Chapter 12

Cordelia cut some fruit after dinner and brought it with her to sit down next to Marcus.

The man had been focused on his phone, prompting Cordelia’s curiosity, so she popped her head over to steal a glance. She had thought that he was gaming, only to see that he was browsing through a foreign language website. The people in the photos were wearing suits and leather shoes, just like successful people.

That stunned Cordelia, and this was when Marcus turned around suddenly. Since she was close to him, she almost came in contact with the tip of his nose.

Both of them stayed there, staring at each other, causing Cordelia’s cheeks to burn and her heart to thump wildly.

“What’s the matter?” Marcus asked in his deep voice.

“N-Nothing…” Cordelia sat aside awkwardly with her hands intertwined in distress. She tried chatting with him. “Are you reading the news?”

“Mm, the finance news.”

“You understand it?”

Marcus turned back to her with vaguely smirking eyes. “What do you think someone who’s been in fights and prison should understand then?”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Cordelia was flustered. “I’m just surprised that you know so much.”

She went silent, and the atmosphere was soundlessly awkward now. Cordelia was a little nervous, but when she noted Marcus’ nonchalance, she felt like her nerves were uncalled for. They were legally married, yet they were so awkward sitting together that even their conversation fell short.

Cordelia inwardly wondered if she was too awkward for this as she patted her head—the entire scene not going unnoticed by Marcus. A flash of a smile that he did not even realize was there tugged at the corner of his lips.

Marcus put down his phone and had some fruit with the fork, asking Cordelia casually, “You have something to tell me?”

Cordelia hummed curiously before she shook her head. “No.”

“Oh.” He looked at her. “Do you have enough to spend for the household?”

“Why are you suddenly asking?”

“Just chatting,” Marcus replied without much emotion. “How do other husbands and wives talk? Don’t they talk about casual things like this?”

Cordelia bit her lip and stayed silent.

“Or… we could talk elsewhere?”

The man looked toward the bedroom. His deep voice felt suggestive, and his warm breath was slowly inching closer to her.

Cordelia looked up into his deep eyes, and it seemed as if there was a firework display in them. She slipped to the side, only for the man to snake an arm around her waist and pull her into his embrace.

Cordelia was frozen in shock while Marcus’ gaze grew more heated.

His hand, which was splayed over her waist, tightened without taking further action. Marcus looked at Cordelia. The girl’s eyes were screwed shut, and even though she was doing her best to relax, the tremor that ran through her exposed her panic about being with a man for the first time.

A rush of affection rushed into Marcus. He did not want to take her under the circumstances. Something like this should happen naturally.

“You must be tired.” Cordelia heard his husky voice. “Go rest early.”

While she was still stunned, she felt the pressure on her disappear, and the burning heat in the air slowly cooled off. Cordelia could not put a finger on what she felt.

This man should be the closest person she had in this world, but she had only gotten to know him for a few days. Besides, she was keeping secret the burden of being a substitute—which Marcus must not have found out… She wanted to brace herself and admit to him that she was not Yelena but Cordelia, yet each time the confession rolled to the tip of her tongue, she hesitated.

If Marcus thought that the Jenners had lied to him and kicked up a fuss, who knew how bad the fight would get. He had a hot temper, and it was common for him to fight. What if…

Cordelia glanced at the punching bags and boxing gloves at the front of their house and immediately decided against the thought.

“I asked you to turn in early. What kind of daze are you caught in?” Marcus asked.

Cordelia snapped out of it and headed to the bedroom, only to receive a call from Carter.

“Sis, don’t worry anymore. Mom’s medical bill has been taken care of!”

“What?” Cordelia dared not believe her ears. “Where did you get the money?”

“Yelena sent it today,” Carter answered with a smile, “She sent a diamond necklace over, saying that it’s your father’s wedding gift to you. It’s worth $40,000!”