Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 81: Just Why?

The living room felt oddly tense as Evander sank into the leather couch, the soft light from the lamps playing across the room. A crystal glass of wine rested in his hand, its deep red hue glinting softly. Across from him sat Victor Walton, his father, his presence as intimidating as ever. His sharp eyes, framed by faint wrinkles that hinted at his years of wisdom, were locked onto Evander, as though silently dissecting him.

Ashton had been a lively presence earlier, his laughter ringing out as he animatedly spoke about his day, jumping from topic to topic with the kind of energy only kids seem to have. But as the night wore on, his eyelids had grown heavier, his words slower.

"Alright, buddy, it’s time for you to sleep," Evander had said gently, ruffling his son’s hair.

"But I wanna stay here," Ashton mumbled, clinging to his father’s arm.

Evander chuckled. "Come on, even superheroes need their rest."

It was Elaine, Evander’s mother, who stepped in, her soft voice coaxing Ashton. "How about I tuck you in, sweetheart?"

Ashton hesitated but finally relented, reaching up for his grandmother’s hand. "Okay, but only if you read me a story."

"Deal," Elaine said, smiling as she led him upstairs. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Now, Evander found himself alone with Victor, the silence between them as heavy as the rich oak furniture that decorated the room. Victor’s penetrating gaze never wavered, and Evander felt the weight of it like a spotlight trained on him. He took another sip of wine, letting its warmth calm his nerves.

Elaine’s soft steps on the staircase caught both men’s attention. "He’s out like a light," she announced, a soft smile gracing her face. She walked with an elegance that made her dress whisper softly with each step. Taking a seat beside Victor, she placed a delicate hand on his arm before turning her attention to Evander.

Victor cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "How’s the company doing?" he asked in a tone as serious as his expression.

Evander leaned forward slightly, resting his glass on the coffee table. "Everything’s running smoothly, as usual. Hugo’s been a great help."

With a sharp nod, Victor remained as unreadable as ever. Evander’s gaze shifted between his parents. They were both watching him intently now, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something heavier was coming.

"How was Europe?" Evander asked, attempting to steer the conversation away.

Elaine’s eyes lit up, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, it was wonderful. The architecture, the food, the art... Simply gorgeous. We enjoyed it so much." She paused, her tone growing serious. "Until we heard certain news."

Evander’s grip on the wine glass tightened, though he kept his expression neutral. A sense of dread crept in as he guessed what was coming. "What news?" he asked casually, trying to sound calm but failing to hide the tension.

Victor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You tell me," he said, his sharp eyes narrowing.

Evander held his father’s gaze for a long moment, his mind racing. Finally, Elaine spoke, her voice gentler but no less pointed. "Your marriage, Evander."

A faint sigh escaped his lips, and he leaned back into the sofa, a small, wry smile playing on his lips. "I take it you’ve heard."

Elaine’s seriousness melted away as she stood and crossed the room, sitting down beside him. Without warning, she pulled him into a tight hug. "My boy, married! Why didn’t you tell us?"

Evander chuckled softly, patting her back. "I knew you’d react like this," he said, his voice laced with affection.

Elaine pulled back, her eyes shining with both joy and curiosity. "Of course I’d react like this! I’ve been asking you to settle down for years." She shot a glance at Victor. "Your father and I even tried introducing you to some wonderful young women but you keep turning them all down."

Evander smiled, his gaze drifting to his father, who still looked as stern as ever. If Victor’s expression was any indication, he was far from pleased.

"I’m sure you did," Evander said, his tone light.

Elaine’s smile widened. "So, where is she? Where’s my daughter-in-law? I can’t wait to meet her."

"She’s at her friend’s house," Evander replied smoothly. "They’re celebrating a birthday."

It wasn’t a complete lie, he told himself. Delphinia had mentioned something about a friend’s birthday before.

Elaine nodded approvingly. "Caring for her friends. That’s a good trait."

Victor, however, wasn’t so easily satisfied. "What the hell were you thinking?" he said, his voice low and sharp. "Getting married without telling us? Do we mean so little to you that you didn’t think we deserved to know?"