Chapter 7: Have Her

Evander leaned back slightly, crossing his arms over his chest as his piercing gaze locked on Delphinia. His lips curled into a half-smile as he repeated, "So, you’re Delphinia Harrington." Delphinia tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if wondering why he emphasized her name. "Yup," she replied with a casual nod. Then, with a heavy sigh, she threw her hands up and followed it with both her thumbs pointing down. "And let me just say, my luck is amazing," she added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Evander raised a brow, intrigued. "Amazing?" "Yes, amazingly bad!" Delphinia clarified, dropping her hands and leaning her elbows against the railing behind her. Her eyes sparkled with frustration and amusement as she explained, "My father married this horrible woman who’s made it her life’s mission to ruin mine. Thank God my stepsister turned out decent. At least one person in that house doesn’t hate my guts." Evander tilted his head, observing the way her lips pressed into a pout and her fingers fiddled absentmindedly with the railing. "Not yet?" he teased, smirking slightly. "What?" Delphinia blinked at him in confusion before realizing what he was implying. She gave him an exaggerated gasp and wagged a finger. "Oh, no. Don’t jinx it! She’s a sweet girl, and I genuinely want her to stay that way." Her voice softened as she added, "I’d hate for her to turn out like her mother." Evander stayed silent, watching as Delphinia leaned forward to peek over the railing. Her hands gripped the metal bar tightly, and her face was illuminated by the dim lights of the night. The soft breeze toyed with her hair, making stray strands dance across her face. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to see what lay below them. Evander’s eyes lingered on her profile. There was something undeniably magnetic about her. She was different—chaotic, unpredictable, and full of contradictions. Before he could stop himself, he found his feet moving closer until he stood beside her. "You know," he began, his voice low and steady, "I’m rich." Delphinia turned her head to him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Okay... so what?" Evander leaned casually against the railing, his smirk returning. "Do you want to marry me?" Delphinia blinked at him, her expression frozen in disbelief for a few seconds. Then her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "Wait, what?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. Evander’s smirk faltered for a brief moment as he realized what he’d just said. The words had slipped out without any thought, and that never happened to him. What is wrong with me? He thought, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Evander Walton didn’t act impulsively. He was a man of logic, strategy, and precision. Whether it was closing a multi-million-dollar deal or choosing which watch to wear, every decision was calculated. Yet here he was, standing on a balcony, asking a woman he’d just met minutes ago to marry him. Delphinia tilted her head, studying him intently. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Yes." The word escaped his lips before he could stop it. A small, amused smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Completely." Delphinia straightened her posture, her hands resting on her hips as she tilted her head to one side. "Okay, then," she said, her tone playful. "How rich are we talking here?" Evander chuckled at her question, appreciating how straightforward she was. "Very," he replied simply, his smile widening. Her eyes lit up, and she leaned closer, studying his face as if trying to gauge whether he was lying. "Like... billionaire-rich?" she asked, raising a brow. "Exactly." A wide grin spread across Delphinia’s face. "Oh, now that’s interesting," she said, her voice dripping with mischief. But then her smile faltered, and her brows knitted together. "But wait... would you cheat on me?" Evander blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone. "Why would you ask that?" Delphinia shrugged, her expression turning serious. "Well, it’s important to know. Sure, I want to marry a rich guy. But if you’re just gonna cheat on me, I might as well marry a poor one." She sighed dramatically and added, "At least that way, I won’t have to deal with public humiliation and heartbreak." Her words stirred something in him, a strange mix of annoyance and admiration. "I wouldn’t cheat on you," he said firmly, his voice carrying a note of sincerity he didn’t fully understand. "I promise." Delphinia’s face lit up instantly. "Really?" she asked, her tone filled with childlike excitement. Before Evander could respond, she launched herself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. "Well, hello, hubby!" she exclaimed, giggling with delight. Evander stumbled slightly but caught her, his hands instinctively settling on her waist as she practically dangled in his arms. "Hey, what are you—" "I’m celebrating!" she interrupted, wriggling in his hold like an overexcited puppy. "You just proposed, and I just accepted! It’s a happy moment!" Evander let out a shaky breath, his grip tightening to keep her from slipping. "You’re going to make me drop you," he muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. Delphinia pulled back slightly to look at him, her face inches from his. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her smile was so wide it was almost infectious. "You’re strong," she teased, poking his chest lightly. "You can handle it." Evander couldn’t help but chuckle softly, though his mind was still reeling. What the hell am I doing? he wondered for the hundredth time. He wasn’t the type to make reckless decisions, especially when it came to women. Yet, as he looked into Delphinia’s sparkling eyes, he felt an undeniable pull, a strange urgency to keep her close. I must be losing my mind, he thought. But as he looked at her eyes, he had this urge inside him that he knew he needed to fulfill. He had to make her his. There was no other choice in his mind.