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
The two of them stopped at the same time. They stared blankly at where the voice came from.Cordelia stood aside and looked at them in shock, with her eyes widened.Although Rowan was being held, he was obviously winning. There seemed to be something in his hand…He instantly snapped back to his senses and hid the needle in his sleeve!“Cordelia?” Zephyr was stunned. Subsequently, he showcased his acting skills by covering where his aorta was on his neck. He frowned and looked like he was in pain.“What happened!?” Cordelia was shocked. She quickly went over to check on him.“I’m hurting a little bit…” He looked at her. “And I’m dizzy.”“Sir!?” Robert’s face turned pale. “Don’t scare me, sir. I was pulling you hard. Mr. Irwin didn’t touch you—”“Ahem!” Zephyr coughed hard and glared fiercely at Robert.Only then did the latter come to his senses and shut up immediately.Fortunately, his cough masked what Robert said in the end.Cordelia became nervous now. She looked left an
Zephyr and Cordelia came to the manor.The place where Henry and Kate lived was called Gale Bay. It had the best view in the entire manor.It was facing a river with mountains behind it. It was scenic. There was everything in the courtyard, just like what nobles had in their mansions in ancient times.Cordelia did not know where to look as she walked.It seemed like Liam was biased toward his first son. Although he had nothing and was useless, he still got the best in the entire family.“Grandpa loves my dad.” Zephyr held her hand and said calmly. “That’s why my second uncle doesn’t like me.”“Would people really have a bias against their own children?”Cordelia was curious.Zephyr’s father was a quiet, honest man. Even if Liam was biased, he should like Matthew, who was eloquent!“Grandpa says my dad is his first child.” He chuckled. “Perhaps parents always love their firstborn more. Apart from my second uncle, I have two aunts and another uncle. They are doing business overs