The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 602

On Friday, Ronan gave Petra a call, suggesting she drop by on Saturday if she wasn’t too busy.

“Is it about Cordelia again? Need me to bail you out?” Petra teased.

“Just come over, okay?” Ronan replied.

Early the next morning, Petra showed up at Pearl Palms, looking a bit travel-worn. To her surprise, Cordelia was already there.

Petra was taken aback.

Whitney also noticed Petra’s arrival. She frowned slightly and then retreated to her room.

Ronan and Cordelia were snuggled up on the couch, and Petra settled into a seat across from them. She had a sinking feeling that this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.

“Petra, Cordelia and I have worked things out. So, let’s drop everything we talked about before, including that fake marriage certificate,” Ronan said, holding Cordelia’s hand firmly in his.

He wanted to clear the air with Cordelia present. It was his way of setting things straight.

Inside, Petra seethed. She resented both of them—used when convenient and discarded when not, and now humiliated in front of Cordelia.

Yet her face betrayed none of her turmoil.

“Great, great. You lovebirds are back together, and my mission is accomplished. Quit your fussing, Cordelia. Ronan’s crazy about you,” Petra said, squeezing Cordelia’s hand.

“We never slept together, never kissed, no physical contact whatsoever, right?” Ronan leaned back, addressing both women. This was his insurance against any future claims from Petra about an unexpected pregnancy, so he laid his cards on the table beforehand.

“And how do you know about her relationship with her husband?” Cordelia inquired.

“People talk, it’s the word around,” Whitney added.

“Got it, thanks, Aunt Whitney. I’ll be careful,” Cordelia assured her.

Ever since Cordelia had returned, Ronan was treading lightly around her, not touching her at night. Cordelia was sleeping well, and Ronan suggested she get a driver’s license. It would make commuting to work on her own much easier.

Cordelia signed up for a nearby driving school and settled into a contented routine.

One day, as Cordelia sat on the sofa mimicking a driver, gripping the imaginary steering wheel and reaching for the gear after engaging the handbrake, her hand accidentally brushed against something soft. She turned to see Ronan smirking at her.