Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 32: Blankets and Buckingham

The gentle beeping of her alarm pulled Delphinia out of her deep sleep. Groaning, she stirred, fumbling blindly in search of her phone to silence the noise. Still half-asleep, she rolled over, misjudged the edge of the couch, and hit the floor with a loud thump.

A startled yelp escaped her lips as she landed, her body jolting awake from the impact. "Ow, ow, ow," she grumbled, rubbing her butt. The cold floor reminded her how bad an idea it was to sleep on the couch. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Blinking groggily, she glanced around, momentarily disoriented. Her eyes landed on the blanket sprawled across the couch, and her brow furrowed. A blanket? She didn’t recall grabbing one before falling asleep. Maybe I walked in my sleep and took the blanket? That’s possible... Or....

Her lips pressed into a thin line as a thought crossed her mind. Could it have been Evander? No. Absolutely not. He doesn’t know the first thing about being considerate. Shaking her head, she dismissed the idea. "Probably a maid," she muttered under her breath.

Still, she couldn’t shake the lingering curiosity as she grabbed her phone to turn off the alarm. Realizing she had little time to dwell on the mystery, she got up and headed to freshen herself for the day ahead.

Just as she finished getting ready, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She looked up to see Evander and Ashton walking toward her, taking their time. Ashton’s hair stuck out in wild directions, proof of his restless sleep. Evander, in contrast, looked as effortlessly polished as ever, his shirt perfectly pressed and his expression unreadable.

"Good morning, you two," Delphinia greeted them with a smile. Her tone was warm, though her eyes lingered on Evander briefly, still debating if he could’ve been the one responsible for the blanket. Don’t think too hard about it, Delphinia.

"Did you sleep well, Delphinia?"

"Like a baby."

Evander’s eyebrow arched slightly. "Really? You didn’t look so comfortable when I saw you on the couch last night."

Her smile faltered, and she shot him a glare. "I was perfectly fine, thank you very much."

Evander smirked, the hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "If you say so."

Rolling her eyes, she turned her attention to Ashton. "So, where are we off to today?"

Evander answered before Ashton could. "A few places worth seeing. But first, breakfast."

The drive to the restaurant was mostly small talk, mostly Ashton listing all the things he hoped to see that day. Delphinia listened with a smile, occasionally throwing in a comment or two to encourage his excitement. Evander, as usual, remained calm and observant, his hand resting casually on the steering wheel.

They got to this cute little café on a cobblestone street. Delphinia ordered a hearty English breakfast, complete with eggs, bacon, and beans, while Evander opted for a simpler plate of smoked salmon and toast. Ashton, ever the adventurous eater, insisted on pancakes with every possible topping available.

Once breakfast was finished, they made their way to the first stop of the day: the Tower of London. The massive stone fortress stood tall, its age-old walls telling stories of the past. Delphinia gazed in awe as they walked across the drawbridge, the Thames sparkling in the morning light.

"’Wow, this place is incredible," she whispered, staring up at the tall turrets and the huge gate.

A tour guide led them through the grounds, recounting tales of intrigue, betrayal, and imprisonment. Delphinia hung on every word, her imagination painting vivid pictures of the stories being told. Walking through the Crown Jewels exhibit, Delphinia couldn’t take her eyes off the sparkling diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.

They moved through the White Tower, admiring the old weapons and suits of armor. Delphinia couldn’t help but marvel at the detailed designs, wishing she could snap pictures of everything.

Their next destination was Buckingham Palace, and Delphinia felt a thrill of excitement as they approached the iconic gates. The palace was stunning, its golden details shining in the afternoon light. Visitors wandered everywhere, snapping photos and admiring the Changing of the Guard ceremony taking place.

Delphinia was captivated by it. "I can’t believe I’m actually here," she said, her voice tinged with wonder as she snapped photo after photo. With its balanced design, well-kept gardens, and sharp-looking guards, the palace was picture-perfect.

Evander stood beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Impressive, isn’t it?"

She nodded, barely glancing at him as she adjusted her camera lens. "It’s beautiful. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this."

Ashton, on the other hand, seemed less interested in the palace and more intrigued by a nearby ice cream vendor. "Can I get one?" he asked, tugging on Evander’s sleeve.

"After the tour, okay?" Evander replied. Ashton pouted but didn’t argue, instead wandering off a little to watch the guards.

Delphinia stayed glued to her camera, trying to frame the perfect shot of the palace gates. Her attention was so absorbed that it took her a moment to register Evander’s sudden change in demeanor.

"Ashton?" His voice had a slight urgency that wasn’t usually there.

Delphinia lowered her phone and turned to him. "What’s wrong?"

Evander’s eyes scanned the crowd, his jaw tightening. "I don’t see him."

Delphinia’s stomach dropped, a wave of panic washing over her. She joined Evander in scanning the busy area, her heart pounding as she realized Ashton was nowhere in sight.

The sound of tourists and their footsteps seemed louder now as Delphinia’s mind raced. "He was just here!" she said, her voice rising slightly in alarm.

Evander’s expression was grim, his shoulders tense. "Stay here. I’ll look around."

Without waiting for her response, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Delphinia standing there, clutching her phone tightly. Her breath came in quick bursts as she forced herself to stay calm, her eyes darting from face to face in the hopes of spotting the little boy.

Her pulse quickened as the realization sank in. Ashton was gone.