The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 509

Marian was up to her old tricks again, this time playing Cupid—or maybe saboteur—on the sly. Without

making a fuss, she had sneakily tossed Ronan's profile into the sea of online dating. Since Cordelia

flew back from her trip abroad only to hook up with Jamie again, Marian decided she needed to stir the

pot. Clearly, Ronan was the juiciest worm on the hook, and she bet the divorced couple were now at

each other's throats over custody of their kid.

After tucking in for the night, Cordelia went about her bedtime routine in Callum's room.

"Mom, this is the first time you've ever slept with me," Callum said, slipping into his pajamas and

grinning from ear to ear.

"Then how about I stay with you more often from now on?" Cordelia replied. Despite her resentment

towards Ronan, her warmth towards Callum never wavered.

"Okay!" Callum beamed.

Cordelia patted Callum's back until he drifted off to sleep. It was just past nine, and Cordelia found

herself wide awake.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Victoria. [Cordelia, isn't one queen in the king's court enough

for your hubby? Or is he looking to fill the ranks? He just tore your pussy, and how is he on the hunt for

a new conquest? Damn, how pervert can one man be?]

Confused, Cordelia shot back a message. [What are you talking about?]

[Don’t tell me you haven't heard the news?]

Then, Victoria sent over the profile of Ronan, who was now live on the dating scene.

Cordelia read it carefully. [Oh, the CEO of Lumos Enterprises, handsome as a Hollywood heartthrob,

taller than a basketball player, raking in more than a cool million a year, 36, no vices to speak of, and

fresh off a divorce. Now hunting for a woman between 18 to 25, must be over 5'7", beautiful, gentle,

and with a temperament as sweet as apple pie, to spend a lifetime with.]

Cordelia couldn't help but snort. She didn't meet a single criterion. She was 5'6", her youth was a petal

fallen from the bloom, and while her Ph.D. was impressive, it was conspicuously absent from his

wishlist. It was clear that for the affluent, a wife's beauty trumped her brains.

The "raking in more than a cool million a year" line alone would have women lining up around the

block, not to mention his dashing looks. He was the epitome of the domineering CEO straight out of a

romance novel.

Cordelia tossed her phone aside, uninterested. Looked like Brooklyn hit the nail on the head—Ronan

was in the market for a new mommy for the little one. If Ronan was on the prowl for a bride, then

Cordelia couldn't let Callum end up with a wicked stepmother.

She made up her mind. Tomorrow, she'd confront Ronan about sending Callum to Birchwood

Preschool.

The next morning, Cordelia ate her breakfast in silence. When Janice took Callum to the playroom,

Cordelia seized the moment. "I want to take Callum to Birchwood Preschool. The food and security

there are..."

"No!" Ronan stirred his soup gently with his spoon.

When Ronan said "no," the matter was usually closed. Cordelia felt deflated, unsure of how to proceed.

"I don't want my child in the hands of some stepmother," she finally said.

"And where were you before?" Ronan snapped, looking at her with dissatisfaction. "When you chose

divorce and abandoned your child, you should've seen this day coming."

"I had my reasons!"

"Whose fault was that? Mine? Wasn't I always there for you?" Ronan's tone was sharp.

Cordelia knew it wasn't entirely his fault, especially not the part about her mother. But dredging up the

past was pointless, so she kept silent. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

"I've been both father and mother to our child. Do you regret it now? What am I to you, someone who

has to dance to your tune? If he sticks with you, sooner or later, he'll end up with a stepfather," Ronan

declared.

Cordelia bit her lip, saying nothing. She did feel guilty; after three years of silence, she now wanted to

sweep Callum away. It was unfair.

"Can I at least take him to Birchwood for a few days?" she ventured again.

"No!"

Cordelia was at a loss. She had planned to leave that day, but Ronan's refusal to let her take Callum

meant she had to stay another day.

That day, she spent her time playing outside with Callum. Time with her child was never enough.

At night, she once again slept in Callum's room.