The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 45

In the bedroom, only Cordelia Haselwood and Barney Evans remained.

"Barney, you want something to eat? I can whip up some porridge for you." Cordelia hadn't seen

Barney in a while, her eyes misty with unshed tears.

"Nah, I'm good. Actually..." Barney sat up on the bed, edging closer to Cordelia, "I faked that fainting

earlier."

Cordelia looked taken aback, "Why would you do that?"

"To get you to come see me. I know I don't have much time left, and not much time left with you."

Hearing this, Cordelia's tears started to flow, choking out, "Barney."

"I heard what Deanna Stains said earlier. Six years ago, I already didn't like her. I always felt like she

had a lot of ulterior motives. I've got your back, but you gotta toughen up too. Stop letting Ronan kick

you out and giving Deanna the upper hand." Barney said gently.

"Barney, how did you know?" Cordelia asked, her face damp with tears. She felt embarrassed, not

expecting Barney to have figured it out.

"I'm not getting any younger, what can't I see?"

Cordelia's heart skipped a beat. Did Barney know about her agreement to marry Ronan?

What should she do if Barney found out?

"Listen to me and stay strong. Ronan's a stubborn kid, be gentle with him."

Cordelia nodded, "Got it."

"He's older than you and should take care of you, but sometimes, you gotta give in too." Barney

advised gently.

"Alright. Barney, have an orange." Cordelia peeled an orange for Barney.

……

When Deanna got in the car, she noticed an umbrella on the passenger seat.

It was a designer umbrella from Europe, with an eagle on the handle.

Deanna remembered, Ronan Evans never used umbrellas.

He liked to walk in the rain alone, and there had never been an umbrella in his car.

There was no way he would suddenly change his habits after all these years.

So this umbrella definitely wasn't his.

It was clear who bought it.

Deanna was both jealous and angry.

"Ronan, how did you end up with a knock-off umbrella?" Deanna held the umbrella, asking Ronan. From NôvelDrama.Org.

Ronan never used umbrellas and naturally wouldn't know anything about the brand, much less tell if it

was real or fake.

"What?" Ronan had already started the car.

"This is a knock-off. You got scammed, didn't you?" Deanna pretended to inspect the umbrella.

"Really?" Ronan frowned, not knowing what "surprise" Cordelia had in store for him this time.

"Yeah, the real deal should cost over 900 bucks. Judging by the workmanship, this is less than a

twentieth of the real deal." Deanna seemed amused, "Ronan, using this umbrella makes you look

pathetic. If your clients see it, they might think Lumos Enterprises is all show. Should I just toss it?"

"No need. Just leave it there." Ronan's voice sent chills down the spine.

Deanna just smiled and put the umbrella down.

She guessed that Ronan wouldn't verify if it was real or not. He wouldn't have the time, and he would

just take it out on Cordelia.

His attitude towards Cordelia today had pleased Deanna immensely.

She believed given some time, she could tear them apart for good.

When Deanna was leaving, she said to Ronan, "That girl, she's from a simple background and doesn't

understand a lot of things. Don't be too hard on her, being too harsh could backfire. You hear me,

Ronan?"

"I'm leaving." With that, Ronan drove off.

On the road, he glanced over at the umbrella.

Even if the umbrella was worth 900, Cordelia could have bought a cheaper one if she didn't want to

spend that much. What did Cordelia take him for?

Also, the money Cordelia had was given by him, yet not a dime was spent on him.

When he got home and locked the car, Ronan received a message on Messenger from Edwin.

Bro, about the computer thing, don’t get it twisted and think Cordelia had ulterior motives. She told me

she paid for it with the money from selling her dad’s house.

Ronan clenched his teeth, there was no shortage of people coming to her defense.

It seemed if he didn't make her suffer a bit, he would be doing a disservice to these people defending

her.

He didn't understand why Edwin suddenly brought up the computer thing today.

To make him angrier?

It just pissed him off.