The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 576

**Saturday.**

Cordelia had a meeting at Lumos Enterprises.

It was the weekend, so the office was blissfully quiet, and Cordelia faced less scrutiny than usual.

She took a seat in the center of the conference room, while Ronan, as always, claimed the head of the table. Throughout the entire meeting, not once did his gaze stray in her direction; it was as if she were invisible to him.

Cordelia remained silent, her eyes fixed on the PowerPoint presentation flickering on the big screen.

Then came a knock at the door.

Ronan's secretary entered with impeccable manners, announcing, “Mr. Evans, Mrs. Evans has brought you lunch.”

Rumors from Ronan's conversation with Emerson had already spread like wildfire, and it was common knowledge that Petra was Ronan's wife.

At the mention of Mrs. Evans, Cordelia's cheeks flared with a redness born of anger rather than embarrassment.

**Mrs. Evans...**

Ronan really couldn’t resist playing family man, parading his new bride into the company so soon after the wedding.

Mrs. Evans was meant to be someone else's title.

Emerson and Milana stole glances at Cordelia, who was absentmindedly twirling a pencil in her fingers or pressing its tip against her skin, her face burning with suppressed emotion.

Emerson felt a secondhand embarrassment for her.

He couldn't help but think: Was Ronan doing this on purpose? Such a lack of chivalry.

But then he saw Ronan looking positively radiant...

Frustration got the better of Emerson, and he slammed his pen down, crossing his arms as he slumped back in his chair.

Petra made her entrance.

"Ronan, you told me to come by on the weekend, so here I am," Petra said sweetly. "I made your favorite stewed ribs at home and brought them over for you to try."

At the thought, Cordelia let out a bitter laugh.

**In Ronan's office.**

"How's the soup?" Petra asked, her eyes sparkling with the innocence of a young girl gazing at Ronan.

"It's fine," replied Ronan, genuinely hungry.

"Actually, Janice made it. I just came to see you. Janice mentioned you were in a meeting, so she asked me to bring the soup over. Seeing Cordelia there, I figured she must have upset you, hence your behavior. I just wanted to help you out a bit."

"Thanks," Ronan said politely, "By the way, I mentioned that we're officially married now."

Petra bit her lip gently, "Yeah, I won't let it slip."

"That's for the best. After all this is over, just let me know what you want," Ronan said offhandedly.

Petra, an intellectual at heart, managed to keep a serene facade despite the blow to her dignity. To be trampled on by Cordelia was one thing, but Ronan's disregard cut deeper, turning her adoration for him into a tempest of betrayal and hurt.