Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia) novel Chapter 5

Cordelia mulled over the day's bizarre events as she walked home, her pale fingers brushing against her chest, where her heart beat with a sense of foreboding. Her usually stoic eyes betrayed a hint of confusion. At school that afternoon, she had felt perfectly normal, but the pain from the morning loomed in her memory, stark and startling.

'Love or die...' What could cause such a thing?

Even after returning home, she couldn't unravel the mystery. Lost in thought, she was about to head upstairs when Juliana's voice, filled with surprise, echoed behind her. "Edwin, Belinda!"

Cordelia paused mid-step, only then noticing the guests in the house.

Laurinda sat on the living room sofa, her smile warm and welcoming. However, Lorna was the picture of distress beside her, eyes red-rimmed from crying.

Across from them were a man and woman, both middle-aged. The woman glanced at Juliana with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, then turned a critical gaze on Cordelia, lips curling as she said in a flippant tone, "So this is Lia? Pretty enough, I suppose..."

Before Cordelia could respond, Laurinda huffed, "Yes, she grew up in an orphanage, has no manners to speak of, and doesn't even know how to greet you properly. Dull as a doorknob. Not like our Juliana here, who's been bright and sensible since she was a child, diligent and studious."

Cordelia promptly shut her mouth.

Juliana beamed a smile, trotting over to sit beside Laurinda and cooing, "Edwin, Belinda, what brings you here?"

The couple exchanged awkward glances, remaining silent.

Unfazed, Laurinda declared, "They're here to discuss a marriage arrangement! You'll soon be turning eighteen, and after your birthday, you'll get engaged to the Foster boy..."

"Laurinda!" Lorna interrupted sharply, "The marriage arrangement was for Lia. You can't just change that!"

Laurinda's gaze turned stern. "The Foster family and we have been close for years. The engagement was supposed to strengthen our bond. If you insist on Cordelia marrying into their family, you'd be doing them a disservice. It's not a union but a feud!"

Lorna stood up, and her voice tinged with hurt. "How is Lia marrying into their family a feud?"

She couldn't bear the thought of her hard-found daughter being so rejected.

Laurinda continued unapologetically, "Let's be clear. Hanley is top-notch, a leader in every aspect since childhood. His future is bright. And Cordelia? What does she have to offer? Can she engage in intellectual discussions with Hanley? Can she dance at balls? Play the piano? She's clueless! Them together would be a laughingstock. But our Juliana is a perfect choice for Hanley, the epitome of a golden couple."

Speechless, Lorna tried to retort, but Laurinda didn't give her any chance, instead turning to Cordelia, "What do you think, Cordelia?"

All eyes landed on her.

Cordelia furrowed her brows, already weary of the household dynamics after just a day, the biased grandmother, her well-meaning but weak mother, the malicious cousin, and the Foster elders who looked down on her. And she had noticed Hanley at school, nowhere near the perfect guy they made him out to be. Compared to the charming man from the store, he fell short.

A flicker of annoyance crossed her expressive eyes as she said coldly, "Let's just leave it at that."