The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 65

Cordelia wasn't about to let Deanna win. She didn't take the bait, but she did need a valid excuse for an abortion.

"I know, he doesn't love me," Cordelia declared, "I'm going to get an abortion!"

She said it with such conviction and righteous indignation, as if she was venting her frustrations.

She also used this opportunity to assert that she loved Ronan, despite their marriage being one of convenience.

"Slow down, I think you guys are bound for a divorce eventually. You'll be a single mom," Deanna advised, seeming saddened, but thinking to herself that Cordelia was young and easy to manipulate.

"I understand. I'll take the afternoon off tomorrow for the surgery," Cordelia retorted, taking an angry sip of water, "Ms. Deanna, I added you on Messenger." This way she can show Deanna the proof.

And with that, she had a justified reason for the abortion.

After she left, a sly smile crossed Deanna's face.

The following afternoon, Cordelia asked Jordan for a half-day off for a "medical check-up", asking Brooklyn to accompany her.

How could the directors refuse such a request?

The girls headed to Victoria's hospital.

"Cordelia, why don't you just tell people your baby couldn't survive, why do you need an abortion? Isn't that just unnecessary?" Brooklyn asked in the cab.

"Deanna wants me to get an abortion, so I'll show her the proof. Besides, everyone at work knows I'm pregnant, if I show them the abortion certificate, they'll keep their mouths shut. If I say the baby couldn't survive, I'd have to explain it to everyone. They'll think I faked the pregnancy just to piss off Deanna," Cordelia explained. She had thought about spreading the word that Deanna forced her into the abortion, but she decided it was too cruel.

Victoria issued Cordelia an abortion certificate.

When she left the hospital with the certificate in hand, the day was still young. Brooklyn bought Cordelia an ice cream from a street vendor and they sat by the roadside, eating and chatting.

As for when to tell her grandfather, Cordelia thought: maybe later, otherwise he won't be able to exercise properly.

Since Ronan knew she wasn't pregnant, no further explanation was needed.

Deanna had been tailing Cordelia from her car since she left the office.

But Cordelia's hospital visit was too short, and eating ice cream right after an abortion?

Holding what looked like an abortion certificate, what on earth was going on?

Did Cordelia not actually get an abortion and was just fooling Deanna?

Or was Cordelia never pregnant and was just fooling Ronan?

If she wasn't pregnant, then her claim of being pregnant must have been a play for Ronan's attention!

That must be it.

Cordelia even sent Deanna a message, with the abortion certificate attached.

But instead of feeling elated at Cordelia losing the baby, Deanna felt frustrated at being played.