Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 40: The Mini Concert

The sunlight streamed through the big windows, lighting up the shiny black piano with a golden glow. Delphinia sat beside Ashton on the piano bench, her hands lightly resting on the keys. The boy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he leaned closer, his small legs swinging above the floor.

"Can you really play it, Delphinia?" Ashton asked, his tone both doubtful and hopeful.

Delphinia smiled faintly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I can," she replied softly.

"Show me!" Ashton urged, clapping his hands together excitedly.

His enthusiasm brought a rare warmth to her chest. Her fingers lightly grazing the piano keys. Maybe this is my chance, she thought, glancing at Ashton’s eager face. If I play well, perhaps he’ll see me differently—maybe even like me.

Delphinia took a deep breath and positioned her fingers over the keys. Her movements were practiced but natural, as if the muscle memory had never left her. With a soft press of her fingers, a gentle melody began to fill the room.

The melody came together smoothly, creating a soothing yet detailed tune.. Ashton watched in awe, his mouth slightly open as his gaze flitted between her hands and her serene face. The maids, busy with their tasks, gradually stopped to watch the surprise performance.

By the time the song ended, the small audience broke into applause. The claps were polite at first but quickly grew more enthusiastic. Ashton joined in, his small hands clapping furiously.

"Wow! You really can play!" Ashton exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder.

Delphinia turned to him, her lips curving into a small, genuine smile. "Thank you."

Her fingers lingered on the keys, pressing random ones and producing a mismatched, awkward sound. "It’s one of the few things I was obligated to learn," she murmured under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.

Ashton tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Delphinia hesitated before answering. "When I was your age, my father made sure I learned certain... skills," she said carefully. "Playing piano was one of them. Along with the violin and clarinet."

"Wow!" Ashton’s eyes widened further. "You can play all those too?"

"Yes," she admitted with a small nod. "But I was never really interested in music. It wasn’t a choice; it was... something I had to do."

Her fingers absentmindedly pressed a few more keys as memories of her childhood crept into her mind—long hours of practice, strict teachers, and the absence of playtime. She remembered sitting at a piano much like this one, longing to run outside and laugh like other children.

Ashton didn’t notice her somber expression. "That was beautiful," he said earnestly.

"Thank you," she replied again, her tone softer this time.

"Can you teach me?" Ashton asked, his face lighting up with excitement.

Delphinia blinked, surprised by the request. "You want to learn?"

"Yes!" Ashton nodded enthusiastically. "I think it would be so cool to play like you."

A small laugh escaped her lips. "Well, I suppose I could teach you a little."

"Really?" Ashton’s face brightened even more.

"Of course," Delphinia said, her smile growing. "But... can your father play?"

Ashton shook his head. "Nope. Daddy can’t play at all."

Delphinia chuckled at the blunt response. "Then why have a piano here?"

Ashton shrugged. "Maybe it’s just for display."

Delphinia laughed again, the sound light and genuine. "That sounds about right. Well, we can put it to good use."

Ashton clapped his hands, clearly thrilled by the idea. "Yay! I want to learn!"

Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden commotion. A loud yelp echoed from the kitchen, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and someone shouting, "Shoo! Shoo!"

Delphinia turned her head toward the noise, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What’s going on?"

Just as Ashton was about to reply, a furry blur zipped past, slipping on the smooth surface. A cat—a scruffy, gray tabby—raced toward the front door with two maids in hot pursuit.

"Get it out of here!" one maid shouted, flailing her arms in an attempt to scare the cat away.

Delphinia chuckled quietly as the scene played out. The cat, looking bored, gave its paw a quick lick before dashing out the door.

"What happened?" Delphinia called out to one of the maids, who stopped to catch her breath.

The maid sighed, brushing her hand across her forehead with a mix of frustration and awkwardness.. "The cat wrecked the bin outside. It made such a mess!"

Delphinia chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Well, it seems the cat had a plan."

The maid sighed. "I’ll go clean it up. Excuse me."

As the maid hurried off, Delphinia turned back to Ashton, who was staring intently at the door where the cat had vanished. His small brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of longing in his expression.

"What’s wrong?" Delphinia asked, tilting her head.

"I want a pet," Ashton said quietly, still looking at the door. "I want a friend."

Delphinia’s heart softened at his words. She crouched slightly to meet his gaze. "A friend, huh?"

Ashton nodded, his eyes earnest. "Yeah. It would be nice to have someone to play with."

Delphinia straightened, her mind already working. This could be a golden opportunity to win Ashton over, she thought. A small smirk tugged at her lips as she considered the possibilities. What about Evander? Tch, I’ll deal with him later.

She ruffled Ashton’s hair gently, drawing his attention back to her. "Do you want to adopt one?" she asked, her tone light and encouraging.

Ashton’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Really? Can we?"

Delphinia smiled warmly, nodding. "Why not? Don’t worry about your father. I’m sure he’ll understand."

"Yay!" Ashton jumped up, his excitement infectious.

Delphinia couldn’t help but laugh, the sound echoing through the room. For a moment, the weight of her past and the complexities of her life faded into the background.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was the bright smile on Ashton’s face and the small steps they were taking toward something that resembled a family.