Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 71: What’s Next?

The clock on the wall ticked softly, filling the quiet of Evander’s office. He sat behind his desk, engrossed in a pile of documents spread before him. The soft tap of his pen against the desk was the only sign he was starting to lose patience. Despite his focus, his mind wandered every now and then to the events of the previous day, stirring a mix of frustration and unease.

A sharp knock at the door broke the silence, followed by the familiar sound of it opening. Evander glanced up to see Hugo stepping in, a paper bag in hand.

"Lunch is here," Hugo announced, looking as relaxed as always.

Evander leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly before standing. "Perfect timing. I can’t take it anymore. Geez, I didn’t even realize it was already lunch time," he said, moving toward the couch on the other side of the room.

"Why’re you eating here with me? Did the woman from Marketing say no, so now you’re stuck with me?"

Evander didn’t think he was wrong to say it, especially since Hugo had made it clear he was interested in her—and lunch was supposed to be his way in.

Hugo had already made himself comfortable, dropping the paper bag onto the coffee table and taking a seat. "Nothing wrong with having lunch with my boss," Hugo said, grinning, "especially since my boss happens to be my friend, too."

Evander smirked as he sat down across from him. "Rare words of sentiment from you, Hugo. I’m touched."

Hugo chuckled, pulling out two neatly packed lunch boxes from the bag. He handed one to Evander, who took it with a curious glance. The moment he opened it, the aroma of fresh sushi hit him.

"From the place down the street," Hugo said, leaning back with his own box. "Figured it’s been a while since you’ve had one of your favorites."

Evander raised an eyebrow in approval, already reaching for his chopsticks. "Good choice."

The two ate in comfortable silence for a while. Evander took his time with each bite, letting the familiar flavors pull his mind away from everything else.

It wasn’t until Hugo broke the quiet that the atmosphere shifted. "So," he began casually, setting his box down, "how did it go down yesterday?"

He stopped halfway, chopsticks hovering in the air. He chewed more slowly, his mind racing. He knew exactly what Hugo was referring to, and the question stirred a familiar irritation within him.

"What do you think?" Evander asked, his tone calm but laced with sarcasm.

Hugo snorted. "Probably like hell. I just hope no one threw anything."

Evander placed his chopsticks down and glanced at his friend. Hugo’s easy-going expression didn’t fool him. Beneath it was genuine concern—a trait that had cemented their bond over the years. Hugo was more than just an employee; he was a confidant, someone who had been by his side through countless ups and downs, including the mess that was Lydia.

"I didn’t get the chance to throw anything," Evander replied dryly, leaning back against the couch.

Hugo chuckled, shaking his head. "Probably for the best. Not exactly gentlemanly behavior, hitting a woman, no matter how angry you are."

He arched an eyebrow, a sarcastic smile tugging at his lips. "Really? Try me. Lydia’s an exception."

Hugo laughed, but his tone shifted slightly as he added, "Just remember, she’s still the mother of your child."

The words hung in the air for a moment. Evander’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Trust me, I remind myself of that every day."

Hugo’s gaze lingered on him, studying his friend’s expression. "What’s your plan now that she’s back?"

Evander didn’t answer immediately. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he thought. Finally, he looked up at Hugo, his eyes hard.

"Keep an eye on her," he said firmly. "Anything suspicious, anything out of the ordinary—report it to me. I won’t let that woman ruin my life or Ashton’s again."

Hugo nodded, his expression serious now. "Got it."

Reaching for his chopsticks, he realized his hand had unconsciously clenched around them. The wood cracked slightly under the pressure, the sound sharp in the quiet room. Both men glanced at the broken chopsticks, and Hugo raised an eyebrow.

"You might want to ease up on those," Hugo said, a faint smile returning to his face.

Evander set the broken pieces down with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "It’s just... she has a way of getting under my skin, you know?"

Hugo nodded knowingly. "She’s always been good at that."

The conversation faded, leaving behind a quiet that felt heavy but not unpleasant. Evander reached for another pair of chopsticks from the table drawer and resumed eating, his movements slower this time.

Hugo finished his lunch first, leaning back on the couch as he watched his friend. "You know," he said after a while, "for what it’s worth, I think you’re handling this better than you would’ve a few years ago."

Evander gave him a sidelong glance. "You mean I’m not throwing furniture anymore?"

Hugo laughed, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Exactly. Progress."

Evander shook his head, but a faint smile played on his lips. As much as he hated to admit it, Hugo’s presence had a way of grounding him.

As they wrapped up their lunch, Hugo stood, gathering the empty containers. "I’ll take care of this," he said, nodding toward the trash. "And I’ll get started on keeping tabs on Lydia."

Evander stood as well, clapping a hand on Hugo’s shoulder. "Thanks. I don’t say it enough, but... I appreciate you."

Hugo gave him a crooked smile. "You’re welcome, boss. Anytime." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

With that, Hugo left the office, leaving Evander alone with his thoughts once more. As he went back to his desk, the determined look in his eyes said it all. Whatever Lydia’s intentions were, he wouldn’t let her disrupt the life he was trying to rebuild—not for himself, and not for Ashton.