Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 201: A Gift Best Left Unopened

The party was in full swing. The warm glow of chandeliers cast a golden hue over the grand hall, where guests laughed, clinked glasses, and swayed to the soft melody of the string quartet playing in the background.

Evander stood near the edge of the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning the room, looking for one person—Delphinia. The last time he saw her, she had been speaking with his parents. But now, she was nowhere to be seen. His brows furrowed slightly, and he pressed his lips together, resisting the urge to pull out his phone and call her.

Ashton was still with his father, which meant Evander had no reason to worry about him. But Delphinia... where had she gone? His mother wouldn’t have let her wander off alone, but knowing Delphinia, she might have slipped away to take a breath from the overwhelming crowd. He would check the gardens first, then maybe the balcony—

"Evander."

A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

Turning his head slightly, Evander found himself face-to-face with Cedric, who approached him with his usual easy confidence. Walking beside him, as expected, was Lydia. Of course. They had been waiting for the moment he was alone.

"Happy birthday, old man," Cedric said with a smirk before pulling him into a brief but firm hug.

Evander sighed, patting Cedric’s back once before stepping away. "You’re only a year younger than me. Don’t start."

Cedric grinned and held out a small, sleek car key with a bright red bow on top. "Here. A little something for your collection."

Evander arched an eyebrow but took the key, rolling it between his fingers before glancing at his friend. "If there’s one good thing about you, it’s your taste in gifts." His lips curved into a small smirk. "That, and your instincts in the business world. Everything else, questionable."

Cedric chuckled and lightly punched Evander’s shoulder. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Evander didn’t respond, but his gaze flickered to Cedric’s face, observing how his friend hesitated for a moment before stealing a glance at Lydia. It was quick, but Evander caught it. His lips pressed into a thin line.

Then, as if making a decision, Cedric exhaled sharply and said, "I’m going to grab a drink before I head out." Without waiting for a response, he walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

That left Evander with Lydia.

Evander sighed, watching Cedric disappear into the crowd.

Why wasn’t he surprised?

Of course Cedric would pull something like this—just leaving him alone with Lydia, knowing damn well he wouldn’t appreciate it. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

Evander ran a hand down his face, exhaling slowly. He could already hear Cedric’s excuse if he brought it up later. Oh, come on, it’s not a big deal. You two can handle a few minutes together, right?

Yeah. Right.

He shifted his gaze toward Lydia, who seemed unaware of Cedric’s little maneuver. Or maybe she was just pretending not to notice. Either way, Evander wasn’t in the mood to deal with whatever this was supposed to be.

His jaw tightened. If Cedric thought pushing him and Lydia into the same space was going to change anything, he was wrong.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them felt heavier than the lively chatter of the party around them. Lydia shifted slightly, her emerald gown shimmering under the warm lights. Then, she finally broke the silence.

"Happy birthday, Evander."

Evander gave a quick nod. "Thanks." He had no intention of staying any longer than necessary. "I should—"

Before he could take a step, Lydia’s hand reached out, fingers brushing against his wrist. The touch was light but enough to make him pause. His gaze dropped to her hand, and immediately, she let go, as if realizing she had overstepped.

"Sorry," she murmured. "I just..." Lydia trailed off, pressing her lips together. She lifted her eyes to his, tilting her head slightly. "I was just surprised that you’re hosting a party like this."

Evander sighed. "I’m not. My mother and Delphinia planned it."

At the mention of Delphinia’s name, something flickered in Lydia’s expression. It was gone just as quickly, replaced by a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I see," she said softly.

Evander didn’t have the patience for whatever game she was playing tonight. "If that’s all, I should—"

"Do you remember how we used to celebrate your birthday?" Lydia interrupted, her voice carrying a wistful tone.

His expression remained unreadable. "No."

Lydia blinked, looking slightly taken aback. "You really don’t?"

"No," Evander repeated, his voice firm.

Lydia let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "That’s cruel."

He exhaled sharply. "Lydia, if there’s nothing important—"

"I haven’t given you my gift yet."

Evander stared at her, unamused. "You didn’t have to bother."

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "It would be rude to come empty-handed."

"Fine." He had no interest in whatever sentimental gift she had prepared. The sooner he accepted it, the sooner he could leave.

Lydia smiled, but there was something almost victorious in her eyes. "I can’t give it to you here," she said smoothly. "Can we go to the balcony?"

Evander clenched his jaw. This woman...

A vein in his temple throbbed. He could easily refuse. He could turn around, walk away, and pretend this conversation never happened.

But then he thought of Delphinia.

If she found out he had ignored Lydia completely, she would be upset. Not because she doubted him, but because she had always been kind, always been the one who believed in handling things gracefully. And as much as he wanted to ignore Lydia, he didn’t want Delphinia to feel hurt, even in the smallest way.

With an exasperated sigh, he muttered, "Fine, come on."

Lydia’s smile widened, but Evander didn’t miss the glint in her eyes as she turned and walked toward the balcony.

He followed, his footsteps heavy with reluctance.

Let’s get this over with.