The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 570

Ronan's unplanned visit to Birchwood had been just a brief side trip before he returned to his usual haunt, Millstone. By the time he got back, the office was already winding down for the night. He strolled in casually with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

As Emerson joined the flow of employees heading out, he spotted Ronan and called out, "Back so soon? Where'd you disappear to?"

"Got hitched," Ronan replied, his tone as flat as a pancake.

Those three words sent a shockwave through the office, turning heads and sparking whispers.

"Mr. Evans tied the knot?" A coworker murmured to another.

"Must be with Cordelia again, right? Who else could it be?"

"But wasn't Cordelia engaged to someone else?"

"Where did it happen?"

The office buzzed with speculation.

But Emerson had a gut feeling that Cordelia wasn’t involved, especially since she was in England. Plus, Ronan's current mood didn’t exactly scream 'happy reunion.'

"With who?" Emerson pressed.

"Petra."

Emerson's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who? Some random Jane Doe?"

Ronan shot Emerson a withering look and headed upstairs without another word.

The office erupted with curiosity about Ronan's mystery bride, Petra, as everyone dispersed, each spinning their own theories.

"Petra? Never heard of her..."

"When did she start at the company? We need to meet her."

Upstairs, Ronan called his assistant over.

"I need a favor – fake some paperwork for me."

"Sure, what kind?"

"A marriage certificate!"

Assistant: "Okay."

Ronan pondered the situation, confident that even if he didn’t reach out to Petra, she’d come to Millstone on her own. She knew about the significant fallout between him and Cordelia and probably saw an opportunity.

He waited, his resolve hardening.

If this was the game Cordelia wanted to play, she couldn’t blame him for playing to win, even if it meant breaking her heart in the process.

He answered the call, his voice icy and distant.

He even thought, had he not gotten that marriage certificate today, it would have been too easy on Cordelia.

"Ronan, I've run into some issues here. Can I come back home in a few days?" Cordelia's voice was soft and tentative.

"Whose number is this?" he interrogated.

"A friend's," Cordelia replied, her voice tinged with weary patience. "I've been through a lot here. I saved my mother, Uncle Lin had my grandfather taken to the hospital... My mom is really scared and not cooperating with the police, so I thought..."

"I got married."

Cordelia, assuming he was referring to their own possible remarriage, quickly interjected, "I thought we'd discuss our remarriage when I got back, right?"

"I got married. To someone else."

Cordelia was suddenly at a loss for words, her mind grinding to a halt. She thought Ronan was joking.

"Are you trying to get me to come back sooner? I'll try to come back as soon as I can."

"I married Petra!" Ronan reiterated with emphasis.

The line crackled with the weight of his declaration, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop spinning for Cordelia.