The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 545

Ronan stood up and sauntered over to the couch on the other side of the room, pulling out a cigarette

and flicking a lighter to life.

Cordelia's brow furrowed slightly, waving away the smoke that drifted toward her. "How many times

have I told you not to smoke in here, Ronan? You never listen."

"Am I getting an earful now?" Ronan squinted at her, a playful smirk on his lips.

Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed, slowly slipping into her jeans. "Suit yourself. But you know, lots of

smokers end up with lung cancer. Plus, it yellows your teeth."

Ronan set the cigarette down, looking almost indifferent, but Cordelia knew better. Kicking a smoking

habit wasn't easy. Most folks got as fidgety as a junkyard dog, craving that nicotine hit. But not Ronan.

He acted as if he could quit without a second thought, as if the cigarette had no hold over him, but he

was the one in control.

They say the real bosses aren't owned by their vices, and clearly, Ronan was one of them. But why

couldn't he control his other appetites?

"So, you can quit smoking just like that, but you can't shake your sex addiction?" Cordelia propped

herself up on her elbows, and her curiosity piqued as she gazed at him from the bed.

"Why quit something so delightful?"

"But..." Cordelia squinted, a hint of mischief in her voice. "During the three years I was gone, you didn't

quit that, did you?"

Ronan's gaze sharpened, predatory, as he locked eyes with Cordelia. "What's this? A bed check? I

quit, okay? Satisfied?"

Cordelia felt a shiver run through her. "I thought you couldn't quit."

"Turns out, I had to. Are we done with the interrogation?"

She lay back down, pulling the duvet over her head, her heart pounding inexplicably. She knew he

never lied; deception simply wasn't his style.

When Cordelia felt stifled under the covers and pulled them down, she shuddered to find Ronan sitting

beside her.

His hand caressed her face, his thumb tracing her features tenderly. "Can't indulge you this time, can

I?"

"What do you mean?" Cordelia was caught off guard, struggling to recall what he was referring to.

"Emerson called. Wants me back for a shareholders' meeting."

"When are you leaving?" Cordelia suddenly felt anxious.

"Today."

"Today?" She was disoriented, not expecting his departure to be so imminent.

"Yeah. After you head to work, I'll take the kid and go."

Cordelia bit her lip, unsure if she'd see him again before her trip to the UK. She got out of bed and

wrapped her arms around Ronan from behind, her cheek pressed against his warm back, filled with a

sense of longing. She knew he'd been alone those years.

Their relationship wasn't born from a whirlwind romance; she wondered why he'd forsake a lifetime of

independence for a marriage of convenience.

Ronan glanced over his shoulder. "What's wrong? Going to miss the kid?"

"No, it’s you."

He chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm flattered. Now, go on. The kid is up, and you should head to campus.”

Cordelia suddenly let go, feeling a sense of loss wash over her.

After having breakfast, which Ronan cooked, she made her way back to school. On the way, she shot a

message to Victoria on Messenger. [Hey, Queen Vic, you up yet? Want me to grab you something to From NôvelDrama.Org.

eat from the cafeteria?]

[Cordelia, it's nearly noon. Do you think I'm still in bed? But yeah, haven't had brunch. Thanks! I'll have

some sweet and sour ribs, Kung Pao chicken, and stir-fried pork with a side of rice. Oh, and grab me

some snacks, will ya? Much appreciated.] Victoria’s cheeky reply came through.

When Cordelia entered their apartment, snacks in tow, she found Victoria cocooned in blankets on her

bed, a box of tissues in hand, binge-watching her favorite series with tears streaming down her face.