Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 138: Hesitation

The soft rustling of fabric and the distant sound of running water from the bathroom filled the bedroom as Delphinia finished helping Evander with his cufflinks. The clean white shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, the tailored suit fitting him to perfection, but Delphinia barely noticed. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Delphinia had been the one to suggest it. She had told Evander to give Lydia a chance to meet Ashton, to at least let them see each other. And when Ashton, with his bright eyes and open heart, had agreed, she couldn’t have been happier.

But now... now she wasn’t so sure.

As she fastened the last cufflink, she stole a glance at Evander’s face. He kept his expression blank, but the stiffness in his shoulders said it all. He had been like this since the moment he woke up—quiet, distant, his mood darkening with each passing hour.

Delphinia swallowed. Had she made a mistake?

She had thought this was the right thing to do. Lydia was Ashton’s mother, and whether they liked it or not, she would always be a part of his life. If there was a chance to make things smoother, to ease the inevitable conflicts, wasn’t it worth trying?

But seeing Evander like this, looking as though he was preparing for battle rather than a simple meeting, made her hesitate. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe this would only bring back more pain.

Evander exhaled through his nose, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "No," he admitted honestly, "but Ashton deserves to make this decision for himself. You said that."

Delphinia nodded. She understood. Even though Lydia had been absent, she was still Ashton’s mother. That bond wasn’t something that could be erased, no matter how long she had been gone.

Evander placed his hands on her waist, his fingers warm even through the fabric of her dress. "Don’t worry. I’m not leaving them alone. If Lydia so much as breathes the wrong way, I’ll take Ashton and walk out."

Delphinia smiled, appreciating how protective he was of their son. "I know."

With one last glance in the mirror, Evander grabbed his coat and headed toward the door. "I’ll be downstairs."

Delphinia hesitated for a moment before deciding to check on Ashton. Her feet carried her to his room, and she knocked lightly on the door before stepping inside.

What she saw made her pause.

Ashton was still in his pajamas, sitting on the edge of his bed with his head down, hands gripping his bedsheet tightly. The usual excitement in his eyes was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was hesitation—uncertainty.

"Ashton?" Delphinia said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

He didn’t look up. "I know I should get ready," he murmured. "But... I don’t know if I want to."

Delphinia’s heart ached. She walked over and sat beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Tell me what’s on your mind, sweetheart."

Ashton took a deep breath, his small shoulders rising and falling. "I don’t know what to say to her," he admitted. "I don’t even know if I want to see her. She left me."

Delphinia’s grip on his shoulder tightened just a fraction. "I won’t tell you what to do, Ashton. This is your decision. But I think if you don’t go today, you might regret it later."

Ashton frowned, his brows drawing together. "But what if she just leaves again?"

Delphinia sighed. "Then that will be on her. Not you." She reached out, brushing his hair from his forehead. "You’re an incredible boy, Ashton. You deserve answers, closure—even if it’s not the one you hope for."

He stared at the floor for a moment, his expression conflicted. "What if I don’t like what she says?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Delphinia gave a small, sad smile. "Then you walk away knowing you at least gave her a chance."

Ashton swallowed, his throat bobbing. "I don’t know if I can forgive her."

"You don’t have to," Delphinia said gently. "Forgiveness isn’t something you owe her. It’s something you give when you’re ready—if you ever want to."

He finally turned to face her, his eyes mirroring Evander’s in their intensity. "You think I should go?"

Delphinia met his gaze, unwavering. "I think you should do whatever will bring you peace."

Ashton was quiet for a long time, his small fingers playing with the hem of his pajama shirt. Finally, he exhaled and nodded slowly. "Okay," he said. "I’ll go."

Delphinia smiled, pride swelling in her chest. "That’s my brave boy."

Ashton bit his lip before glancing up at her. "But only on one condition."

Delphinia tilted her head. "What’s that?"

His grip on his shirt tightened, and for the first time in a while, he looked unsure. "Can you come with me?"

Delphinia’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected that. Evander had already offered for her to come, but she had refused without hesitation. She was just the stepmother—this was something between Ashton and Lydia. She didn’t want to interfere, nor did she want her presence to be a distraction. It wasn’t her place.

But looking at Ashton’s face, she saw the vulnerability there—the silent plea for support. He was putting on a brave face, but deep down, he was still just a little boy who had been abandoned once before.

Without hesitation, she reached out and took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be right there with you."

Ashton let out a small breath of relief and, for the first time that morning, gave a tiny smile. "Okay. I’ll get ready then."

Delphinia ran her fingers through his hair before rising and watching the child. As Ashton hurried off to get ready, Delphinia remained standing there, her heart feeling heavier than she let on. She had agreed without hesitation—because how could she not? Ashton needed her. But now, as the reality of the situation sank in, doubt crept in too.

Would this really be okay?