Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 204: A Gift Rejected

Delphinia bit her lip as she stepped forward, feeling the weight of Evander’s gaze settle on her the moment she emerged from behind the curtain. Her pulse quickened, embarrassment prickling her skin. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop—just a brief glance, a moment to ensure nothing escalated into a heated argument. But somehow, she had stayed, listening to every word, watching every subtle shift in expressions. And now, she had been caught.

Before she could compose herself, Evander reached for her, his large hand settling firmly on her waist, pulling her close with a possessive ease. His touch, warm and grounding, sent a rush of something unspoken through her. She barely had time to react before he spoke, his voice low but laced with amusement.

"In case you missed it, Lydia was kind enough to give me a gift." His tone dripped with sarcasm as he extended the envelope toward her.

Delphinia hesitated before accepting it, her fingers brushing against his as she took a look inside. A quick glance at the contents confirmed what she already suspected—this wasn’t just any gift. It was an all-expenses-paid trip to the Maldives. For three people.

She lifted her gaze back to Evander, who studied her intently, as if gauging her reaction. "Apparently," he continued, a sharp glint in his eyes, "I was naive to think it was for me, Ashton, and you. Turns out, it’s for me, Ashton, and Lydia."

His words were deliberately slow, enunciated as if he wanted to make sure she truly understood the audacity of it.

Delphinia kept her expression composed. "Well," she said evenly, closing the envelope and handing it back to him, "it’s your gift. You can do whatever you want with it."

Evander cocked an eyebrow at her response. "So you wouldn’t have a problem if I went with Lydia?"

She shrugged, maintaining her cool. "It’s probably for Ashton’s sake anyway. Besides, I know nothing inappropriate would happen. You only want me."

Yet, as the words left her lips, something inside her wavered. She didn’t know why she had said it so confidently—she had never spoken like that before. Maybe it was to state it firmly in front of Lydia, or maybe Cedric’s words had taken root in her mind, influencing her without her realizing it. Either way, the declaration had been made, and she couldn’t take it back now.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Evander’s lips. He liked that answer. "That’s right," he murmured, leaning down to press a fleeting kiss against her cheek. "My wife is smart."

Delphinia kept her face impassive, even as warmth spread through her from the simple touch.

Evander straightened, turning his attention back to Lydia, whose expression remained unreadable. "But," he said, his voice shifting to something colder, "this is quite an extravagant gift. If I were you, Lydia, I’m not sure I’d be so willing to spend this much."

Lydia let out a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it. "This is nothing compared to the things you’ve received so far."

Evander tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp. "I meant that if I were you, I wouldn’t dare to offer a gift that would so obviously be rejected."

A flicker of something—hurt, perhaps—passed over Lydia’s face before she quickly masked it. "Ashton would be happy," she countered. "It would be good for him."

But Delphinia couldn’t shake the feeling that Lydia was pushing too fast. Yes, the trip was meant for Ashton to spend time with them, but wasn’t it too soon? Lydia seemed almost desperate for Evander to accept the gift, as if his agreement to go meant something more than just a vacation.

Evander’s jaw tightened. "If you think so, why don’t you ask him yourself?" His voice turned colder. "You are his mother, after all."

Delphinia’s fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of her dress as she listened to Evander’s cold response. He didn’t need to say much—his tone alone was enough to make it clear how he felt about Lydia’s idea.

And the truth was, without even asking Ashton, they already knew there was a huge probability that he wouldn’t want to go. Even with Evander accompanying them, the outcome wouldn’t change. Ashton wasn’t the type to pretend for the sake of appearances. If he didn’t want to go, he simply wouldn’t.

Delphinia exhaled quietly, her gaze flickering to Lydia, who looked momentarily taken aback by Evander’s words. She wondered if Lydia even realized how forced this all seemed—how unnatural. A trip was supposed to be something exciting, something anticipated. But instead, this felt like another battlefield, another test of control.

And even if Ashton agreed, Delphinia didn’t think it was a good idea.

She could already picture it—the long stretches of silence, broken only by Lydia’s persistent attempts at conversation. Evander would answer only when absolutely necessary, his responses clipped and impersonal. Ashton, in turn, would follow suit, his walls firmly in place. And Lydia, whether out of determination or sheer obliviousness, would try to push through them, talking enough for all three of them combined.

It would be exhausting.

Lydia’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She swallowed, looking away as though searching for something—an argument, an excuse, anything. But she found none.

Delphinia observed quietly, standing by Evander’s side. She could see the subtle defeat in Lydia’s posture, the tension in her shoulders. It wasn’t easy for Lydia to hear those words, but Evander wasn’t wrong. She had walked away from Ashton years ago, and now, she expected to insert herself back into their lives as if nothing had changed.

A heavy silence settled between them before Evander finally exhaled, his patience wearing thin. "If that’s all, I think we should get back."

Without waiting for a response, he turned, his hand still firmly on Delphinia’s waist as he guided her back inside. She didn’t resist, matching his stride as they stepped away from the balcony, leaving Lydia standing there alone in the moonlight.

As the door closed behind them, Delphinia stole one last glance at Lydia through the glass. The woman stood motionless, her fingers gripping the railing tightly. For a fleeting second, Delphinia almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.