Chapter 81: Someone From Her Past

Liam was waiting in front of the hospital, his eyes darting toward the entrance every other second.

When Evelyn finally showed up with Oliver, both of them seemed fine… Liam almost collapsed in relief.

Hurriedly, he sent a text to Axel before stepping out of the car and approaching them.

“Lady Boss, are you sure you’re alright?” he asked carefully. “Two hours inside—”

“Liam,” Evelyn interrupted him, offering a smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she continued to walk toward the car. “Please drive us to the Steak House.”

“Steak… House?”

“Yes. We should have lunch before going back to Willowcrest,” she replied, helping Oliver into his car seat.

So, despite every nerve in his body itching to ask what on earth she had been doing in the hospital, Liam buttoned his lips and obediently followed her instruction.

…

The distance was not far, only a few minutes’ drive from the hospital.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Evelyn asked Liam to join them for lunch.

He didn’t refuse. He didn’t want to wait again in the car.

Evelyn was striding in with her usual quiet elegance, holding Oliver’s hand. At the same time, Liam walked not far behind them.

“I booked a private room,” she told the restaurant staff.

Liam was surprised. He trailed after her with Oliver, feeling like the most insignificant member of the trio.

Until Evelyn turned back and said, “Why are you strolling like a sad zombie? You will join us inside! And no, you can’t say no to that.”

Oliver turned to see Liam with his smile, “Yes, Uncle Liam, eat with us!”

“Of course…” Liam smiled, excitedly.

The private room on the second floor was cozy, featuring a large glass window that overlooked the beautiful fall mountains in the distance.

The table was already set.

Once seated, Oliver wasted no time climbing onto his chair and announcing, “Uncle Liam, you have to try steak with extra ketchup. It makes it perfect.”

Evelyn sighed. “Oliver, steak is not supposed to be drowned in ketchup.”

She helped clean his hands and cut his steak into small pieces.

“Yes, it is… Mommy…” Oliver argued confidently. Then blink to see Liam, “Uncle Liam, do you agree?”

Liam froze. This was a trap. A three-year-old trap with big, expectant eyes. He cleared his throat politely.

“Well, young master… while ketchup is… delicious… I believe steak is traditionally enjoyed with—”

“See, Mommy? He likes ketchup too!” Oliver clapped his hands, cutting him off before Liam could finish.

Evelyn silently sighs while she stabs her fork into her salad with the air of a woman wrongfully outnumbered.

’Great. My bodyguard and my son. A ketchup conspiracy.’

Liam, looking helpless, leaned toward Oliver and whispered, “But don’t tell your mommy. Let it be our secret, hm?”

Evelyn rolled her eyes, ignoring the duo’s conversation as she focused on savoring her favorite salad. Then continue with ribeye steak.

However,

Halfway through her steak, Evelyn’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it and nearly dropped her fork when she saw the name: Axel Knight.

Text message.

“Eve… What are you doing now? Have you had lunch?”

Her pulse quickened, though she tried to remain calm. She typed back quickly:

“Lunch with Oliver and Liam.”

Barely ten seconds later, her phone lit up again.

This time with a video call request. Evelyn muttered under her breath, “Of course.”

Oliver, who sat right beside her, spotted it first. “Daddy!” He excitedly snatched the phone before she could decide whether to answer.

Axel’s face filled the screen: sharp suit, office background, his eyes beaming as he said, “Buddy. Having lunch without me?”

Oliver nodded solemnly.

“Yes. Mommy and Uncle Liam took me to eat steak.”

Axel’s eyes flicked toward the screen at that. “Uncle Liam?” His tone had sharpened by a degree.

“Yes,” Oliver chirped happily. “Uncle Liam is right here, eating ketchup steak!”

Then, he turned the camera toward Liam.

Liam, who had just taken a cautious bite, nearly choked.

“Yo-Young master, please… I need to correct this. You and your mother, who invited me.” He clarifies. Worry that his boss will be angry.

“Ketchup steak?” Axel leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “Enjoying yourself, Liam?”

Liam straightened like a soldier on trial. “Sir, I… it wasn’t. The young master insisted…”

Evelyn, watching this disaster unfold, bit back a laugh.

’Well, this is entertaining. Looking at these three talks.’

“Relax, Liam,” Axel finally said, though his smirk said otherwise. “Just make sure my son eats more than ketchup.”

Oliver turned the camera back to him again. “Daddy, Mommy says steak doesn’t need ketchup. But she’s wrong.”

“Oh? Then Daddy agrees with you,” Axel declared, his tone warm.

“Yay… Daddy also likes it.” Oliver grinned, shooting his mom a victorious look.

Evelyn bitterly smiled. “Of course you’d take his side.”

“Obviously.” Axel’s eyes glinted, clearly enjoying himself. “He’s my son.”

Their bickering only made Oliver laugh.

She took the cell phone and said in her serious tone, “Axel, I will call back later. We need to eat quickly before heading home.”

“Okay! Enjoy your lunch. I will call again later…”

…

When lunch was over, Evelyn excused herself to the restroom.

She smoothed her shirt as she walked down the hall, only to freeze mid-step.

There—just outside one of the VIP rooms—stood a figure she never thought she’d see again.

Stella.

Her little sister.

Evelyn’s heart almost jumped into her throat. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating.

Four years had passed. She’d convinced herself she would never cross paths with Stella again, not after cutting ties entirely with the Walters.

And yet, here she was, walking calmly into a private room alone. She looks just like Stella, she remembers from back then.

But there’s something in Stella’s expression that makes her curious and worried.

Despite wanting to call her, Evelyn held herself back.

If Stella saw her here… if she went back and told William Walters…

She quickly ducked behind a decorative partition, pressing a hand to her chest.

But curiosity burned hot beneath her fear. Stella was supposed to be in the hospital. She’d been on track to finish her medical residency, hadn’t she? What was she doing in Grayenfall? Alone?

Evelyn hesitated, then inched closer to Stella’s VIP room.

The door hadn’t shut completely, and voices floated out.

She leaned in.

The words she caught made her blood run cold.

Evelyn clapped a hand over her mouth, heart hammering, her entire body trembling with shock.

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