Zephyr pulled a long face as he stared at Josiah with an unsettling gaze.“Z?” Josiah was smiling, but he was deeply unnerved.Zephyr really wanted to just say that he did not know him, but he took a deep breath and swallowed his words, replying with a deep hum instead.Josiah was confused while Kelly smiled and took the same blinking hair clips from the server. She wore one, and Josiah wore another, just like Zephyr and Cordelia.It took a while, but they finally got a table, and the four of them sat together.“It’s rare to bump into both of you!” Cordelia said with a smile, “Order whatever you want. I’ll buy the meal!”“No way!” Josiah grinned as well. “Can’t let you spend on us. I’ll do the honors!”They looked through the menu as they spoke and went through the dishes.Cordelia was surprised to see Kelly and was very happy that she could be out and about, so she held her hand and bombarded her with questions.“Are you doing much better recently?“Do you still go for regul
It was more than common for men from wealthy and influential families like this to have a lover and a few illegitimate children.Darn it! If Rowan did have children, how was she supposed to introduce him to her mother!?Cordelia deflated a little and ate the sashimi gloomily. Meanwhile, Zephyr did not look quite good. He asked Kelly in a serious tone, “Are you sure his daughter said it?”“No.” Kelly shrugged. “I only remember him saying that he only treated me because of what his girl said. I wouldn’t know who that is in particular!”Zephyr’s heart drummed as he stared at Cordelia in a daze. He suddenly remembered that Cordelia had brought him to an art gallery previously, and one of the paintings there, The Fireflies’ Light, was hung where it was the most obvious.Cordelia had told him proudly that it was her mother’s piece. Zephyr had then noticed that the painting was signed off with Xyla.“Your mother’s name is Xyla?” That was his first time knowing his mother-in-law’s name
Janine sat down next to him. “Son, h-how did you know?”Zephyr was rendered speechless. “Mom, do I look stupid to you?”Janine kept silent.“You can understand something like this with just a slight analysis!” Zephyr frowned.He was just aware and had analyzed it too late.Actually, all of this could be traced back to when the three of them were stranded on the deserted island.He finally understood why Rowan kept his eyes on Cordelia and was concerned for her, just like how he would for his daughter. She was his actual daughter!“Mom, what’s going on? Rowan’s already back. Why isn’t he reuniting with Cordelia?”Janine looked at him and sighed. She pushed the documents waiting for her attention to one side and told her secretary on duty that no one was allowed to enter the office.She then made a pot of chamomile tea and told Zephyr everything in the past.“This is why Rowan doesn’t dare meet Xyla or reunite with Cordelia.”Janine gnashed her teeth. “The sc*mbag cost Xyla’s
Although Liam looked like he had accepted Cordelia now, Zephyr knew him too well. It was just his delaying tactic. If there was an opportunity, Liam would still look for a fiancee who was easy to control from a family that was influential for him.If Cordelia had the Irwins behind her, Liam would have something to watch out for.Zephyr got up and left. He already knew what to do about the matter, but his mother was right about something—the important thing was Cordelia’s feelings.…When Zephyr arrived home later, Cordelia was already in bed. He took a shower and got changed quietly before slipping under the blanket and hugging her.As Cordelia felt his warm hands, she instinctively snuggled closer to him. Zephyr’s stretched arms circled her just nicely, and he pushed himself closer to kiss her forehead.Cordelia opened her eyes groggily and smiled when she saw him.“You’re back…”His voice was deep. “Sorry to wake you up.”“No.” Cordelia cuddled him. “I wanted to wait for you
Cordelia’s eyes dimmed a little, and a wash of sorrow colored her face. After a stretched moment of silence, she softly uttered, “No.”Zephyr’s heart clenched, and he hugged her tighter.She was supposed to be the little princess born with a silver spoon in the Irwins, yet she had experienced hardships in the first 20 years of her life. She lived under someone’s roof, struggled to make ends meet, and had to always overcome the world’s hostility to her. She even had to get married in someone else’s place…Zephyr always wondered if he would be able to still meet Cordelia if he had not coincidentally recovered in that village and replaced Marcus.If Cordelia did marry Marcus and was abused by him… she would probably just put up with it too. It was just that there would no longer be light in her eyes.Zephyr felt the lingering fear just thinking about it and could not help tightening his hold around her shoulders.Cordelia’s voice was soft. “Zephyr, why are you suddenly talking abo
This was completely different from their usual chats. Zephyr would never ramble about these to her!Therefore, there were only two possibilities in regard to his unusual behavior.First, he was indirectly blaming her for not giving him a child. Second, was he having thoughts about… abandoning her?Cordelia stopped what she was doing abruptly. She had dove right into this train of thought, and her tears welled up right away with the pang she felt.“Cordelia… Darling!” Zephyr panicked. “I don’t mean it like that. You’ve misunderstood me!”“Don’t touch me!” Cordelia cried and picked up his pillow to throw it outside.Zephyr put himself in front of her frantically and wanted to use the trick Nicholas had taught him. Before he was able to get on his knees, though, Cordelia had shoved him out of the door alongside a blanket!Zephyr patted the bedroom door and finally understood what the idiom ‘a cat on a hot tin roof’ meant—as well as ‘shooting himself in the foot’. Had he turned stup
Those few days, Cordelia kept Zephyr at arm’s length and was lukewarm to him. She also took a work leave from Imperial Media and went home to take care of Xyla.After Xyla heard about the reason for their fight, she laughed so hard that she nearly poured the whole bottle of water into her succulents.“That’s it?” She poked Cordelia’s head and whined. “You’re growing more insensible the older you get!”“Mom…” Cordelia rubbed her head.As she calmed down, she also thought she was a little oversensitive this time. It was just that women seemed to have the most accurate sixth sense, and she felt that Zephyr was unlike how he always was that night. His words seemed to imply something else.“Zephyr’s just expressing his thoughts. Do you have to think so much into it?”“But he mentioned my father…” Cordelia swallowed the rest of her words studying Xyla’s expression.Xyla looked nonchalant, but there was an almost unnoticeable quiver in her hands that were watering the plants.She look
Robert smiled dryly. “Well… Maybe Ms. Cordelia’s an exception.”Zephyr hit a fist on the car door.Finally, Robert drove them to Imperial Media with much caution.As soon as Zephyr entered the lobby, he realized that a certain someone was there with him. He froze before catching up and putting himself in front of that person.His gaze was cold and deep as he wore a small smirk.“Mr. Irwin?”Rowan was surprised as well, not expecting to run into Zephyr here.Charlie and Robert greeted each other and then turned their eyes to their bosses in unison.“What brings you here, Mr. Irwin?”Rowan did not answer and avoided his gaze.Zephyr snickered. “You must be here for my mother? It’s the same telling me if you have anything for her.”“I have something private to talk about to Madam Baker. Excuse me for not being able to disclose it to you, Mr. Zephyr.”Something private? Hah! About reuniting with his family?Zephyr’s gaze darkened, and the smirk he wore grew more mocking.It w