Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 22: Midnight Thoughts

The clock on the wall kept ticking, the only noise in the otherwise quiet room. Delphinia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The lamp on the bedside table lit up the room just enough to made little shadows on the walls, but her mind was far too restless to appreciate the calm atmosphere. The digital clock on the nightstand blinked 9:43 p.m., and sleep was nowhere in sight.

She turned onto her side, tugging the blanket higher, but it did little to ease her discomfort. Maybe it was the lack of dinner gnawing at her stomach, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Her mind kept replaying everything that had happened, but one moment stood out—meeting Adalaine.

Her chest tightened at the memory. It wasn’t regret that haunted her; no, she didn’t regret divorcing Kai. She had meant every word when she told Adalaine she was happy now. It wasn’t a lie, nor was it a petty jab. But somehow, Adalaine’s words had managed to burrow into her mind like a thorn she couldn’t shake loose.

With a frustrated sigh, she sat up in bed, running a hand through her hair. "Why do I let her get to me?" she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated that Adalaine still had any kind of hold over her emotions, even if it was indirect.

Slipping out from beneath the covers, her bare feet barely making a sound as she walked to the balcony. The cool night air greeted her as she opened the doors and stepped outside. The huge garden stretched before her, its perfectly trimmed hedges and flowering trees glowing softly under the moonlight. The view was breathtaking, more vast and luxurious than anything she’d ever known.

She leaned against the balcony railing, resting her elbows on the cool metal as her gaze wandered across the property. The Harrington estate was grand, but even it paled in comparison to Evander Walton’s home. Everything about this place radiated power, elegance, and wealth.

"Evander Walton," she murmured, the name almost foreign on her tongue.

God, who was this man, really? She couldn’t help but notice how confident he was, the way he carried himself with such confidence, like he knew the world was his playground. He could have anyone—an actress, a model, or even a princess from some faraway land. A man like him was a complete package. Handsome, intelligent, wealthy, and influential. Only an idiot would turn him down.

So why her?

The thought struck her like a ton of bricks, and she massaged her temples as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Thinking about Evander always left her feeling a little lost, like she was grasping at something just out of reach. What could he possibly want from her?

As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. She pressed a hand to her abdomen, biting her lip. Hunger, of course, was also part of why she couldn’t sleep. But the thought of going downstairs was a little awkward. She was a guest here—a freeloader at best—and wandering into the kitchen felt a bit too much.

Her stomach growled again, louder this time.

"Fine," she grumbled, her pride giving in to her growling stomach. "I’m tossing my pride out the window for tonight."

Delphinia stepped back inside, grabbing her robe and tying it securely around her waist. She cracked the door open and peeked out into the hallway. The house was quiet, the only noise coming from the air conditioning. She made her way cautiously, her bare feet barely making a sound against the floor.

Once downstairs, she glanced around the spacious kitchen. It was so neat, it looked like no one had ever set foot in it. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Her unease grew as she opened a cabinet and found only bread and jam. She stared at the loaf for a moment, her fingers hesitating before pulling it out. Checking the fridge felt like crossing a line; the ingredients inside weren’t hers to use.

Letting out a long sigh, she spread a generous layer of jam onto a slice of bread and took a bite. It wasn’t satisfying, but it was enough to silence her grumbling stomach. One piece turned into two, then three, and before she knew it, she’d eaten seven.

Delphinia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, staring at the bread. "I’ll pay it back," she muttered, guilt tugging at her, but then she stopped. "Or... should I just leave it? No one would notice."

She was halfway through her eighth slice when a sudden movement caught her eye. Her heart nearly stopped as she turned and locked eyes with Ashton, who stood near the fridge, his small hand reaching for the handle.

Delphinia froze, bread halfway to her mouth. "Oh," she stammered, quickly lowering the slice. "H-Hi, Ashton."

Ashton tilted his head slightly, his expression neutral as he opened the fridge and pulled out a container of strawberries. He didn’t say anything at first, closing the fridge with a soft thud before turning back to her.

"You were supposed to join us for dinner earlier," he said plainly.

Delphinia blinked, caught off guard by his straightforwardness. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Ashton had already turned and was walking out of the kitchen.

She stood there, still clutching the half-eaten bread, watching him go. For a moment, she felt like a child caught stealing cookies from the jar. But then his words sank in. You were supposed to join us for dinner.

Delphinia bit her lip, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite herself. Had Ashton just... invited her? It wasn’t a big deal, but it felt like a small peace offering, a tiny gesture that made her feel just a little less like an outsider in the house.

She took another bite of her bread, enjoying it more this time, and his words stayed with her, even though he’d already left.