Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 36: A New Routine

Hugo walked slowly into the office building, juggling a coffee cup in one hand and his briefcase in the other. He reached his desk just as the clock ticked past seven-thirty, and with a sigh, shrugged off his coat, draping it over the back of his chair. He placed his coffee aside, and got ready to dive back into the madness of Evander’s schedule.

As he straightened his tie, Hugo noticed Evander heading his way and paused, surprised.

"Morning, boss," Hugo greeted, standing up straight.

"Good morning," he said, barely pausing as he continued walking to his office.

Hugo grabbed his coffee and hurried after him. "Not that I’m complaining, but it’s not like you to come in this early," he said, a note of curiosity in his voice.

Evander pushed open the glass door to his office, stepping inside. He glanced over his shoulder as Hugo followed him in, closing the door behind them.

"I didn’t have to take Ashton to school today," Evander said simply, heading for the couch in the corner of the room instead of his usual spot at the desk.

Hugo raised an eyebrow, taking a seat opposite his boss. He balanced his coffee cup on his knee and leaned forward slightly. "You didn’t take Ashton to school?" he echoed, his voice tinged with mock disbelief. "Wow, that’s... kind of a big deal for you. What happened? Did the earth stop spinning or something?"

Evander leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Funny," he said dryly.

Hugo chuckled, but his curiosity was genuine. "Seriously, though. You never skip a drop-off. So, what’s so special about today?"

Evander’s face relaxed just a bit, showing a flicker of something rare—vulnerability—as he tapped lightly on the armrest.

It was true. He’d never missed a single morning of taking Ashton to school. Not once. His routine was a constant cycle of meetings, deal-making, and drowning in documents, but he made sure those precious minutes with Ashton were untouchable.

He had to admit, it wasn’t just about being a responsible parent. Between the hectic pace of work and the constant demands of his role, Evander often found himself feeling like a distant figure in Ashton’s life. Work, after all, was the reason he could provide everything for him—why Ashton had the best of everything. Yet, there were moments when guilt gnawed at him.

Taking Ashton to school every morning wasn’t just a routine; it was his way of compensating. Proving to his son that no matter how hectic things got, he was always there.. They’d talk about cartoons, his friends, or simply share a quiet moment before the day began. It wasn’t much, but it was their time. And he wasn’t about to let work steal it from him.

Hugo tilted his head, watching his boss closely. "Boss?"

Evander blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "You’re right," he admitted, his tone quieter than usual. "I don’t skip it. But there’s a change."

Hugo raised an eyebrow again. "Yeah, and that is?"

Evander’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Delphinia wanted to take him. She asked last night."

Hugo sat up straighter, intrigued. "Wow. She’s really stepping up, huh? Trying to be a good stepmother and all that."

Evander chuckled, a rare, genuine sound. "You should’ve seen her reaction the first time she met Ashton. She didn’t exactly expect to find out I already had a son."

Hugo grinned. "I can imagine. How’d she take it?"

Evander leaned back, his arms resting on the couch’s armrest. "She was... surprised, to say the least. But she’s handled it well since then. She’s trying, and that’s more than I expected."

Hugo sipped his coffee, then set it down on the low table between them. "How’s Ashton handling it? I mean, it’s not every day a kid suddenly has a stepmom."

Evander tilted his head slightly, considering the question. "He hasn’t said much. He doesn’t act like he hates her, but he hasn’t warmed up to her either. It’s... neutral."

Hugo smirked. "Neutral, huh? Care to elaborate?"

Evander shrugged. "He’s the same as always. Polite, reserved, but distant. I take that as a good sign, though. At least he’s not pushing her away."

Hugo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that makes sense. Kids take time with things like this."

Suddenly, Hugo clapped his hands together, making Evander raise an eyebrow. "What?"

Hugo hesitated, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I just remembered something, but I’m not sure I should tell you."

Evander’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance in his gaze. "Hugo."

"Okay, okay," Hugo said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "There’s an invitation. For you."

Evander’s brow furrowed. "From who?"

"Gregory Robinson," Hugo said cautiously. "It’s for his youngest son’s engagement party."

The name struck him like a jolt, and his jaw clenched. "Kai Robinson," he said, spitting the name like it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Hugo nodded, his expression apologetic. "Yep. That Kai Robinson. This is why I wasn’t sure if I should tell you."

Evander’s gaze darkened as memories of Delphinia’s ex-husband surfaced.

Hugo, sensing the shift in mood, cleared his throat. "There’s more. The engagement party’s at The Royals."

Evander’s eyes narrowed further. "One of my hotels," he said, his voice cold.

Hugo nodded again. "Yeah. Your wife’s ex-husband is throwing his engagement party at one of your properties. You can’t make this stuff up."

After a brief silence, Evander sighed, the corner of his mouth curving up into a fainted smirk.

Hugo groaned. "Oh no. That’s not a good sign. What are you planning?"

Evander’s smirk widened slightly as he turned to Hugo. "I need your help with something."

Hugo leaned back, folding his arms. "Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?"

Evander’s gaze held a glint of mischief, and Hugo could only shake his head, knowing that whatever Evander had in mind, it was going to be anything but simple.