The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 673

Even Emerson felt a pang of injustice. What had Daniella put him through for a measly ten-million-dollar deal? Who did she think he was?

His face grew stern under the night sky.

Wrapped in a bath towel, Cordelia stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still wet, beads of water glistening on her skin. She grabbed her phone from the table as she walked by.

A message on Messenger from Victoria!

Cordelia’s eyes widened. It really was from Victoria.

Just one sentence: "Tomorrow afternoon, after work, I’ll come to see the kid."

Cordelia replied with a single word: "Okay."

She was in high spirits, so much so that she made a point to tell Ronan about it.

"Victoria’s coming to see Jayson. She must be crazy about Harold. She’s not one to back down easily, but for Harold, she’s making the effort to visit the child. It’s heartwarming," Cordelia said, toweling her hair dry.

"Yeah, Harold’s got quite the charm," Ronan said with a hint of jealousy. "Why didn’t you fall for it? If I weren't in the picture, would you have given him a shot? Last time Harold was here, the way he looked at you, there was definitely something unsaid."

Ronan's teasing gaze locked onto Cordelia.

Cordelia paused in her toweling and retorted, "I can’t be bothered with you!"

"Let's get our marriage license next Monday, okay?"

Cordelia pondered for a moment and then resignedly agreed, "Yeah."

Cordelia's tone of resignation didn’t sit well with Ronan, who pressed, "Reluctant?"

"No... I’m quite willing," she replied.

Cordelia couldn’t pinpoint where her resignation came from, but in the dead of night, she suddenly couldn’t sleep. It dawned on her; she loved Ronan. As a young girl, she had looked up to him; his dominance had been alluring. His possessiveness fulfilled her girlish fantasies of love. But gradually, she realized his manipulations, his disregard for others, including her parents and even his own—to a different extent, of course. For his father, he would endure Cordelia's contempt.

As the years passed, her youthful romantic fantasies faded, replaced by practicality. Cordelia no longer idolized the 'domineering CEO in love with me' idea but faced the reality of day-to-day life. Now, as an equal to Ronan, her perspective had shifted.