Accidentally Yours, My Super Rich Second Husband-Chapter 82: Shards of the Past

The tall windows let in the soft afternoon light, Delphinia, no older than seven, tiptoed carefully down the corridor leading to her father’s office. Her small hands clutched the folds of her dress nervously as she glanced around to make sure no one was watching.

The door to the office loomed before her, its dark oak surface polished to a mirror-like shine. It was always shut, a silent reminder that this was her father’s domain—a place where she was forbidden to go. But today, curiosity and longing outweighed fear.

She pushed the heavy door open just enough to slip through, her heart pounding in her chest. The room smelled of leather and old paper, the faint scent of her father’s cologne lingering in the air. Shelves lined with books stretched up to the ceiling, their spines gleaming in the dim light. A large desk sat at the center of the room, papers neatly stacked, with a globe positioned by the window. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Delphinia’s eyes scanned the room until they landed on a small picture frame sitting on the desk. She knew what it held—a photograph of her mother. Her small steps barely made a sound on the thick carpet as she moved toward the desk, holding her breath.

The picture was as beautiful as she’d imagined. Her mother’s warm smile seemed to light up the photograph, her delicate features so striking that Delphinia couldn’t help but trace them with her fingertip. Her own reflection in the glass overlaying the image startled her. It was as if she were looking at a smaller, younger version of her mother.

A lump formed in her throat, and she hugged the frame tightly against her chest, closing her eyes. In her mind, she imagined her mother’s arms wrapping around her, comforting her in a way she had never felt before.

"I miss you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Suddenly, her grip on the frame slipped, and it fell to the ground with a loud crash. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, and Delphinia froze, her tiny hands flying to her mouth.

She froze as her father’s heavy steps echoed closer and closer down the corridor. The door swung open with a force that made Delphinia jump.

"What are you doing in here?" Robert’s voice boomed, his towering figure blocking out the light. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto the broken frame and the photograph lying amidst the shards of glass.

"I-I’m sorry," Delphinia stammered, her small body trembling. "I just wanted to see Mama’s picture—"

"How dare you come into my office!" he thundered, his face contorted with rage.

Delphinia instinctively stepped back, her wide eyes brimming with tears. "I didn’t mean to break it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Robert’s anger didn’t waver. "You have no respect for boundaries, no understanding of what’s forbidden. You’re nothing but a nuisance!"

As he took a step closer, Delphinia moved back hastily, bumping into the edge of the desk. Her foot slipped on a shard of glass, and she fell to the floor with a cry of pain. A sharp shard of glass sliced her hand and foot, leaving blood on the carpet.

Robert’s gaze darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest, unmoved by her tears. "Get up," he said coldly.

Delphinia struggled to push herself upright, her small hands trembling as blood dripped from the cuts. "Why do you hate me?" she asked, her voice breaking. "What did I do wrong?"

Robert’s jaw tightened, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her shrink back. "You want to know why?" he spat. "Because you’re the reason your mother is dead."

Delphinia’s world seemed to tilt on its axis. The words hit her harder than any blow ever could. "W-what?" she choked out, her tears flowing freely now.

"She died giving birth to you," he continued, his voice devoid of warmth. "If it weren’t for you, she’d still be alive."

"Robert," came a sharp voice from the doorway. Helena stood with her arms crossed, looking unimpressed and bored. "Don’t blame the girl too much," Helena said, though her tone was far from kind. "She can’t help that she’s such a disappointment."

Delphinia’s tears blurred her vision as she looked up at Helena. "I didn’t mean to—"

"Oh, spare me," Helena interrupted, rolling her eyes. "You’re always around when you shouldn’t be, making trouble. If you were half as graceful and obedient as a proper Harrington child should be, maybe your father wouldn’t have to raise his voice so often."

Delphinia’s lip trembled, and she looked at Robert, hoping for some defense, some reassurance. But he simply turned away, his face hard as stone.

"Clean her up and get her out of my sight," he said flatly.

Helena smirked. "Gladly." She snapped her fingers, and a maid appeared almost instantly, her expression a mixture of pity and worry.

"Come, Miss Delphinia," the maid said softly, helping the little girl to her feet.

Delphinia limped slightly as the maid guided her out of the office, her small body wracked with silent sobs. The cuts on her hand and foot stung terribly, but the hurt inside her felt far worse.

Once in her room, the maid carefully cleaned and bandaged Delphinia’s injuries, her kindness felt miles away from the coldness Delphinia had just faced. "Rest now, Miss," the maid said, her voice kind.

But as soon as the door clicked shut, Delphinia curled up on her bed, clutching her knees to her chest. The tears came again, hot and relentless, soaking the pillow beneath her.

She cried not just from the pain of her cuts but from her father’s words and Helena’s cruelty. She cried for the mother she would never know and the love she so desperately craved but never received.

Sitting in her dark room, Delphinia murmured, "I didn’t mean to hurt anyone." But the silence that followed felt like a confirmation of her deepest fears—that she was, and always would be, unwanted.