The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 504

Back in the day, there were things Petra couldn’t pull off, no matter how hard she tried, but now, with this little boy, she was managing them with ease.

The last time, she was desperate to get Jayson sick, so she stripped his bed of blankets in the dead of night, locked his door, and left him shivering without his pajamas. She let him cry, refusing to give him any warmth. She reasoned that the kid wasn’t hers. He was the son of a criminal. She had no expectations of future gratitude, so she might as well make use of him now.

This time, she claimed the boy had accidentally dialed Ronan’s number, but in truth, she'd nudged him to do it. Thanks to the kid, she was now getting more face-to-face time with Ronan—growing closer.

Ronan swung by Petra's place. The moment Jayson saw him, he clung to his legs, chanting, "Daddy, Daddy."

"I'm not your daddy, got it?" Ronan was irked by the persistent use of "Daddy."

Jayson glanced at Petra. "Sweetie, Uncle Ronan isn't your dad," Petra corrected gently.

"I was just about to hit the market. Wanna come along?" Petra offered.

Jayson kept tugging at Ronan’s hand. "Come with us, Uncle Ronan, please?"

"I might not be around for dinner, but let's get out for a bit. Kid needs some fresh air," Ronan suggested.

Though slightly disappointed, Petra maintained her cheerful disposition. "Alright, let’s head down to the community garden."

The three of them made their way to the small garden below. To the unsuspecting eye, they looked like a family.

Jayson, holding Ronan’s hand, wanted to pick flowers for his mom, but it was winter, and the park was barren. Instead, he found a pretty leaf and placed it in Petra’s hair.

"You’re making a fool of mommy with that leaf," Petra said with a motherly smile.

"It looks nice on you, Mommy."

Petra seemed skeptical of the child's praise and looked to Ronan for confirmation. "Does it look good?"

"It's not bad."

"Mr. Evans, what brings you here?" came a voice from nearby. Ronan looked up to see Harold chatting with Samantha, holding a basketball.

Harold had run into Samantha on his way to the gym. She had poured her heart out to him and even shed tears over her dwindling acting opportunities.

"Come here." Ronan motioned to Harold with a slight frown.