Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia) novel Chapter 260

Lorna was taken aback, her face a picture of surprise, as she instinctively responded, “Emeralds? We don’t have any emerald gemstones.”

Laurinda’s face darkened immediately. “Even if you don’t want to lend them, don’t make excuses! I heard from Juliana that you let Cordelia take a whole box of gemstones to school to show off. So, you have them when it's time to boast, but now that I need them, suddenly you don't?”

Lorna glanced at Sanderson, worried he might also think she had them but refused to lend them to Laurinda. Even though Laurinda and Sanderson had officially cut ties, Laurinda was still his biological mother, and as his wife, Lorna didn’t want to be overly distant.

She hurriedly spoke up, “We really don’t have them, Sanderson knows best!”

Upon hearing this, Sanderson nodded in agreement. If there was anything valuable in the house, he would be more aware of it than Lorna. The most valuable thing currently was the painting hanging in Cordelia’s room, an early work of Lorna’s, now worth millions. But since Lorna had gifted it to her daughter, she wouldn’t consider selling it.

Laurinda turned to Sanderson, only to hear him say, “Mom, you’re the only one who believes Juliana! If there really was a box full of gemstones the size of pigeon eggs, do you think I’d let Lia take it to school? It’s obviously a lie!”

Laurinda, however, was more inclined to believe Juliana. “Juliana and one of her classmates, that Lee girl, said the same thing. And it’s spread all over the class, even posted on the school's online forum. It can’t be fake!”

Sanderson scoffed, “Did Lia admit to it?”

Laurinda was taken aback.

Sanderson continued, “It’s probably just a box of rocks that was mistaken for something else.”

Laurinda, now somewhat convinced, frowned. “At such a young age, starting to show off at school. Just because Juliana got a gemstone ring from an old family friend? Competing over such things, really shows she was raised without manners!”

Laurinda’s requests were one thing, but her slandering Cordelia was where Sanderson and Lorna drew the line.

Lorna immediately retorted, “Mom, how can you say such things about Lia?”

Sanderson stood up abruptly. “Mom, it’s time for dinner. You should probably head back.”

Sanderson was tired of arguing. He had seen enough to know Laurinda just didn’t like him or Lorna, and by extension, Cordelia. Arguing further would be pointless as she wouldn’t believe them anyway.

Laurinda scoffed, “What? She does something wrong, and I can’t say a word? I discipline Juliana all the time, but when it’s Cordelia, you get all protective? Regardless, I’m her elder! Since Cordelia came back, has she even once called me 'Grandma'?”

Lorna, fueled by frustration, shot back, “Have you ever treated Lia like a granddaughter? ‘Honor thy father and thy mother’ goes both ways. If a parent doesn’t show love, how can they expect obedience?”

The mention of traditional values struck a chord with Sanderson.

Laurinda, used to winning arguments with volume rather than reason, was taken aback by Lorna’s articulate retort. “So, you’re defying your elders now? I gave birth to Sanderson, I gave him life! By law, he should take care of me! I raised him single-handedly, if not for merit, then for hard work!”

She began to cry. “Sanderson, have you no heart? Do you forget when you were little, I skipped lunch to buy you a pencil case, and I fainted from hunger…”

“Does marrying mean you forget your own mother? What sins have I committed to deserve this? I might as well be dead!”

But the others started murmuring and pointing fingers at Cordelia.

Being the new girl and then topping the class, Cordelia had already caught everyone's attention. Admiration for her academic prowess was widespread.

Daniel, the class president, frowned at the unfolding drama.

He admired Cordelia, not just for her grades but because she always kept to herself and stayed out of trouble. He couldn't believe she was the type to fake wealth.

Plus, the jewelry he'd seen her with didn't look counterfeit at all. How could they be mere glass beads, as Juliana suggested?

So, he walked straight up to Cordelia and said, "Hey Cordelia, mind if I take a closer look at those 'glass beads' of yours?"

Hayley couldn't resist a dig, "Yeah, Daniel's family knows their gems. Why don't you let him have a look at those bargain-bin trinkets?"

The idea was to humiliate her publicly, to prove that someone from a modest background couldn't possibly possess genuine taste or class.

Unaware of their malicious intent and knowing Daniel to be a generally decent guy—he'd even lent her his notes once—Cordelia responded with kindness, ready to clear the air.