Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 108: It’s Time

The car ride home was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the usual chatter that filled the space. Delphinia stole a glance at Ashton, who was sitting next to her, lost in whatever he saw outside the window. His small face, usually so animated with stories from school, was unusually somber. He stared out the window, his fingers tracing invisible patterns on his seatbelt.

"Everything okay there, Ashton?" Delphinia asked, keeping her tone light.

Ashton turned from the window, his gaze flickering to her. His eyes lit up for a second before the spark faded. "Yeah, it’s fine," he mumbled, his voice soft.

Delphinia frowned but didn’t press further. Maybe he was just tired from school. She turned her focus back to the road, though her thoughts lingered on his unusual behavior.

When they arrived home, Goldie greeted them at the door with enthusiastic barks and a wagging tail. Ashton bent down to pet the golden retriever, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Hey, Goldie," he whispered, scratching behind the dog’s ears.

Delphinia watched him, her worry deepening. While Ashton’s mood seemed to lift slightly as he played fetch with Goldie in the backyard, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

After dinner, the household seemed to settle back into its routine. Ashton sat at the table, chatting with Evander about his day at school. His laughter was genuine, though faint, and Delphinia noticed how he avoided looking at her too often. It was as though he was hiding something, but she couldn’t quite place what it was.

Evander, totally unaware of Ashton’s earlier mood, carried on as his usual charismatic self, reacting to everything Ashton said. Delphinia half-listened, her mind distracted by Ashton’s earlier behavior.

As the evening wound down and Ashton was tucked into bed, Delphinia found herself seated at her vanity in their bedroom, brushing her hair in slow, rhythmic strokes. She kept thinking back to the day’s events, especially that moment at the café when Ashton’s bright mood had suddenly faded.

Delphinia’s hand slowed as the brush glided through her hair, her thoughts pulling her further from the room around her. There was no way someone’s mood could shift that quickly without reason. One moment, Ashton had been his usual, cheerful self, his smile bright and carefree. The next, he’d been quiet and withdrawn, his eyes clouded with something she couldn’t name.

She stared at her reflection, the repetitive motion of brushing her hair doing little to soothe the unease creeping into her chest. It couldn’t have been nothing, she thought, her brow furrowing.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the brush handle. "There must be something."

Delphinia sighed, setting the brush down with a soft clink. She couldn’t ignore it.

And then, Evander walked in casually, raising his arms in a stretch before propping a hand on his hip. "You look deep in thought," he observed.

Delphinia smiled faintly, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Just thinking about today. Valerie came over; it was nice to catch up. We even made lunch together."

Evander smirked. "So you had a good time?"

She nodded. "I did. And you? You mentioned lunch with your friend earlier."

His face twitched briefly, irritation flashing across it before he quickly smoothed it over. "Yeah, lunch. Cedric hasn’t changed much, still poking his nose where it doesn’t belong."

Delphinia raised an eyebrow but didn’t press for details. She could tell he didn’t want to elaborate, and honestly, her mind was elsewhere.

Turning to him fully, she gave him her full attention. "You know, Ashton seemed a little off today. He was quiet on the way home from school, and even though he cheered up a bit, I could tell something was bothering him."

Evander’s brow furrowed. "Did you ask him about it?"

"I did," Delphinia replied with a sigh. "He said nothing was wrong, but I don’t believe him."

Evander stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on Delphinia’s shoulder. His touch was warm, steady, and for a moment, she let herself lean into the comfort he offered. "Delphinia," he said softly, his deep voice calm and reassuring, "kids go through all kinds of things they don’t always want to share. It doesn’t mean you’re not a good mom or that he’s shutting you out. Sometimes they just need time to process."

Delphinia nodded, though her heart remained heavy. Evander’s words were logical, but the image of Ashton’s unusually somber expression stuck with her like a stubborn shadow. "I know you’re right," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s something more. He looked... different today. Like he was carrying something too heavy for him to handle."

Evander squeezed her shoulder gently, his gaze calm and unwavering. "You’re his mom now. If it’s something big, he’ll come to you. And until then, you’ll be there, just like always."

Delphinia gave a faint smile, appreciating his confidence in her. "Thanks," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

But even as she nodded along with his reassurances, her thoughts betrayed her. I can’t stop thinking about the look on his face, she admitted silently. It was so sad, so distant. I’ve seen him frustrated, upset, even mad at me. But that? That was different.

Evander knelt in front of her, resting his hands on her knees. His sudden movement startled her, and she leaned back slightly. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Why are you down on your knees all of a sudden?"

"There’s something I need to tell you," Evander said, his tone somber.

Her heart skipped a beat. "What is it? You look so serious."

Evander’s jaw tightened, his hands squeezing her knees gently as though grounding himself. "I’ve been keeping something from you, and I think it’s time you knew everything."

The silence that followed his words felt thick, and her breath snagged in her throat. She stared down at him, her hands gripping the edge of the vanity. "Alright, now I’m really curious."

"It’s about Ashton’s mother."