The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 664

Victoria's mind was swirling. How could anything just disappear at the Evans' cozy suburban home? She'd been to their place countless times, and nothing had ever gone missing. But now, with Jayson around, Harold's prized cufflinks had vanished into thin air.

She was sure Callum, with his boy-scout integrity, would never do such a thing.

It had to be that kid, Jayson.

Already fuming and desperate for an outlet, Victoria saw Cordelia coming down the stairs. In a flash, she darted up, yanked Jayson by the collar of his polo shirt, and dragged him back down.

Victoria had never been fond of Petra, and Jayson's cunning little smirk only fueled her irritation further.

"Cordelia, you've got a thief in your house, did you know?" Victoria seethed. "Sure, the kid stole something, and that's bad enough, but to let me take the blame for it? I just don't get it. Why on earth would you adopt him? Haven't you seen what his mother is like?"

Ronan's brow furrowed. There's an old saying: don't kick the dog without checking with its owner. Jayson might be a handful, but was Victoria overstepping her bounds?

Though Victoria was rattled by Harold's accusations and not thinking straight, she was definitely crossing a line now.

Jayson was crying, struggling to break free from Victoria's grip.

Victoria winced in pain, and almost instinctively, she shoved Jayson, causing him to tumble to the carpeted floor below.

"Victoria!" Cordelia's voice thundered with indignation. "I will not allow you to treat a child this way!"

Stunned by Cordelia's outburst, Victoria froze.

"I'm doing this for your own good, Cordelia!" Victoria protested.

"I've told you, this is no way to treat a child!"

Ronan, however, felt the whole ordeal was unnecessary.

Though he was Jayson's adoptive father, he never intended to take on the disciplinarian role that Cordelia seemed so eager to embrace. Seeing a friendship crumble over a child's misbehavior seemed pointless to him.

He approached Cordelia and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to soothe her. "Calm down," he said softly.

Harold watched Cordelia's trembling figure from a distance.

He shared Cordelia's viewpoint. Perhaps the child had simply been playful and taken the cufflinks. For one, he didn't truly know Jayson, and secondly, he believed children were innocent by nature. Victoria's actions could scar Jayson for life, convincing him that he was a thief, and that would be tragic.

Harold's impression of Victoria had plummeted even further.

He couldn't help but wonder where the professional and kind Dr. High had disappeared to.