Liam’s study was huge, like a library. The bookshelves were as high as the ceiling and were filled with famous books by experts in various fields.Even then, an echo could still be heard from each step taken.Cordelia sat on the couch and grasped the hem of her skirt anxiously. Zephyr intertwined their fingers together lightly and gave her a reassuring smile.Liam sat at the table in a suit. Although he was old, he looked well and lively. As he scanned Cordelia, his gaze was cryptic and complicated.“Ms. Cordelia, please have tea.” He was polite to her.Cordelia nodded lightly and watched how Zephyr did it before she drank the tea. She took a small sip slowly like him.Liam could see that she was a smart girl. She was not reckless and rash. Even with Zephyr by her side, she knew her manners and knew to keep a distance from him before her elders.If it were others, they might already be doing what they wanted, knowing they had Zephyr’s support.Liam wore an unnoticeable smile.
The chauffeur chuckled dryly and blamed his hands. He had actually steered them to Yale Residence!Who in the entire Splendor Mountain did not know about the grudges between the eldest and the third heir?“Nothing, nothing!” The chauffeur quickly turned the car around. “That place is not so good. It’s not too… lucky to go near it!”“Really?” Cordelia was skeptical.Those houses looked beautiful as well and seemed rather luxurious. Those who stayed in there should be someone Elder Mr. Hamerton was fond of too.“Ms. Cordelia, let me take you elsewhere—”Before the chauffeur finished his sentence, someone rushed out from the path at the side. He was alarmed and stomped on the brake. Cordelia nearly hit the seat in front of her due to the momentum. She was even more shocked when she calmed down and saw who it was.“Yelena?”“Cordelia… Cordelia!”Yelena’s hair was disheveled, and she did not have any makeup put on. She looked haggard, especially with how abnormally thin she was.
Although Rowan thought that the Hamertons did not deserve Cordelia, proper social etiquette must still be maintained. At least, the others would have nothing to pick on.He also thought that, as her father, he should prepare another set of gifts for her if she did not prepare well this time so they could dazzle the Hamerton patriarch to blindness!Cordelia had no idea that Rowan had already played a thousand scenarios in his mind. She answered him with a chortle, “Of course, I didn’t go empty-handed. My mom’s prepared gifts for me!”Rowan felt his heart clench abruptly, and even breathing hurt.“Your… mom?”“Mm.”He forced a smile. “What did your mom prepare for you?”Cordelia mentioned a few things, which were all things that girls would bring to a man’s house the first time they were to visit in Southeast Aciatic.Rowan felt a pinch in his nose. It seemed that what Xyla had prepared for their daughter would not be inferior.“Right, there’s one more thing.” Cordelia looked at
Rowan stood rooted. He felt a pang in his heart, and there was a twinge of pain before it thumped.Cordelia looked at him strangely but did not think more about it and got into the car. Robert called for the chauffeur, and both of them sent her together.Not long after the car drove off, Rowan broke out of his daze and quickly gave chase. He tailed Cordelia’s car along the way with shaking hands gripping the steering wheel. There were a few times when his vision turned blurry. The crisp and sweet voice, as well as flashbacks of a certain person’s smile and actions, kept appearing in his mind. He could always see her in a gentle, long lilac dress smiling happily under the sun once she saw him. He could always recall how she rebelled against her family and relatives without care just for him, as well as the shock, rage, and despair in her eyes when she found out that he had lied to her…Rowan hit the brake abruptly.The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, causing disgru
At present, Zephyr just wanted to go to his mother-in-law’s place. He wondered if Rowan would follow Cordelia. ‘That old geezer! What does he want?’…When Cordelia arrived home, Xyla was basking in the sun on the balcony. She beamed when she saw her daughter come in.“Cordelia, come!”Cordelia hurried over.Xyla pointed at the succulents she had and boasted to her daughter, “Look how well I’m taking care of them! These plants have a strong vitality. They thrive even when you water them once over a week!”Cordelia chuckled. From what she could remember, her mother had never been known to have green fingers. Anything that went through her hands would surely wilt. She once teased that the only living creatures her mother did not kill were her daughter and Carter.Xyla looked at Cordelia and smiled, knowing that her daughter must be laughing at her, but she tinkered with her succulents anyway.“Mom.” Cordelia was suddenly curious. “You’ve never grown plants in the past? I mean…
“But people will talk as you two live together without being married.”Xyla advised softly, “Cordelia, you’re a girl, and reputation is important! You didn’t know his identity in the past and thought that you had married him. You can’t be at fault for staying together. Now that you know and still want to be with him, you should get married sooner!”“Mom!” Cordelia grinned cheekily. “You’re pretty old school!”“I’m not old school. I want to protect you!” Xyla held her hand. “It’s not official or legitimate so long as you aren’t married. I’m worried about you being hurt.”Cordelia felt a pinch in her nose. She understood that it was due to the unhappy experience with William in the past that Xyla was exceptionally sensitive to the term legitimate.She snuggled her mother affectionately. Growing up, she rarely had the chance to act cute and coy with Xyla.Xyla patted her shoulders with a loving smile. Like many naggy mothers, she would keep nagging about their marriage.“Alright, I
Clark was astonished.Liam was usually cold and strict. Rarely were there times like this when he huffed with a glare. It was pretty rare, and what was rarer was that he acted this way because of Cordelia.Clark smiled and helped the old man back to his room for rest. The servant sent in the tonic that he took every night.Liam finished it with a furrow of brows and placed the bowl back on the tray with a thud.Clark was worried. “Sir, any medicine has its side effects. I think it’s better that you drink less of it.”“It’s fine.” Liam waved a hand. “I’ve been drinking this since I was young. It’s been decades now, and it’s already a habit. Besides, these are holistic herbs. They’re nourishing. They aren’t harmful!”Clark wanted to say more, but nothing came out despite his open mouth.In Royal Manor at night…When Cordelia came out from her shower, she saw that Zephyr was already asleep. She checked the time—it was only 8:00 p.m.Work was busy recently, and Zephyr frequently w
Cordelia screamed, but it was too late for her to run. Zephyr pressed against her within a blink of an eye.The man grabbed her wrists and whispered into her ear, “Wifey, how much is there in the card?”She was honest and answered without even thinking about it, “This is your old black card. There’s no money in there, but it’s unlimited spending—”The beastly-like man kissed her before she was done speaking.She could not breathe.…When they were done, Cordelia lazily leaned on him. She felt as if she had collapsed.Zephyr grabbed her shoulders softly, revealing a satisfied smile.He was not sleepy at all.“No!” She stopped him in time. “I’m exhausted. Please let me go…”He grinned. “Ms. Jenner, your service is unlimited.”Cordelia grabbed the blanket tightly to wrap herself in it. Her big eyes looked at him with her guard up.Zephyr was soft-heartened. He grabbed her into his embrace and patted her smooth back.“Okay, I’ll let you go,” he said gently. “Have a good rest.”