The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 448

"What else?" Ronan asked Cordelia.

"She wants me to come too."

"Are you coming?" Ronan asked directly.

"Depends on the timing. I have classes, and I have papers to write. Besides, it's a reunion for you old-school chums. What would I be doing there?"

"So you're not coming? Have you told her?"

Cordelia just stared at him. She thought to herself, “Why are both of them insisting that she go?”

"I'm not a matchmaker, so why do they both want me there?" Cordelia muttered.

"Of course, you should be there if you're playing matchmaker." Ronan teased her.

"So, I..." Cordelia checked her schedule on her phone. "Tomorrow evening? Are you going back to Millstone?"

"No. I just signed a contract; I need to check out the project."

Cordelia nodded slowly. "So, 6:30? Should I tell her?"

Ronan didn't respond, so she took it as a yes.

Petra, Ronan knew her well. She had been pining for him for years. It was a secret crush, but over time, it was obvious to anyone who looked. When he and Cordelia got married a few years ago, Petra became the butt of the joke. She couldn't take the humiliation, so she married a bohemian man, who was attracted to Petra's high education and position as a university professor. But he had a girl he loved, who went to the mountains to teach. He told Petra that he was going to teach, too, but in reality, he was going to meet his lover.

Later on, the bohemian man died. Rumors were that he died of excessive indulgence during a clandestine meeting with his lover in a cave. The real cause of death was not revealed to protect his reputation. Petra became a widow, which was a more tolerable status than being the laughing stock as a spinster with an unrequited love.

Moreover, Petra had been telling people that she had moved on and that she no longer loved Ronan, but her dead husband.

"Wow, you're doing the work of the business department, the finance department, and the legal department all by yourself. What do we need all those people for?" Emerson teased Ronan. "Signing contracts and inspecting projects are not your jobs. Why are you sticking around in Birchwood? Nostalgic for your hometown?"

"Get lost."

"You feeling nostalgic for your hometown is one thing, but you're making me play nanny for you. Do you know how hard it is for me to be both mother and father? I'm a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Chicago..."

"If you want to work, work. If not, get lost."

Emerson stood there, "I'm just being a masochist here."

Ronan got up to go back to his bedroom.

"I've sent you the photos of your son from today." Ronan heard the notification sound of Messenger as he was closing his bedroom door.