The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 541

After arriving at school, Cordelia suggested that Ronan and Callum go grab some lunch.

"Be back early. Don't waste your time," Ronan said to Cordelia with a cold expression.

"Yeah, I got it," Cordelia replied, now realizing Petra’s cunning nature. It seemed likely that Petra had spread the love letter herself, intending to stir up old gossip throughout the school about Cordelia and Ronan's rumored past, forever linking the two in people's minds. Even though Cordelia had only met Ronan later, there was no stopping some people from whispering that she had stolen him from his childhood sweetheart, and despite being blameless, Cordelia was now saddled with such a reputation.

If ever there was a conflict between Cordelia and Petra, it seemed natural that people might side with Petra.

Despite Petra’s protests, Cordelia followed her home, insisting on making sure she was safe. Upon reaching Petra’s place, Cordelia found it in disarray, with countless love letters strewn about, filling an entire box.

“Do you think I’m ridiculous?” Petra asked, her eyes still red and swollen as she tidied up, her face etched with sorrow. “How could I have been so infatuated with someone? I can’t even explain it. I just liked him so, so much, and now you’ve seen it, and it’s embarrassing.”

“It’s okay,” Cordelia said, catching just a glimpse of one of Petra’s old letters to Ronan that read, “You are my ray of light; with you, I’ve come to know the beauty of life.”

“He sent all these letters back. Besides, I later fell for my husband, and all of this is in the past. Today, this kid dug them up,” Petra continued.

Cordelia remained silent. Although she hadn’t known Ronan back then, the thought of another woman calling him her ray of light made her incredibly uncomfortable.

“Have you eaten?” Cordelia asked Petra. “Let me whip up something for you.” With that, Cordelia headed to the kitchen.

As the pot of water went from calm to boiling, Cordelia didn’t feel like she had saved Petra from the brink; instead, she felt trapped and extremely uneasy.

Watching Petra finish her pasta, Cordelia’s phone buzzed. It was Jamie. It had been a while since Jamie had been in touch with Cordelia, and thinking back to the last mystery guest on the forum and the big hug Jamie had given her, Cordelia felt a warmth in her heart.