Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 223: Mini Gathering (II)

The gathering continued, a comfortable hum of voices filling the grand living room. The golden light from chandelier reflecting off the glasses of wine and beer scattered across the coffee table.

Evander sat beside Cedric, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as he listened to the ongoing chatter. On the opposite couch, Delphinia sat comfortably with Valerie, Gion, and Luca, her presence effortlessly blending with Evander’s long-time friends. Across the room, Lydia sat with Wilson and Alaric, both men holding bottles of beer, the condensation forming small rings on the wooden coasters beneath them.

Cedric leaned slightly toward Evander, voice carrying just enough weight to be heard over the lively conversation. "I hope it’s not a problem that I brought Lydia."

Evander’s lips curled slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "So, you bothered to ask after the fact?" He let the question hang for a moment before continuing. "Why bother when you already did it?"

Cedric held Evander’s gaze for a moment before sighing. "Look, I wasn’t trying to make things awkward. I just thought—"

Evander cut him off with a small, humorless chuckle. "Thought what? That I’d be thrilled?" He leaned back against the couch, fingers tapping idly against his knee. "Lydia is also my friend from high school, sure. It wouldn’t be right to invite you and not her. That much, I get."

His eyes flickered toward Lydia, who was deep in conversation with Delphinia. She looked perfectly at ease, as if she belonged here—as if she hadn’t left behind a mess for him to clean up.

His jaw tightened.

"And she’s also the mother of my child." His voice was smooth, casual, but there was an edge beneath it.

Cedric exhaled. "Evander..."

"Mother, huh?" Evander’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. He shook his head, letting out a bitter laugh. "Right. Mother."

His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Cedric sighed, taking a slow sip of his drink before responding. "Don’t tell me you’re still holding a grudge against her."

Evander let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "Grudge?" He scoffed. "I’m merely tolerating her for Ashton’s sake. Nothing more than that." His words were calm, controlled, yet firm. Then, as if dismissing the topic entirely, he rose from his seat and made his way over to Delphinia, sliding beside her with effortless ease. His hand found hers, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles, grounding himself in her presence.

Alaric, whose beer was dangerously close to slipping from his grasp, suddenly grinned and called out, his voice carrying across the room. "So, Cedric, are you and Lydia finally together or what?"

Cedric choked on his drink, coughing as he struggled to clear his throat. He set his glass down hastily, thumping his chest as if that would somehow help. "Damn it, Alaric," he muttered between coughs. "Could you not spring that on me like that?"

Alaric just grinned wider, clearly unbothered. "What? It’s a fair question. You two have always been close. It’s only natural for people to be curious." He shrugged, taking another sip of his beer.

Cedric grabbed a handful of peanuts from the bowl on the table and launching one at Alaric. "You must be getting drunk if you’re asking nonsense like that."

Wilson smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Oh? So you’re saying being with Lydia is nonsense to you?"

Cedric merely rolled his eyes, not bothering to entertain the teasing. The conversation carried on, shifting between playful banter and old memories, but Delphinia excused herself in the middle of it, standing and brushing her hands against her dress.

"I’ll go get more snacks," she announced, directing the words mostly toward Evander, who gave her a nod.

Slipping into the kitchen, she exhaled softly, enjoying the brief solitude. The warm light illuminated the marble countertops as she reached for the cabinet, pulling out a fresh pack of crisps and a small dish of chocolates. Just as she closed the cabinet door, a presence made her gasp slightly.

Lydia stood near the doorway, her expression unreadable. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you."

Delphinia composed herself quickly, pressing a hand lightly against her stomach in reflex. "It’s fine. Did you need something?"

Lydia hesitated for a brief moment before asking, "Where’s Ashton?"

Delphinia noted the almost expectant look in her eyes before replying, "He’s spending the weekend with his grandparents."

"Oh." Lydia’s expression flickered—was it disappointment?—before she recovered with a small nod. "I see."

Delphinia watched Lydia closely, noting the brief flicker in her expression before she masked it with a small nod. She must have been hoping to see Ashton.

What a shame.

The silence stretched between them, not necessarily hostile but far from comfortable. Before either could add anything further, Cedric appeared in the doorway, his eyes scanning the scene before landing on Lydia.

"There you are," he said smoothly, stepping closer. "I was wondering where you ran off to."

Lydia gave a small smile before excusing herself, brushing past Cedric and disappearing back toward the living room.

Delphinia, watching her go, turned to Cedric with a raised brow. "She seems... different."

Cedric chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, people change." His tone was casual, but something in his expression suggested there was more to the story than he was letting on.

Shifting slightly, he met Delphinia’s gaze directly. "Speaking of which," he started, his voice light, "do you remember my invitation to lunch?"

Delphinia blinked, the memory surfacing. "Right."

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed in a relaxed stance. "How about the day after tomorrow?"

A soft smile played at Delphinia’s lips as she nodded. "Sounds good."

Cedric returned the smile, his eyes glinting with something close to satisfaction. "Great," he said, pushing off the counter. "Can’t wait."

With that, he left the kitchen, leaving Delphinia standing there.

She exhaled, shaking her head slightly before grabbing the snacks and making her way back to the living room. The evening carried on, but in the back of her mind, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting—something she wasn’t sure how to place just yet.