The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 542

Petra had a bombshell of information in her grasp. Thomas and Alana had once been an item. The

potential fallout of this secret coming to light was unpredictable, and somehow, she needed to pin the

blame on Cordelia.

After sensing that Petra’s mood had settled, Cordelia decided it was time to head home, where she

found Victoria lounging in their apartment.

"Look who's back! Been a busy bee, huh? You crashing here tonight or what?" Victoria inquired, her

attention half on her latest binge-worthy TV show and half on the stash of snacks sprawled around her.

Cordelia suddenly remembered she had to discuss the Alana situation with Ronan. "Nope, not staying

in tonight. Got something to hash out with Ronan," she replied with a serious tone.

"Oh, cut the official act. Just say you're hooked on cuddling up with him and call it a night," Victoria

teased, eyes glued to the screen as she crunched on potato chips.

"Stop talking nonsense. There's a real issue to deal with, and I bet it's you who's itching to snuggle up

with a man. Speaking of which, you've got your eye on Harold, right? Hang on, I'll send you all the

photos of him I've got on my phone." Cordelia promptly sent a barrage of Harold’s pictures to Victoria.

"Just so you know, he chased me once, but nothing happened. Hope you don't mind."

"Pfft, everyone has their first crush," Victoria shrugged off with a smirk.

"And just a heads up, his mom is Ronan's housekeeper. They're sort of friends, but that won't change a

thing," Cordelia added as a precaution.

"I'm marrying him, not his mom. Who she is doesn't bother me one bit. Besides, I think my future hubby

is quite the looker," Victoria mused, her cheeks flushing as she daydreamed over Harold’s photos.

"He'll be back after two years. Lots can change," Cordelia pointed out.

Victoria's smile faltered. "See, that's where you're wrong. Since we haven't started anything, there's no

risk. It's when things begin that you start to worry."

"But in two years, you'll be hitting thirty..." Cordelia said reluctantly.

Victoria's snacking paused. "Shush, don't even mention it!"

"Even if I don't, you're still turning thirty."

"At thirty, I'll still snag him. Plus, snagging a younger guy at thirty? The bedroom skills, oh la la,"

Victoria quipped, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Cordelia got dressed and grabbed some fresh clothes, including underwear, preparing to leave. "I'm

out."

Just as she reached the door, her phone pinged with a message from the university's messenger

system. [Paricipants scheduled for a visit to the UK next month include: Professor Dustin, Professor Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Cordelia, and Professor Molly. Detailed itinerary to follow tomorrow.]

Cordelia was the youngest of the three professors chosen, likely due to her previous studies in the UK,

which made her a fitting choice for this trip.

The thought of going to the UK as a visiting scholar, away for at least a month, made her heart heavy.

She wouldn't see Callum during that time. The thought of not seeing him for three years hadn't

bothered her before, but now that they were in each other's daily lives, the idea was as painful as

cutting away a piece of herself.

Blood is thicker than water, after all.

Cordelia suddenly thought of the real Alana, her mother. Cordelia felt a pang of heartache because she

and Alana shared a strong blood bond as well.

As Cordelia reached Ronan’s grandfather's house, where Ronan and Callum lived, she found them in a

peaceful scene: Callum was drawing, and Ronan was reading.

"Hey, you're here?" Ronan looked up at Cordelia.

"Yeah."

"Everything okay with Petra?"

"She's fine. I just feel like she's pulled me into something, into a trap," Cordelia confessed, still

confused about Petra's intentions.

"You mentioned having something to discuss?" Ronan closed his book, preferring to change the

subject from Petra.

"Oh," Cordelia glanced at Callum and gave Ronan a meaningful look.

Ronan chuckled. "It must be serious if you don't want to talk in front of the kid. What is it?"

"I can't say here!" Cordelia insisted with gravity.

As she remembered that they couldn't discuss the delicate matter of her lineage in front of Callum,

Cordelia also recalled when Peter, likely because of Ronan, hadn't turned against her over Petra's

machinations. Indeed, Ronan had a significant influence.

"If you can't say, then how about a game of checkers with me?" Callum chimed in.

Cordelia agreed, and they played several rounds until Callum grew tired and went to bed.

Once alone, Cordelia signaled Ronan with a glance, and they retired for the night, leaving the day's

complications for the morning light.