Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 101: Like Family

A soft breeze stirred the oak tree’s leaves, blending with the faint chirps of crickets. Evander sat back in a wooden chair, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as his brother Julian stretched his legs out lazily on the grass beside him.

"I still can’t believe it," Julian began, his gaze fixed on the house as he leaned back on his elbows. Peering through the glass doors, they caught a glimpse of their mom working alongside Delphinia in the kitchen. The soft clatter of pots and the faint hum of their mother’s voice floated out to them. "Mom and Delphinia’s mom—friends? It’s surreal."

Evander glanced toward the kitchen, his sharp eyes lingering on Delphinia’s graceful movements as she handed his mother a bowl. "It’s news to me, too," he admitted, his deep voice calm but thoughtful. "She never mentioned it—not once."

Julian smirked, tilting his head toward his brother. "Makes you wonder how much else she’s kept under wraps."

Evander chuckled lightly, his lips curling into a faint grin. "Knowing Mom? Plenty."

For a moment, the brothers shared a quiet, peaceful silence, the kind that only comes with family. Then, Julian shifted, his expression turning mischievous. "You know, speaking of secrets..."

Evander raised an eyebrow, turning his full attention to Julian. "What is it?"

Julian leaned closer, dropping his voice as if revealing classified information. "Dad didn’t really approve of your marriage, you know."

Evander leaned back, his expression unbothered but intrigued. "Oh?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Yeah," Julian continued, his grin widening. "Apparently, he had someone else in mind for you. A proper match or something. But you went and threw a wrench in all his plans."

Evander let out a low laugh, the kind that rumbled deep in his chest. "Well, it’s too late for him to do anything about it now, isn’t it? Delphinia and I are already married."

Julian pretended to shiver dramatically. "You’re lucky Mom’s on your side. She practically worships Delphinia. If it were up to Dad alone..."

"Let’s just say I’d be in for a fight," Evander finished for him, his smirk widening. He gave Julian a pointed look. "Speaking of matches, maybe it’s time you braced yourself for an arranged marriage."

Julian’s face twisted into a comical grimace. "Hell no. I’m not going down that road. I’ve got a girlfriend, remember?"

Evander chuckled, his amusement evident in his gleaming eyes. "Better make sure she’s ready for Dad’s interrogation, then. He’s bound to find out eventually."

Julian opened his mouth to reply but froze, his face suddenly serious. "What about the Harringtons? Any updates?"

Evander’s smirk faded slightly, his jaw tightening. He looked off toward the horizon, his gaze steady. "It’s a mess," he admitted. "Even if I invited them, I’m sure they wouldn’t show. They’ve made it clear where they stand."

Julian nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Figures."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Ashton’s voice calling from the patio door. "Dinner’s ready!"

Evander stood, brushing his hands against his pants. "Come on," he said, glancing down at Julian. "Let’s see what they’ve made for us."

Julian groaned theatrically as he got to his feet, following his brother inside. The irresistible smell of Elaine and Delphinia’s cooking filled the entire house.

The table was already set, with Elaine fussing over the placement of a dish while Delphinia stood beside her, smiling softly. Victor was helping Ashton settle into his seat, and Goldie, the family dog, sat obediently at his feet.

As they all took their seats, the conversation began to flow easily, the atmosphere light and cheerful.

"You know," Elaine said with a chuckle, breaking into the banter. "The craziest thing about all of this is that Cecilia and I once made a pact to marry our children to each other."

Evander’s eyebrows shot up, a smirk playing on his lips. "Is that so?"

Julian leaned forward, his expression one of exaggerated disbelief. "Wait a minute. You’re saying Delphinia and Evander were engaged before they were even born? What if I had been born first?" He turned to Delphinia with a teasing grin. "Would that have made you mine instead?"

Delphinia blushed faintly, unsure how to respond, but before she could say anything, Ashton’s voice rang out over the chuckles, grabbing everyone’s attention. "Didn’t you say you already have a girlfriend, Uncle Julian? Now you want to take Delphinia, too?"

The table fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. Even Elaine covered her mouth to hide a smile as Victor chuckled deeply.

"That’s enough, Ashton," Elaine said gently, patting his hand. "Your uncle was only joking."

Victor, however, seized the opportunity to turn the tables on Julian. "While we’re on girlfriends," he said. "Why haven’t we met her yet? Are you planning to pull an Evander and marry her without telling us?"

Julian groaned, slumping back in his chair. "Oh, for crying out loud," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "Can we not make this about me?"

Everyone at the table laughed, the warm atmosphere like a cozy hug. Delphinia’s lips curved into a quiet smile. It was moments like this that reminded her of what she had longed for her entire life—a family.

A soft happiness filled her as she listened to the lighthearted teasing. This was what it felt like to belong, to be surrounded by people who cared for each other deeply, even if they showed it through jokes and jabs.

As the laughter began to die down, she felt a nudge at her side. Turning her head, she found Evander looking at her, his expression mischievous.

"What’s wrong?" she asked softly, tilting her head in curiosity.

Evander’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk. He leaned in slightly, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Nothing," he answered "Just wanted to see you smile like that."

Delphinia felt her cheeks heat up, her heart thundering in her chest as she tried to suppress a shy laugh. His gaze held hers for a moment longer, his eyes filled with a warmth that made her feel as though the entire world had melted away.