Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 165: Bridging the Gap

Delphinia stood near the entrance of the school, her eyes scanning the crowd of children spilling out of the building. Parents milled about, some chatting amongst themselves while others eagerly greeted their children. Delphinia pulled her coat tighter around her, a small smile tugging at her lips as she anticipated Ashton’s arrival.

Just as she was about to step forward, a presence beside her made her turn. A woman stood there, partially concealed beneath a large hoodie and dark sunglasses, her head slightly bowed to avoid drawing attention.

Delphinia blinked in surprise before recognition set in.

"Lydia?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Lydia pushed her sunglasses down just enough to reveal her sharp eyes, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" Delphinia asked, though the answer quickly became obvious.

Lydia shifted on her feet, her voice softer than usual. "I wanted to pick up Ashton today."

Delphinia studied her for a moment, noting the nervous energy beneath Lydia’s usual confident exterior. She hadn’t expected this, but she could tell Lydia was making an effort.

"Of course," Delphinia said gently. "I’m sure he’ll be surprised."

She didn’t add that she wasn’t sure whether that surprise would be a good thing. Ashton was still hesitant around Lydia, and she hoped this wouldn’t overwhelm him.

Delphinia shifted slightly, deciding to at least try and ease the tension between them. "Didn’t think you’d be free today," she said lightly. "No work keeping you busy?"

Lydia gave a small shrug. "Cleared my schedule."

Short. To the point. Not exactly an invitation for conversation.

Still, Delphinia wasn’t one to give up so easily. She smiled and tilted her head. "That’s nice. It’s good to take a break sometimes. I imagine things must be hectic on your end."

Lydia nodded once. "Yeah."

Another one-word response.

Delphinia glanced at her, trying to gauge Lydia’s mood. Her posture was stiff, her gaze flicking away every now and then as if she were half-distracted. It wasn’t irritation—it was something else. Nervousness? Uncertainty?

"Did you have any plans for today? Besides picking up Ashton?" Delphinia asked, keeping her tone light.

Lydia hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "Not really."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, not exactly awkward, but not comfortable either.

Delphinia exhaled softly, deciding to acknowledge the obvious. "You’re not really up for small talk, are you?"

Lydia blinked, as if caught off guard by the question. She let out a short, quiet laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Not really, no."

Delphinia smiled slightly, nodding in understanding. "That’s okay. We don’t have to force it."

Lydia glanced at her then, something unreadable in her expression. But after a second, she murmured, "Thanks."

Delphinia simply nodded, letting the silence settle in again. Sometimes, words weren’t necessary.

Minutes later, the school doors swung open, and a wave of students came rushing out. Among them, Ashton appeared, his backpack slung over one shoulder. When his eyes landed on Delphinia, his face lit up, and he waved enthusiastically.

But then, he saw Lydia standing beside her.

His steps faltered. The brightness in his expression dimmed slightly, his small hand tightening around the strap of his backpack. Lydia, unfazed, took the first step forward.

"Ashton!" she called, her voice carrying a rare excitement. "Hey, how was your day?"

Ashton hesitated, glancing at Delphinia before answering. "It was... okay."

Lydia didn’t let his hesitation deter her. "I bet you had a lot of fun. What did you do today? Any cool projects?"

Ashton shifted on his feet. "Just... normal stuff."

Lydia’s lips quirked in amusement, though her eyes softened. "Come on, give me something. What was the best part of your day?"

Ashton looked down at his shoes, thinking. "Lunch was good."

Delphinia bit back a chuckle. Lydia, however, let out a soft laugh. "Well, I guess that’s a solid answer. Food is important."

Ashton gave a small nod, still unsure how to act around her.

Delphinia chose to let Lydia lead the conversation, watching carefully as Lydia continued to ask questions. Ashton’s answers remained short, but at least he was responding. It was progress, even if slow.

After a moment, Lydia clapped her hands together. "How about we grab something to eat? I know a great place." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Before Ashton could answer, Delphinia quickly stepped in. "That sounds like a great idea, right, Ashton?"

Ashton hesitated again before nodding. "Yeah... okay."

Lydia beamed. "Great! You two can follow my car."

Ashton turned to Delphinia as they walked toward their own car. "You’re coming too, right?"

Delphinia glanced at Ashton, his small voice carrying an almost uncertain edge as he asked. She offered him a reassuring smile, but inside, her heart ached a little.

Poor Ashton. He was still hesitant, still unsure. Did he really think she would let him go alone with Lydia?

She knew she should step back, that Lydia was his mother, but—not yet.

There was no doubt in her mind that Lydia cared for Ashton. She could see it in the way Lydia looked at him, in the way she kept trying, even if she didn’t always get it right. But Ashton? He wasn’t ready. His hesitation, the slight flicker of unease in his eyes whenever Lydia was around, told her that much.

Maybe one day, they would be comfortable enough to be alone together. Maybe there would come a time when Ashton wouldn’t instinctively seek Delphinia out for reassurance, when he wouldn’t need her to be his safety net.

She wanted that time to come.

She wanted Ashton to have a strong bond with Lydia, to feel safe and loved in a way only a mother could provide.

Delphinia looked down at him and smiled, reaching out to gently ruffle his hair. "Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be right there."

Relief flickered across his face, and as Delphinia opened the car door for him, she thought to herself that she had to do everything she could to help Ashton and Lydia build their bond. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was willing to do her best for them.