Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 152: Unshakable Vows

The soft hum of the car’s engine filled the space, a steady, rhythmic sound that barely registered in Evander’s mind. He tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead as the cityscape passed in a blur. He had been in meetings all morning, and now, he was on his way to lunch with his father. A rare occasion. His father wasn’t a man who made unnecessary plans, and Evander had a feeling this meeting had a purpose beyond simply sharing a meal.

When he arrived at the restaurant, a high-end establishment with large glass windows and a polished exterior, he spotted his father immediately. Victor sat at a corner table, his posture straight as always, dressed in an impeccable dark suit. Even in his late fifties, the man carried an air of authority that commanded respect.

Evander stepped inside and made his way over, loosening his tie slightly. "Sorry for being late," he said as he took the seat across from his father.

Victor glanced at him, a slight smirk on his lips. "It’s fine. I’m grateful enough to be able to have lunch with my busy son."

Evander let out a short chuckle. "You’re making me sound like I avoid you on purpose."

"You don’t?" Victor raised a brow, amusement evident in his tone.

Evander merely shook his head, choosing not to engage in the playful jab. A waiter approached, handing them menus, though neither needed to look. Their usual orders were placed, and soon enough, their conversation resumed.

"How’s Julian?" Victor asked as he reached for his glass of water.

Evander leaned back against his chair. "He’s doing well. He’s focusing on finishing his last year at university."

"And afterward?"

"That’s up to him." Evander shrugged. "I told him he could join the company if he wanted, but he’s considering other options too."

Victor nodded thoughtfully. "Julian is smart. He should do what suits him best. I won’t force him into the business if it’s not what he wants."

"That’s what I told him. No pressure."

The waiter returned with their orders, setting down the plates before them. The scent of well-prepared steak and rich sauces filled the air, though Evander found himself only half-focused on the meal. He could feel it—the shift in the conversation before it even happened. His father had something else to discuss.

And then it came.

"And you?" Victor started, cutting into his steak with careful precision. "How’s your marriage? How’s life with your wife?"

Evander didn’t miss the way his father didn’t say Delphinia’s name. Just "your marriage." Just "your wife."

He took a sip of his water before answering. "It’s good."

Victor made a sound in the back of his throat, as if weighing his son’s words. "I’ll admit, I was surprised."

Evander set down his fork. "I know."

His father didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he took a slow bite, his gaze unreadable. "You and I never actually talked about it since I found out."

Evander nodded. That much was true. When Victor had learned of his sudden marriage to Delphinia, there had been no real conversation. Just a quiet, lingering tension. And now, here they were.

"Did you expect me to ask for your permission first?" Evander asked, tilting his head slightly.

Victor sighed, setting his utensils down. "No. I just expected... something."

"Something like what?"

"Something that made sense," Victor admitted. "It was unexpected, Evander. One moment, you were single, and the next, you had a wife. A woman fresh out of a divorce, at that. I just wanted to understand."

Evander’s expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze. "Do you disapprove?"

Victor exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Disapprove? No, that’s not the word I’d use. It’s just... I didn’t see it coming."

"Neither did I," Evander admitted, a small smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

Victor studied his son, his sharp gaze searching for something—perhaps doubt, perhaps regret. But he found neither. Instead, there was a certainty in Evander’s eyes that couldn’t be ignored.

"She’s my wife now, Father," Evander said, his voice unwavering. "And nothing or no one can change that."

Victor leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the table’s surface. "Is that so?"

"It is."

A beat of silence stretched between them before Victor finally nodded. "Then I suppose I’ll have to accept that."

Evander smirked slightly. "You do."

Victor’s expression shifted in an instant. The brief moment of acceptance faded, replaced by a cold, assessing stare. His fingers, which had been tapping idly against the table, came to a halt. "Then answer me this, Evander," he said, his tone measured. "Why did you let Ashton meet that woman?"

Evander didn’t flinch, but the sharpness in his father’s voice was impossible to ignore.

Victor’s gaze hardened. "Lydia threw away her own son. She walked out, left him behind without so much as a backward glance, and now, suddenly, she’s worthy of his time?" His voice remained steady, but there was an edge beneath it, one that carried both anger and disbelief. "That was your decision?"

Evander exhaled slowly, placing his hands on the table. "I didn’t let her meet him because I forgave her," he said, his voice even. "I did it because Ashton deserved to make that choice himself. He’s not a child anymore, Father."

Victor scoffed. "So you’re saying you let that woman waltz back into his life out of some moral obligation?" His fingers curled into a fist. "She doesn’t deserve a second of his time, and you know it."

Evander held his gaze, unwavering. "I know what she did. And I know how much damage she caused. But I also know that keeping him in the dark would have only made him resent us more in the long run."

Victor’s jaw clenched. "You think you did him a favor?"

"I think I gave him the chance to see her for who she really is," Evander corrected. "If she disappoints him again, then he’ll walk away on his own. But at least it’ll be his choice, not mine."