Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 67: His Thoughts

Delphinia stepped out of the car, holding Goldie’s leash firmly in her hand while Ashton bolted out with his boundless energy. The golden retriever barked joyfully, wagging its tail so vigorously that it thumped against Delphinia’s leg.

"Come on, Goldie!" Ashton called, his voice high-pitched with excitement as he tugged on the leash. Delphinia smiled, following him up the driveway.

"Wait for me, Ashton!" she called after him, laughing lightly as he dashed up to the front door. Her heels clicked against the stone path as she hurried to keep up, her free hand smoothing down her dress against the cool evening breeze.

The front door opened before they could even knock. Evander stood there in the living room, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorway leading into the house. He looked relaxed, though there was a tightness in his expression that Delphinia couldn’t quite place.

"Welcome back," Evander greeted. His eyes softened as he looked at Ashton, who charged forward to throw his arms around his father’s waist.

"Dad!" Ashton exclaimed, his face lighting up. "It was so much fun! I played with Goldie, and Delphinia. She’s really good at fetch, even better than Goldie sometimes!"

Evander chuckled, his deep voice rumbling as he ruffled Ashton’s hair. "Sounds like a great time," he said, crouching down to meet Ashton’s eye level. "I’ll come with you next time. I promise."

"You better," Ashton shot back with a grin before glancing at Goldie, who lay happily panting near the door.

Delphinia lingered near the doorway, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward Evander. There was something different about him tonight, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. His usual confidence was still there, but it seemed tempered by something heavier, something distant. There was something distant in his eyes, a burden he couldn’t quite hide.

A faint wave of discomfort settled in her chest, making her heart skip. What’s wrong? she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. She wasn’t sure why it mattered so much to her, but the thought of him carrying some burden unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

Evander glanced up and caught her staring. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Delphinia felt as though he could see straight through her. Her cheeks warmed as she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to adjust the strap of her bag.

"What?" Evander asked, his voice low but curious.

Delphinia froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Oh, nothing," she said quickly, waving a hand dismissively. "It’s nothing at all."

Evander didn’t look convinced. His lips curved into a small, knowing smirk as he stood up, towering over her even at a casual distance. "If you say so," he said, his tone teasing but gentle.

Delphinia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress as they all moved toward the dining room. She tried to shake off the strange feeling, but it lingered, a quiet hum at the back of her mind.

**

Plates and glasses were already set on the dining table, and the smell of roasted chicken and herbs filled through the air. Ashton climbed into his seat eagerly, bouncing slightly as he waited for the food. Delphinia helped him settle before taking her own seat across from Evander.

As they ate, she couldn’t help but glance at him from time to time. He seemed...off, though he was doing his best to hide it. His smiles for Ashton were genuine, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes that gave her pause.

Evander caught her looking again, and this time, she wasn’t quick enough to look away.

"Delphinia," he said, drawing out her name in a way that made her heart skip. "Is there something on your mind? Or is my face just that fascinating tonight?"

Delphinia’s fork clattered against her plate as she fumbled with it, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "N-no," she stammered, her voice higher than usual. "I wasn’t—I mean, I didn’t—"

Before she could finish, Ashton piped up, his innocent voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Delphinia, why do you keep looking at Dad?"

Delphinia’s eyes widened in horror, and she waved her hands in front of her as if to dispel the accusation. "I wasn’t! I mean, I didn’t—Ashton, that’s not—"

Evander chuckled, the sound rich and smooth as he leaned back in his chair. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at his son. "Maybe Delphinia just likes looking at my handsome face."

Delphinia’s jaw dropped, and she stared at him, her face burning with embarrassment. "I do not!" she blurted out, her voice almost a squeak.

Ashton giggled, clearly enjoying the exchange. "It’s okay, Delphinia," he said earnestly. "Lots of people say Dad’s handsome. You can say it too."

Evander smirked, raising an eyebrow at her as if daring her to respond. "See?" he said, gesturing to Ashton. "The kid’s got a point."

Delphinia groaned, burying her face in her hands as Ashton and Evander laughed. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She could feel the heat in her cheeks spreading all the way to her ears, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to regain her composure.

The rest of the meal passed in a blur for her, though Ashton seemed to enjoy every moment of the playful banter between his father and Delphinia. Evander, for his part, seemed more relaxed, though Delphinia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still on his mind.

As they cleared the table, Delphinia stole one last glance at Evander. He caught her eye again, and this time, his smile was softer, almost...grateful.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice meant only for her.

"For what?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

He didn’t answer, simply shaking his head with a small smile before turning back to help Ashton with the dishes.

Delphinia watched him for a moment longer, her chest tightening slightly. She didn’t know what he was thanking her for, but the sincerity in his tone stayed with her.