The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 84

After Deanna left, Ronan didn't bolt right away. He ordered another steak, clearly planning to have a long chat with Cordelia.

Cordelia was all fired up initially, but with Deanna's exit, she seemed a bit deflated, idly stirring her coffee.

She worried Ronan would blow his top over Deanna since she was his pet. She had customized over twenty shirts for him in the past year, and now that she had been bullied by Cordelia, Ronan would definitely stick up for her.

As long as he didn't defend Deanna in front of her and didn't dent Cordelia's dignity too much, Cordelia would be content.

"How much did my clothes cost?" He asked Cordelia softly.

He had spotted that Cordelia had swapped out the shirt Deanna had given him. He hadn't looked closely before and had missed that.

"Two hundred each; didn't I tell you that before?" Cordelia replied, a bit rattled.

"Where did you buy them?" Ronan asked as he glanced at his shirt. It was hard to tell the genuine from the fake. A shirt that cost 200 bucks looked as good as one from abroad that cost a few grand.

"I had them tailored at The Suit Gallery. I asked them to put that label on specially."

The label was on the collar's back. Ronan wanted to see it but couldn't.

"Where's the shirt Deanna gave you?"

Cordelia licked her lips. He had finally asked that question, and she tensed up instantly.

"Uh… I gave it away." Cordelia said, scratching her head.

"Oh? Who did you give it to?" Ronan asked, his voice mild as he turned his head to look at Cordelia.

Cordelia was terrified that Ronan would blow up at any moment, so she nervously said, "I gave it to Edwin; you remember him, right? He went with me to buy a computer last time."

"I remember."

"His size is similar to yours, so it won't disgrace the clothes." Cordelia was a bit anxious, afraid that Ronan would make her take the clothes back.

"So why didn't you take them back?"

"Why should I?" Cordelia ducked her head. Her eyes squeezed into slits; she was seemingly a bit aggrieved. "To outsiders, I'm Ronan's wife, and there are so many people watching me at the company. Even if I have to put up with betrayal, I can't just take it lying down, can I? I'm not a fool. Where does my husband wearing a shirt given by another woman leave my dignity?"

"So who's your husband?" Ronan asked while cutting his steak, his voice always gentle.

"It's you, of course."

Ronan didn't argue. "If you knew her intentions weren't pure from the start, why did you accept her shirts?"

"She's been trying to get you to kick me out and humiliate me. Should I just sit back and wait for you to come to my rescue?" Cordelia mumbled with her head bowed. "Do you still like her?! I really can't fathom your taste; what's so great about her other than her looks?"