Chapter 6
Lornaâs heart ached so fiercely that she nearly burst into tears, but she quickly bowed her head, covering her swollen cheek, fighting to keep her voice steady. âItâs nothing. Lia. I just went overboard with the blush. You, um, you should return to your room.â
Cordelia watched her silently before responding with a flat âOh.â
When Lorna thought she could finally sigh in relief, Cordelia skirted past her and headed downstairs.
Lornaâs eyes widened in alarm, and sheâhurried after her. âLia, Liaâ¦â
The few people in the living room heard the commotion and turned their heads in unison.
Cordelia walked straight up to Laurinda her expression blank, her beautiful eyes slightly vacant. But when she spoke, her voice was icy. âWhy did you hit her?â
Laurinda was stunned. For the second, she felt Cordellaâs presence was formidable, but she shook off the feeling.
It was just a delusion, after all. Cordelia was just a girl, no older than Juliana.
She sat on the couch, slightly tilting her head up, and scoffed, âShe gave birth to a fool, tarnishing the Delaney family name. Slapping her was letting her off easy!â
Lorna had caught up and stood protectively in front of Cordelia. âLaurinda, Lia is not a fool!â
âNot a fool?â Laurinda snorted, âThen, how would she look like this? Lorna, donât you feel sorry for yourself? Iâm not asking for Cordelia to be as brilliant as Juliana. Just close enough in grades, Iâd treat you with the utmost respect!â
Lornaâs lips trembled, unable to speak.
âNo need.â Cordelia suddenly spoke up, her gaze steady on Laurinda, sweeping past Edwin and Belinda with a chilly tone. âIf my grades are better than Julianaâs, an apology to my will suffice.â
With that, she took Lorna upstairs.
It wasnât until the pair disappeared up the stairs that Laurinda snapped back to , scoffing at Belindaâs scrutinizing gaze, âShe talked as if she could outdo Juliana in grades. Huh, in her dreams!â
Cordelia led Lorna back to her room.
Once the door was closed, Lornaâs eyes brimmed with tears as she grasped Cordeliaâs hand, âLia, did you just call me Mom?â
hal
Cordelia stiffened, and her âHmmâ was noncommittal, with a hint of distance and awkwardness.
Despite knowing her parents hadnât abandoned her on purpose and holding no grudges against Lorna, the sudden introduction to a mother after eighteen years was unsettling.
Seeing Cordeliaâs reaction, Lorna didnât press further but lowered her head and began to ramble, âLia, Iâm sorry. I failed to keep you safe when
you were born, and you went missing.â
Her voice broke into sobs. âYour father and I have searched for so many years. Now weâve finally brought your home, but youâre still suffering due to me.â
IZ O W
Cordelia awkwardly offered Lorna some tissues, uncertain how to comfort a crying adult.. Eventually, Lornaâs tears subsided, and she looked up with reddened eyes, managing a small smile.
Cordeliaâs defense warmed her heart, but the memory of the eveningâs events and concern for Cordeliaâs stress made her comfort her daughter in return. âLia, donât feel pressured and donât listen to what your grandma says. Grades donât define a personâs worth, you know?â
13.00
Chapter &
Cordelia nodded blankly
Loma continued. âNo matter what, youâre the best in my eyes I want you to be safe and happy. For you, Iâll grow stranger Donât worry!
Cordelia murmured, âOkay
mured, âOkayâ
Laurindaâs slap wasnât hard. The swelling had gone down when Sanderson came home. He hadnât noticed, and Loma didnât meation it
After dinner, Sanderson finally sighed as they lay in bed. âIm not as good as Kermit at making Mom happy Iâm sorry for
itting you two through this Just a little longer, and Iâll take you and Lia to live somewhere else.â a suddenly spoke up. âI want to start painting againâ
She had been an artist, but after losing her child, she had been broken, not touching a paintbrush for years. As Lia was , she felt a renewed strength Laurinda was bullying them because her parents were just professors, she had no income of her own. It was time to change that.
broke
Cordelia woke up feeling heavy in her chest but dismissed it as she got ready and headed downstairs for breakfast On the way to school, the discomfort intensified. Her heart, as if gripped by an invisible hand, tightened
When the slowly passed by âMidnight ,â the pain in her chest sharply.
Instinctively, she called out, Larry, stop the car!â
The vehicle abruptly halted. Caught off guard, Juliana scoffed after regaining her balance. âCordelia, the grades come out today. Youâre not trying to skip school to avoid them, right?â
Cordelia ignored her, out of the car and toward âMidnight Scent.â
As she struggled to think, a thought struck her. Did she have to be with that man to feel better? Couldnât anyone else do ?
The notion halted her in her tracks as she grabbed the arm of a passing redâhaired boy in a school uniform, not even taking in his features. âHey, wanna go out?â
At her words, the boy was baffled.
Cordeliaâs didnât let up; instead, it got worse. She hastened her steps, pushed open the door to Midnight Scent, and upon seeing the tall figure behind the counter, the pain eased dramatically again!
It meant she to be with .
Leaning on the door frame, Cordelia fixed her gaze ahead. So, it was related to Everard, after all? Was she poisoned or cursed? How could such weird things happen in the world?
When she was lost in her daydreams, Everard slowly lifted his head.
The air conditioning in the shop was high, and Everard was still dressed in all black, casually sitting there with a book in hand. His chiseled features were expressionless as his gaze lightly settled on Cordelia. And he asked in a low voice, âGirl, are you doing here?â
Cordelia paused, then blurted out. âTo fall in love with you.â
Everard was speechless.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, they exchanged no words.
The shop eerily silent for thirty seconds until Everard let out a chuckle, a sound so deep and enchanting that it seemed to weave magic around Cordeliaâs ears, causing her cheeks to flush slowly.
Chapter 6
Grasping for any conversation, she asked, âWhat does this store sell?â
Her eyes scanned the shelves.
Everard glanced down, replying, âGroceries.â
He had asked Calvert to rearrange the shopâs inventory last night.
But-
Puzzled, Cordelia mentioned, âWhen I was here yesterday, there were all these little boxes on the shelves, What were those?â
Everard leisurely closed his book, leaned forward, and said expressionlessly. âBalloons.â
Cordelia was confused in her mind.