, “Daddy… Why don’t you kiss mommy?” His gaze clearly showed worry and disappointment in them. But Evelyn failed to notice it.

Evelyn gazes at Axel, “Don’t you dare…” She whispers only for him to hear it.

But of course, her adorable son could hear it too. Oliver puffed out his cheeks, looking betrayed.

“Mommy… in cartoons, the princess and prince always kiss after the wedding!”

Evelyn’s eyelashes fluttered as she slowly turned her gaze toward Mister Cupid.

She smiles at him, “Sweetheart, Mommy is not a Disney princess. And…”

Her sentence trailed off when Axel’s deep, calm voice was heard above them. “He’s not wrong…”

Evelyn turned to see him, protesting through her eyes. She wasn’t protesting because she didn’t want to kiss him. No. But she was just worried that if they did, she’d get an answer she wasn’t ready to admit.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep