Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 99: Warm Welcome

Leaving their bedroom, Evander and Delphinia could hear the quiet chatter rising from below. Evander held her hand tightly as they walked, but he suddenly sighed, glancing over at her.

"You’re shaking," he said, his voice calm but teasing. "It’s not like they’re going to swallow you whole, you know. They’re not anacondas."

Delphinia let out a shaky laugh, though her hands trembled harder. "This is my natural reaction as a human being under stress, okay? I can’t help it."

Evander smirked, squeezing her hand as they reached the bottom of the staircase. "Relax. You’re going to be fine. Just be yourself, and they’ll adore you."

She glanced at him, wishing she could share his confidence. "Easy for you to say. They’re your parents, not mine."

As they descended the staircase, Delphinia found her thoughts wandering. She compared this nerve-wracking moment to meeting her ex-in-laws, but oddly, she hadn’t felt even a fraction of this anxiety back then. Maybe because they were a pack of self-righteous jerks who had barely acknowledged her existence. What was there to be nervous about when dealing with people like them?

But this? This was different. These were Evander’s parents—people who could very well determine her future with him.

The closer they got to the living room, the easier it was to make out the conversations.

"Delphinia can cook really well," Ashton said brightly, his small voice filled with pride. "She makes the best brownies! And she plays the piano, and she picks me up from school."

She hesitated on the steps, her cheeks flushing pink.

"She even helped me adopt Goldie and takes care of her!" Ashton added enthusiastically. Goldie’s tail hitting the floor in a steady rhythm showed just how happy he was.

Evander chuckled softly beside her, his eyes gleaming with pride as he tilted his head toward the living room. "See? Ashton’s already working his charm for you. My boy knows what he’s doing."

"Great," Delphinia muttered under her breath, though a tiny smile crept onto her lips.

"She’s really nice," Evander’s mother replied.

"She’s super nice to Dad, too," Ashton added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "She sleeps with him every night because he’s afraid of being alone. Weird, right? Before she came, he always slept alone!"

Delphinia froze, her face turning an alarming shade of red. She could practically feel the heat radiating from her cheeks.

"Oh no," she mumbled, covering her face with one hand. "Why did I ever say that to him?"

Evander was already biting back a laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Well, that’s... adorable."

"Shut up," she hissed, shooting him a glare.

Julian, who was clearly enjoying the moment, chuckled from inside the room. "Didn’t know my brother was a scaredy-cat. Good to know."

Ashton nodded seriously. "Yeah, I’m braver than Dad. I can sleep alone just fine!"

Evander’s mother let out a soft laugh. "Indeed, Ashton. You’re the bravest."

Before Delphinia could mentally prepare herself for what lay ahead, Ashton’s wandering gaze landed on the staircase. His face lit up like a lantern.

"There she is!" he exclaimed, jumping off Julian’s lap and pointing toward them. "That’s Delphinia!"

Evander nudged her gently. "Ready?"

"As ready as I’ll ever be," she whispered, though her heart raced like a drum.

Hand in hand, they walked into the living room. Delphinia kept her chin up, determined to appear confident, but the weight of everyone’s eyes was almost too much to bear. She caught Julian’s reassuring smile, a silent gesture of support, before her gaze shifted to Evander’s parents.

Sitting on the couch, they held themselves upright but looked relaxed. Evander’s mother, a graceful woman with silver-streaked hair and warm brown eyes, studied her intently, her gaze sweeping from her head to her toes. Beside her sat Evander’s father, a man whose stern features were softened by a faint smile.

Her palms started to sweat, but she straightened her shoulders anyway. She was here to make a good impression, and she wasn’t going to let her nerves ruin this.

His mother got up from her seat and moved closer, making Delphinia’s throat tighten. Her eyes met Delphinia’s, and a small smile curved her lips.

"So," she began. "You’re Delphinia?"

Delphinia nodded, offering a polite smile. "Yes, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you." She cleared her throat softly and continued, "I’m Delphinia Harrington, and—"

Before she could finish, Evander’s mother closed the distance between them and pulled her into a hug.

The room fell quiet, and even Goldie stopped wagging her tail, tilting her head curiously.

At first, Delphinia tensed up, caught off guard, but she gradually leaned into the hug.

When Evander’s mother finally pulled back, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I didn’t think I’d ever get to meet you," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "This is... incredible."

Delphinia blinked, completely at a loss for words. She glanced at Evander, who looked equally puzzled.

"I’m sorry," Delphinia said cautiously. "I don’t quite understand..."

Evander’s mother smiled warmly, reaching up to cup Delphinia’s face. "I knew your mother."

Delphinia’s breath caught in her throat.

"What?"

"She and I were friends," Evander’s mother explained, her expression a mix of nostalgia and sadness. "A long time ago. She was a wonderful woman, and I... I always regretted losing touch with her."

Evander stepped forward, his brows furrowed. "You never mentioned this before, Mom."

She turned to him with a wistful smile. "It wasn’t something I liked to talk about. Losing a friend like that... it’s not easy."

Delphinia’s mind raced, trying to piece everything together. Evander’s mother smiled again, this time with a touch of mischief. "Well, if you’re anything like your mother, I don’t think we’ll have any problems. You’re more than welcome in this family, Delphinia."

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, smiling through the overwhelming emotions swirling inside her. "Thank you. That means more than I can say."

Evander slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "See? Told you they wouldn’t swallow you whole."

She elbowed him lightly, but her smile only grew wider. For the first time in days, she felt like everything might actually turn out okay.

Evander’s mother placed a gentle hand on Delphinia’s shoulder. "Let’s sit and talk more. There’s so much I’d love to know about you."