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.